Sent e-mail to MSNBC regarding Lisa Meyers Fahrenheit Story

[rolodomo]

I believe that Lisa Meyers is distorting basic principles of leadership when she argues in "Checking Fahrenheit's Facts" that Bush's conduct in a Sarasota classroom on 9/11 could be defended under the guise of projecting calm.

Is MSNBC really comfortable with this type of reporting? While our nation was under a sneak attack, it was ok that our President knew this, yet sat reading a book to children for seven, golden minutes?

Is MSNBC making the nonsensical assumption that "projecting calm" precludes leadership? Doesn't good leadership mean staying calm in an emergency? Why does MSNBC fail to entertain the straightforward notion that our COMMANDER in chief could have simply walked out CALMLY and taken CHARGE of the situation? When Bush was reading that book, our country needed basic leadership but we did not get it. A hijacked plane was still in the air. Critical presidential level decisions had to be made about defending the country and responding to emergency situations on the ground. Imagine if there were many more hijacked planes as originally planned?

I think arguments that literal inaction (to the point of not even asking aides what is going on) is a "defendable" Presidential reaction lowers the bar too far. What happens if it becomes the public norm to expect complete inaction by our leaders when our country once again comes under sneak attack or faces a national emergency?

Therefore, I hope that MSNBC investigates this issue more seriously and diligently.

[My Pet Goat]

1. Man you just don't get it do you?

Reading My Pet Goat is the FIRST thing you want to do in a crisis!! If only FDR had read it when the bombs were dropping on Pearl Harbor.

[mzmolly]

2. 7 minutes of calming projection? Sorry Lisa ... next.

:eyes:

[Zen Democrat]

3. Myth: Bush was reading My Pet Goat ....

Bush didn't even have a book in his hand most of the time. He never read a word to the children. The CHILDREN were reading. He was just sitting there looking idiotic and helpless.

[rolodomo]

5. Interesting, a few questions though...

You say that he did not have the book in his hand most of the time. So what was he doing during those times when HE DID HAVE the book in his hand in front of the class? Was he reading from it?

If he was then reading the book at certain times, and he was before the class, what would you call that? Looking like you're reading the book to the class but not really doing it?

Does READING a book to the class imply he was speaking as he read? You seem to think so, I don't.

[LittleApple81]

4. Did anybody listen to Al Franken's rebuttal of this argument? He said

if Al were president and something like the WTC attack was communicated to him when he was reading "My Pet Goat" he would have said to the kids something like (paraphrasing Al, to the best of my recollection): "Well kids, you know what? I have to go and do something that is required of the President and which cannot wait. But, let me promise you, in about a month or so we will arrange a trip for all of you to come to the White House and visit me to complete this appointment we had today. Bye kids, and we'll see you in Washington." Then Al (as president) would have gone and taken charge of the WTC situation.
So there, that is what A LEADER would have done.

[nodictators]

6. If Gore had been allowed to assume the presidency he won...

...There would have been no 9/11 attack

Remember, 19 out of 19 armed hijackers were allowed to board airliners. That wouldn't have happened under Gore!

Gore had headed a report on airline security. Also, Gore would not have deep-sixed the Hart-Rudman report. President Gore would have followed up on the Aug. 6, 2001 PDB that was titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside the US."

Bush gave us 9/11, a catastrophic attack on the US. Just as it said in PNAC's "Rebuilding America's Defenses."

[Ivan Sputnik]

7. Lisa is no fact checker

The right-wing response to the Moore film seems to be to repeat over and over that it's filled with factual inaccuracies -- without ever specifying exactly what those inaccuracies are. It's the big lie technique again, which Myers seems to have swallowed. I saw her report, which was full of innuendos, but nothing that really shot down any of the points that Moore is trying to make -- despite the claim to be "checking facts." Could be NBC/Myers trying to appear "fair and balanced" to protect the access they have to the White House. Could also be laziness, bias and/or stupidity.

[shrdlu]

8. Leading by assertion...

is what it is. We declare and you believe. It is your patriotic duty.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

9. Guess it COULD have been worse.. if GWB had gone...

.. screaming and hiding under one of the little kid's desk.

So are those the only two options that this reporter is saying GWB had? Sit quietly or PANIC like a lunatic?

[Kolesar]

10. Nice letter, Rolodomo! ... eom