Would Bush have been well-served if...

[Dookus]

shortly after 9/11, he apologized to the country and took responsibility for what happened?

I think so. I think it would've been hugely popular. I'm glad he doesn't have it in him to take responsibility for anything.

[unblock]

1. he would have been well-served

by growing up at some point in his life.

[Dookus]

3. of course, I agree

but imagine how much people would've respected a President who said "you know... we didn't give this the kind of attention it deserved. And I'm sorry. We will NEVER make that mistake again."

I'm not saying he should've taken all the blame - but he could've said that this was an unexpected, unforeseeable action and now we know better.

[FlemingsGhost]

2. Of course. Alas, it is not his nature.

Good intentions have no business in a heist.

[Dookus]

4. I know...

but I always find it odd that politicians, or EITHER party, never recognize the power of real contrition. Not FAKE contrition long after you've been caught.


Even then, Nixon's two best speeches were his Checker's speech, after being accused of corruption, and his resignation speech. Americans loved him after both. But they were both way too late.

[FlemingsGhost]

8. Denial.

"Even then, Nixon's two best speeches were his Checker's speech,
after being accused of corruption, and his resignation speech.
Americans loved him after both."

Americans don't want to believe the system is broken. Certainly not have to entertain the thought of pre-mediatated criminal activities by a President.

Funny you should mention Nixon, though. Had America not lost its nerve and let him slither away, BushCo. would have thought twice about the grift they're pulling. Afterall, some of the names are the same...

[Dookus]

10. I saw the thread the other day on Nixon's pardon

and I was one of the small minority who voted that the pardon was a good thing.

I thought it was a bad thing for many years - I abhorred Nixon, and I was only 13 when he resigned. I remember very well his resignation and cheering for it. And I was pissed he got pardoned.

But many years later, I developed a true respect for Gerald Ford, and after he won the Kennedy Award for Profiles in Courage, I reconsidered. I decided that what Ford did was really best for the country.

However...

the use of the pardon has become obscene, viz. Casper Weinberger, et. al.

After Bush I left office, I wrote all my reps and asked that they propose an amendment to the constitution requiring that any pardon given to an executive-branch member be approved by the Senate. I believe in the power of the pardon, but it's been mis-used badly.

[murielm99]

5. I think he could have done done it even later, and still gotten away with

it.

For example, if he had allowed an independent 9/11 commission to form, as soon as it was asked for, and not stonewalled and politicized it. If he had let them take all the time they needed, given them all the documents, and let the report be made public. Then, after the report was made, or even on the same day, he could have apologized and taken responsibility for things.

If he had done things this way, it might have worked for him. But he had to stonewall. That just proves to me, and others, that he has something big to hide. It is more than just his usual refusal to take responsibility, or to blame Clinton for everything. He has something to hide.

[Dookus]

6. I will disagree with one aspect

I don't think a politician's denial automatically means they're hiding something. I think they're being politicians - which is sort of the point of this thread.

While I believe Bush *IS* hiding something, Clinton, Carter, Johnson, etc. all did the same thing. NONE of them were ever able to admit up-front that they erred and ask for forgiveness. Hell, even my hero Barney Frank failed to do so.

It seems to be an inherent flaw of people who desire to hold public office.

ON EDIT: Perhaps, politically, they know it's not a winner. Perhaps polls show people don't like politicians who admit to their flaws. Maybe it's just ME and people who think like me who would admire a politician for doing so.

[mike1963]

7. Actually he was hugely popular right after 9/11, having done

basically nothing. Just being the "president" was enough. The fact that he ran away (as he admitted later "I was trying to get out of harm's way") never resonated with our idiotic electorate properly demonstrates how disconnected Americans are with ...everything is telling.

In any case the word 'apology' is absent from the lexicon of the faux 'president.' "Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice...can't get fooled again..."

Lincoln was right. You can fool some of the people all the time.
:grr:

[Dookus]

9. again, I agree

but the short-term rise in popularity was meaningless. He was over 90%.

I'm talking about LONG-TERM. If he had done any such thing, and in my opinion, he should've (if only for political reasons) so little of today's events would be hurting him.

This isn't about Bush per se. It's about politicians in general. Would Clinton have been impeached if he never said "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."? I doubt it.

11. Bush Would Be Well Served...

With Conservatives, the truth's a drought
Exposing lies leaves them unnerved.
Bush is popular in the South
The pResident be Well Served...
... with an APPLE in his lying mouth!

Still, I suppose things said aren't nice
I'd let the whole thing pass,
He'd be Well Served on bed of Dirty Rice
With that apple up his....

Schwannzeichen

Channelling Zatarain's! YUM!

[Dookus]

12. Very nice poem...

welcome to DU.