Except for one speech, Bush was a total failure on 9/11

[Onlooker]

My impression regarding 9/11 is that:

- Bush read My Pet Goat after learning the second WTC building was attacked.

- Then, instead of flying to Washington, he hid for about 24 hours. America cowered under his leadership.

- Then, he waited about 4 days before visiting the WTC.

What should have happened is this:

- He should have put down My Pet Goat at once

- Flown directly back to DC. By not doing so, the terrorists learned they could make America cower. This alone has made us less safe.

- Waited a day and then flown to NYC, not for a big speech, but just to see the damage. His presence would have had had a calming effect.

- Then he could give a big speech

If he had handled the attack like a true leader, he might have risked his ass, but it would have shown courage. Maybe it does take a soldier to lead a war, and Bush is no soldier.

I was in Paris on 9/11 and a a few days after Bush's big speech I saw on CNN Int'l a Bush press conference that was the most embarrassing press conference of his presidency. He tried to inspire people, and came off as pathetic. If that press conference could be found, some of the footage could be used to expose him for what he is.

[sweettater]

1. My friends and I disagree

I say bush should have flown to DC but friends say he had to stay out of harms way. Friends sound reasonable......... so should he have gone back to DC or not?

[unblock]

3. he needed to be seen to do SOMETHING QUICKLY

going back to washington would have worked, going to the pentagon, going to ground zero, or going to the pa. crash site, anything.

hell, even going to the nearest air force base (not hopping and skipping around the country, just pick one and GO), just so long as he was in front of cameras looking like an actual PRESIDENT instead of a puppet waiting for his script.

as it was, it looked like he took no authoritative action and made NO decisions, until his group told him what to say and do.

giuliani, scum though he may be, did politically very well that day, and really, all he did was get in front of a camera and look like he was on top of the situation. there are many ways to do this, and bush could have found a way that didn't require answering questions or actually being in theoretical danger.

he chose to appear like a stupid, scared talking head who just lost his teleprompter feed.

[Onlooker]

4. He had to go back

We have a line of succession if something happens. He himself is most important as a leader, not as a thinker. That's true for every president, even those who can think. Bush was supposed to demonstrate leadership, and he waited four days before doing so.

[snippy]

2. And now he wants all Americans to cower in fear just as he did on 9/11 n/t

[leetrisck]

5. We were without a head of government

for much too long that day - that is how Rudy Guiliana became so popular - he kept making announcements that were picked up nationally and not another soul was out there.