***The Courage Of George W. Bush***

Stardate: 0401.17

[The Wizard]

As I listen to the jabberings of the misc. democrats who are attacking the President, those who were in the services, et al, I always remember one sight I will never forget the rest of my life......

A few days after 9-11 when no one knew what was happening and who was behind it, and no one was really sure if it was over, I watched George Bush, all alone, walk out to the mound at Yankee Stadium, in front of 55 thousand people and as clean a target as ever existed, show the world that America, (at least this American) wasn't going to be intimidated.....and there, all alone, no SS, no NYPD, nothing, he threw out that first ball.......

You could hear America stop breathing until he was off the field.......

That took more guts than anything any of these pathetic weasels ever did in their lives.......

I will never forget that.....ever......

[TruthNtegrity]

I have a rule when I'm watching PMSNBC, CNN or C-Span. I mute the TV.

I started doing this following the 2000 election because I just couldn't stand most of the insanity coming out of the mouths on there.

But the problem is - I lip read, so I have to make sure I'm not looking at their mouths, or not having any sound doesn't matter!! Yeah, I'm the one that people ask, when something is blipped on TV, "What'd he say?" if they can't figure it out for themselves!

[Wolfstar]

Thank you so much. My math skills are basic, my finances leave a lot to be desired, but the good Lord did see fit to bless me with a way with words. So I try to use what He gave me to beneficial effect. :-)

[TruthNtegrity]

If — I say, IF — those of us who think the President showed extraordinary courage that night are operating under some sort of naivety, well, bug off and leave us to it. What's it to you, anyway?

Good one. Thank you for writing exactly what I was thinking.

I've been on too many hijacked threads lately - and I'm sick and tired of it.

We now return you to the subject of this thread - our Amazing President Bush.

[Wolfstar]

They seek to divide us. We'll not let them.

Most definitely not! The FR counter "insurgency" has begun.

[TruthNtegrity]

Go away.

Take it somewhere else.

We no longer care what you think and are tired of you interrupting us here.

Buh bye!

[Wolfstar]

The fool doesn't understand that there are different kinds of courage. One type I admire deeply is the quiet courage of those with loved ones in the war zone, keeping things going here at home, enduring the worry, missing that voice, that smile. I'm glad you know there are folks here in FReeperdom who care about them almost as much as you do — and about you.

[Wolfstar]

Al Frankenstein — LOL! Probably so.

[Wolfstar]

If you find out the title of the book, can you let me know? I'd love to get my hands on it.

[Wolfstar]

I find myself getting most of my news from FR and other internet sources these days. Even Fox is getting old, because I just don't give one whit about the latest celebrity justice junk or the Dem horse-race nonsense. After the Dems pick their standard bearer, then I'll pay closer attention, but not before.

[Wolfstar]

I think later in the thread he/she finally took the hint and left. Then this "swarthyguy" dufus showed up ranting about Saudi Arabia. Sigh. I'm just getting ready to go feed the dogs and get ready for bed. So I chose not to jump into that one.

[TruthNtegrity]

Bingo. I mentioned in response to your excellent posts of this past Friday that I think the reason I get emotional about this President (unlike any President in the past) comes from the shattered emotions for me watching my fellow countrymen get incinerated in those four airliners and in the buildings where they exploded, seeing others plummet to their deaths, and watching the collapse of the WTC live and knowing that brave men and women in emergency response were being pulverized to dust under the weight of those buildings. My emotions have been frayed since that day. President Bush, as you have said, has consistently expressed the anger, determination, desire for justice, unwillingness to pursue foreign policy in a "business as usual manner," and the sorrow that most of us have felt. GW Bush is more than simply a President and wise leader -- he's a decent human being who thinks, and feels, like a decent human being.

When I read some of the hardened hatred that some on these boards have for this President (which goes beyond simple disagreement with policies), I have to wonder...are they also decent human beings? I've come to the conclusion that some are not. I await evidence to the contrary.

