Feinstein: (President) Bush lacked 'hands-on management' to thwart terrorists

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 4/14/04 | Rachel Konrad - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Sen. Dianne Feinstein is "disappointed" that President Bush has not apologized to relatives of those killed Sept. 11, 2001, and the California Democrat faulted Bush for lacking "hands-on management" in the months leading up to the terrorist attacks. Feinstein, a member of the Intelligence Committee and head of the Technology and Terrorism Subcommittee, said Wednesday that Bush and his advisers failed to "connect the dots" on Aug. 6, 2001. That's when a CIA briefing warned that supporters of Osama Bin Laden were living in the United States, could enter and exit the country as they wished, and that intelligence "chatter" suggested a hijacking.

"This to me should have focused the president," Feinstein said in a speech to 400 Silicon Valley business leaders. "All our lives are filled with red tape, and it takes a top person to say, 'Forget that, this is what I want done, and this is what it takes to do it.' That's hands-on management."

White House spokesman Ken Lisaius refuted Feinstein's claim that the president was partly responsible for the attacks.

"The American people recognize that those responsible for the horrific attacks on our country were the terrorists, and the president made it very clear he has great concern for the families of everyone who died on 9/11 and the families of the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation," Lisaius said.

Feinstein also said the intelligence community failed to interpret chatter correctly and communicate between agencies. She said she was hopeful that the Senate Intelligence Committee would meet soon to discuss a measure to create a director of national intelligence.

The position - a 10-year presidential appointment that Feinstein introduced in legislation in February - would give one person authority over 15 agencies, including the CIA and FBI, and could repair the "serious mistakes" in organization and structure that preceded the terrorist attacks, she said. The measure would separate the director of central intelligence position into two: a director of national intelligence to lead the broad intelligence community, and a director of the smaller CIA.

"I don't believe for a minute that anyone knew who, why, when, where or how," Feinstein said. "But there's so much intelligence chatter and so many briefs that it becomes difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff."

Feinstein, who's on a waiting list to buy a hybrid Toyota Highlander sport-utility vehicle, said she'd repeal tax cuts for people who earn more than $321,000 per year and boost federal spending on alternative fuel research. She also said the United States should increase the amount of money it contributes to international humanitarian groups - particularly for construction of schools.

"What we need to do is not encourage hate but build across the Middle East normal schools ... where they learn the fundamentals of how to get a job," Feinstein said.

[NormsRevenge]

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[Don Corleone]

Looks like their "Talking Points" have failed once again.

[sinkspur]

You knew this was coming.

These scummy Democrat bastards are blaming Bush for 9/11.

You just knew they would resort to this, since Kerry is gaining no traction.

[swheats]

Hands-On management!!!!!

These people always saying stuff that make you want to cuss.

The democrats held up his many hands he needed for positions in his administration by not approving them in a timely manner.

[the_Watchman]

In the next few weeks expect the Democrats to float various "explanations" for Bush's failure to stop 9-11.

They are looking for one which will "stick" so that it can become the mantra.

I noticed that one of them had already faulted Bush for being unwilling to admit a "mistake". Therefore, he was unwilling to learn. Of course, if Bush had admitted a mistake, then the talking points are pre-made!

It would be bearable if this was simply the behavior of the political opposition. What makes it so frustrating is that the media participates in the process of looking for chinks in the armor AND the recitation of the mantras.

[Conan the Librarian]

The only way that Bush could have been more hands on is if he was in all four planes and strangled each hijacker before the planes crashed. How can anyone blame anyone but the hijackers for this when some of them didn't know what was going to happen. The Dimocretians are getting more desparate every day.

[Conan the Librarian]

The only way that Bush could have been more hands on is if he was in all four planes and strangled each hijacker before the planes crashed. How can anyone blame anyone but the hijackers for this when some of them didn't know what was going to happen. The Dimocretians are getting more desparate every day.

[PISANO]

It is beyond comprehension that the POTUS apologize for 911. The HEADLINES throughout the nation would be. "President Bush accepts responsibility for 911....apologizes for failing the American people."

The POTUS can NOT apologize for WHAT HE DID NOT DO. This politically correct sensitivity BS is beyond the pale.

[Frank_Discussion]

I'm home sick today, so this is about all the FReeping I'll be doing. I just had to say that I've had a chance to see some network news, lurk a bit here, etc., and it seems that the rats are COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK after the president's speech last night. It's both pathetic that the things they say are so off-base, and quite scary that they have such a united front coupled with a simpathetic media.

[Krodg]

when some of them didn't know what was going to happen

Are you saying some did know?

[gatorgriz]

With all due respect to Senator Swinestein... She couldn't find her own arse with both hands and a road map...

The good Senator, with all possible dispatch, should go back to her home and hob knob with her fellow belivers; the Willie Browns of the world; her fellow travelers; the self anointed...

Fools all; legends in their own minds... In other words; "GO POUND SAND"

[Vigilantcitizen]

These scummy Democrat bastards are blaming Bush for 9/11.

You just knew they would resort to this, since Kerry is gaining no traction.

The media flogged the "bad economy" dead horse until the facts against them became so overwhelming that they couldn't be spun, so they had to move on.

Many non-political junkie type people I know have watched the 9-11 hearings, and picked up on the blatant partisan "witch hunt" vibes of the hearings with ease.

I believe the dims dirty tricks will come back to haunt them.

[dalebert]

They don't really blame Bush they just want the voter to. Its all about getting everyone to hate Bush so Dems can win.

[onedoug]

This from the Disgusting Senator from California who said while in Europe that she was, "Ashamed to be an American".

Ugh.

[Starboard]

All our lives are filled with red tape,

Unfortunately she's right about that. And her party is responsible for most of it.

[Spotsy]

If only the Democrats would go after the bad guys with such a well-orchestrated attack.

The Dems are setting the bar very high for themselves should they gain the White House come November. They don't know what they are getting themselves into. Bill Clinton was lucky, but future presidents won't be so lucky - and the American people won't be forgiving.

[MEG33]

I saw her interview for a moment on LKL and he asked if she would criticize Clinton in the same way had it happened on his watch..She looked aside and said..she thought so in an unconvincing way.

They don't want an apology ,they want a confession.

[anonymous_user]

If by "hands on managment" she means fondling interns...

[RightWhale]

Feinstein, who's on a waiting list to buy a hybrid Toyota Highlander

There used to be a waiting list for an ordinary Highlander, but now they are waiting on the lot for purchase. I would volunteer to climate test a Highlander hybrid for a few years if Toyota is at interested in how their new baby works at 40-50 below zero, which I don't think they are.