Full 5 minute video of Bush's 911 inaction

[diamond geezer]

link to mov download (http://www.thememoryhole.org/911/bush-911.htm)

Yes folks now you to can see the full 5 minutes of video from when Bush was told of the 911 attacks.

* Watch the look of the Presidents surprise and outrage.

* Thrill to the Commander-in-Chiefs rapid response.

* Notice his fast exit, safeguarding a school full of children from possible attack.

* See the President actually read (today children's books, tomorrow newspapers).

* Check out the amateur camera work.

[3rdpath]

pretty pointless video if you ask me...

and i'm no fan of bush.

[Thomas Veil]

All right...my first reaction was that, giving Bush the benefit of the doubt, maybe he just didn't want to alarm the kids. Maybe he was told, and had confidence, that Rumsfeld was taking appropriate action. But the explanation after the movie kinds of throws cold water on that. He did have a perfect opportunity to excuse himself and just quietly say, "I have something to attend to."

So I don't know. It still doesn't make Bush look as completely indifferent as that breathless article implies...yet you have to wonder, what the heck was he thinking??

Good ammunition for Kerry to use the next time Bush questions Kerry's ability to handle a crisis.

[zimv20]

bush has said that, when first told, he was under the impression it was a small plane w/ a bad pilot. his first inclination was "accident," not "attack."

on one level, that's fine. he probably didn't have enough information to make the correct assessment.

BUT

the administration claims that terrorism weighed heavily on its mind pre-9/11. along w/ the WTC attack in '93, i would think that 'attack' would be the first inclination for someone for whom terrorism was a real concern (e.g. what do we think richard clarke would have thought, given the same information?).

imo, this is just one more example demonstrating that terrorism was not on bush's mind or very high up on his agenda pre-9/11.

[IJ Reilly]

I'm not so sure, but I do remember thinking at the time, "where is the President?" Then after several hours of him being (as we learned latter) shuffled around the country on AF1, he appears on TV for a few minutes with a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face, and makes that tepid "we're going to get the folks who did this" remark. I hope when the 9-11 commission moves on to the day of the event that they'll ask pertinent questions about why the President was missing in action for so long during a time of national emergency.

[Thomas Veil]

bush has said that, when first told, he was under the impression it was a small plane w/ a bad pilot. his first inclination was "accident," not "attack."

on one level, that's fine. he probably didn't have enough information to make the correct assessment.

This footage, obtained and presented exclusively by The Memory Hole, shows President Bush sitting in a Florida classroom for 5 minutes after he was told that the second Twin Tower has been hit and that America was being attacked.
Many of us at first thought it was some kind of horrible accident...but if this video was shot as stated above, then Bush can't use that excuse.

[Neserk]

pretty pointless video if you ask me...

and i'm no fan of bush.

Those were my thoughts. Arguments are weakened by things like this. Very probably he was in shock when he heard and that is why he had no obvious external reaction.

[sethypoo]

I'm not so sure, but I do remember thinking at the time, "where is the President?" Then after several hours of him being (as we learned latter) shuffled around the country on AF1, he appears on TV for a few minutes with a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face, and makes that tepid "we're going to get the folks who did this" remark. I hope when the 9-11 commission moves on to the day of the event that they'll ask pertinent questions about why the President was missing in action for so long during a time of national emergency.

I think the reason the President was missing in action for so long was because he is a bit of a target for Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Imagine what would have happened if the World Trade Center was destroyed, along with the White House (and imagine if the President had been in the White House at the time).

They shuffled him around during the first few hours after the attack because our government did not know when or where the next attack might happen. His dissapearance was simply a matter of national security.

[zimv20]

His dissapearance was simply a matter of national security.
i was much more inspired by guiliani heading down to the WTC that day than by bush hiding in a missile silo in the middle of the country. i expect leaders to lead, not hide.

i was in chicago, where all day there were rumors of more planes, and those planes heading towards chicago. i didn't have the luxury of hiding in a missile silo.

what does it say that i drew my inspiration from guiliani and tony blair, of all people?

[sethypoo]

i expect leaders to lead, not hide.

And if those leaders are dead, how might they lead?

Bush- leader of the free world.
Guliani- Mayor of New York.

Who is more symbolic, I ask?

To answer my own question, I think the death of Bush by Al Qaeda terrorists would create more waves than the death of Guliani.

[zimv20]

And if those leaders are dead, how might they lead?

hey, it's fine if you want to defend bush's hiding. personally, i was ready, able and willing to give him a second chance (i didn't like him pre-9/11), but he never did anything to impress me.

heading back to DC immediately would have impressed me. in the end, it took, what, 13 hours for him to get back?

i think he was a *****. your mileage clearly varies.

edit: wow, didn't know that word is off-limits. rhymes w/ wussy.

[Neserk]

And if those leaders are dead, how might they lead?

Bush- leader of the free world.



Somehow I doubt we would notice if he had been dead. He isn't a leader.

[IJ Reilly]

And if those leaders are dead, how might they lead?

And if those leaders are to lead, how can they hide?

[sethypoo]

Somehow I doubt we would notice if he had been dead. He isn't a leader.

That's arguable. Bush dies, things are going to happen. To say we won't notice is foolish, in the literal sense of the word. The media coverage would be horrendous.

And if those leaders are to lead, how can they hide?

They hide so the can lead later. A dead leader can't lead.

hey, it's fine if you want to defend bush's hiding. personally, i was ready, able and willing to give him a second chance (i didn't like him pre-9/11), but he never did anything to impress me.

heading back to DC immediately would have impressed me. in the end, it took, what, 13 hours for him to get back?

i think he was a *****. your mileage clearly varies.


I never said Bush wasn't a ***** (or a wussy, depending on how you look at it). I don't like Bush either! All I'm trying to get across is the fact that he went into hiding for a few hours for a good reason. He needed to cover his own a$$ so that he could get his bearings straight: remember, he was the president at the time of a national disaster. There was and still is a lot of pressure on him.
What did you guys want him to do? Waltz over to the World Trade Center and start digging right after the attacks? Or did you just want a simple press conference? Bush needed time to figure out something reasonably intelligent to tell America, he'd of been looked at as even more a fool if he got on the air right away to say "we have no idea what is going on, we'll get back to you ASAP." Not to mention the fact that all of America was either watching CNN, Fox, or the radio to find out what was going on.

[zimv20]

All I'm trying to get across is the fact that he went into hiding for a few hours for a good reason.
let's separate safety and appearance of strength.

i'm not suggesting bush brush off the secret service, stand in the white house lawn and shout "bring it on." i'm saying that what he did was evidence of cowardice. there existed multiple ways he could have stayed safe, looked brave and calmed a nation.

his brief statement before hiding was weak. a country full of people wondering where their president was -- both physically and from a leadership perspective -- was weak. making up stories about air force 1 being a target, in order to justify his cowardly behavior, was weak.

he was weak when he should have been strong. that is a larger issue than running straight away to the scene, imo. and as i've mentioned, had he run straight to the scene, i would have been impressed. but i don't mean to imply anything short of that wouldn't impress me. what he did and didn't do on 9/11 is what didn't impress me.

[Neserk]

They hide so the can lead later. A dead leader can't lead.



In this case a living leader can't lead, either. Calling him a leader is a real stretch. If he had died he would have died a hero. Living, he is a wuss. And a liar. It is unlikely we would have known this had he died.

I understand why the President of the US has to be protected in this case. I'm not arguing that. (Although I understand others are). But no doubt had Gore been in office "they" would have ripped him apart and said he was hiding.

[sethypoo]

Oh joy, a circular argument!

Nevermind :rolleyes:

Have fun guys.

[IJ Reilly]

Oh joy, a circular argument!

Nothing circular about it, or even elliptical. Not only did Bush remain out of sight for most of the day on 9-11, when he finally did talk to the nation, he had nothing inspirational to say about what the country was going through.

[pseudobrit]

A leader who's not willing to sacrifice and risk himself for his people is no leader.

[Neserk]

A leader who's not willing to sacrifice and risk himself for his people is no leader.


This is true. But in the United States the president doesn't have a choice.

[Neserk]

Nothing circular about it, or even elliptical. Not only did Bush remain out of sight for most of the day on 9-11, when he finally did talk to the nation, he had nothing inspirational to say about what the country was going through.

:lol: Bush say something inspirational? :lol:

[pseudobrit]

This is true. But in the United States the president doesn't have a choice.

He can at least make an effort to look brave. His MIA stunt was not confidence inspiring. Guiliani's actions were.

Had Bush returned to Washington or flown somewhere other than underground (even The Ranch would have sufficed) and taken command from there, the people of the nation would have felt much safer. And he would have been in no more danger than Guiliani.

I live near TMI and remember the concern we all had that day. The confusion and panic and helplessness were not helped by leaders who hid in undisclosed locations.

[sethypoo]

Nothing circular about it, or even elliptical. Not only did Bush remain out of sight for most of the day on 9-11, when he finally did talk to the nation, he had nothing inspirational to say about what the country was going through.

sethypoo: "And if those leaders are dead, how might they lead?"

IJ Reilly: "And if those leaders are to lead, how can they hide?"

Not circular?

Whatever you say, IJ.

Neserk: Most of what you post is in your opinion, naturally. Bush is very inspirational to some, and not at all to others (such as you, me, most of the posters on this thread).

[skunk]

sethypoo: "And if those leaders are dead, how might they lead?"
BY EXAMPLE. Didn't he watch Independence Day? He tried to do the ex-pilot thing for PR: couldn't he do it for the nation?

[Juventuz]

I hope when the 9-11 commission moves on to the day of the event that they'll ask pertinent questions about why the President was missing in action for so long during a time of national emergency.

In testimony, Richard Clarke has stated that it was his call to have the President flown around AF1 until things were sorted out. Both he and the Secret Service did not want Bush anywhere near Washington that day. They had no clue what was in store for DC.

[IJ Reilly]

sethypoo: "And if those leaders are dead, how might they lead?"

IJ Reilly: "And if those leaders are to lead, how can they hide?"

Not circular?

Whatever you say, IJ.

Ok. I'll accept that concession. I guess nobody ever taught you logic and semantics.

[IJ Reilly]

In testimony, Richard Clarke has stated that it was his call to have the President flown around AF1 until things were sorted out. Both he and the Secret Service did not want Bush anywhere near Washington that day. They had no clue what was in store for DC.

As nearly as I can tell, no one here has suggested that he belonged back in DC on 9-11, and it doesn't matter who recommended that he remain incommunicado for most of the day. If he'd thought it important to comfort a shocked and stunned nation that morning, he certainly could have done so, at no risk to himself. In the end, it was the President's call.

[Juventuz]

As nearly as I can tell, no one here has suggested that he belonged back in DC on 9-11, and it doesn't matter who recommended that he remain incommunicado for most of the day.

"heading back to DC immediately would have impressed me. in the end, it took, what, 13 hours for him to get back?"

"Had Bush returned to Washington or flown somewhere other than underground (even The Ranch would have sufficed) and taken command from there, the people of the nation would have felt much safer."

There's are two suggestions that he head back to DC, among other places.

If he'd thought it important to comfort a shocked and stunned nation that morning, he certainly could have done so, at no risk to himself. In the end, it was the President's call.

It's all nice and easy to criticize him now, but on that day we had no clue what was going on. I remember reports of a car bomb exploding in front of the State Department. I remember reports of gunfire in the streets in DC. It was a crazy and hectic time. Keeping Bush away from DC, until things settled down, was the best option. I do believe that he should have came on tv sooner though.

[sethypoo]

BY EXAMPLE. Didn't he watch Independence Day? He tried to do the ex-pilot thing for PR: couldn't he do it for the nation?

Skunk, Independence Day is a Hollywood movie. In real life, presidents are heavily guarded. They aren't martyrs because they've worked too hard (or lied to hard) to get to office. They aren't about to go and get themselves killed to "save face." They will, most likely, cover they own behind and try to sort things out, then they'll address the nation.

[sethypoo]

I guess nobody ever taught you logic and semantics.

http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/seth/Hobbes1.JPG
Sticks and stones.

[pseudobrit]

"heading back to DC immediately would have impressed me. in the end, it took, what, 13 hours for him to get back?"

"Had Bush returned to Washington or flown somewhere other than underground (even The Ranch would have sufficed) and taken command from there, the people of the nation would have felt much safer."

There's are two suggestions that he head back to DC, among other places.

I said anywhere would have been better than the "nowhere" he went to.

Washington would have been highly symbolic and encouraging, but I understand why he didn't go there. As it was, he didn't show up at all.

[zimv20]

"heading back to DC immediately would have impressed me. in the end, it took, what, 13 hours for him to get back?"
that was me. yes, i wanted him back in DC, as a show of strength. short of that, he could have made a stronger statement from anywhere. that would have been better than hiding in a hole.

now it kinda reminds me of how much fun he had w/ saddam's hiding place. didn't bush even call out saddam's leadership status 'cuz he was hiding in a hole? does bush even understand irony?

[sethypoo]

does bush even understand irony?

Heh heh. I don't think he does, not in the slightest. :)

[pseudobrit]

Heh heh. I don't think he does, not in the slightest. :)

I think he's the master of it.

[skunk]

Skunk, Independence Day is a Hollywood movie. In real life, presidents are heavily guarded.

He's the President. The guards do what he says. If he wants to address the nation, they have to sort it out. And I know it's a movie: wasn't his posing on an aircraft carrier his own homage to the film? He's the Leader of the Free World addressing the troops battling the alien hordes. Didn't you spot it?

[Ensoniq]

As usual, another liberal tree-hugging attempt to attack Bush. What a surprise!

People who are able to post their specific disagreements with Bush's policies, offer legitimate alternatives/solutions, and engage in a political debate with respect for the office of the presidency should continue to do so.

Those who come back to the same old mantra of Bush as a "coward", a "liar", "stupid", or "weak" are just partisans who aren't looking for debate and discussion. They just want Bush out, and offer nothing else to these forums.

It's easy to second guess every decision Bush makes when you're not the one with the safety of this nation in your hands, and your ass on the line. It doesn't make any of you smarter than Bush. (Who I myself often disagree with.) It just means you have an opinion. And just like a-holes, everyone has one...and most stink.

I don't see any of the liberals Monday-Morning Quarterbacking any of Clinton's decisions regarding Al Qaeda. Let's debate whether or not Bush should have jumped up and panicked a bunch of schoolkids he was reading to, and then rushed back to Washington D.C. so he could be waiting for a hijacked plane to land on top of him. But let's not discuss whether it was in our best interests for Clinton to be taking phone calls from diplomats while he was getting blown under his desk instead of going after Bin Laden in any forceful manner.

I don't know why I bother responding to these political threads because 90% of those who post will just attack me personally instead of admitting all presidents, regardless of party, do pretty much the same crap. But oh well, it's worth a try.

[skunk]

I don't know why I bother responding to these political threads because 90% of those who post will just attack me personally instead of admitting all presidents, regardless of party, do pretty much the same crap. But oh well, it's worth a try.

Nothing personal, but I believe everyone, in the US and elsewhere, is entitled to fear the Brave New World which your President has ushered us all into. Did Clinton launch a pre-emptive war while having his blow-job? I think not.

[pepita]

I have no political views to contribute, but, I would humbly suggest that, if you're going to have a political discussion over a video, well, then, if you haven't seen it already by now, you might want to try this cute little film from zefrank.com (http://www.zefrank.com/redalert/index_better.html), it's very, very charming - and it features macs ;)

[sethypoo]

He's the President. The guards do what he says. If he wants to address the nation, they have to sort it out. And I know it's a movie: wasn't his posing on an aircraft carrier his own homage to the film? He's the Leader of the Free World addressing the troops battling the alien hordes. Didn't you spot it?

Again, it's a movie. I am not seeing a viable connection to Bush and to whatever actor played the president on Independence Day.

Just because Bush has guards does not mean they'll let him do something stupid!

[IJ Reilly]

http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/seth/Hobbes1.JPG
Sticks and stones.

Oh, please. If you're going to make illogical statements around here, expect to be called on them.

[skunk]

Just because Bush has guards does not mean they'll let him do something stupid!
They don't seem to have stopped him so far.

[pseudobrit]

As usual, another liberal tree-hugging attempt to attack Bush. What a surprise!

People who are able to post their specific disagreements with Bush's policies, offer legitimate alternatives/solutions, and engage in a political debate with respect for the office of the presidency should continue to do so.

Those who come back to the same old mantra of Bush as a "coward", a "liar", "stupid", or "weak" are just partisans who aren't looking for debate and discussion. They just want Bush out, and offer nothing else to these forums.

It's easy to second guess every decision Bush makes when you're not the one with the safety of this nation in your hands, and your ass on the line. It doesn't make any of you smarter than Bush. (Who I myself often disagree with.) It just means you have an opinion. And just like a-holes, everyone has one...and most stink...

I don't know why I bother responding to these political threads because 90% of those who post will just attack me personally instead of admitting all presidents, regardless of party, do pretty much the same crap. But oh well, it's worth a try.

[emphasis mine]

Attack you? What do you call that "tree-hugging liberal partisan" tirade?

Polite discourse?

[mactastic]

Piss off a conservative: Hug a tree. :D

[diamond geezer]

Let's debate whether or not Bush should have jumped up and panicked a bunch of schoolkids he was reading to, and then rushed back to Washington D.C. so he could be waiting for a hijacked plane to land on top of him. But let's not discuss whether it was in our best interests for Clinton to be taking phone calls from diplomats while he was getting blown under his desk instead of going after Bin Laden in any forceful manner.


Use your imagination. All he had to do was stand up and explain that "something very important has come up and I have to leave immediately" He didn't have to run round the room screaming "we're all going to die"!
Knowing that the President is a target, and that the school visit was a known event, his staying in the school, acting as though nothing was going on, endangered all those children.

[sethypoo]

Oh, please. If you're going to make illogical statements around here, expect to be called on them.

Could you explain to me what I wrote that was "illogical"?

You are making no sense!

[Rebel]

I found a birdie in the snow. He had a broken wing, ya know?
I took him home and fed him some bread.
and then I smashed it's freaking head........

[IJ Reilly]

Could you explain to me what I wrote that was "illogical"?

Ok, now where were we three days ago...?

A "circular argument" is one that relies upon itself for proof, often a tautology. A disagreement is not a circular argument, though it may very well be a waste of time.

[blue&whiteman]

more proof that bush is both heartless and a complete dolt.

[sethypoo]

Ok, now where were we three days ago...?

A "circular argument" is one that relies upon itself for proof, often a tautology. A disagreement is not a circular argument, though it may very well be a waste of time.

Three days ago we were/are at the same place we are now.....remember?

A circular argument is one that does not rely on itself for proof, it is one that goes in circles (clever, huh?). I make a point, then you (as you did) take my words, turn them around, and throw them back at me, thus resulting in a never ending, illogical argument.

I would like to add that you have made good points, but as to a tautology=disagreement.....please.:)

[sethypoo]

To add:

circular: repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning.

[timmyOtool]

O.K. the movie clip does not give me any great insight into what was going through his head and I can not make any judgements about his bravery from this, so I will go on based on my own personal beliefs.
The fact that he didn't return to D.C. does not bother me. I really didn't expect him to put on some gear and start digging. Although, on some level that would have impressed me a whole lot, but I do think he made a HUGE mistake in not responding to the American public sooner. It didn't have to be a live broad cast from the oval office, it could have been in the form of a press release or really any kind of statement that let us know he was around and still in charge. I think that shows a real lack of leadership and a poor understanding of what the office of the President means to the american people.

[Neserk]

Originally Posted by sethypoo
Just because Bush has guards does not mean they'll let him do something stupid!


They don't seem to have stopped him so far.


This cracked me up. Sorry, just had to highlight it!

[skunk]

:D

[sethypoo]

This cracked me up. Sorry, just had to highlight it!

Thanks for illustrating my point. :eek: :D

[sethypoo]

Originally Posted by sethypoo
Just because Bush has guards does not mean they'll let him do something stupid!

By stupid, I mean something like driving down a main street in Houston in an open top limo (sound familiar?), or, say, flying out in the open or returning to the White House immidiately after September 11th.

By stupid, I mean stupid things that could get him killed.

Not stupid political decisions.

Ring a bell Neserk? Do you want clearer words? :rolleyes:

[IJ Reilly]

The fact that he didn't return to D.C. does not bother me. I really didn't expect him to put on some gear and start digging. Although, on some level that would have impressed me a whole lot, but I do think he made a HUGE mistake in not responding to the American public sooner. It didn't have to be a live broad cast from the oval office, it could have been in the form of a press release or really any kind of statement that let us know he was around and still in charge. I think that shows a real lack of leadership and a poor understanding of what the office of the President means to the american people.

Exactly. I don't know what some find so complicated or controversial about this point. The people who are convinced that Bush showed the character of a great leader on 9-11 probably would have thought of him as Sir Galahad if he'd issued a press release from inside of Cheyenne Mountain.

[amnesiac1984]

By stupid, I mean something like driving down a main street in Houston in an open top limo (sound familiar?), or, say, flying out in the open or returning to the White House immidiately after September 11th.

By stupid, I mean stupid things that could get him killed.

Not stupid political decisions.

Ring a bell Neserk? Do you want clearer words? :rolleyes:

Yes I think we all got that and so did skunk, nice to see that everyone around here has a sense of humour around here :rolleyes:

[Neserk]

Yes I think we all got that and so did skunk, nice to see that everyone around here has a sense of humour around here :rolleyes:


Well, some of us have a sense of humor anyhow ;)