I support Bush for a number of reasons, defense, terrorism, taxes, right to life, judicial nominations... too numeroud to list them all.  But there is a persona story why I am supporting Bush and I think it is time to share it.  Make of it what you will, but as it includes an old friend of mine... this is my one degree of seperation to both President Bushes.

Nearly two years ago the space shuttle blew up.  A very VERY good friend of mine is Sean O'Keefe the NASA Administrator.  Sean has had a relationship with the Bushes that extends back to the first administration.  Sean was comptroller of the Department of defense by the age of 30.  He served as SecNav for GHWB.  When GWB got elected he was named as Deputy Director of OMB... while this is the number two spot, those in government know that the number 1 spot is the administration's mouthpiece on issues whereas the number 2 actually runs the operations on a daily basis.  Shortly after, GWB asked Sean to take over NASA and bring the same discipline he brought to the DoD, Navy and OMB... he accepted.  A little about Sean's background, in between his governmental stints Sean held endowed chairs at U Penn and the Maxwell School.  For those who have not heard of Maxwell, do a google and you'll see it is the world's top program in public administration and one of the better schools in International Relations.  Bottom line, this man knows his shit perhaps better than anybody else in the country.  I had the fortune and honor to study under him in the mid 90s and call him my mentor and friend.

In any event, I mention all this so you know the man I'm talking about and my relation to him, I believe context is important.  When the shuttle exploded people called for Sean's head.  The investigation later showed that the issues at play were numerous, deeply rooted in the mentality of the organization, and not enough time was spent in the job for Sean to have had a chance to institute a cultural change in the organization.  When people called for his head and were looking for somebody to blame, GWB refused to hang Sean out to dry to save his ass.  Instead he called him into the Oval Office for a private (yet somewhat public) consoling and prayer session... to show Sean he had his full support and wouldn't turn his back on a man that had stood by him and his father for more than a decade.

This tells me volumes about Bush and IF I disagreed with him on almost every other issue, he would have my support because he doesn't turn his back on those who are decent, hard-working, loyal and who would be willing to fall on their sword to protect the president... You see, any good appointee will throw themself on their sword if asked to... the difference between Bush and Kerry is both would take the sword from your hands...  Bush would sheath it and embrace his loyal servant...  Kerry would sharpen it and hand it back with a smile.

I don't turn my back on my friends, my friends (and I call few people friends... and there are a few from here) don't turn their back on me... and those few people I call friend see their personal relationships in the same way I do.  If Sean looked me in the eyes and said Michael... I know you have huge problems with Bush, but I tell you, he is the best man for the job... that's all I need to know.  I leave you all to make your decision come November 2.

Why I'm voting for Bush:

Sean just doesn't have time to write... its from phone calls and conversations among our circle of friends who know him...  Even the liberals at Maxwell... and man that place is over-run with liberals... all think the world of Sean and I think even those that hate the president appreciated his loyalty.  While I can't stop this from spreading around the Internet, I'm not looking for it to.  Its just me sharing my reason for voting for Sean.  I also don't think he would want that.  He is very much a man who is happy to be behind the scenes and not overshadow those he works for.

Quoted: I do not doubt that President Bush is a man of good character and I do not doubt the sincerity of his faith.  My dislike for President Bush is not personal. It is strictly political.  He confirmed the reasons that I dislike him politically in the debate of last evening. He either does not understand the Constitution for the United States or he doesn't care for it. If I vote in the presidential election, it will be for President Bush. This I will do only because of my burning hatred for Sen Kerry.

That's plenty reason enough, IMO.  There will NEVER be a President elected that we completely agree with.  

Quoted: Quoted: Why I'm voting for Bush: www.btammolabs.com/images/hug.jpg Brouhaha, if you can , please post the story related to that pic.  It's a powerful one. CMOS

The Cincinnati Enquirer



During his visit to the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon, President Bush stops to hug Ashley Faulkner, who lost her mom in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Photo by Lynn Faulkner

In a moment largely unnoticed by the throngs of people in Lebanon waiting for autographs from the president of the United States, George W. Bush stopped to hold a teenager's head close to his heart.

Lynn Faulkner, his daughter, Ashley, and their neighbor, Linda Prince, eagerly waited to shake the president's hand Tuesday at the Golden Lamb Inn. He worked the line at a steady campaign pace, smiling, nodding and signing autographs until Prince spoke:

"This girl lost her mom in the World Trade Center on 9-11."

Bush stopped and turned back.

"He changed from being the leader of the free world to being a father, a husband and a man," Faulkner said. "He looked right at her and said, 'How are you doing?' He reached out with his hand and pulled her into his chest."

Faulkner snapped one frame with his camera.

"I could hear her say, 'I'm OK,' " he said. "That's more emotion than she has shown in 21/2 years. Then he said, 'I can see you have a father who loves you very much.' "

"And I said, 'I do, Mr. President, but I miss her mother every day.' It was a special moment."

Special for Lynn Faulkner because the Golden Lamb was the place he and his wife, Wendy Faulkner, celebrated their anniversary every year until she died in the south tower of the World Trade Center, where she had traveled for business.

The day was also special for Ashley, a 15-year-old Mason High School student, because the visit was reminiscent of a trip she took four years ago with her mother and Prince. They spent all afternoon in the rain waiting to see Bush on the campaign trail. Ashley remembers holding her mother's hand, eating Triscuits she packed and bringing along a book in case she got bored.

But this time was different. She understood what the president was saying, and she got close enough to see him face to face.

"The way he was holding me, with my head against his chest, it felt like he was trying to protect me," Ashley said. "I thought, 'Here is the most powerful guy in the world, and he wants to make sure I'm safe.' I definitely had a couple of tears in my eyes, which is pretty unusual for me."

The photo has been circulating across the country, Faulkner said. Relatives have passed it on to friends, bosses and acquaintances. As they tell the story, they also share in Wendy Faulkner's legacy, which her family continues through the Wendy Faulkner Memorial Children's Foundation.

"I'm a pretty cynical and jaded guy at this point in my life," Faulkner said of the moment with the president. "But this was the real deal. I was really impressed. It was genuine and from the heart."

Quoted: Quoted: Sean just doesn't have time to write... its from phone calls and conversations among our circle of friends who know him...  Even the liberals at Maxwell... and man that place is over-run with liberals... all think the world of Sean and I think even those that hate the president appreciated his loyalty.  While I can't stop this from spreading around the Internet, I'm not looking for it to.Its just me sharing my reason for voting for Sean. I also don't think he would want that.  He is very much a man who is happy to be behind the scenes and not overshadow those he works for. I must have misread your original post. I thought that you were sharing your reasons for voting for President Bush.

Its called a typo... I am writing while on the phone and watching news reports...  Thanks for sharing your brilliant insight.

Raven, by all standards I have a fairly impressive career to date in public service for someone that is 32... I look at what Sean accomplished by my age and its damn hard not to feel like an abject failure.  He is one of the most impressive people I have ever known.

Quoted: Quoted: I'm not so much voting for Bush, as I am voting Against the Heinz Cunt. Like Savage said...  The country could survive a Kerry presidency, but not the Heinz bitch as the first lady. You mean you don't want your first lady to be multi-cultural & speak 5 languages? If this election were between Laura & Teresa it would have been over a long time ago. I have yet to see even the most aggressive liberal come out & say anything negative about Laura Bush.

Why yes, they have called her a stepford wife.