The wind beneath Bush’s wings. – Open letter to FREEPERS.(clean version)

[Laur]

The first thing was the plane landing in China.

[Aggie Mama]

Thank you for this.

[TASMANIANRED]

Quite a letter PD.

You echo many of my own thoughts.

Prayers offered for President Bush.

[Chode]

BRAVO ZULU!!!

[Pukin Dog]

Thank you and everyone else who responded to this rant.

[joesbucks]

Thank you for the clarification. I am so used to seeing the circle the wagons mentality on this forum that I automatically assumed and for that I was incorrect. Howver the circle the wagons mentality that exists doesn't allow for intelligent discussion and solutions. The liberal solutions aren't where the solutions lie, but to ignore the problems because it's perceived as slamming my party is just as wrong as the wild eyed accusations from the left.

Criticism should at this point be constructive. After the initial crisis is over, then a debriefing should be done, top to bottom and shortfalls identified and corrected. Certainly this is something we could have never envisioned, yet it seems our response to the tidal wave earlier this year was faster, despite the logistics, yet in this country, while there has been many good efforts, it has fallen far short, especially at the federal level who has or should have the resources to throw at these situations.

[Pukin Dog]

Exactly, Joe.

You get through the crisis, you review what went wrong and then work to correct the errors. Thats the only way to learn from the crisis. It is sometimes difficult to remember what you are supposed to do when someone is yelling in your ear.

[joesbucks]

I just found this on Drudge. Bush Says Relief Results 'Not Acceptable' Sep 02 10:12 AM US/Eastern By JENNIFER LOVEN Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON President Bush, facing blistering criticism for his administration's response to Hurricane Katrina, said Friday "the results are not acceptable" and pledged to bolster relief efforts with a personal trip to the Gulf Coast. "We'll get on top of this situation," Bush said, "and we're going to help the people that need help." He spoke on the White House grounds just boarding his presidential helicopter, Marine One, with Homeland Security Department secretary Michael Chertoff to tour the region. The department, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been accused of responding sluggishly to the deadly hurricane. "There's a lot of aid surging toward those who've been affected. Millions of gallons of water. Millions of tons of food. We're making progress about pulling people out of the Superdome," the president said. For the first time, however, he stopped defending his administration's response and criticized it. "A lot of people are working hard to help those who've been affected. The results are not acceptable," he said. "I'm heading down there right now."

Even the President now realizes the results have been poor.

[Grampa Dave]

Great rant.

I would like to suggest that Jim Rob and the Mods for the next 30 days to immediately pull any posted attack (threads or replies) on our President by those who hate him.

[Pukin Dog]

I don't think the President was in a position to say anything else. There are unfortunate realities to politics. One of them is that you cant point fingers at the failure of others. Bush sits in the big chair, so he is automatically responsible for the health and direction of the country.

We all know who is at fault here, and in the coming weeks, there will be some responsible media mentioning that. The mayor of New Orleans is an incompetent boob, but this is not the time to deal with him. The Governor of LA is a complete fool, but again, not the time to say so.

Michael Brown needs to keep his ass of TV and do his job. Bush has a country to run and life goes on. Iraq is not on hold for this mess, and no one should expect Bush to drop everything else on his plate. I think what Bush said was meant for media consumption, but is probably not a true reflection of what is going on down there. Frankly, I wish Bush would leave the area, and not become the focus of events. It would not be PC, but it would be 'real'.

[Alamo-Girl]

I join in urgent prayer for President Bush who seems to be everyone's favorite scapegoat this morning!

[Guenevere]

Joining you in that prayer!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for joining in the prayer!

[SierraWasp]

I would tend to agree unless this extends to ANY criticsm, no matter how slight.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"I still intend for this to be my last rant for a good long time."

Well, if it's going to be your last rant for a while, at least it is a good one.

I have been thinking I need to take some time off to reevaluate my values after watching all of this unfold but I needed your rant to highlight that need.

Michael Frazier

[bigfootbob]

Thanks for your post, it caused water to appear in my old eyes.

[admiralsn]

!

[Paradox]

Pukin, I love you man.

[Horatio Gates]

Best thing I've read since I can't remember. Damn fine job.

I will continue to keep the President and this great Republic in my prayers

[Don Carlos]

Great rant, Pukin Dog! Why did you waste all that time flying for the Navy when you are so great with words? You could have had a great influence on this country by using your talent in some other other endeavor which required a wordsmith and an audience. Politics perhaps? [/sarcasm]

Seriously, your rant is dead on and should be read by all patriots, especially if they are losing faith a little due to current events.

BTW, I'm pretty sure there is a "starting position" in politics that will shortly be available, if you want to get into the governing business. Its in a small town, (used to be about 480,000) but most of the populace left. Pay isn't much, but the bennies (not to mention graft/corruption income) put it in the big league income-wise. The job has a great potential for the next few years, what with federal, state and local (insurance) money pouring in, and badly needs someone like yourself, with sharply-honed abilities to oversee the piles of cash being properly used.

Umm, on second thought, don't bother. I'm gonna apply myself as soon as NO dries out enough that I can get up a few posters with my pretty mug, and a few promises to share the money in exchange for votes!