American Politics Journal -- A Nation Outraged

A Nation Outraged
by Gene Gaudette
Publisher, American Politics Journal

May 17, 2002 -- New York (APJP) -- May 17, 2002 -- New York (APJP) -- In a matter of less than two days, the complacent and passive attitude of much of our nation has been shattered.

Wednesday evening, CBS reported that the highest players occupying the executive branch had been warned of a plot to hijack passenger jets involving the Al Qaeda crime network. This was a daring move by the network, an act of overt defiance of the present administration's not-so-veiled demands for mandatory patriotism and for silence over any news that might rock the boat while the nation is at "war".

When newspapers hit the stands Thursday morning, the frenzy of talk and activity began -- for former Texas governor George W. Bush and his phalanx of handlers, flacks and decision-makers, for Congress, for the print and broadcast press, for talk radio and political Web sites, and for every American following the news.

The reaction from the White House has been nothing less than consistently embarrassing, raising disturbing questions about the Bush team leadership's honesty and competence.

Two press briefings by Ari Fleischer featured boilerplate pap of sometimes clearly questionable veracity as he fended off probing questions, many from his ostensible press "allies". This afternoon, he tried to politicize the issue of what the White House knew by quoting comments made by Senator Dianne Feinstein -- a quote that is already backfiring on Bush and his team.

Worse yet was yesterday's pathetic, evasive briefing by a clearly shaken Condolleeza Rice, whose non-answers and spin not only did even less to settle the skeptical mood of the press than Fleischer's efforts but triggered even more questions about what exactly she and other intelligence, defense and justice czars knew and discussed.

But worst of all was the sheer impudence of both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, who separately attempted yesterday to claim that this scandal is somehow being driven by politics or is somehow a politicization of tragedy. Mind you, the notion was being pressed by leaders who are openly using the "war on terror" for political gain and who shamelessly helped to peddle a photograph of Mr. Bush taken on September 11th to rake in as much soft money as they are able for their party.

My friends and neighbors here in New York City are livid.

They were for the most part already angry at and frustrated with an administration with no clear mandate to lead the nation and an arrogant, laissez-faire attitude that already had New Yorkers skeptical as to just how committed Bush's team of bosses are to rebuilding the southern tip of Manhattan and restoring economic strength and infrastructure. Now they're furious that Bush and Company not only knew something was in the offing, but did nothing to prevent the lives of 3,000 of their friends, neighbors, spouses, parents and children from being snuffed out by the atrocities of a criminal cult of homicide and hate.

The anger is by no means limited to New York. American Politics Journal received hundreds of e-mails from readers responding to yesterday's gloves-off scathe by Dave Gonzo and/or to the mushrooming story surrounding the revelation that the White House knew that an act of carnage was in the offing. Many shared his skepticism about Washington's leaders appearing not to see the obvious: hijackings of large, fully-fueled passenger jetliners do not automatically mean hostage scenarios, as events of some eight years ago in France attest. Every e-mail -- including more than one from readers who consider themselves conservative but debate our staff with civility and intelligence -- expressed a common sentiment: anger, not only over the story itself but a lack of straight answers.

This clearly is a turning point for the nation's leadership, and the opportunity for a bipartisan Congress to investigate how it is that George W. Bush and his doctrine-driven codependent coterie so failed to protect our nation's security. Democrats and a surprising number of Republicans in both houses of Congress are eager to get to the bottom of the story.

It is time for the legislative branch to step in and find solid answers for a nation that feels deceived, betrayed, and outraged.

More commentary:

Michael Rectenwald: Stand and Demand a Thorough Investigation of September 11th!

Mike Hersh: Call It 9-11Gate

Christian Livemore: What did the press know and why didn't they tell us?

Bryan Zepp Jamieson: Follow the Dots

David Marsden: Here we go again