Honoring September 11th: He Kept Us Safe
by John NolteMy sense that the September 11th attacks would transcend partisan politics lasted less than a few days. That may sound cynical, but after counting myself as one of them for over a decade, I know how the Left thinks and I knew what was coming.
Within days of the attacks, it began. Without a word, those who had endlessly looped the video of the beating of Rodney King stopped airing footage of Americans jumping to their deaths from the burning World Trade Center. Not long after, those who would later sear the images of a few misfits at Abu Ghraib into the hearts and minds of the enemy, began the inevitable murmurs of “being responsible” when it came to airing footage of passenger planes exploding into the towers.
Soon, and predictably, the footage all but disappeared.
Step one at chipping away at our resolve was complete, and all in the name of a few sophisticates doing what was best for us.
What followed was also expected.
The Leftists, these Enablers of Evil, stopped at nothing. Skewed coverage, front-page CIA leaks, taking it to the streets, Hollywood’s unholy brand of patriotism…The list is as endless as the dirty work was relentless. And yet, as they wielded their worst, 50 million people in two countries were liberated and we have not been attacked again … because of something else we’ve come to expect.
The valor and bravery of those charged with keeping us safe: The United States Military, the CIA (especially the interrogators), the FBI, our first responders and finally, something that was not expected…
The mettle of President George W. Bush.
“He kept us safe” is not an argument of last resort after the other side has finished ticking off well-rehearsed talking points, it is why George W. Bush is a great man.
He Kept Us Safe.
And while he did, while the Enemy Within rained hell on him, this uncommonly decent man stood firm as he grew old before our eyes.
Where this country would be had he not possessed such unexpected grit is unthinkable.
And we now know what it is to live with the unease of him not being there.
God bless the men and women who guard the wall. God bless President Bush. God bless the grand and noble experiment that produced them.
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417 Comments
I agree…George W. Bush kept us safe for eight years and is a great man. I think the left was so blinded by the "stolen" election, that they are and continue to bash him. It was reported today, that GWB got the highest approval rating of ANY President (90%) the day he went down to the World Trade Center site, put the hard hat on, and said "I hear you America!" I am so grateful that he was our President at the difficult time in our history. Are you listening to us Mr. Obama?
I had serious issues with a lot of the Bush policies over the years, but in protecting my family from another 9/11, is definitely not one of them.
I salute him as our retired Commander In Chief.
I had serious issues with a lot of the Bush policies over the years, but protecting my family from another 9/11, is definitely not one of them.
I salute him as our retired Commander In Chief.
I miss President Bush! Thank you for keeping our country safe.
I knew the Left would eventually want to "sanitize" the events of that day. That's why I taped the various news feeds that day- to remember. To keep the Left from stealing my outrage.
The Left wants to join with the Islamists to bring this country down. They'll get a fight. We won't go peacefully, and we'll send them back home crying.
Obama isn't fit to kiss the soles of George Bush's feet.
Thanks, W.
A true hero, who did what needs to be done and weathered with diginity the hatefull attacks on him and his own that came about because of it.
I pray that George W Bush will be remembered in the history books as a strong, resilient, thoughtful and dedicated President, one who did indeed keep us safe.
Just in case this doesn't come to pass, I continue to raise my children to recognize all the kindness and goodness, along with the strength and iron will, of President George W Bush. At the very least, THEY will never forget.
God, I miss him, and wish him all the best.
Amen, brother. He IS the Dark Knight.
I understand what you're saying, but I think that in fact Obama's presidency will be judged by history on the basis of something which has yet to happen.
They will try and they will fail– just like they tried and failed with Ronald Reagan. But it's up to us, you and me, to make sure that they do fail.
I know Pres. Bush wasn't even close to perfect (like every one of us on this planet) but I still believe that he did his best with how the cards were dealt. Some Presidents the events are in their favor and some not so much.
I know Pres. Bush wasn't even close to perfect (like every one of us on this planet) but I still believe that he did his best with how the cards were dealt. For some Presidents the events are in their favor and some not so much.
Thank you for reminding us what a great hero President Bush is. God Bless Him! Everything that he did was for the love of our country.
Thanks President Bush. I miss you.
