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March 19, 2007Bush comforts a school, but you’d never know itYou didn’t see this on the news. You didn’t read about it in the paper. It’s the wrong president, of course. Were this President Clinton - or any President with a D after his name, the breathless and moving coverage would have been wall-to-wall. But this is only President Bush comforting the grieving students of a high school ravaged by a tornado…so do you didn’t read it anywhere. You didn’t see it on the news. Read the story, check out the pictures. Reacquaint yourself with a president you are never allowed to see without heavy media anti-filter…because when you saw him unfiltered, you liked him too damn much. The White House finds itself embroiled in yet another scandal, but this time they are on the right side of the outrage. On March 3, 2007 President George W. Bush visited the devastated community of Enterprise, Alabama, ravaged by a savage tornado that took the young lives of 8 high school students at Enterprise High School. President Bush toured the area in Marine 1, viewing the remnents of a once peaceful Alabama town. Arriving at the High School at approximately 8:30, he walked the remains the High School with Principal Rick Ranier, stopping in Hallway 3, the site of the deaths of 8 young Enterprise High School students. Megan Parks raised her hand slightly, then hung her head and began to cry. President Bush put his arms around Megan and Sarah Carroll and all three cried. A secret service officer standing nearby, although not able to hear every word, reported that he could hear the President quoting scripture and then he said, “It’s tough being President, isn’t it?” As he began to walk towards Hillcrest Baptist Church he remarked, “Where are my children?” Lagging behind, they ran up to him, and walked the rest of the way to the church with him. The media was sent in different direction and were not allowed to accompany him to the church. President Bush walked to the church where the families of the nine that died in this town were waiting. As he entered, his security detail remained at the door. A local police officer attached to the detail questioned the Secret Service agent he was partnered with about not going inside the church with the President. The agent remarked, “This is a far as we go, this is his time with his people.” The officer then questioned the presidents protection, if they remained outside the church. Again the agent remarked, “Yes, he is protected, but not by us.” Inside the church, President Bush was again seen with tears streaming down his face as he spoke with the families that lost loved ones and grieved with them. He prayed with them and gave assurances that all that could be done, would be done, to help them get back on their feet. He told them that this would make them stronger, that losing a loved one has a way of doing that to people. The President spent nearly two hours on the ground in Enterprise. Governor Riley is quoted as saying, Yes, well…he never did get the lip-bite right, President Bush. The press only covers presidential compassion when the president gets the lip-bite right. I cannot imagine what it is like to be this man, to wake up every single day and deal with a seething, BDS-afflicted press out to take him down, and a “loyal opposition” bent on giving him as much hell as possible in a time of war. He makes me nuts sometimes - I wish he’d fight back more - but I can understand why he won’t waste his energy on anklebiters and partisan snipers when he has troops in harms way, and people at home to keep safe. And he has kept us safe. And yes, I still pray for him, every day. Do you? Have you stopped? Maybe you should start again. Meantime…I’d bet it’s safe to say that most Americans have forgotten this fellow, seen unfiltered, via the great DVD 9 Innings from Ground Zero: Laura Lee has more at Wide Awake Cafe, and she links to a great column by Lorie Byrd who points out that Bush cannot get his message past the media blockade. He’s not the greatest communicator as it is, and they’ve effectively silenced him. Some president’s manage to talk beyond the media, directly to the American people, (I know some folks say Reagan could do it), but Bush doesn’t seem to have that gift. Related: The Essential President Bush http://theanchoressonline.com/2007/03/19/bush-comforts-a-school-but-youd-never-know-it/trackback/ 21 Responses to “Bush comforts a school, but you’d never know it” |
March 19th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
My Dear Anchoress,
I have read you for several years without comment. I am not near as clever. This post, like others in the past moved me to register to post. I have the same reaction to the President. He is in my daily prayers and it makes me furious that others cannot/will not see him as he is–an imperfect man with a huge burden to carry with no help from the congress or the medial. urrgh makes me very cranky to think about it.
Keep up the good work and take care of yourself. I dare not imagine a day without your writings.
March 19th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Dear Anchoress,
I could not agree with you and Alice more.
He is a flawed human being, but he is our President. It grieves me to no end to see so much disrespect for him, his positon, and the burden and responsibilty that is on his shoulders.
I hope and pray that many pray for him.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
A Compassionate President
The Anchoress is probably my most favorite blogger, along with Kim from Musing Minds.
Today the Anchoress writes a touching post about a visit President Bush made to Enterprise, Alabama, to talk with and grieve with the survivors of the tornado that t…
March 19th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
My dear Anchoress, thank you for this post. It was comforting to read this as sometimes I think I am the only one that feels this way.
I very recently joined a health club to lose my middle age spread and my only complaint is that the TVs seem to be permanently tuned to CNN by the bikes. Just today I was forced to watch Wolf Blitzer pontificate with the mayor of Salt Lake City about how the President should be impeached. I thought the point of the gym was to lower my blood pressure, not raise it! I prayed for the president which was better than watching that garbage.
