Finest Hour For Leader of the Free World

New York Post ^ | 9/15/01 | Rod Dreher

[areafiftyone]

WELCOME VISIT: President Bush shares a moment with Mayor Giuliani and Gov. Pataki upon his arrival yesterday at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.

A man at West 14th Street holds a sign urging President Bush to "Let our war dogs loose!"

[smokeyb]

"After three days of appearing uncertain of himself in response to the crisis"

Don't they ever stop ? Has anyone seen him appear uncertain of himself ?

[NCRepublican]

Anyone who criticizes the President for not immediately returning to Washington, DC is unpatriotic! The only thing that could have made this situation worse is if our beloved President had been attacked! We know he was a target! I am glad he used caution in coming back. I think it used SMARTS. So much for our "stupid" President!

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

This reporter is a low-life snot. But as snotty as this guy's comments are, at least he is fully with the program now. I might add though that W's appearance at the WTC site was truly his finest hour. The best came out in a way that was truly off the cuff. New Yorkers will never forget what W did or said Friday afternoon. While I love W to death, his stature has increased tremendously this week.

[xp38]

Thank God that Bush and Cheney are where they are and not Gore and Leiberman. Could you imagine Leiberman as President? It's also good to keep the POTUS and VP apart. Can anyone list the order of succession for the presidency?

[where's_the_Outrage?]

but his finest hour was yet to come - the president saved it for where it was most needed, New York City.

I hate to throw a turd in the punch bowl, but this type evaluation reminds me of Rush's comments on Clinton, Symbolism over Substance

While I fully support the President, and am truely thankful it's Bush and not Gore (or Clinton). His finest hour will be defined by how he stops terrorism, not by his compasion.

I guess I agree with the 14th street man, "Let our war dogs loose!"

[prognostigaator]

I would guess that Dubya "filled the screen " for TV critic Howard Rosenberg for the LA Times before he wrote his insulting column..

Dont see him wearing a hard hat and volunteering .

[Carolina]

Can anyone list the order of succession for the presidency?

Here it is:

• The Vice President
• Speaker of the House
• President pro tempore of the Senate
• Secretary of State
• Secretary of the Treasury
• Secretary of Defense
• Attorney General
• Secretary of the Interior
• Secretary of Agriculture
• Secretary of Commerce
• Secretary of Labor
• Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• Secretary of Transportation
• Secretary of Energy
• Secretary of Education
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs

[Carolina]

I forgot to add that the official must meet constitutional requirements to succeed, which would knock Elaine Chao out of the succession as she is not native-born.

[No!]

You sure this wasn't in the NY TIMES?

[No!]

I know it was in the post but htis guy was not writing a column, he was writing an AUDITION for the Times!

Fire Him!

[joesbucks]

President Bush probably had little if any authority to return to Washington. However, symbolically it would have been superior to return, despite whatever perils may have potentially been awaiting him. In the eyes of radical Islam, our leader appeared fearful to return.

Secondly, despite my misgivings about former President Clinton, had he been President during this crisis and his security team had diverted him in the same way President Bush's security team diverted him, this forum would have been full of people calling him a coward. Again, neither likely has the authority to say "i demand to return." Clinton was widely criticized when Pennsylvania Avenue was closed during and for the remaineder of his administration. President Bush had not reopenned Penna Ave. and as of today, the security around the White House is even more restrictive. Today's security is probably necessary. But what about last June or March?

I am glad we have President Bush in the White House. I support him and supported him prior to this crisis. But even I was concerned about how his body language came off during his presentations the last couple of days. His stilted speech patterns troubled me. The words were there. Yet the elocution lacked the passion and compassion of the moment I needed. I yearned for the comfort and inspiration Ronald Reagan brought to the cameras in times of trouble and crisis. I'm sorry, President Bush hasn't done that for me.

None of my comments are made because I am unpatriotic. None are made because I am trying to split the American people. None are made because I am trying to aide and abet the enemy. None are made because I don't think that the President cares or is involved or is doing what is right. Honestly, at this time I don't envy the burden he is carrying. I believe he's a good man and a worthy President.

But as I read this, many of my thoughts and concerns were put to paper in this article. I'm glad it appears that he now seems to have found a way to connect. Partisans would have felt that way no matter how well or poorly he has performed.

There has been much unfair criticism of the President and of the events that may have been influential of how this happened. But in my opinion, the most wretched has been mostly from those who are to the right of Bush.......not from the media in general.

Was this articles timing maybe a little out of skew. Maybe. But again, I too was feeling much of what written.

[xp38]

Thank you...much appreciated. Who is President pro tempore of the Senate? The South Dakota munchkin?

[Uff Da]

"After three days of appearing uncertain of himself in response to the crisis"

Don't they ever stop ? Has anyone seen him appear uncertain of himself ?

NO, to both of your questions....definitely NO!!

Ya, it's amazing....all the while this journalist hands out a few complimentary comments, he's deliberately 'twisting his knife' in President Bush's back.....Who needs this written tripe???

[GraniteStateConservative]

It also kept Madelne Albright from being able to serve if it was called for.

[Matchett-PI]

You wrote: "All week, in formal settings, Bush has come across as somewhat stiff and rhetorically maladroit. ... he has until now seemed the victim of his handlers, the same ones who reportedly wouldn't let him return to Washington on that fateful morning."

Peter Jennings ... is that you?

[joesbucks]

thank you for information regarding the line of sucession.