Lovely Letter from Dr. who worked with Sen. Clinton at Ground Zero day after attack:

[rodeodance]

Lovely letter.

REC and keep it KICKED
Ps--I hope you all pass this around to all.



http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2008/02/08/senator-hillary-clinton-an-american-hero

Senator Hillary Clinton, An American Hero
by Dr. Carolyn
February 8th, 2008 @ 9:38 pm

The following is an open letter to Senator Hillary Clinton, a woman who I consider an American Hero. I composed this letter with the hope that it might help undecided voters reach a decision. As outlined in the letter, I am Canadian and, therefore, have no personal gain from supporting Senator Clinton in the primaries in America. But, readers will note that meeting Senator Clinton at Ground Zero provided me with much comfort during a terrifying time.

I hope that all who read this letter will give it thought as you decide who you will support in this election:

Dear Senator Clinton:

I have been watching the primaries with great interest and am writing this letter in hopes that it might help your campaign. To introduce myself, I am a Canadian physician who has no voting ability when it comes to American elections. I have absolutely nothing to gain by testifying about your natural ability to lead the U.S. out of darkness.

I met you at Ground Zero on September 12th, 2001. In fact, my medical team of five Canadians literally bumped into you in our haste to make it to Stuyvesant High School where the casualties of the WTC terrorist attacks were accumulating. When I caught my balance amidst the crowd of people, I realized that it was you standing in front of me. I will never forget that moment. You were very composed with only a single secret service agent beside you, completely camouflaged as an ordinary citizen. When my group realized who you were, we stood still. I was speechless and already overwhelmed by the chaos around us. The only words that I could manage to form were: _We are Canadians. We came from Canada to help.

You shook each of our hands and thanked us. The momentum and courage that your simple gesture gave us was very much appreciated.

When I reflect on that week, a flood of memories returns to me. First, unlike any other of your political colleagues at the time, you were walking about, without any lights or cameras, reassuring the people that you represent that you were there to help. You were vulnerable, ready and willing to have anyone approach you in person _ unlike President Bush.

In fact, because the current president is so afraid of getting assassinated _ that is what the police told us on September 15th, 2001 - the medical triage had to shut down for _security reasons_ in preparation for his arrival on Friday, and might I add three whole days after the attacks. At the time, our triage was taking care of between 50 to 70 patients an hour. We had over 200 medical volunteers working around the clock to help. As far as we know, all of our patients were injured volunteers. We would patch up whomever we could and help them get back to the fevered search for potential life.

The stories of injured fire fighters and other rescue workers obsessed about getting stitched up, or having their eyes flushed from the acidic smoke, as quickly as possible in order to continue looking for a loved one, are too numerous to recount. However, when President Bush came to Ground Zero, the Triage was closed down and we all were forced home.

Six years later, you helped me again - though this time not in person. Somehow, I still remain ashamed that I ever got sick after helping. My lungs have never been the same as when I crossed the finish line at the Ironman Canada ultra distance triathlon on August 26th. 2001. Because of you, Senator Clinton, thousands of WTC volunteers have free medical care for their rescue related illnesses. I was absolutely astonished when American volunteers that I still keep in touch with told me that I could also get help despite being a Canadian. To be honest, I refused any assistance for several years. For one, I am not bitter and choose not to define my life by September 11th. Even if I knew that I would get as sick as I have, I would help again. My quality of life compared to many of the great people that I met during that dark week six years ago is actually pretty awesome. I remain grateful for what I have and not bitter about what I do not.........

[lligrd]

1. She Has Done Some Great Things

I don't think that any of us here at DU don't acknowledge that but she also is responsible for where we are today.

[busymom]

5. No. George Bush is responsible.

She cast her vote based on lies that he told....after 9/11, if Bush had been rigth, we all would have been in big trouble. I understand her reasoning, though I didn't like the idea either. She didn't tell Bush to go to war...she gave the president the authority if there was no other option. It is GEORGE BUSH who abused that power and no one else. I will not fault HER for it.

Once we were there, neither Obama or Clinton could deny our troops the basics....

and honstly..what DO we do now? Leave our US citizens working there? What about the Iraqi's that risked life and limb and the US soldiers that have already died? Do we dishoner the lives that they gave by leaving the country that we broke in more turmoil?

