SamSaid!

MISTAKES

     Much has been made over George Bush's refusal to admit to mistakes. Has he made mistakes?   Sure! Even as a Bush supporter I would say, “Yes, he has made mistakes”. Admitting that he has been wrong on occasion might be an act of courage or contrition. But imagine the feeding frenzy of the left-wing Bush haters of he were to do so. Can't you just imagine the juices flowing in Terry McAuliffe and the editorialists and commentators of the mass media —  “Bush admits to major blunders”. Or worse.

     I like to put matters in a proper perspective. Did FDR admit to a mistake in the failure to give advance warning of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor? Or did John Kennedy admit to a mistake in the Cuban Bay of Pigs fiasco?  Not hardly. Take Jimmy Carter  — a fundamentsally decent man. Did he admit to a mistake in sending an expedition to its death in the ill-designed rescue mission intended to free the hostages held in Iran? Not that I recall. And,  there was no media lynch mob looking for Carter.  

      For George Bush to publicly acknowledge a mistake woud be about like throwing a full grown salmon into a pool of piranhas. The feeding frenzy would make the water boil. Often times in a civil setting, errors in judgment are offered when gracious acceptances are given in response. Not with the salivating left wingers. If George Bush makes 10 decisions and nine are good ones, the results are swept aside by the tenth decision as long as there is a basis for any kind of criticism. Disagreement with a decision doesn't make it a mistake. Difference of opinion, yes. Mistake?  No.

     If I were in GW's position, I would concede nothing in the face of rabid, irrational opposition. Would you?? Oh yes, has Kerry admitted to a mistake in turning his back on his Vietnam war vets??

BIN LADEN

     The campaign rhetoric continues to amaze me. Kerry keeps up the George Bush criticism that Bin Laden was cornered by US Special Service troops and we let him get away. Kerry says that Bin Laden was cornered in Tora Bora and we turned over the hunt to Afghani war lords who let him escape. The insinuation is that the warlords were less than skilled or dedicated and that we couldn't be sure whose side they were on. Conclusion: George Bush's fault.

    Both Kerry and Edwards were members of the Senate Intelligence Committee in the years following 9/11. Dick Cheney chaired that Committee. During that period, any number of Intelligence Committee meetings included confidential agenda items about the whereabouts and search for Bin Laden. Both Kerry and Edwards were absent from 70% of the meetings of that Committee. Not 50%  –  70%. Does that strike you as being Presidential? Or as being a wartime leader? Or conscientiously representing your constituency? With that kind of track record, it is a bit sanctimonious for Kerry to pontificate about letting Bin Laden “get away”. But in a larger sense it is understandable that Kerry wouldn't know too much about the search from Bin Laden since he didn't even bother to show up at most of the Intel meetings.    Kerry has yet to comment on his own absentee record. Wonder why??

    The more I think about it, maybe the Senate Intelligence Committee functioned better with Kerry and Edwards being absent. Just a thought.