Statement by President Bush (on loss of space shuttle Columbia)

Spaceflight Now ^

[McGruff]

My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our Space Shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors.

On board was a crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband; Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson; Commander Laurel Clark; Captain David Brown; Commander William McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to all humanity.

In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.

All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.

The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.

In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.

May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.

[My2Cents]

You are absolutely correct. For a nation like this, with all its problems, with all of its brutishness and sin, to have a person like this with his integrity, decency, and spiritual sensitivity, is an indication of God's rich mercy to our people. God bless President Bush, and God bless the families of our lost heroes.

[Fintan]

What's next (and you know it's coming) is someone like, say, oh, Peter Jennings or Dan Rather or Matty Lauer or the Perky One making a point of letting us know that the first shuttle disaster occurred during the Reagan (read: Republican) administration and this one today during the Bush (read: really evil, war-mongering, fascist, far-right wing) administration.

 

[eclectic]

The cause in which they died will continue.

Ad astera per aspera...

[Darlin']

"For a guy who's supposed to be such an illiterate and inarticulate dunce, he sure comes up with some of the most beautiful and poignant words."

Yes, he does and you know every word he speaks is genuinly heartfelt. I feel certain that it was the President who added the part about the Creator.

[Churchillspirit]

A very moving speech from the President and how tactful of him to quote from the Old Testament.

God bless him and all who mourn the seven souls lost today.

[calljack]

Everybody dies. They became shooting stars. Very sad.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Whenever he speaks of God and other religious stuff, I know it's from his heart.

[lawgirl]

I was in shock until I saw President Bush and then I just wanted to bawl. You could tell he was very sad---he sounded completely heartbroken. His speech was very soothing and I am so glad that he is president at this time. He is such a good "mourner in chief" at times like these- unlike his predecessor. I really hate to have this happen in his presidency.

[NonValueAdded]

Amen. Thanks for posting this transcript.

[dittomom]

Thank you for posting that copy of the shuttle patch. I'm going to display it proudly, along with the photo of the crew.

God rest their braves souls...

[Robert_Paulson2]

I believe that the priorities of the previous administration UNDERFUNDED the necessary technology for our Space Defence and specifically the technology needs at NASA.

This tragedy is just like 9-11 in that aspect.

The holes that the clintongs created with their evil socialist programs... are showing up EVERY TIME we have a national tragedy.

Bush could not even have asked for more money for NASA and Technology without facing a bunch of CRAP from the DEMS... until about 3 weeks ago... when the dems tried to keep us from even forming a new operating resolution... in the senate.

DEATH is the pricetag that we pay and which is coming due as a result of liberalism, electing democrats in general, and Bill and Hillary Clinton- Tom Dasshole and the like, specifically.

liberalism kills.

[steve-b]

I shudder to think of Billzebubba fielding an event like this, rushing through some pap his handlers wrote for him as quickly as possible so he could get back to his intern.

[Vermont Lt]

While my first thoughts were for the crew and their families, a thought shortly after was how GW was going to handle it. I said a short prayer for him, because everyone--and I mean everyone--who was around for the last time this happened would compare his statements to those of Reagan. That was a tough act to follow.

I think the President did fine.

[MasonGal]

He certainly has seen his share of tragedy as President during these 2 years-that's for sure.

[DaBroasta]

He certainly has seen his share of tragedy as President during these 2 years-that's for sure.

Thanks to all the piles of RAT dung the Raping Rhodes Scholar left behind. From terrorism to the economy, X42 knowingly placed the future of 280 million people in peril in exchange for satisfaction of his gluttonous lust for power and sexual gratification.

[Moonmad27]

That's why earlier today I enjoyed driving ahead of and honking at someone in a bigger SUV who had "IMPEACH BUSH" and "HAIL TO THE THIEF" stickers on his car. After hearing GWB on the radio, I had to make the guy see clearly my "BUSH 2004 - Leadership Integrity Morality" and especially the "Dont Mess with Texas" sticker on my SUV! Anyone who still has stickers as that guy did, and who still questions the leadership of this President is hopeless. A liberal talk show host on LA's KFI said that while he disagrees with GWB's policies, he was impressed by the President's genuine emotion on TV today.

[jos65]

My sentaments exactly.

[CarolAnn]

"Once again President Bush is called upon to provide comfort to a shocked and saddened nation."

Make that two shocked and saddened nations. His choice of scripture was from the Old Testament. A thoughtful message that both the U.S. and Israel can be comforted by. A class act, our President.