While the words "Donald Trump is right" seem to not want to pass my lips, in this case (broken clocks and all that) it's true. No, Bush did not intentionally let the 9/11 attack happen (and Trump never said that), but Bush's neocon appointees were far more focused on digging up a casus belli against Iraq and on finishing up a ballistic missile treaty than on urgent reports from the CIA and the National Security Council counter-terrrorism team that some group called "Al Qida" was planning an attack.
The argument can be made that with prompt Administration action, the attack might have been averted (and I'd love a glimpse at that particular parallel universe), but, instead, plans against Bin Laden and Al Qa'eda had only just made it to Bush's desk when the attacks took place.
If nothing else, Trump is correct in saying 9/11 happened on Bush's watch, and Truman's old adage of "The Buck Stops Here" is, justly or unjustly, applicable. For Jeb! to leap to his brother's defense is understandable and even admirable, but in so doing he's violating that precept. That doesn't mean it was an impeachable offense or something that should have led to Dubya's resignation, but "mistakes were made" and responsibility has to fall on the president at the time. Wishing it away or pretending it never happened is futile and only makes the next mistake more likely.
Worse, Jeb!'s follow-up statement that what's more important is that his brother "kept America safe" after 9/11 doesn't bear close scrutiny, either: further terrorist attacks, the bungling of the Katrina relief effort, and a misguided and mishandled war on Iraq — just to start the list — say much the opposite.
So, Trump is right in his basic raising of the issue, and Jeb! (and the chattering coterie of Dubya supporters) is wrong in trying to handwave it away. It probably speaks more to Jeb! and his own candidacy than Trump, except to suggest the latter is willing to say outrageous things that offend people anywhere on the political spectrum — which may make him a good op-ed writer, but is not a qualification for president.
Donald Trump, George W. Bush, and Responsibility for 9/11 – The Atlantic
George W. Bush didn’t do all he could to prevent the attack—and it’s time Republicans confronted that fact.
Mike, I admit that I am not paying any serious attention to the Republican side. Are they more than boisterous imbeciles? Should I be paying attention and to whom and why?
+Lori Just-Breathe I'm really trying not to get sucked down that rabbit hole — one could spend all day focusing on the inanity of any of the individuals involved — just when there's a broader point to the overall political discussion that I think should be made.
We are over a year from the election, and there have been no primaries yet. The only thing worth noting (depressing as it is) is that one of the folk from that side of the aisle is going to be nominated, and none of them are covering themselves in glory right now. And whoever that person is, the most recent election years tell us that s/he will have the automatic support of at least 40-45% of the electorate. Which gives them a decent shot at being the next president, no matter what they say or do.
So, yes, it's worth being aware, but not worth exerting too much effort or outrage until the GOP actually nominates someone.
Jeb says he is “proud” of what his brother did after 9-11. I can’t wrap my head around that at all.
But am I correct in saying that only old white guys, and Evangelicals vote for them? So in the meantime, there will be a few less of them and hopefully more excited younger educated people entering the voting age?
+Lori Just-Breathe Yes! And with a demographic that increasingly votes left of center. Slightly…
+Lori Just-Breathe The majority (or plurality) demographic is Old White Guys and Evangelicals. But there are still plenty of women, younger folk, and non-evangelical in there, just in smaller numbers.
The demographics shift, but slowly, over time (one reason for dodgy voting restrictions imposed by GOP-majority state legislatures). The swing vote remains very tight, and the stakes very high. Hence the need for a strong Democratic candidate and continued Get Out the Vote efforts.