DUBYA AND NYC
NEW YORK Post Opinion
August 18, 2005
The four Democrats fantasizing about becoming mayor this November har bor nothing but disdain for President Bush.
The ingrates.
That Democratic candidates for mayor in a town like New York would hold a Republican president in low regard is to be expected. But common decency suggests that — this year, at least — some notice be taken of the extraordinary service to New York performed by George W. Bush in the weeks and months following 9/11.
Think back: Four years ago next month, terrorists roared into the city, slaughtered nearly 3,000 innocent people, leveled Gotham's biggest landmark — in the heart of its financial district — and spread fear and destruction.
The financial toll was huge: Tens of billions in property damage. Even more in clean-up and recovery costs.
The economic toll? Staggering: Much of lower Manhattan was closed. Businesses were wiped out. Tourism died.
Nearly half a million jobs vanished in three months. Billions in tax revenues dried up.
Few can reasonably disagree that Bush stepped up: He visited Gotham, offering solace — and a promise that "the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."
Which they did.
He vowed $20 billion in clean-up and recovery funds, a promise he kept.
Bush then took the war to the enemy — toppling terror-linked governments in Afghanistan and Iraq. While the struggle is far from over, it is clear to potential state sponsors of terror everywhere: Attack America at your grave peril.
And there have been no more attacks.
Bush pushed through tax cuts and helped get the national economy on its feet — particularly the financial sector (whose capital is . . . New York City).
An immediate result was a restoration of confidence in New York as a place to do business, and even to visit; financial services and tourism — two critical city industries — are now booming.
Yet, instead of acknowledging Bush's contribution, the candidates at Tuesday night's Democratic mayoral primary debate excoriated him.
"George Bush . . . made us less safe, not more," Rep. Anthony Weiner insisted, ridiculously.
Weiner may be desperate, and certainly many New York Democrats dislike Bush (particularly those who vote in primaries). But this approach, taken in context, is simply shameful.
Meanwhile, when not slamming the president, the candidates dwelled on such "pressing" issues as "congestion pricing" (i.e., putting tolls on bridges), the plight of "thousands of undocumented women" working as day laborers and the impact of gaffes in a campaign.
Why not?
City coffers are full, and mayoral wannabes can afford to traffic in the trivial.
They have George W. Bush to thank.
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