So basically we have a President who was willing to humble himself to a mayor to save 100,000 American lives. That shows seriously good character. But it must be infuriating for President Bush to listen the mayor now sounding self righteous.
The President is a good leader who encourages those around him ( and in his employ) to do the right thing. Then he stands back to allow them to get the glory and honor as if it were their doing. He truly believes, as Ronald Reagan once said, that great things can be accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit! To the callow and self-absorbed this way of doing business looks detached and aloof. The MSM want to see a Clintonian grandstanding, someone who steps all over the local authorities to upstage them and steal the limelight for selfish political gain. To them, that is compassion! But it ain't the way to get people to rise above and get things done.