Double Bingo.

I lost 17 people from my home town in the WTC towers, and 9 very close friends in the Pentagon.

When I saw the President stride out to the mound, I was slightly overwhelmed, having returned a short while before from yet another funeral at Arlington Cemetery for a friend who was killed in the Pentagon. It is impossible to remain dry-eyed through the folding of the flag, that is, IF you've made it past the casson part!!

When I saw the President stride to the mound, I was so overwhelmed that he would do such a thing - go out into the middle of 55,000 people to throw out the first ball. I knew this was supposed to be symbolic, but I did NOT want to be going to Arlington Cemetery for the funeral of another President in my lifetime. I have never prayed so hard, wanted to close my eyes as much as I did, yet stared, transfixed, as he threw the ball, and the crowd burst into the most rousing cheer I've ever heard.

I sat with tears of relief streaming down my face - for the strike, for the fact that my President was still alive, and for the stance that he took. He was saying, "Here ya go, terrorists. We are NOT afraid to go out and enjoy OUR sport."

I grew up at the ballparks of NY - an avid Dodger fan, my Dad took us to Giant games, Dodger games, Yankee games. Any game was good if it was in NY! When they built Shea Stadium for the Mets, I started going there with friends - following in a tradition my Dad had started. In fact, I took a guy from Iowa who had just returned from 'Nam to one of the Mets championship games, and had the thrill of watching them win. A farm boy from Des Moines, he nevertheless knew how to work the parking lot, to get tickets from a scalper so we could get in. How does a farm hick learn such things in the muck of 'Nam?

Anyway, it meant so much to me that the President took the stand he did. He was saying in a way that I could understand and believe, "See? When I say we can go on with our lives, I mean it. We can't let the terrorists win, and stop participating in American life."

It was more than a symbolic, empty gesture. He understood everything there is to understand about American life.

He never ceases to amaze me.

[DeSoto]

About the book "A Perfect Wife"? I have heard that is not very complimentary to Laura Bush. From Amazon.com's reviews is this little gem;

Helen Thomas, Hearst newspaper columnist and author of Dateline White House and Front Row at the White House

"Laura Bush is superbly defined in this new biography by Ann Gerhart. It's a wonderful book."

As someone a lot wiser than me once said "If'n they're 'fer it, I'm a'gin it." That applies double in my opinion to anything that Helen Thomas says.

[ohioWfan]

I was warned about that book by my sister in law during Christmas time.

I guess she was right! :o)

[ohioWfan]

Anyone who does not understand that it took courage for the President to throw that pitch in Yankee Stadium does not understand courage.

Period.

[Howlin]

It's very important to dispell illusions about figures of national importance, regardless of party or affiliation. No sugar-coating, no building up of a faux mythos, no pedestals.

Well, if you think you're the one who's going to change anybody's mind about George W. Bush, you're in way over your head.

[TruthNtegrity]

Thanks so much for the "increasing the picture size" information!

I post the Dose on Monday's and sometimes I find pictures on AP or the whitehouse.gov that need to be enlarged. But when I tried it, they were distorted. Now I know the proportions to use.

You're swell!

[TruthNtegrity]

Look, we've already had the thread hijacked once.

Now you're trying it again.

Go away. Take it somewher else.

Buh bye!

[Howlin]

[TruthNtegrity]

The reviews on the book on Laura were mixed but here's the thing.

The book is written by an author who never interviewed Laura.

She published what she'd read about the twins.

She managed to interview some friends (shall we say "former") of the First Lady but not the current friends, or any of those in Texas still close to the First Lady.

Save your money. Read the library copy if you must, but do you use your good money to buy it.

Review by Dr. Deb, I think. But my paraphrase of what was written, so I'll take the blame if I got it wrong.

[Howlin]

The propaganda works.

Obviously you're one of those people who NEEDS everybody else to be wrong to prove yourself right.

Pity your family and friends.