[coulson3]

I thought this was a powerful question. In a time of deep divisions over the election, Iraq, etc., President Bush was given an opportunity to reach out to voters on the other side. The meat of the question was, "Is there any issue on which (with the benefit of hindsight) you think the other side might have been right?"

If he had choosen to say, "Yes, there were some things we did wrong. I wish our actions had not so distanced us from our allies. But it was still the right choice at the time." He could have mended fences. In one fell swoop he could have won over moderates, undecides, and maybe even some democrats.

I want a President who will to listen to all the people in this country. I want a President who is willing to examine his actions, and if he makes a mistake, to own up to it. After all, you can do something for all the right reasons and still have it turn out to be a mistake. That's what hindsight is for.

[fellowpatriot]

If he had choosen to say, "Yes, there were some things we did wrong. I wish our actions had not so distanced us from our allies. But it was still the right choice at the time." He could have mended fences. In one fell swoop he could have won over moderates, undecides, and maybe even some democrats.

I disagree. Had he answered it that way, the press and DNC would have had a field day. That's exactly the kind of answer they were hoping he would give - then they could accuse him of being a wishy-washy flip-flopper like JOhn KErry.

The thing that alienated us from our "allies" (if you insist on calling them that) is that the war ended their oil-for-food scam.