"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
President Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
18 comments:
Nice quote from Theodore Roosevelt.
Here's another good one from this wise man...
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
I agree and I have never called for no criticism of the President. In fact there are numerous things that I disagree with by the administration.
Border security is one and like many I want to see the borders closed off before we deal with the "Less then Legal" ones that are already here. Many say lets kick em all out but that is not possible or probable. I do give the guy credit for trying to do something with the problem. I also wished he and the Republican congress would have pushed harder on the Social Security problem for anybody who says that is not a train headed for a bridge-less pass is just sticking their heads in the sand. Sure Medicare is a bigger problem and needs fixing also but at least this guy touched the 3rd rail trying to do something.
Also he should be out front everyday telling everyone how good the economy really is and confronting the spin that is out there. Clinton bragged about his sucesses whenever he could and many gave him credit even when he did not do anything to bring the sucess on. Reagan was good at going to the people with both good and bad news and making them understand. Carter? what did he ever have to bragg about?
President Bush has stepped up to the plate and has taken some nasty picthes, ones avoided by others from both parties...
That's one of my favorite photos of President George W. Bush on Air Force One on 9/11/01....
I love the video of Bush sitting with the children reading "My Pet Goat" while planes slammed into the country. No, in fact, that video is infuriating.
Zen said, I love the video of Bush sitting with the children reading "My Pet Goat" while planes slammed into the country. No, in fact, that video is infuriating.
You, Zen, must not have children because if you did you would understand why the President did not panic in front of little kids.
And you are showing your ignorance or else you are knowingly being misleading because the name of the book was not "My Pet Goat," an invented title by lefties, but rather "Reading Mastery 2" which included a story titled "The Pet Goat." (Source: http://www.davekopel.com/Terror/Fiftysix-Deceits-in-Fahrenheit-911.htm)
And the President remained in that classroom for a total of seven minutes after being informed of what was going on.
Quoted from the source: "Gwendolyn Tose’-Rigell, the principal of Emma E. Booker Elementary School, praised Bush’s action. "I don’t think anyone could have handled it better. What would it have served if he had jumped out of his chair and ran out of the room?"
The principle went on to say that President Bush's presence had a calming effect and helped them get through an extremely difficult day.
Even the former Democrat Representative from Indiana, Lee Hamilton who was vice-chairman of the September 11 Commission, said, "Bush made the right decision in remaining calm, in not rushing out of the classroom."
It would be nice if you guys could start getting your facts correct.
I said that Bush was reading "My Pet Goat" that is exactly what you also agreed the name of the story was. Where's the disagreement?
Let's be certain of the facts shall we? The first plane struck before Bush even entered the classroom.
Let's say that he did sit there for seven minutes. I can think of about 300 questions I could be asking. How many can you come up with? Bush asked zero.
Do you really think that's a strong showing of national defense? Do you honestly think that Bush could not have excused himself from the room without freaking out the children? Why do you assume that it's either sit there and do nothing, or jumping up and running out screaming? Ridiculous.
Can you for not even one momnet admit that he could have said, "Hey kids, it's been really great meeting with you and visiting. But unfortunately, being the president, I have something very important to tend to, so you will have to excuse me. i will try to reschedule and visit again soon."
That would have taken all of 30 seconds at the very most. Then he could have busied himself with learnig what was going on. But he did not! This is an absolute disgrace and a complete admission of Bush's ineptness and utter incompetence. There is NO WAY that he can claim any credibility on national security. We are all at greater risk and in more danger with George Bush at the helm.
*sigh* You guys will never get it. Here we are at the fifth anniversary of 9/11 ... and all you can do is bash a President who has kept us safe for those five years.
You don't have kids. I can tell. Even the principle of the elementary school who works every day with children said President Bush's reaction was the correct one. You do not jump up in the middle of a story with small kids no matter how "calm" you try to make it out to be.
Besides, there were security issues to be dealt with ... a middle Eastern man had tried to gain access to the President earlier in the day posing as a journalist. Instead of making rash getaways as you suggested, they weighed the situation and acted appropriately.
Wouldn't want to be in an emergency with you. Sounds as if you would panic and cause more harm - "get out at any cost!!"
Sorry, fella. No Bush-bashing allowed on my watch. President George W. Bush is my hero.
Oh, and BTW, it was "THE Pet Goat" not "MY Pet Goat." Technical ... but you brought it up.
zen said..."We are all at greater risk and in more danger with George Bush at the helm."
Zen,
Your hate against Bush is making you sound like a flea in a circus.
Zen said, "We are all at greater risk and in more danger with George Bush at the helm.
You are out of touch with reality.
In words of Yoda, ...anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, suffering leads to the dark side.
Zen,
You threw me a curve ball with that one. I have admired the way you can come back with facts and data to present your beliefs and in fact I enjoy watching you and Bubba go back and forth at times. Tonights post made me go back and look at my copy of "Fahrenheit 9/11".The comments about the President just sitting there with children while planes slammed into "the country" and reading some book about a goat sounded like classic Michael Moore. I often thought about how I would have acted in that situation and how others would have. Having been in situations where somebody needed to take charge to prevent panic or worse I have learned at times how you react is how your suboardinates will react to the situation. To have pannicked or reacted strongly in that situation could\would have sent a completely different message to the citizens.
What would Bill Clinton have done?
Al Gore? Military hero John Kerry?
Jim Webb? if anybody could have found him?
After all of the attacks that we went thru during the Clinton administration and his reactions too those attacks, maybe it's better that we did not see what Clinton would have done after 9/11....
