Hi Jonny. I'm so glad you saw this thread.
Yes, I agree. It's one of my favorite moments as well.
I was just watching the Flight 93 memorial at Shanksville, PA. The President and First Lady take so much time greeting the family members. They are patient, gracious, and solicitous of how the folks are doing.
While watching, I was struck by what a truly remarkable man GWB is. He's not glib. He's not slick in the modern TV-age meaning of that word. He doesn't have the typical politician's poker face and emotional guard. What goes on inside is written all over his face and body language. But he is so real. So compelling. So genuinely great in the best, most towering sense of that word, I am awed that we have been so fortunate to have him during this critical time.
History, written as it is by mostly left-wing academics, may or may not be kind to him. But I think the Lord he so fervently believes in will one day say to our Dubya, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Very well done."
I was struck by what a truly remarkable man GWB is.
The same thought occurred to me a little while ago when I was watching the President at the Pentagon. He was talking to--and often hugging--the survivors and family members of those that were killed there.
At one point, W came to a lady and talked to her for a moment. The lady put her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. W leaned in and touched his forehead to hers ... It was such a natural and tender gesture, something that can't be planned or rehearsed. Like you said, completely genuine.
God bless him. I don't know if we'll have another leader quite like George W. Bush.