What did Bush do on 9/11 that was so great?

[mwb970]

Today's New York Times has an article headlined "Leader Who Rose in 9/11 Slips in Wake of Storm", all about how on 9/11 Bush showed himself "capable of commanding the nation's attention, transcending partisanship and clearly articulating a set of goals". Um, like "Smoke 'im out" and "Dead or alive"? Those goals?

I saw a story on MSNBC last night saying that right after 9/11, Bush's approval-dispproval ratings were 90%-6%. I was in the 6%. I thought he was just as awful a president on, say, 9/17 as he had been on 9/10.

My question is, what exactly did he do that caused him to be seen as so decisive and effective? Was it the bullhorn? The fireman? The rubble?

I guess it doesn't matter, as long as it's clear that he was not decisive or effective in responding to Katrina.

[nookiemonster]

1. Nothing. The media became the "great enabler".

With the patriotic fervor that was whipped up, he could do no wrong.

Of course, Katrina tore down the whole fasade.

Or in Laura's case, Corrina did.

[Mountainman]

2. He showed up where they told him to show up.

Bush didn't do anything. He is nothing but a prop for those who really run things. I get baffled by people who think Bush is making decisions and running things. He is so low on the mental totem pole yet people give him credit for thinking. I also feel Reagan was just like Bush is now. Just a front man.

[kentuck]

3. It was what he said.....

It was nothing illuminating. It was nothing inspiring. He got on his bullhorn and said the people that did this will hear from all of us. So what he said was revengeful. Revenge is what the people wanted and what they praised Mr. Bush for...

[HEAVYHEART]

4. I've been sitting here thinking of an answer

I"m still thinking..

[Bleacher Creature]

5. Absolutely nothing.

He played his part in a couple of well-scripted photo-ops and speeches. Nothing else. People seem to conveniently forget about the 7 minutes he spent fozen in the classroom, or the hours he allowed Air Force One to fly around. Don't believe the lie that the military made that call to keep him safe. He's the Commander in Chief. His orders trump all.

The difference between 9/11 and Katrina is that there really wasn't anything for a President to do other than his or her public relations duties. There was much less hope for survivors, the damage was localized, and local fire departments were in charge of the clean up.

[yy4me]

6. It was "hard work" picking up the bull horn

and rounding up a few people for a photo op!!!

[HoosierClarkie]

7. He loooked scared to death. n/t

[never_get_over_it]

8. Come on he was great

first he continued to read My Pet Goat, then he flew all over the country on AF1 taking photos to be sold later for campaign contributions, then of coures that was that great photo op at ground zero with the bull horn, then a couplde of days later he addressed the congress and couldn't pronounce president pro tempre - and then the best part of all he worked with his team to figure out how they could use 9-11 to invade Iraq

What else do you want, what a real President who would have gotten his ass directly back to the White House - captured Osama benn forgotten and left Iraq the hell alone.....

[TlalocW]

9. He kept listening to storytime

With little kids for 10 minutes after being informed of the second tower going down. He's a great man.

What's sad is that I've had people say to me that Bush did the right thing because he didn't scare the children, to which I always reply:

1. Number one: Fuck the children. There were people dying in a terrorist attack on our soil. 3000+ lives vs. 25 kids' not being scared is not a contest.
2. Number two: He didn't have to stand up and scream, "Oh, my God! We're under attack! Where's my cocaine?" He could have calmly stood up, told the children, "Excuse me, kids, but I need to take a phone call from my dog, Barney. I'm told he's been naughty again and has been chasing kitty-cats." then walked out of the room.

TlalocW

[cynatnite]

10. He stood on a fucking rock

That's all. It was a moment and I'll admit I liked it. Even though he stood on a rock, that's what some people call 'great leadership'. :eyes:

[CascadeTide]

16. I was a tacit Bush supporter up until that moment

when he said the line "and those who knocked down these buildings..." he lost me. I thought it sounded like a rookie 3rd tier wrestler at WWE RAW.

[LaPera]

11. Nothing anyone else wouldn't of done, stood on a rock, made a speech

written by someone else and the frightened media and Rove's spin machine made Bush into the second coming, hero. For doing what/

Bush really did absolutely nothing...The media created the Bush leader bullshit and we've been paying for it ever since.

[jeffgad]

12. You guys are so right on this. I want to puke every time I read

about this grinning idiot's 9/11 leadership. And dammit, you'd think responsible journalists would see the "bullhorn speech" for what it was, a photo op with Bush as a prop; the event totally manufactured by his handlers. It was the beginning of the sloganeering age for this guys, and gullible americans still lap this shit up.

[Dees]

13. On the September 11th he was a disgraceful coward.

He flew to a secure NORAD bunker in Nebraska and spent most of the day when he should have flown directly back to DC and addressed the nation immediately. Clinton (from Australia) was at the WTC site before Monkey McFuddleNuts was. Disgraceful Goddamn coward. AF1 was under attack my ass.

[leesa]

14. Well, he sucessfully participated in bringing about one of the biggest

crimes in US history. He done good for his wealthy friends. They needed that Pearl Harbor to get where they wanted to go. Katrina's just icing on the cake.

[2Design]

15. never thought he did anything great - don't understand the

admiration - never did - he did nothing except either help cause it or let it happen - and everyone thinks that is great - they are truly dysfunctional

[mopaul]

17. he didn't shit his pants, a real struggle for him

[Poiuyt]

18. Perception is reality

America was so emotionally hurt by the attack that I think anyone could have made a tough sounding speech and been proclaimed a hero. No, he didn't do anything special, but he acted like John Wayne and America responded.