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Bush declines Obama invitation to go to ground zero

ReverendHellh0und said:
Offended? no. A litte confused as to the purpose, yes. Well maybe offended, What's he going to do? Understand our pain? and that would be if bush and whoever else came with him, I'd feel the same about the lot of em. It's like wearing a speedo to a funeral, kinda not appropriate.
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And 9/11 survivors and families are a diverse bunch. Understand their pain is nearly impossible.. though I do believe that some might feel this victory will help them heal and give them strength. Some on the news have said it's great news to them. This raid couldn't have gone better. The mansion wasn't wired and it didn't blow up, and the Navy Seals did a great job protecting each other and getting the job done.

Just the fact that people went to Ground Zero to celebrate for the first time ever, as opposed to morning and being stunned by the sheer damage and loss is a huge symbol in itself.
 
Zyphlin said:
This statement shows nothing but your utter ignorance of reality when it comes to former President Bush. His declining to appear is far more in line with every single action he's taken since leaving office than it is some kind of sign of "GOP Advisors" telling him to do it. The only time the man's made somewhat of a buzz since leaving the Presidency was when his book came out, and even then he kept a relatively low profile, tried to stick to talking about his administration, and refused...even on extremely friendly locations such as the Rush Limbaugh show...from saying a negative word or bash towards Obama. Bush isn't going because of the same reason he's acted the way he has since leaving office...his time is done, he's stepping aside, its Obama's show now, and he doesn't want to be in the spotlight. He served his country, his time is done, someone new is doing it, and he feels its most respectful to Obama and to the American people to let things move forward as he steps out of the public eye gracefully and with class.
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Not quite true. He has critiqued his policies:

Bush takes swipes at Obama policies - Washington Times

But in the most part, he's been quiet up to this point.
 
Erod said:
No, that's just what real presidents do.

Many of us support his record and methods. We caught bin Laden this week because of them. Gore or Obama would have sent the U.N. to go get him at the outset.
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Wow....we caught Bid Laden because of GWB? I guess we caught Saddam Hussein because of Clinton, right?
 
SheWolf said:
And 9/11 survivors and families are a diverse bunch. Understand their pain is nearly impossible.. though I do believe that some might feel this victory will help them heal and give them strength. Some on the news have said it's great news to them. This raid couldn't have gone better. The mansion wasn't wired and it didn't blow up, and the Navy Seals did a great job protecting each other and getting the job done.

Just the fact that people went to Ground Zero to celebrate for the first time ever, as opposed to morning and being stunned by the sheer damage and loss is a huge symbol in itself.
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the folks who celebrated at Ground zero were not for the most part those who lost folks in the tragedy, when you did see one, they were in tears, or stating how this would not bring thier loved ones back. Which is also the reason, obama's visit irks me. more and more.
 
The dude is retired. He wants to stay home. I don't see how this is an issue.
 
Not directed specifically at you Rev, but if Obama didn't go....you'd have a whole uproar from the right-wing saying that Obama doesn't care and should have gone. As with everything else, OBama is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't in the rhetoric of the right.
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
the folks who celebrated at Ground zero were not for the most part those who lost folks in the tragedy, when you did see one, they were in tears, or stating how this would not bring thier loved ones back. Which is also the reason, obama's visit irks me. more and more.
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Again, they are a diverse bunch. I saw plenty on the news saying they were happy with the news, and thanked Bush and Obama for their work in making this day a reality. One woman lost her sister, and says she looks forward to the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed next.

No one person speaks for that entire group of people. Stop trying to pretend otherwise.
 
SheWolf said:
Again, they are a diverse bunch. I saw plenty on the news saying they were happy with the news, and thanked Bush and Obama for their work in making this day a reality. One woman lost her sister, and says she looks forward to the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed next.

No one person speaks for that entire group of people. Stop trying to pretend otherwise.
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I'm not. I am telling you though the media is selling you a very skewed story. this one happened to me, people I know, people I know who know, etc.... I could probably name close to 100 people that I knew, or knew of through others who died that day, add in a couple customers of mine and that number goes north.


I'm just telling you, it's not as rosey as you see it on the TV.
 
disneydude said:
Not directed specifically at you Rev, but if Obama didn't go....you'd have a whole uproar from the right-wing saying that Obama doesn't care and should have gone. As with everything else, OBama is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't in the rhetoric of the right.
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And I would be there stating damn right he shouldn't go and I would defend him against anyone who attacked him for not going.