The good fight never ends, but President Bush's place in history as a great leader will survive. Not that he cares. He cared about doing his job. And he did it honorably.
Let's roll
On that afternoon I remember reading into my tape recorder I had for class what was being written on the ticker… I wish I knew what I did with that tape now.
Great post. One other sad part is that as many on the left and in the media hounded him for any mistakes or blatantly lied, over time some conservatives and Republicans lost their will and turned against him and the war.
That last sentance; Truth spoken in 5 words.
It is up to us to carry on the memory of these heros of this unique and dangerous time. If we are not stewards of their memory, 20 years from now there will be a movie made vilifying them titled "The Last Patriots."
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Big Hollywood. Big Hollywood said: Honoring September 11th: He Kept Us Safe http://bit.ly/2umG8D [...]
I feared for our country on Jan 19th, the eve of the emaculation of Barak Obama. I was right to fear. I thank God for G.W. Bush. The right man at the right time. May America come to realize this, soon!
As each day of the Obama debacle unfolds the stature of G.W. Bush grows…history will be twisted by the ivory tower academics but may be righted by fair minded historians working with facts…not Saturday Night Live garbage or New York Times tripe…
true and I wasn't home to tape history…
I taped the day as well, from back then. How we felt, I just finished watching it and was struck by how little we truly remember about that day..Watching as Chuck Schumer and Hilary Clinton stood together and said (so falsely now) "We stand with the President, this is a war on terror, and we will fight it ANY PLACE and for HOWEVER LONG it takes…"
Only President Bush was up to that challenge it seems. Thank you Mr. President, for keeping us safe. For doing your job.
GWB, never one to disparage or place blame for his difficulties, a true leader……..
God Bless the United States of America.
Absolutely hilarious. Did you spend 8 years with your head in the sand? You probably think Palin is a good candidate for president.
People like you shouldn't vote.
I wasn't either at first. I was stuck at work. When I got home I started taping. I just knew we would never see a lot of this stuff again. The internet was going to hold some of it (my God, what would we do without the internet in light of the lapdog MSM?), but the shock would be lost, and the gut-wrenching grief would soften. Those emotions are naturally still not as raw, but the video keeps me grounded. The video hasn't been sanitized.
Even though I never voted for the man, I will always be grateful for his leadership after the great economic collapse in September, 2008. Even though his fellow Republicans tried to restrain him, his bravery and wisdom then in acting swiftly for a massively urgent bailout to pump capital into to our financial markets is an enormous factor as to why our future is NOT in the toilet today. God Bless President Bush.
"Sanitize" indeed! We are watching history being revised before our eyes. I guess all that stuff I learned about propaganda back in the day was true. Never thought I'd see it here though. More fool me.
It's been a subject of everlasting regret for me that I didn't tape any of the news that day.
If you can see your way clear, Don't( may I call you Don't?), I would much appreciate if you could provide copies of some of those tapes or point me to a source that can. Needless to say, it's not generally available.
I'll never forget and feel it incumbent on me not to let others forget, either.
Any help with that from anyone here is much appreciated.
Hillary Clinton backed his invasion of Iraq and that is the only reason she is not the President today. History is full of irony.
Excellent post, Mr. Nolte, I have often felt making the images of that day disappear so quickly was odd. As you point out it serves certain interests to control those images, while looping others endlessly like Rodney King. Yes, indeed, many thanks to President Bush for keeping me and mine safe.
The left has always accused the right of politicizing 9/11 by resorting to "scare" tactics as if that isn't what they do all the time. I have always been a fan of Bush and for exactly the reasons you mention. Yes, he was not a good politician, but he stood firm in his conviction that he would do what it takes to keep us safe. Hwe was not great on domestic issues, partly by interest and partly by circumstance.The left has well earned their "soft on terror" label and even now try and weaken our intelligence capabilities out of political hatred.
My sense is Obama will most surely beat out Jimmah Carter as the worst president in history.
Thank you, Mr. Nolte…..this military family misses our former CinC…God Bless You President Bush…you are always in our prayers!
Just a small note of remembrance for those who died in Shanksville and at the Pentagon on Sept. 11. The heroes. Our protectors. Gone but not forgotten. The plane that hit the Pentagon flew directly over Arlington Cemetery.
