Typical...this is from the caliber of people who made a stink over this photo.
Posted on 08/26/2005 8:36:39 AM PDT by quidnunc
There is a memorable photograph of President George W. Bush standing on a crushed and burned fire truck amidst the ruins of the World Trade Center just days after Sept. 11, 2001, when more than 3,000 of my countrymen and citizens of the world were killed in the most lethal — and cowardly — terrorist attacks in United States history.
It is a picture of our president holding a bullhorn and promising the weary rescue workers and the watching world that we would not back down, that terrorism would be defeated and the United States would lead the charge.
That same day, President Bush spent many hours in New York personally meeting, praying with and consoling the families of 9/11 victims.
I suppose that fact was forgotten when Carleton University professor Andrew Cohen wrote his column, "Bush's unexamined life," which appeared in Tuesday's Citizen.
Mr. Cohen began by citing a photo of a "brow furrowed … expression pained" President John F. Kennedy reacting to the news of an assassination to ponder whether President George W. Bush would react — or is capable of reacting — the same way.
This is Mr. Cohen's jumping off point to then attack the president over the war in Iraq.
The furrowed brow was all Mr. Cohen needed to confirm what he already believed about President Kennedy — that he was a good and compassionate president.
But when it comes to President Bush, apparently no picture, none of the countless acts of humanity and compassion the camera has captured during the Bush presidency matter, because Mr. Cohen can't move beyond the boundaries of his own bias.
I have met Mr. Cohen. I respect him. But he is dead wrong when it comes to his assessment of our president.
And I will make an assumption about Mr. Cohen: He is not a personal friend, colleague or acquaintance of the president. Yet Mr. Cohen offers a staggering indictment on the personal feelings of a man he does not know personally.
Well, Mr. Cohen, I do know President Bush. I know that his thoughts on terrorism and the war are diametrically opposed to everything you purport to understand about him.
For this president and the American people, 9/11 changed everything. We have not forgotten those who died on that dark day and every single waking moment of the Bush presidency since then has been dedicated to preventing another attack — and to eliminating the risk.
It is not lost on me and the majority of Americans that since 9/11 we have been successful in thwarting another attack. That is why the American people re-elected President Bush. They recognize that only time has passed since Sept. 2001 — not the danger.
And while you discuss a "lack of remorse" by the president, many Americans appreciate and stand by his resolve. No one likes war, and the war in Iraq is no exception. But as you noted, "life presents a bill."
So does freedom.
The blood of millions of Canadian and American soldiers in faraway lands gave us the privilege to publicly discuss the personal humility of President Bush.
As any student of history understands, liberating a country after generations of terror and tyranny takes years — sometimes decades. There are no quick fixes in Iraq. But to pull out now is unthinkable to President Bush, as it should be. To stay the course means sacrifice but the alternative is far worse.
Look what has happened in just two short years: We witnessed a national election in Iraq the naysayers promised us would never happen. We watched in awe as freedom-seeking Iraqis risked everything to vote. The Iraqi people seem to appreciate the precious gift of liberty better than some who've long enjoyed it.
Twenty-four months ago it was unthinkable that two rogue nations like Afghanistan and Iraq would be establishing democratic governments. Right now, Iraq is in the midst of writing its own constitution.
Those of us who know Mr. Bush know he has personally met with countless military families and he aches for all of them. He's also met with countless victims of Sept. 11 and those of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein. Our president — along with the military he commands — understands defeating terrorism is the calling of our time. History will note whether we bravely answered freedom's call or let the next generation face the same horrors.
The great Winston Churchill once said, "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."
Thank God the men and women of Churchill's generation rejected the policy of appeasement. They understood there are just some things in life worth fighting for.
I am confident that history will judge this American president as one of the great liberators of all time. His cause — the cause of freedom — is far more important to President Bush, and to the millions of people around the world who support him, than is the ebb and flow of a "popularity" poll.