Again, for what purpose is he going? It's like he's having a parade for himself.
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
tell me why is he going?
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Maybe he is going to set the official record straight on all the conflicting reports, and give praise to the Navy Seals... May he is going to celebrate like all the other Americans did that day. Tell me Rev, do you find it offensive that Americans went to Ground Zero when they heard the news and waved a flag? Was that insulting to families?

Whatever the president does, I think he should go off the cuff and talk to the people without a prompter and tell us how he sees the future of the War of Terror and what the next goals are. I don't care if he does that at Ground Zero or not, but he is president and the leader. He made the call, and he should be more open with the facts than he has already. His speech was pretty much scripted that night. I expect more.
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
And I would be there stating damn right he shouldn't go and I would defend him against anyone who attacked him for not going.

Again, for what purpose is he going? It's like he's having a parade for himself.
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Why do you assume that?
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
And I would be there stating damn right he shouldn't go and I would defend him against anyone who attacked him for not going.

Again, for what purpose is he going? It's like he's having a parade for himself.
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Honestly, I think he is going there because that is what the American people expect him to do. I think he would be highly criticized if after the US captured and killed the man that brought down the towers, if he didn't go to one of the sites and address the country. I think that most of the country not only expect him to do it, it is what they want him to do.

In a sad kinda way, its almost like a victory parade after the world series....its not really for the players so much as it is for the fans. I think people would be very upset if he didn't mark the occasion by going to ground zero. Obama's job is going to have to be to do it as respectfully and honorable as he possible can because there are going to be a great many Americans who want to celebrate.

I mean...why did Bush go to ground zero and make a speech after the attacks? He could have done it from the whitehouse, but the people wanted him to be there.
 
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SheWolf said:
Maybe he is going to set the official record straight on all the conflicting reports, and give praise to the Navy Seals...
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Why can't he do that now, from the oval office, at prime time? Why does he think he needs to come to new york and tell us he knows how we feel?

May he is going to celebrate like all the other Americans did that day. Tell me Rev, do you find it offensive that Americans went to Ground Zero when they heard the news and waved a flag? Was that insulting to families?
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I think it was a bit naive. We killed a horrible horrible man. That should have been it. as I said, the battle that day was won, but there will be no songs..... We who lost, still lost, and the death of one man won't stop the wolves from trying again.



Whatever the president does, I think he should go off the cuff and talk to the people without a prompter and tell us how he sees the future of the War of Terror and what the next goals are. I don't care if he does that at Ground Zero or not, but he is president and the leader. He made the call, and he should be more open with the facts than he has already. His speech was pretty much scripted that night. I expect more.
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I agree with this whole heartedly, I don't think the pit, (that's what we called "ground zero", back then), is the right place for this. And dragging it out to thursday? I mean come on, all it's doing is building up the folklore the enemy will use to intice new idiots into thier ideals.

not smart. Kill him and be done, this pomp and circumstance is not who we are.
 
disneydude said:
Honestly, I think he is going there because that is what the American people expect him to do. I think he would be highly criticized if after the US captured and killed the man that brought down the towers, if he didn't go to one of the sites and address the country. I think that most of the country not only expect him to do it, it is what they want him to do.
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the pentagon was hit too. I think he should have made his statement on the kill and moved on, right now he's giving power to OBL's death to our enemies.
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
I'm not. I am telling you though the media is selling you a very skewed story. this one happened to me, people I know, people I know who know, etc.... I could probably name close to 100 people that I knew, or knew of through others who died that day, add in a couple customers of mine and that number goes north.


I'm just telling you, it's not as rosey as you see it on the TV.
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Rev, I know this didn't bring anybody back to life or make everybody's life suddenly better. The fact is, I honestly never thought we'd see this day.

I don't watch that much news to be honest... at least not compared to a lot of people I know. I watched a lot of news only lately to see these stories, and those stories and people went on the news before the news of this Ground Zero appearance so it isn't spin. They were speaking the very next day.... For ****s sake Rev, are you really trying to tell me that no family or survivor finds this news remotely uplifting or positive?

I am not even talking about Obama going to Ground Zero. I am just talking about the people I saw on the networks, talking and sharing their stories and feelings without interruption. They were treated with respect, and I saw no spin at all.
 
Temporal said:
Why would Bush ingratiate himself like that? This was Obama's victory.
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It's not ingratiation. He was the President when 9/11 occurred. Obama felt it was proper to invite him, and I agree.
 