"Don't" for short! LOL! DTOM works too!
Copyright infringement issues would prevent sharing, I fear…
YOur best bet is tribute videos on YouTube…
Thank you GW. You are one of the true hero's of 9/11. Regardless of the America =-hating leftist radicals say, you stood your ground and went after the terrorists and let them know what we are truly made of. Unfortunately now, we have a kitten as president and we can only hope nothing like that happens on his watch because we are screwed if it does.
Thanks GW. I voted for you twice and would vote for you again.
Disagree. He softened the blow, but extended the misery.
Kit, totally agree with your post. Every time I watch the movie it makes me think of President Bush doing what needed to be done.
100 years from now, just as we look at the post civil war west as the Indian Wars, historians will correctly look at the 1991 Persian Gulf war and the current "War on Terror" as a continuous event. They will correctly see the weakness of Bill Clinton, his eight year embargo of Iraq, his coverup of the 1993 WTC bombing, and the impetus of Jihad: the decision to convert Prince Sultan Airbase, an hour from Mecca, into a permanent American Military facility, as improperly placing America into an untenable geopolitical position in the Gulf.
President Bush played the weakend hand that Clinton left him.
I wish the American Geopolitical strategy was to convince the rest of the world, that civilization will not be able to progress while these "Tribal lands" of Western Pakistan harbor a small group of determined renegades many times more dangerous, but not disimilar to Geronimo, Red Cloud and other men who stood against the spread of Progress and Civiilization in hopes of keeping their out-moded way of life alive.
The leftist counter culturist does not care a wit about this country, it’s about “what’s in it for me?” As that sleaze ball Ward Churchill expressed so eloquently about 9/11 and the Little Eichmanns that were justifiably killed in the WTC, in his insipid moral equivalence screed. Not to allow academia to get an edge Hollywood leftist morons went into full gear, like, Michael Moore, Rosie O’Donnell, Charlie Sheen, etc. and their total disregard for the victims of 9/11 in their quest for a buck, getting fellow idiots to chase conspiracies. Lets not forget the leftist MSM oozing into the action piling on President Bush fighting modern Fascist and Marxist at the same time, incredible. God Bless George W. Bush for his steadfast resolve in such a blistering attack, and God Bless our brave American Troops.
Sorry to respectfully disagree. President Bush never secured the border. In fact, he actively tried to open it .
He played footise with the Saudis rather than confront them . His rules of engagement cost American soldiers their lives. If he chose to go to war(defensibly), the troops' safety should be Priority #1, and more often "politcial considerations"-catering to Arabs and their moronic concerns-took precedence. Fight them full bore, not half-hearted.
There's nothing remotely conservative about nation-building. His 2nd inaugural was goobleygook that was straight out of the Woodrow Wilson playbook. He could've taken the chance to explain that Arab Islamic fanatics were the enemy and why they had to be stopped. And instead we got nonsense about Iraqis and Afghans "yearning to breathe free".
Above all the spending was not conservative Bush Jr. took 6+ years to veto a single appropriation. Never understood why the libs hated him. Nondiscretionary nondefense spending increased at higher rates under Bush Jr. than under Clinton. With NCLB, prescription drugs and his TARP, he was a disgrace. Please stop defending him. We have Obama because of him.
History will be very kind To George Bush. He was relentless in his efforts to protect America and understood the nature of our enemies.
For all the bashing of America and President Bush's efforts in Iraq, it took only 9 months to capture Saddam Hussein…
http://motorcitytimes.com/mct/weird-coincidence/
What this whole issue turns on is the level of terrorist activity inside our borders over the next 7 1/2 years.
Bush "kept us safe" in retrospect, and that's now a fair judgment that can be written into history. Obama will not keep us safe. That's simply a prediction for now and I take no joy in it. The only questions are where, when, and how many? Well, and after that, what?
Don't fool yourselves into complacency. We are not safe now.
Of course we aren't safe. My point is that even if we ARE attacked again, the history books of the future will not place the blame on the shoulders of our current president.
GEORGE BUSH = AMERICAN HERO!!!!!