Anyway here in blue country (suburbs of Philly), I’ll just have to learn how to operate an Ipod so that I can listen to the bible teachings of a local pastor or Hugh Hewitt’s and Bill Bennett’s podcasts. But I can now understand why my sister dislikes Bush so intensely if she watches CNN all day long; she’s never getting a true picture of the man.
Please know that I am also praying for you and your health.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Thank you for this post, A. It was beautifully written. I did a trackback to it so please check and see if it got to you since you know I’m having trouble with that function.
March 19th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Sorry I have to spoil this little pity party your throwing, Anchoress, but it so happens that I DID see some coverage of the President’s trip, including of his comforting one of the students with a hug and consolong words. You are correct about one thing, it was very moving. Where did I see this on? I forget, but it was either CNN or C-Span.
I have also seen plenty of instances where Bush has been defended on these media outlets, as well as criticized. Is it possible that you are just so outraged by the critiicsm that you never hear the defense, and yes, the praise?
I watch C-Span on some mornings, and they have a call-in show where you can call in o either the Republican or Democratic line. I have heard plenty of people call in in support of Bush and the Republcians in general, as much as the opposition callers, and both sides are treated equally cordially and fairly.
A good many of the guests are also pro-Bush. So, sorry, I just don’t see this Bush hating you guys are always complaining about. Do you really say this stuff from experience or are you just taking other people’s word for it.
Or worse, are you just so profoundly incensed that everybody doesn’t agree with Bush and the Republicans one hundred per cent of the time, and nothing less than perfect support is acceptable to you? If that is the case, my advice to you is get over yourselves.
I remember many times when Clinton was President that he was criticized mercilessly by the press, sometimes fairly, other times not so fairly. That comes with the territory, and you should try to understand that.
March 20th, 2007 at 5:43 am
Mr Kelly, I can assure you that it is not only in my fevered imaginings that the press hates George W. Bush. If you saw this on CNN, then that’s wonderful, but you must have been the lucky chap near a tv when it flashed by, because I know this did not get the wall-to-wall coverage a similar trip by President Clinton would have gotten. I’m always amused when someone says, “hey, I heard someone on tv say something positive about Bush pretty recently, and a couple of people on C-Span have been supporting him, so I don’t know where all this ugly bias you see is coming from.”
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I don’t think you’ve been reading me for very long, because if you had, you’d know that I am a former liberal Dem who has more than taken issue with Bush and especially with the GOP (I am no staunch Republican - before the next election I will be independent again, as I have always said), and I routinely get my head put in the toilet by the “true conservatives” who feel I don’t represent their view enough, particularly as pertains to issues like illegal immigration, so I hope you’ll cease and desist making the charge that I insist that the world “agree with Bush and the Republicans 100% of the time” and look for “perfect support.”
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I too remember when Clinton was president and was criticized by the people and the press, sometimes fairly, sometimes not. I DO understand what comes with the territory (I’d appreciate a softening of the condescending tone, thanks) and frankly, when the GOP was “piling on” Clinton, I disagreed with that tactic, and thought the press was right to call them on it. I note they do not call the Dems for “piling on” President Bush.
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In 40 years of following politics closely, and broadcast journalism even more closely, because my first heroes were journalists, I have NEVER witnessed the press and the “loyal opposition” in such a state. I suspect some of it is an overreaction to the existence of the blogosphere and Fox News (no, I’m not a fan of that, either - I really don’t fit your apparent stereotype) but even accounting for those changes, the manner in which the press goes after this president and serves the left is unprecedented in its savagery, and yes, I know people in the news industry - centrist folk - who are aware of it, powerless to do much about it and sickened by it, so I’m more than certain I’m not imagining all this.
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The president has made some mistakes, and sometimes he makes me want to pull my hair out - and his speeches can even be painful to watch. But he is still the president, and anyone in that office deserves better - FAIRER - treatment than this man gets in the press.
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But clearly, you think differently, which is fine. You and I will have to agree to disagree.
March 20th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Dear Anchoress: Repenting before the Lord in the wee hours this morning, I realized I had not been praying for President Bush lately. Convicted that I can so easily cease to pray for and begin to criticize, I thought of what this man has to endure daily, and I prayed. Since then I read this post and been grateful for you again making available such truth which is to me today a confirming word. May the Lord be with President Bush, and may I be found more faithful in praying for a leader whose very heart I must love and respect. Thanks and God’s Blessing on you, Anchoress.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:13 am
I was going to answer Mr. Kelley, A, but it seems you have done well by yourself!
March 20th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Ahhhh, and that is exactly why i come to Anchoress- the answer to Mr. Kelley is breath-taking.
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I will add that i’m ~accused~ of coming here to this great Blog because i need an echo chamber(my ~accuser~ thinks as Mr. Kelley: we Conservatives all must bleat in 4/4 time). I respect and believe A grew up on the Liberal side of life- that’s why it’s so imortant to me to see what she has to say everyday. I know it’ll be a weighted, thoughtful post.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:57 am
You are so on the money with this post. Ideologues posing as journalists is our reality. That said, let’s identify the ideologues beliefs. I noted yesterday that “For a leftist, there can be no Hitler other than an American Hitler. There can be no real Nazis other than Jews. No matter the excesses or evil that is in full view everyday, they must be denied so as to make America, American policy, Israel and Jews the real problem.
