Bush without 9/11

[LDS Jock]

Where do you think the Bush campaign would be today without the 9/11 card to play over and over again? He has absolutly nothing else to run on but the tactic of only he can keep America safe. Of course the republicans would still be trying to put the blame on Clinton and vote for him. I think Kerry would be leading by 15% or so. What are your thoughts?

[dbt]

1. Ground Zero!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[boobooday]

2. Pretty strange to use 9/11 as an example

Of how he is our fearless "protector"

Kind of like how our soldiers getting killed is proof of our success in Iraq.

I think it isn't working anymore. It has taken FOREVER but some people are starting to realize what a total FRAUD he is.


http://www.wgoeshome.com

[YNGW]

3. Hard to say.

9/11 had quite an impact on the economy, an impact from which we have yet to fully recover. Too many unknown factors to make a guess, which is all anyone can offer.

[unblock]

8. 9/11 did NOT have that big an impact on the economy

what DID have an impact was our fearmongering repugnant bush cabal declaring 40 year war and making like another 9/11 could happen at any time, probably several times a year, possibly with even more damage.

THAT makes doing business in america risky and expensive.

if president gore had simply responded tit-for-tat (you know, PROPORTIONAL RESPONSE?) and gone after al qaeda but not gone crazy, reassuring america that while there may be other attacks to come, 9/11 was a 'lucky' strike for the terrorists and similar scale attacks would be few and far between, then for the most part, america would have quickly returned to business as usual while president went after al qaeda.

HUGE difference in business prospects.

[YNGW]

10. It's all speculation.

I'll stick with my own.

[fujiyama]

19. While it's hard to say...

how things would have been different (the administration would very possibly have gone to Iraq anyways), contrary to what bin Laden and Al Qeda would like to believe, 9/11's impact on the economy was not that great.

The accelerated pace of outsourcing in the manufacturing and service sector, the tax cuts, and the insane rate of defecit spending, have contributed much more to the current economic problems than 9/11. The stock market was up within a year or two of the attack. Sure it hit the tourism and airline industries, but the airline industry was hurting greatly before it (just one of many reasons not to have bailed them out).

No, our economic problems are mostly the fault of our own fucked up leadership (or lack thereof).

[AspenRose]

4. I still think...

Osama is going to *poof* magically appear come October. Especially if Dubya continues to slide in the polls.

[Poiuyt]

5. The whole dynamic would be different

Without 9/11, bush would not have been popular enough to push through many of his more conservative programs. There probably would not have been a war in Iraq (though the PNAC might have insisted on one anyway). And without the war, the Democratic primaries would have been totally different. Kerry might have not been the nominee because we wouldn't have needed a candidate with a strong military background.

I think bush would have just dwindled down to nothing without 9/11.

[IronLionZion]

6. If you want to know who's guilty, look at who benefits

Bush and his buddies benefited big time. He would be nothing if it didn't happen.

[Sparkly]

7. I never understood this.

Why isn't 9-11 a liability for Bush? He ignored the threat of terrorism for nine months in favor of rehashing the old Star Wars thing. Shouldn't that be held against him? Why is 9/11 an achievement and an excuse for him?

Makes no sense to me.

[seabeyond]

9. why the families are so bothered

and now that is what bush is running on, it is time for the democrats to point this out

[fujiyama]

17. Thank you!

That's a geat comment. I remember thinking EXACTLY that ON 9/11. I remember, my friend and I were driving and I was telling him -- this administration is so hung up over the ridiculous, remote possibility of China starting war, that they've ignored the real threat of terrorism.

[Hippo_Tron]

11. Not only would we have congress...

But Bush would loose 49 states. Texas would be one of them.

[LDS Jock]

12. who would he win?

Utah? Since the Mormons think the call to vote republican comes from God.

[Ksec]

13. Who knows? Im still wondering what he did during 911 that was so great.

I cant figure that part. Jumping up on a pile of rubble? Not heroic. Not dangerous. Not anything that would be defined as greatness. He was there for a few minutes and then hightailed it out of there.

So was it the Afghan attack? No, anyone would have made that decision. The entire Congress wanted to go there.

So then what? IMO it was the mere amount of suggestions and statements made by media and the right wing which gave him the undeserved label of 911 hero. Nothing he did.

[LDS Jock]

14. Just as much a 9/11 hero as..

a war hero during his time of desertion from the national guard in Alabama. Oh wait, I forgot, he did show pay records for 20 something days. That proves he was active during an entire freaking year.

[Josh]

15. Kerry wouldn't be leading. Gore would.

Gore was basically president-in-waiting until September 11. He likely would've won the nomination (if he was opposed) and swept to victory.

[grasswire]

16. Joe Conason...

...one of our best columnists/authors says that Bush is considered a strong leader post 9-11 because DEMOCRATS in Washington keep saying it.

And that's true. They preface criticism of him by applauding him for guiding the country through that difficult time.

So, Dems, STOP IT! Call the Pugs on it continually.

[fujiyama]

18. That's true...

It made sense to "unite" with him on that day and the coming weeks. It was too raw, and even I gave him the benefit of the doubt for a few weeks.

However, as time went by, and as they pushed the PATRIOT Act, and as they began blatantly exploiting the events of that day, I woke the hell up and realized that they were the same bunch of greedy, self serving bastards they were before 9/11.

Democrats should have stopped praising his leadership a while ago. This was one thing about Wes. Clark I appreciated -- he had the guts to question the ridiculous notion.