My take on the Brokaw comment was a little different. He was commenting on watching "F-9/11" and how the reaction, including his, was to do something. Since people were watching this w/ the benefit of hindsight, that's a pretty reasonable reaction. You're watching a movie where you know the ending so you naturally root for the good guy to act quicker than he actually does. Brokaw's tone was not critical. Also, he was critical of Moore and the film and noted the wrong facts and distortions of the movie.
There are plenty of reasons to be critical of Brokaw, but, IMO, this wasn't one of them.
I listened to the Brokaw-Imus exchange this morning and got the same impression of it as you did.
"I'm sorry, kids. The President has to go. America is under attack."
With MORE time to think about it than Bush would have had, that is what Brokaw tells us he would have said.
I think you're correct. As I understand it, 7 minutes of F9/11 is nothing but watching Bush sit in the classroom. 7 minutes in a movie is an eternity, Moore intended it to make the audience feel uncomfortable & edgy. A cheap shot (like all of them) on Moore's part, but Brokaw is apparently just acknowledging that it's effective.
Focusing on whether the al Qaida attacks on NY should have been handled quicker by the President/whomever is what John Kerry wants.
This is John Kerry's idea of Leadership? Good Lord.