A million dead in Rwanda? Who cares. A two plus decades long slaughter in Sudan that has left over 2 million dead- never mind. George Bush is Hitler, profiling at airports is fascist. The ever escalating dysfunction of the Arab world? So what- it isn’t as if leftists cared about Arabs and the oppression they suffer. As long as the Arab world hates America and hates Jews, well, that’s good enough for the leftists.”
That George Bush gives a damn about those who suffer, here and abroad, is anathema to the left- and the MSM, their flag bearers. They cannot bear the truth that he and his supporters care and they do not is unbearable- and therefore poisonous- to them.
“In the mindset of a leftist, the Jerusalem of reality is a backwater when compared to the excitement of Babylon. The justice of Jerusalem requires work, effort and an honest assessment of what needs to be done so that justice might be achieved. The distractions of Babylon are deliberately crafted and presented so as to take the focus off justice and off an honest look at reality.”
March 20th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I cannot imagine getting up every morning, going to work and seeing the student newspaper proclaim that I am the worst pianist ever, not even knowing where Middle C is on the keyboard. But, our President gets far worse than this every day, and has for all the years he’s been in office. Thank goodness for his strong faith in God and in this country, or else he would have packed his bags and gone back to Crawford a long time ago. Thank you, A, for your beautiful writings, and for including the You Tube video ~ I cried while watching it. God Bless America and this President, who has my prayers each day.
March 20th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
[...] The Anchoress reminds us about that moment five plus years ago when President Bush threw a perfect strike and the American people were united behind him. [...]
March 20th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Thank you for lifting my day, Ma’am.
We don’t always agree, but I think you’ll understand what I mean when I say that Pres. G. W. Bush is someone I would feel safe leaving my kids with; I was too young to get a feel for his dad, and I’d leave children home alone before I’d leave them with folks like the Clintons.
He’s a good man. God bless him, and you.
March 20th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I was in a journalism master’s program and working in the publishing industry throughout the Clinton years (as well as doing a study of the media coverage of the Clarence Thomas hearings). I think that there ARE positive stories about Bush. However, I never read or saw in the Clinton years (or even in the Bush Sr. years) such a denigration of the office of president or personal opinions taking up so vast a portion of reporting.
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Some of it is decidedly subtle; e.g. the way journalists address former presidents as “President” (a title reserved for the office) instead of “Mr.” But what gets me is the editorializing. It’s fine to ask a reporter in Bagdad her opinion of events that are occurring as she speaks. It’s quite another situation when a new field reporter is bandying opinions with the anchor and that editorializing is as long or longer than the coverage of the facts, the event, or the issue!
March 20th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Anchoress, actually I do read your blog from time to time, in fact I have you linked on my blogroll. I discovered it on Andrew Sullivan, which I went to specifically for the purpose of finding quality blogs to add to my blogroll. I have read your blog enough to know you are not the typical toe-the-red-Kool-Aid-line-at-all-times blogger.
By the same token, when I hear anybody talk about how the media is so biased, I automatically jump to the conclusion that in most cases they are just repeating the same tired old cliche’s. Maybe you are not doing that, but I would bet you a dollar to a doughnut that most people that say that kind of thing NEVER watch CNN or C-Span or MSNBC.
I do watch CNN and C-Span, so I know better, at least in the case of C-Span. There might be some viability to the charge of CNN, but even this is exaggerated. Incidentally, I used to watch Fox, which I have lost along with MSNBC by going back to basic cable.
Still, of course, yes, there is some bias, I am just saying those charges are overblown.
If anybody wants to see fair coverage, you don’t have to look that far to find it. It’s just that most people don’t bother, in my opinion, they just go to the media outlets that reinforce their own preconceived viewpoints, then complain about the ones that don’t. And yes, liberals are every bit as bad as conservatives when it comes to this.
Just so you’ll know, I am probably in a lot of respects more conservative than you are. For example, since you brought it up, in the matter of illegal immigration, for at least one thing.
Cheers,
Patrick
March 20th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
I was just about ready to take you seriously until I saw that oxymoron - “I discovered it on Andrew Sullivan, which I went to specifically for the purpose of finding quality blogs to add to my blogroll.”
March 20th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Patrick Kelley– I use to watch CNN and all that; I got deathly sick of it while I was in the military, during the initial invasion, and when I realized that the Prez couldn’t do anything that they’d like.
Now, I don’t even have a TV, and I do not miss it.
March 20th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Correction, just to set the record straight and give credit where credit is due-I found this blog through a link on Glenn Reynolds’ Instapundit, not Andrew Sullivan as I said before.
March 20th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
The George W. Bush you’ll not hear a word about
Pilloried by a loathing press, bashed by the most dishonest of politicians, and criticized even by those who’ve supported in the past strongly, President Bush visited the high school in Alabama recently and you’re probably not aware. No longer:On March
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:31 am
[...] few places in the US). A local outlet noted the disconnect. Anchoress grasped the significance, and did a tremendous post on the situation last week. I think history will conclude that George Bush was the most heavily [...]