Flashback: Karl Rove on Bush's first year

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A28611-2001Dec11¬Found=true


...

"He understands with clarity," Rove said. "He has developed an extraordinary set of interchanges and relationships" with Congress. He is "obviously in the moment," and yet "he remains keenly interested in the domestic agenda." He has an "optimistic and inclusive view" and has created a "collegial and positive" White House atmosphere, creating "an incredibly positive experience." Bush is "more compelling" and is able "to give compassion" like no other.

But weren't there any disappointments? "If there's something that surprised him in a negative way, I'm not aware of it," the strategist averred. "One of his major disappointments was he no longer had access to e-mail."

To questions about whether the attacks of Sept. 11 turned Bush into a better leader, Rove answered that Bush was a great leader all along. "I for one don't buy this theory that September 11th somehow changed George Bush," Rove said. "You're just paying better attention. He is who he is. You're either inspired at the pulpit or you're not. You're either capable of rising to it or you're not."

...

Rove told his audience about Bush's sense of command on Sept. 11, after Rove received word that the first tower of the World Trade Center had been struck. "The president came walking in the room, took one look at the television set and said, 'We're at war. Get me the vice president. Get me the director of the FBI.' "


...

"I saw an airplane hit the tower - the TV was obviously on - and I used to fly myself, and I said, 'There's one terrible pilot.' And I said, 'It must have been a horrible accident.'"

"I wasn't sure what to think at first. You know, I grew up in a period of time where the idea of America being under attack never entered my mind - just like your daddy and mother's mind probably. And I started thinking hard in that very brief period of time about what it meant to be under attack. I knew that when I got all the facts, there would be hell to pay for attacking America."

that when I heard about the first plane on the radio, the first thought in my head was "what a dumbass". It wasn't until I heard the girl on the radio morning show (Lindsey from Real World Seattle) scream as she saw the second plane hit, (as they were watching CNN in their studio) that terrorism became the obvious cause.

;)

"The president came walking in the room, took one look at the television set and said, 'We're at war. Get me the vice president. Get me the director of the FBI.' "

Walking into what room? He was hustled straight into his limo, then onto AF1, where he stayed for the next 5 hours.

Or did I slip into an alternate universe?

looked like he was really doing a lot. :eyes: