Bush's speech

I watched tonight with my heart in my throat. I did not vote for this man, and when he took office, I have to say I wasn't that impressed. But through this crisis, I have watched him find himself and it has been a interesting and quick journey. Tonight, he grabbed me by that throat that was clutched and I was impressed with his simple demands and the fact that he isn't playing pussy-foot with the terrorists and those who intentionally harbor them and support their cause. I was quite proud of him and I hope he keeps his resolve, and I hope the operations that are planned, are quick, concisive with not a large loss of the coaltion soldiers lives. God Bless America and all who stand behind her. Now if you will excuse me, it is almost dark and I have a candle to light.

Hissy

I wasn't very impressed with President Bush either at first. But lately I've bean impressed with his strong leadership and the way he is leading our country through this crisis. I also thought his speech tonight was very good.

I have to admit that I'm a republican, through and through, and I'm very conservative. But I bet that doesn't suprise most of you. Anyway, I'm very proud of not only President Bush, but also the other government leaders of our country. It's nice to see them working together and not tearing at each others' throats. It's too bad though that it takes such a tragedy for this governmental harmony to appear.

I too was impressed with Bush. I can only imagine the pressure he's under. I'm sure he feels sickened, like all of us, but he has to be strong, to instill confidence in the nation. I don't envy the man. I have to say, I feel good about him being in charge, and I wasn't excited about him beating Al Gore.

I was thinking about how George W Bush is going to go down in history, and the words are still unwritten, as far as if he will be a hero at the end of the day or not (but if the first 9 days have been any indicator, it looks promising). GWB is going to be more remembered than probably the previous 5 presidents, at least. Simply because of what has happened during his watch. The man has a chance to become an American Hero. That's pretty heavy stuff. These are the detours my mind takes, when mulling all of this over.

I guess I'm an Independent, but I tend to vote Republican because I haven't liked any of the Democrats the last few elections. I would have voted for Nader last time around, but I just didn't want Gore and it was too close to risk. I'm still not sure who actually won this one . . .

I feel strangely safe with Dubya at the helm right now. I can't imagine feeling as okay about things if it was Clinton or Gore or even Bush Sr. in office, so I guess that says something about the man. Ooo, or Ronnie Ray Gun, either, that would have been scary!

GWB's going to have to make some unpopular decisions, I'm afraid. Hubby says he won't win the next election because of that, though I'm not sure. If it was me, after this sort of baptism by fire, I wouldn't want another term!

I think his speech was very good and it seems he is being patient with his actions. He sound like he means business and I hope the enemies start quaking in their shoes. I was touched by the emotional sentiments expressed by Tony Blair last night before the President's speech. All in all, I was impressed with President Bush's speech.

I must admit I voted for Bush, just because I really didn't like Gore. For some reason he just rubbed me the wrong way. I never liked Clinton either, simply because I didn't feel I could ever trust the man. I'm not very good with politics, that is for sure. I can't say I'm republican, but I can't say I'm democrat either. I seem to agree more with republicans, so that is how I registered, but some things democrats believe in, I do too. As I am an American who resides in the US and the UK, I have to say that I am very happy with the way that Bush and Blair have handled things. It gives me comfort to see them working together so well.
I know some people are still picking on Bush, and I guess there are always going to be people who do, and we must all remember that Bush will never be able to please everyone all the time. Whatever decisions he makes, he will upset some people. He can't get out of it- it's inevitable. I think if he handles this well, it would be a shame if he didn't get re-elected. As a lot of people said, if so far is an indication of things to come, he will do just fine. I think he deserves a chance.
I had tears in my eyes when he was standing in NY with all the rescuers and trying to lift their spirits, I was very touched by that.
I never got the impression that he wasn't just as mad as hell as the rest of us, but at the same time having spirit. His speech last night was great too. I am behind Bush, and why not? He's not disappointed me yet.

Christine

I just wanted to add, how touching was it was that one of the widows of one of the men that went down in PA was there.

AP, when they showed her, I wanted to cry. That must have been so hard for her. I would have been bawling.

Dawn,

it was hard for me not to cry as well. I kept thinking '2 weeks ago her life was normal, and now she's being addressed by the president.'

how strange life is.

The part that got me was that she's pregnant. I have such a fear of raising my kids without my husband, and now she has to because of this. And it's happened to so many men and women. When I start thinking of all that, it's very depressing.

I have never liked George W and was really unhappy when he was named president. I was sure that I would be disappointed by his speech last night...but I found that throughout his speech I kept saying to my husband, "Wow! This is really good!" I am very impressed with his speech, though I still don't like the man.

But...I'm a little dubious about the new "Homeland Security Department" (or whatever it is) that Bush just created to fight terrorism. I am afraid that the war on terrorism will end up being just like our war on drugs. I hope I'm wrong!

I must admit, it's not like I wasn't impressed by his speech, but I guess it just didn't hit me as hard! I think I worry too much about what kind of actions the government will take overseas and because I'm so unsure about everything, I kind of waiver when I see Bush! I always pray to Heavenly Father that our leaders will be lead by the hand of God to do the right thing, but GWB still is akward in my eyes as a President. And the ironic thing is... I voted for him! I really hated Gore and since I claim Republican, I held to my politacl party, but I was still unsure about him! I hate feeling this way, but I know he will do what is right. I just need to get over my feelings and start believing in him!

I also watched the President's speech. And while I was impressed by it, I believe that Judy Keane, the widow, who happens to be from my hometown (Wethersfield), makes a very good point. Starting another war is NOT going to stop terrorism. She was quoted "Anyone that thinks that terrorism is going to stop because we bomb Afghanistan is wrong". I think she's right on the mark. Afterall, years ago, the US was the one who sold missles to Afghanistan. What will happen now, I don't know. But retaliation against another country for this horrendous crime is not the answer. It is Osama Bin Laden and his billions of dollars that are responsible for paying people to do his dirty work. Don't forget, money talks. And there are plenty of greedy people out there who will listen.

That's just my opinion.

and others as well, and if Bush had said we were going to go in and make an all out land assault on Afganistan, I would of been appalled and non-supportive. And while I go along with the fact that killing others will not stop terrorism, if we do nothing, terrorisim will increase. I do wonder though, why the government isn't forthcoming about what kind of evidence they have against bin ladin. Why wouldn't they present it not only to us, who have lost so much, but also to the nation that stands to lose more should attack them?

Hissy,

I too believe that doing nothing is wrong. But I'm not sure there are any positive solutions to terrorism. If there was, it would be cut and dry. I don't know.

Donna

there are no easy answers. Our fathers and grandfathers and ancestors before them paid the price for Freedom. We have enjoyed it for a long time now, I guess now, there is payment due again.

I was listening to an Interview on the radio at lunch and a reporter asked the same question that you did Hissy. Unfortunately I can't remember the government guy for Bush that they were interviewing. However, his long explanation boiled down to this reason: it would benefit Bin Laden to publicize the evidence. He could "strategize" if he knew everything we knew.

I am so glad that someone started a thread about this (thanks Hissy)

I watched the Presidents speech last night, and was so moved and so impressed by what he had to say....I especially liked the part where he said to the other countries, "You are either for us, or you are against us"

I am republican, (not that it matters), but I am glad Bush won the election, I would hate to have Al(lets take the people's guns away)Gore in charge of this whole catastrophe right now.

That is just my opinion, and I don't want to step on any toes.

I cried at the end of Bush's speeech, because he is such a good man, and he is doing his best to do what is right, and to save America's freedom.
I was also moved that the prime minister (I think that's what he was) of Great Britain was there, and Bush called him "friend" and thanked him and his country for their support.

Bush's speech was outstanding. Although I did vote for him, it was more out of Republican ties than out of being impressed by the man initially.

But in these times, partisan issues matter not. This man was thrown, through no direct action of his own, into a crisis of amazing proportions. I trust in him completely to see out nation through these times.

Other opinions are correct, we are at war, but none like we have ever seen. Decisions for action are not likely to come easily, as it is not as though we are fighting a particular country or government. I sincerely hope that the American people keep this thought in mind in the weeks and months to come. This is untested ground, even in terms of warfare. I don't think that there is a man alive with clear-cut answers on how exactly we should proceed. I just know that President Bush will do his best to see that the U.S. is a safe place to live.

One final note on last night's speech. I wish the American media would end its fascination with the Clinton family, now embodied in the form of Senator Hillary. How the voters of New York ever bought into the scam of electing her as their representative in the Senate is still beyond me. I wanted to wipe the smug look right off her face last night. It was clear that at least one person in Congress last night was still pitting Republican vs. Democrat.