[From 2004] Two paragraphs from the great historian Paul Johnson…..
"I don’t recall any occasion, certainly not since the age of FDR, when so much partisan election material has been produced by intellectuals of the Left, not only in the United States but in Europe, especially in Britain, France, and Germany. These intellectuals—many of them with long and lugubrious records of supporting lost left-wing causes, from the Soviet empire to Castro’s aggressive adventures in Africa, and who have in their time backed Mengistu in Ethiopia, Qaddafi in Libya, Pol Pot in Cambodia, and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua—seem to have a personal hatred of Bush that defies rational analysis."
cont………..
I rather no praise for GWB instead of praise always prefaced with a disclaimer. GWB did more than just keep us safe. He cut taxes, withdrew us from the ABM treaties, appointed great federal and SC judges, overturned draconian business regulations, put the kabash on Kyoto, stood up to the UN , eliminated foreign aid for abortions, let the AWB sunset, had 54 quarters of growth despite the war and natural disasters and many other conservative wonkish policies that need not be detailed here. Many of the negatives that occurred during his administration can be laid directly at the feet of his opponents.
I grew up on the Left and also know how these people think, and would contend there never was even momentary suspension of America hatred after 9/11. I sat in the livingroom of a leftist just after 9/11 and was treated to a disquisition by a French intellectual on why the attack was a righteous reprisal to American hegemony and historical cruelty. Furthermore, I encountered only denial that we even had an enemy. Among the Berkeley society in which I mingled at the time, it was all manufactured nonsense or criminal conspiracy.
Too bad for America. True patriots are no longer in power and in control. Now we have apologists and naysayers in control. Those who think America is too powerful and too good for the world. Those who think Chavez and Castro should be our idols and our heroes not people like Cheney or GwBush. As they say "those who don't learn from history will surely repeat it". I have no doubt that what we have in Control of our Government today will allow history to be repeated. No doubts at all.
I spent the last 8 years right here, wtching evil Leftoids like you spin lies and slanders.
I expect you're so stupid, you voted for Obama.
Crap. HRC didn't get the nomination because (a) the press was kissing Obama's ass, and (b) Obama blatantly stole the caucus states.
I don't know if it really happened or was just a Hollywood line, but in the movie Patton (one of my all time favorites): "In about fifteen minutes, we're going to start turning these boys into fanatics – razors. They'll lose their fear of the Germans. I only hope to God they never lose their fear of me."
President Bush did what had to be done. He has my undying respect for that. The decision to take America to war is a weight I would never wish on my worst enemy. And he paid dearly for his decision. Yet, I have no doubt, if asked, he would say it was nothing compared to what the troops did. And he would be right.
Got to agree.
Amen.
Even though I shutter at the thought of agreeing with ddaichiro, I do so, but not because I agree with his liberalism, but because even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Government intervention in the economy only made things worse. It always does. The MSM is scratching it's collective head over why the recession appears to be over in Europe and Canada, but not the US.
I can think of 787 billion reasons.
sadly, I'm afraid you are right Jake, although, often it takes a long time and eventually some get it right. There are, of course, good historians out there, such as Amity Schlies, but they are too few and far between. I trust you are well.
Would have been nice if he'd bothered to work on protecting us from the first 9/11 — but heck, he was on vacaction!
I am not fooled into anything much anymore Tom. It would be foolish to think there won't be more attacks to come. I watched Chris Burgard's documentary and it is chilling how poorly defended are borders are.
He did go after the terrorists. Until he got bored and invaded Iraq.
Yes, if only we had more patriots like your hero Perry of Texas who "loves" this country so much he wants to secede if the extreme right wing doesn't get everything it wants.
Ooh. Nice point, but I cringe at the thought of how badly our politically correct friends are going to blow up when they read it. White liberal guilt is an ugly thing when it's turned outwards.
No, it will never be righted. Thanks to our current education system, the concept of the "fair-minded historian" will soon be a thing of the past as well.
TARP was a defensible and possibly correct policy that seems to have worked. It should not be confused with the stimulus and the later bunch of bailouts, which were counterproductive.