Listen.... Bush has retired from politics all together, period. He has no desire to be back in the political circus or circle. The only time he was out on TV and doing interviews was when he was promoting his book and that was it, he had also said that he doesn't want anything with politics anymore.
 
Redress said:
You know what? AS much as I would like to say a liberal won this pissing match, the truth is that it was simply that the opportunity came along with Obama president. Obama really only gets credit in that he was the president when the opportunity came along.
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As Glenn Beck said, a SHOE could have done it. "Is the shoe a Republican? We know it can run!!" <quote by Colbert>
 
SheWolf said:
Rev, I know this didn't bring anybody back to life or make everybody's life suddenly better. The fact is, I honestly never thought we'd see this day.

I don't watch that much news to be honest... at least not compared to a lot of people I know. I watched a lot of news only lately to see these stories, and those stories and people went on the news before the news of this Ground Zero appearance so it isn't spin. They were speaking the very next day.... For ****s sake Rev, are you really trying to tell me that no family or survivor finds this news remotely uplifting or positive?

I am not even talking about Obama going to Ground Zero. I am just talking about the people I saw on the networks, talking and sharing their stories and feelings without interruption. They were treated with respect, and I saw no spin at all.
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that's cool. Just consider my point of view, while folks are cheering, and some reliving that awful day, I made sure all my provisions were in order, my bolt carrier well oiled, and I sat back with a cigar, and toasted my brothers for a job well done, tipped my hat to the president, and went about my life.
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
Why can't he do that now, from the oval office, at prime time? Why does he think he needs to come to new york and tell us he knows how we feel?



I think it was a bit naive. We killed a horrible horrible man. That should have been it. as I said, the battle that day was won, but there will be no songs..... We who lost, still lost, and the death of one man won't stop the wolves from trying again.






I agree with this whole heartedly, I don't think the pit, (that's what we called "ground zero", back then), is the right place for this. And dragging it out to thursday? I mean come on, all it's doing is building up the folklore the enemy will use to intice new idiots into thier ideals.

not smart. Kill him and be done, this pomp and circumstance is not who we are.
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Kill him and be done... I disagree. They burned our flag in the streets and celebrated a massive loss of life. We lost some of freedom and our country isn't the same. We buried him at sea, and treated his remains with respect. This is a big deal. I don't think we should just turn the news off and forget that bastard is dead, and ignore the fact our military intelligence is surprisingly sophisticated enough to actually find our enemies hiding in caves and mansions. :lol:

Sorry, Rev, if you don't want to celebrate... that's on you. Why can't the rest of us?
 
ADG said:
I would disagree. This was a gutsy decision. The intel they had told them that Usama was probably in the compound. They were following his personal courier and almost 100% sure that this is where he was hiding. It was Obama's decision to go in using a surgical ground team and not an aerial attack from a drone or Jet. This could have easily backfired on him, especially if any of Usama's aides and Pakistani allies had gotten wind of the operation. Just think if the operation had gone south! The right wing would have crucified Obama.
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I read that there were many times and options that the President passed on (for various reasons) before this situation presented.

In the end, President Obama opted against a bombing that could do so much damage it might be uncertain whether Bin Laden was really hit and chose to send in commandos. A “fight your way out” option was built into the plan, with two helicopters following the two main assault copters as backup in case of trouble.
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Clues Gradually Led to the Location of Osama bin Laden - NYTimes.com
 
SheWolf said:
Kill him and be done... I disagree. They burned our flag in the streets and celebrated a massive loss of life. We lost some of freedom and our country isn't the same. We buried him at sea, and treated his remains with respect. This is a big deal. I don't think we should just turn the news off and forget that bastard is dead, and ignore the fact our military intelligence is surprisingly sophisticated enough to actually find our enemies hiding in caves and mansions. :lol:

Sorry, Rev, if you don't want to celebrate... that's on you. Why can't the rest of us?
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Have your fun. :shrug:
 
SheWolf said:
Kill him and be done... I disagree. They burned our flag in the streets and celebrated a massive loss of life. We lost some of freedom and our country isn't the same. We buried him at sea, and treated his remains with respect. This is a big deal. I don't think we should just turn the news off and forget that bastard is dead, and ignore the fact our military intelligence is surprisingly sophisticated enough to actually find our enemies hiding in caves and mansions. :lol:

Sorry, Rev, if you don't want to celebrate... that's on you. Why can't the rest of us?
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You can. Please...while you are doing it...make sure it doesnt look like 'them' when they do it. Thats all.
 
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