[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?

[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.