Even the policies of the current administration cannot stop the economy from coming back. The recession is all but over. But while Bush overcame a recession to give us 5 years of excellent growth and very low unemployment, the bloated government Obama is imposing – not just insane spending but also excessive regulation and inevitably higher taxes – will produce less growth and higher unemployment plus mindboggling debt. Frankly, their actions make more sense if you interpret this administration as a cabal out to destroy America.
Looking back from 2012 or 2014, we will be able to see the difference between W and O.
I disagree.
We have Obama because we have witless, irresponsible, parasitical voters looking for constant government handouts, and we have a Republican party that ignored the voters that gave them control, who began acting like Democrats, and who put up the lamest possible candidate against Obama since Robert Dole was offered up against Clinton.
I fault the repubs far more for this mess than any other factor. But that's just me…….
al qeada declared war on the US in 1996.
I prefer not to think of 9/11 as a partisan event, but rather as an American tragedy.
But, as you so amply demonstrate, 3,000 murdered fellow Americans is the perfect time to crank up partisan politics. Modern liberals are so classy.
Well, don't take this personally, I don't mean to offend, but in my opinion, TARP was reprehensible. It was a lame attempt to fix the housing bubble burst, which was created by government intervention in the housing, and banking industries, and the fed's lose monetary policies.
Every time any government steps into a situation, they warp the free market, and nothing good ever comes from that. Wait, I take that back, there is goodness for those who are patrons of politicians, its the rest of We The People who have to suffer.
My motto is there is no one under the sun who knows better how to spend a dollar, than the person who worked to earn that dollar.
Certainly not Barney Franks, Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. When/if the government ever learns to stay out of our personal business, the business boom/bust cycle will become a thing of the past. But as long as there are people who insist they know best how other people should live, they will never leave us alone.
word
Thanks, John…..I knew you wouldn't let me down.
My sense that the September 11th attacks would transcend partisan politics lasted less than a few days. That may sound cynical, but after counting myself as one of them for over a decade, I know how the Left thinks and I knew what was coming.
Especially when you're a conservative living in one of most liberal states in the country. It tends to harden your heart.
Still, I miss seeing all those flags waving from cars, homes and businesses.
It is 6:38 PM EST on September 11. Barack Obama has already 'kept us safer' longer than George Bush could manage.
I remember his blank stare when the aide whispered in his ear while he was in Florida reading 'My Pet Goat'. What a godawful moment for any human being, much less the leader of the free world. And I cheered him when he stood at ground zero with a bullhorn. And I wept with him at the Pentagon memorial. Those were stunning, uniting days among weeks of grief and shock.
But don't make him some kind of hero. Part of this day is acknowledging that before September 11 we all thought we were safe. But we weren't safe. We never were. And we still aren't, now. Freedom isn't free, and it doesn't guarantee safety, either.
There will always be a chance we will be attacked. We go on living anyway. But please don't make George Bush into a hero. The heroes died on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, died climbing the stairs of falling towers, were crushed by the rubble when they came to aid the injured and pray for the dying and dead.
I disagreed with Bush more and more as the years went by, but I always did so a bit halfheartedly because of those memories of his conduct following 9/11. Someday I hope I have a chance to meet him personally and thank him for everything he did.
I sincerely hope you're wrong.
There was one thing in particular about the news coverage that day (on CBS), that I never could forget, and I hate to say, almost struck me as being a bit funny. They started running a video in the afternoon that some guy right across the river in New Jersey had shot from his backyard, warning us it was completely unedited, and when the first tower started collapsing, the man screamed (unbleeped) "Holy F***ing Jesus!!!" and then there were some inaudible screams and what I think were some curses at the perpetrators. Okay, on second thought, I take it back. It's not funny. It just struck me that way at first, thinking, "FCC must have been like, 'Screw it.'"
I don't agree with the reasons why, but I do agree with the sentiment. God Bless him, indeed.
And pray tell, who were those GOP pols who began to act like Dems? Tell us, please!
I'll even give you a bit of help.
NCLB?
Prescription drug benefits?
"Comprehensive" shamnesty?
TARP?
Dubai ports?
Hacks like Brownie, Gonzalez and Meyers?
Fiscal stupidity at every turn?