This morning I reread Zen's comment, "There is NO WAY that he can claim any credibility on national security. We are all at greater risk and in more danger with George Bush at the helm."
I am saddened that the hatred of our President is so strong with the liberal left that they cannot even admit his leadership has helped keep Muslim terrorists from attacking on our soil for five years.
In reality, during those five years, while our intelligence and diligence has kept us safe, terrorists have attacked in Britain, Spain, India, Turkey, Russia, Indonesia, Jordan, Israel, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries, killing innocent people like the ones killed on 9/11.
Because of our intelligence and diligence, we helped break up a terrorist cell in Britain last month that had plans to blow up airplanes on their way to America.
We've killed or captured dozens of al Qaeda leaders. We overthrew and captured Saddam Hussein which removed that safe haven for terrorists.
I'm sad because my children are growing up in a United States that has so many Zen-libs who hate the President - HATE - not just disagree with him. There is hatred in the liberal community that is sick and perverse.
Anyone who can make the kinds of statements made by Zen does not have an open mind and reveals their agenda for all to read.
A wise leader like Bush knows that when an event like 9-11 happens and a possible series of events is unfolding it is not the time to start asking 100's of questions. As president he is surrounded by some of the smartest highest trained personel availible. He did the best thing that could be done. Show strength, let his people gather the facts of the situation, and then be briefed before making rash decisions or running around in a panic.
I for one wish that people would use 9-11 to remember those who died, have died since, and will die in the future because of terrorism.
It was a day that we were drawn into a struggle that has gone on all the way back to ancient history, as there is no cause older than the fight over religion. It was a day that a fight we would have liked to stay out of was brought to our door. Our nose was bloodied. But as an American people we have always stood up to bullies and pushed back. It is not a fight we picked, but it is a fight we must win.
That is all I will say on this matter. I will use my rememberance to reflect, not argue.
Zen = Hate
Let me correct the "hate" allegations. I do not "Hate" George Bush. Rather, I think he has not performed competently, and I think his policies are misguided and wrong. There is no need or use for anyone that criticizes the president for these failures, to be labled as a hater. It is an easy tag for some to hurl, rather than engage in a discussion or debate over valid reasons why this opinion is supported by the record. It's childish as well as malicious.
What is "sick and perverse" is the allegance to Bush and the Party in the face such obvious contempt for this country and the world. To excuse every mistake and instead blame the critics, shows a clear lack of self assesment. It shows insecurity. So again rather than stand him up for accountibility, some of you see demagoguery as the only way to respond.
The record stands that we indeed have been attacked since 9/11. Anthrax was sent in the US mail, killing about 9 people, targeting US legislators, and literally shutting down of the postal service. This was an act of terrorism, and it remains unsolved to this day.
We have not been hit with a bomb or plane used as a bomb since then. But everyone agrees that it is only a matter of time. What then does that say for Bush's performance?
Let's be reminded also of the record that Bush was president when 9/11 did happen. He was warned numerous times, and for the 8 months he was in office he took absolutely no steps in preparing or fighting terrorism. In fact he has been described as not taking the threat seriously. So, by continually pointing back and blaming Clinton, it only further shows that with that evidence Bush still ignored the problem until it was too late.
Again, many of you still see Bush's reaction on 9/11 in the classroom as a black or white moment. You think that either he sits there and does zero, or he jumps up and panics. This is a false choice and if you were honest, you'd at least admit it. In life there are very, very rarely ever any choices that are black or white only.
I think this speaks further to one of Bush's fundamental problems. He is absolutely not intellectually curious. Had hardly even traveled outside of the US before he became president. He did not even know the difference between Sunni and Shia Islam before the wars.
Let the record also show that Bush allowed bin Laden escape in Tora Bora. That he's been absolutely wrong, in every catagory, for invading Iraq, and continues to be. He's presided over a time when the threat of Iran and North Korea has grown.
It astounds me that no matter what, if someone believes something so strongly, then facts and reality are copmletely meaningless.
Zen said, "It astounds me that no matter what, if someone believes something so strongly, then facts and reality are copmletely meaningless."
Exactly, Zen! President Bush's leadership has kept us safe for five years so it astounds me that you believe so strongly that he has done nothing and that we are no safer than before 9/11 that facts and reality are completely meaningless to you.
swac>> It seems like a bad idea to place all your eggs in one basket.
One, that you can ignore everything else that the Bush administration has screwed up.
Two, you completely ignore that fact that on his watch we were attacked.
And three, that if/when we are attacked again, your defense will have completely expired. What then will you say, "He kept us safe for (whatever amount of time), so he's great." Who then will you hold accountable?
It's no use to talk to you. You're not listening. You don't want to hear it and you won't believe anything that is pro-President Bush.
There's no need for me to point out anything negative about the administration because you and most of the MSM do plenty of that. What we need are people to remind us of the GOOD that has come about from this administration.
Your tired old argument that we were attacked on his watch ... go watch Michael Moore again and get more talking points. President Bush was "on duty" seven months; Bill Clinton had been on duty eight years. Hmmm.....
As far as being attacked again, I've always said it could happen at anytime. We are extremely fortunate it has been this long. When it happens (and I say "when" because they haven't stopped trying), you and the MSM will blame the President. We are an open society. It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep us completely safe. That's all the more reason why it's remarkable we've gone five years without another attack. That's all the more reason to have intelligence gathering to get inside their cells and discover what's going on. That's all the more reason for Americans to remain diligent and aware.
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