What does 9/11 tell us about Bush? Nothing.

[jbfam4]

Being There
What does 9/11 tell us about Bush? Nothing.
By William Saletan
Posted Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, at 11:19 AM PT
http://slate.msn.com/id/2105914/



Pardon me for asking, but where exactly is the heroism in this story? Where, indeed, is the heroism in anything Bush has done before 9/11 or since?

The ultimate testament to Bush's manhood, supposedly, is the two wars he launched. As McCain put it, "He ordered American forces to Afghanistan" and "made the difficult decision to liberate Iraq." But the salient word in each of those boasts is the verb. Bush gives orders and makes decisions. He doesn't take personal risks. He never has.

I don't mean to be unfair to Bush. Vietnam was a lousy war. He wanted a way out, and he found it. But isn't it odd to see Republicans belittle the physical risks Kerry took in battle while exalting Bush's armchair wars and post-9/11 photo ops? Isn't it embarrassing to see Bob Dole, the GOP's previous presidential nominee, praise Bush's heroism while suggesting that Kerry's three combat wounds weren't bad enough to justify sending him home from Vietnam?

Watching the attacks on Kerry and the glorification of Bush reminds me of something Dole said in his speech to the Republican convention eight years ago. It was "demeaning to the nation," Dole argued, to be governed by people "who never grew up, never did anything real, never sacrificed, never suffered and never learned."

You tell me which of this year's presidential candidates that statement best describes.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Finally, someone puts into words exactly what I've been

thinking for the last 3 years!! When someone says, "Just look at what leadership Bush has exhibited", I go "What? He's a coward and it shows in his every movement!" It was his own, personal fear that created the 'war on terrorism'. He absolutely disgusts me as he has no moral fiber!!

[Old and In the Way]

2. W - The AWOL pResident

AWOL in the National Guard and AWOL on 9/11....what more do you need to know about his character?

[Skittles]

3. those seven minutes told us everything

EVERYTHING

[indepat]

4. Three, four, or five of these might be understandable, but 25? What's 2 to

the 25th power, is it one in some 32,000,000? Highly problematic unless by design IMHO.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Good article

Wish it was printed on the opinion page of major newspapers like the New York Times or Washington Post. Since the rest of the news media is monkey see monkey do it'd get more exposure nationwide.