NYT: First (RNC) Night, Single Theme for Double Term: Sept. 11

[DeepModem Mom]

First Night, Single Theme for Double Term: Sept. 11
By TODD S. PURDUM

Published: August 31, 2004


Less than four miles from the site of the attack that horrified a city, unified a nation and transformed George W. Bush's presidency, speaker after speaker at the Republican National Convention yesterday summoned the still-raw memories of Sept. 11 in service of a single, overriding theme: the nation will be safer if Mr. Bush wins four more years.

There is only the finest of lines between invoking a disaster in which all New Yorkers , and all Americans, regardless of party, felt such a devastating stake, and exploiting it for partisan advantage. From morning to night, the Republicans strode proudly, even defiantly, right up to that line - if not over it - and the delegates responded with roaring approval.

As the evening session crested, three Sept. 11 widows spoke before a stark black background, emblazoned only with that date, and the delegates, including Gov. George E. Pataki of New York, spontaneously joined in song when Daniel Rodriguez, the New York City police officer whose performances rallied the city after the attacks, sang "Amazing Grace."

Perhaps no single American has more earned the right to his opinion about the impact of the attacks than former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, whose steady leadership in the aftermath was initially seen as overshadowing even Mr. Bush's. Last night Mr. Giuliani repeated what he described as one of his first thoughts that day: "Thank God George Bush is our president."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/politics/campaign/31assess.html

[sniffa]

1. thank god george is fLying around the country

to escape imaginary terrorists chasing him. if he had waited Longer than 27 minutes at booker eLementary, it couLd have been a reaL disaster.

[gandalf]

2. And the NY Times makes it easy

for the Republicans to appear convincing with this message, that does not correspond to reality.

[gandalf]

3. In the remainder of the article:

"I think you have to talk about it. We wouldn't be here with helicopters flying over us and guys with machine guns all around if it wasn't for that day. It rocked the world forever."

Does this guy equate "US" with "the world"?

A horrible loss of life within a few days is not a singular event. What about the Sudan? "Armed to the teeth by the Sudanese government, hordes of mounted nomadic warriors, known locally as the Janjaweed, have waged a war of terror against Darfur's African population that has claimed the lives of as many as 50,000 defenseless civilians and driven more than 1.2 million from their homes." (Washington Post).

Only the horrible things that happen to the US are relevant?

[Oilwellian]

4. I thought it was a disgusting display

How can republicans claim their boy king can keep the nation safer when it was he who ignored all of the warnings and allowed the attack to happen?

[Krupskaya]

5. Nope, no politicizing here...

Nope, not at all. Just like we said we wouldn't! Just keep waving those flags when the camera's on you, folks. No, no politicizing at all. /sarcasm.

[auburngrad82]

6. That's because in 4 years he's had one good day

He has done nothing positive during his term. The only time he was perceived as being "presidential" was on Sept 11. And if his administration had been paying attention in the months leading up to that day he may not have even had that to fall back on.

[leesa]

9. On September 11th he was running and hiding all day long. What are you

talking about?

[auburngrad82]

10. His performance ratings were the highest of his term

I'm not saying he did a good job. I'm just saying that the perception of the sheep what that he was "presidential". I thought he was "asshole"

[leesa]

7. And to think they may have staged 9-11 for nothing. It ain't working

for them.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. How is 9/11 an "accomplishment"?

these people need their heads examined.
Bush is frozen in fear- a useless nitwit reading a goat book, then they proceed to do a 20 minute photo-op, then he gets on the phone and asks Cheney what to do, then they hang around the school watching TV, then they finally take off and go to 2 different remote locations, and Bush finally ends up in DC that afternoon.
But this all happended because terrorism was completely off their radar, and they were asleep- (Bush: "awakened to danger")

So Bush should be rewarded for reacting rather than being proactive?

I don't think so.