Posted on 09/14/2001 6:44:30 AM PDT by dictatorMA
Meehan, Neal raise doubts on leadership of president by Andrew Miga
Friday, September 14, 2001
WASHINGTON - Two prominent Bay State Democrats questioned President Bush's leadership style yesterday, cracking the veneer of bipartisan unity Congress has shown in the wake of the twin terrorist attacks.
``It's not a question of what he's saying,'' said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield). ``The content is fine. But the blandness with which it is delivered has caused considerable reaction.''
U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell) scoffed at reports Air Force One was targeted by terrorists - the reason Bush aides have put forth to explain why the president delayed his return to Washington after Tuesday's attack on the Pentagon. ``I don't buy the notion Air Force One was a target,'' said Meehan. ``That's just PR. That's just spin.''
The Bush White House has been on the defensive as pundits and some lawmakers have suggested the president backed down in the face of terrorist threats this week.
Bush has been under fire for not returning to Washington more quickly after Tuesday's attacks to take control of the situation and reassure a jittery public.
Some pundits have suggested his detour to safe military bases in Louisiana and Nebraska sent a message of weakness. The president's father angrily defended his son during an appearance before energy industry officials in Boston.
``I am annoyed with those who criticized him for not returning to Washington right away,'' said the elder Bush. ``I know George is strong.
``I know that he has a fantastic national security team around him. I know that, in reaching out to the Congress as we're seeing now, and reaching out to our friends and allies and others around the world, he's doing the right thing,'' the president's father said.
But both Neal and Meehan noted that Bush's performance thus far has paled in comparison to the effective mix of leadership and verve shown by New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani during the latest crisis. Giuliani has managed to convey both reassurance and forcefulness, using numerous public appearances to convince the public that despite the tragedy, officials are in control and handling the problem in an effective manner.
``Giuliani has been outstanding,'' said Meehan. ``Every elected mayor and governor in the nation could learn a lot from Giuliani.'' Meehan, who stressed he did not want to sharply criticize Bush given the current crisis, noted that Bush is relatively inexperienced as president, having been in office less than a year.
``He's a new president and he doesn't have the experience that Bill Clinton had,'' said Meehan. ``Under the circumstances he's done pretty well.''
Neal said several Democratic colleagues agree with his assessment that Bush must show a more forceful, vigorous style as he seeks to rally the nation behind him for what many expect will be a long, intense fight against terrorists.
``In politics you have to use imagery to send a message to people,'' said Neal. ``Leadership delineates the difference between a town manager and a president. A president should know how to use imagery, symbolism to lead.''
Neal recalled that former President Clinton had one of the most memorable days of his presidency shortly after the brutal Oklahoma City bombings. Clinton, obviously moved by the massive human suffering, delivered an emotional speech that sought to ease the pain as well as inspire.
``If President Clinton had a better moment than he did in that hangar in Oklahoma City, I never saw it,'' said Neal. ``He lifted the spirits of an entire nation that day. That's what a president does. He provides comfort. And he finds a way to inspire people, to lift them up as well.'' Neal said despite his criticism, he is reserving final judgment on Bush: ``It's a bit early to make a judgment here.''
He wasn't watching on Inauguration Day when Clinton left the White House?
Clinton is a lying, raping, impeached con man who posed as our President for eight years and who mugged well for the camara, cried on cue and bit his lip to show his 'shared pain'. He also laughed at funerals until he saw a camara; then the lip-biting and tearing was brought forth, in an instant.
He was fake in every gesture he made, a liar with every word he spoke. These partisan clowns who take up valuable space in our congress are so besotted with Clinton they cannot get past his deceit. Disgusting behavior at a time like this. These fools should be roundly condemned for this partisan sniping in a time of grave national crisis.
News Flash to all Massachusetts Congressmen: Clinton is out, Bush is in. Deal with it.
Bush is real, honest and decent. Your hero was scum. War is not a TV movie and the President isn't the host of a game show for your entertainment. Grow up.
No matter what GWB does, they will criticize it. Had he returned to DC right away, they would have criticized him for getting in harm's way. Had he immediately gone to NYC, they would have criticized him for naked pandering. Right now, they're trying to come up with a cogent criticism of him for the mere act of BREATHING. Dip Geckhardt needs to tell these slobs to sit down and shut up.
Michael
They are just afraid that the new SERIOUS war against terrorists will extend to the IRA,and half their voting block are IRA supporters.
Nah,they have a point about this. NOBODY can fake sincerity better than Bubba. Remember him leaving Ron Brown's funeral and laughing,until he spotted a tv camera and changed his laughter to tears in mid-step?
Bubba is the best PURE politician I have ever seen in my life. Since he truely believes in nothing but himself,he can easily fake passion about any thing he believs benefits him to be emotional about. After all,the tears for the victims in Tulsa BENEFITED BUBBA,so they WERE real tears. He needs to lock up black voters,so he LOVES blacks. He is whatever he needs to be to personally advance himself.
Who ever they are and where ever they are includes the Irish republic and it includes Boston Mass, homes of supporters of the terrorist Provisional IRA
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