David H. Wilkins is the U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Defending the President of the United States
(David H. Wilkins in The Ottawa Citizen, August 25, 2005)
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=8474467d-779e-4d5a-8c26-ad18768e3bb9
It wasn't because (a) JFK's back injuries were flaring up that day or (b) he was stressed out at all.
Unlike Americans, Canadians have a special power than enables them to peer into men's souls - even if they only have a photograph.
Freeing millions of opressed people is most definitely not empathetic... -sarcasm
Too bad there is no photograph of JFK when he learned of the assasination of President Diem of South VietNam.
Yes, and after JFK took the call regarding Patrice Lumumba, he went back to his private quarters where any number of hookers, groupies or starlets would be waiting to consult with him.
Maybe Marilyn was under the desk.
How empathetic is a man that cheats on his family.....if one is willing to cheat in their personal life they will cheat in their professional life.....do I need to give examples....
"Had Mr. Bush asked the right questions, as Mr. Kennedy did in challenging the hawks during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he might have avoided this mess."
The Bay of Pigs was a fiasco. Try that for a reasoned approach. I liked Kennedy. If he had lived, he might have done some very good things, but this entire piece of drivel makes me wonder who the hell allows their child to sit in this truly second-rate intellect's class?
"One wonders how George W. Bush would have reacted."
Liberals don't have to ask, they have it all figured out beforehand:
Bush would have made a blank chimp face expression with his mouth forming an "O". Then he would ask Karl Rove how he should feel. Cheney would send black helicopters to make sure the job was done.
Liberals are so frikkin shallow and predictable.
/Just to be sure, sarcasm off
That must have been before JFK threw the Cubans on the beach and left them to die or rot in Castro's jail, before he took off for a tryst with some honey without telling the officer with the "football" where he was, before he was complicit in the murder of the Diem brothers in Viet Nam - but maybe after he cozied up to MoMo Giancanna and the mob and tried to whack Castro.
"He is said to have mocked a woman's pathetic plea for clemency"
Let's see, that creature slaughtered two people with a pickax , and told a detective later that she had an orgasm after committing the crime.
What exactly does this Canuckistanian cretin think Gov. Bush should have done???
I think the cold weather up there freezes their brains!
Bzzzzzt! Man, that's two strikes before a word is written. Pretending JFK was a saint makes three! Yer out!
This President did the right thing with the Sheehan’s early on. It is the now deranged Ms. Sheehan who is doing daily, the wrong thing with the help of Michael Moore and his worn out, tiresome band of Ugly, anti-Americans.
I weep for Casey not because he gave his life for his nation, but because his mother is spending his efforts and heroism in the line of duty so egregiously and dishonestly.
If Bush had asked the right questions like Kennedy did...
KENNEDY: "Umm...since I was such an idiot, and played on the world stage like most liberals do thinking everyone could link arms and sing Kumbaya, which encouraged these evil people to come to the logical conclusion that I was a spineless, inexperienced weasel, whereapon they installed these missles in Cuba and we are now on the brink of blowing each other up...what should I do?"
Probably "If Jackie finds out about Marilyn, the sh!t's gonna hit the fan!";)
Canadian academics......what words best describe their utter uselessness.
Typical...this is from the caliber of people who made a stink over this photo.
Cohen's an idiot. Tenured at Carlton University in Ottawa. He (like most of his Canadian MSM cohorts) is simply a hack for the Liberal Party in Canada, and all the liberal media loons which fly with it. 'nuff said.
I'm glad Wilkins is calling them on it. The Ivory tower they reside in is made of snow, and will melt with the light of truth. Too bad there aren't more like the Toronto Sun (the Ottawa Sun's sister paper). Check it our here: www.torontosun.com. The National Post is pretty good, too, but has been morphing left the past few months (you need a subscription to view most content, but it's worth a look at the free stuff). If you want really far right, try the Western Standard, published out of Alberta.
Or maybe a"tryst"wasn't going to take place?
I'd be willing to bet that this self-proclaimed expert on the Presdent's inner life was one of those defending Clinton's "right to a private life" when it was proven, despite his lies to the contrary, that he was having sex with young women in the Oval Office.
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