It fell to Cheney to only now defend the wars, because Bush Jr. never bothered to do so. I agree with the wars, but the way they have been fought has been a joke. Kill the bads guys,and then let's go home. Instead we had Wilsonian stupidity on a grand scale and dangerous ROE .
Washington politicians suck, right and left.
You first.
Are you naive or just uninformed? We're safe because of the policies of the Bush Administration that were passed by a bi-partisan Congress in the days, weeks, and months after 9/11. Obama is returning this country to the policies that the Clinton Administration held. Except Obama and his administration and the Democrats have now dropped all pretense of protecting this country. They honestly believe that we were attacked because of our past actions and deeds and "arrogance". They honestly believe that the world loves us now and we are no longer in danger.
Muslims have a very long memory and they are very patient. They will attack us again. When they do it depends on what they think they will accomplish. Remember that Islam is not just a religion. It's a political philosophy. Their goal is not just to kill innocent people, it's to gain power.
Oh, and by the way, I believe they didn't attack us again because they believed Bush would fight back again. Muslims respect strength and despise weakness.
Great John between you and Andrew you both got me tearing up twice today….Mr. President I went to DC to help get a decent man elected and I know I did. We might not have agreed on everything but when it came to taking the fight to the enemy you never hesitated. I just want to add my thank yous. You kept us safe. We won't forget. God Bless you sir.
So does this military family.
Maybe I should just make copies and sell it for the cost of the tape on EBay…
You need to thank Bohemond for telling the truth to you.
What Ed said.
Thank you, Mr. Bush, for standing up for all the citizens of this country and keeping us safe. You certainly have my respect and the respect of millions of other citizens.
Nope. Me too. I fault the GOP as much as the witless liberals for the current mess we're in.
Excellent idea.
Do add a little something for your time and trouble.
Let me know when it's ready, I'll buy.
( You do mean DVD don't ya?)
Excellent idea.
Do add a little something for your time and trouble.
Let me know when it's ready, I'll buy.
( You do mean DVD don't ya?) hope-hope
The Muslims are gathering in the places they're tolerated- even celebrated- and these places will be among the first to suffer their intolerance, violence and hate.
Sorry if I addressed you incorrectly.
He WAS gracious, and classy. Not like the current guy, who flipped the bird at Hillary and McCain, or belittles Americans who disagree with him. The current guy insisted on keeping his Crackberry, despite the extra cost it means to taxpayers keeping it un-hackable! The current guy think he's too cool for a suit jacket in the Oval Office. The current guy gives tacky, stupid gifts to heads of state. The current guy is all "me, me, me, me".
Jackass, did you post this on ALL the 9/11 threads?
Remember all the little flags left on the floor of the stadium after the big Obama-drama DNC convention?
Gillian is naive, uninformed and apparently thinks that immediately upon hearing some awful news, one should jump up and run about doing SOMETHING, ANYTHING! IT'S A CRISIS!!!! DO SOMETHING!!! EVEN THE WRONG THING!!!! AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
You know, like Obama does. Never waste a crisis!
We have Obama because of him.
Absolutely. It was the year any Democrat could win because Bush was so awful.
Best sport to be had is reminding liberals it's the guy in the Batsuit who's the Dubya analog, not Two-Face the guy who actually wears a suit
Thank you sir for remembering to thank President Bush, he was, is, and will remain a hero because he was steadfast in a time of great adversity and it matters not what those who do not understand history believe, it matters only that my children were kept safe for a time, a time that I fear is coming to an end, a time when we will wish again for men with the courage of President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. I hope, believe and pray that such men will step up when we need them, which may be all too soon.
Youtube is a nice medium as well. Either way…those tapes need to be preserved for the future.
Disagree!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why would I want to be civil to or have any unity with a marxist political system??? Some times being "nonpartisan" means not having a firm belief or backbone.
Glenn Beck is telling the truth about the revolutionaries that Obama has surrounded himself with in the White House. If the main stream media were doing their real jobs Obama and his cronies would already have been vetted during the campaign with the same vengence they took against McCain's wife and Palin for pete's sake.
I think the public watches Beck far more than Olberman for a reason.
Or at least thank him for everything he got right.
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