This is not a black or white issue....it is very difficult...I think we all can agree on that.

But we should also agree that George Bush and his surrogates created this mess by lying to our government, to the UN and to the people of the United States....and he alone is responsible.

[lligrd]

10. If I Knew They Were Lies I Assume That A Smart Woman

like Hillary knew they were lies.

[busymom]

20. You can also assume that she had access to more

classified information than we did...

[lligrd]

26. You Mean Better Information Than Scott Ritter Or

the CIA transcripts of Saddam's Brother in Law? Did she also not know that little Bush was an idiot or that Cheney was a Neocon. Had she never heard of the friggen PNAC that laid the entire plan out ahead of time???? Give me a friggen break, you guys sound like the Repugs!!!

[rodeodance]

30. I take into account that she was a Sen. from NY who was deeply involved

with the horrible scene and the aftermath!

[lligrd]

32. So You Think An Emotional Response Would Absolve Her?

For the record, I don't believe that she would let emotions rule her but that is what you are claiming.

[rodeodance]

33. I did not say that at all, But I have been trying to say is that her involvement,

--emotional if you will---needs to be taken into account. It can not be separated from all the data-the reports, ect.

[lligrd]

36. I Get What You Are Saying

But it doesn't absolve her. What about the emotional response of the people in Iraq who have lost everything? What about the emotions of the troops who have been sent on an impossible, immoral mission? What about the emotional response of Americans who are having there rights taken away? My emotional and logical response is a resounding "no" to Hillary.

[rodeodance]

38. I can not weigh one grief with another--Hers was huge at the time and certainly

all the deaths that followed are horrible in and of themselves.

I do not think i thought i would ever change yours or anyones but ask to walk a mile in her shoes during his horrible time.

[lligrd]

43. Rodeodance, Ive Seen Other Posts Of Yours And I Respect

your opinion. I just can't give you this one, it is too important to me and I fought too hard at the time to get them to look at the evidence. War should always be an absolute last resort. Mistakes are not allowed. That being said, I promise if she wins I will support her.

[rodeodance]

48. back to yah.

[busymom]

40. I understand where you are coming from...

I was so beside myself when it was reported that we were actually going to bomb. I truly didn't think it would happen until...it did. I felt the way you do now...and I was so angry that I imagined myself many times over just...packing up and moving to europe. Childish, I know.

I did forgive...and I think my dad was a big part of that.

My dad is...a republican...but he's still my dad. He was also a military commander for many years and I was a proud little military brat :) who said the pledge of allegiance before each movie on the military base, celebrated my dad's 2 tours in vietnam and our country...this great nation.

I couldn't understand why anyone would be fooled. It was clear as day. I could see that we shouldn't go to war. He...is the one that talked with me about the information that we, the people didn't see. Some of that...he did. At that time, he was convinced.

When the WMD's and mobile units weren't found, he began to question his president and at this point...he also says "shit was I wrong"...and this is a man who served proudly for over 20 years....who is a believer in duty/honor/country..... But based on the limited things that he was able to read that we weren't, he felt there was a credible risk.

Admittedly, he's my dad...he's a republican (see how I come clean about that0 and he has military roots...so I take it with a grain of salt.

The thing is...they had to make a vote based on the information given to them...and even I didn't believe that our president would intentionally LIE about things. I thought he was a stupid, bumbling idiot..and I still do...but a deliberate liar? That was a tough one.

[lligrd]

45. See My Response To Rodeo Above

because it applies to you too. But I do wonder why you wouldn't believe that * would lie? I think he always has. Lots of people lie all the time. I think yo are a bit naive. Now I have a question for you. Why are so against Obama? Why can't you trust him like you do Hillary? What policies that he advocates are you against? Give me one good reason that you can't support Obama.

[busymom]

49. one good reason...

but first, let me say that I am not naive. I never liked Bush...I thought he was a complete moron...but I didn't expect him to openly lie the way the has. I expected him to stumble through speeches and be led around by Cheney...but fabricating evidence? I didn't see that one coming.

Now...obama..

I don't trust him at a gut level now. It's something that I can't explain. I have listened to him talk and have watched him at the debates. There is something that holds me back. I do not believe for one minute that the obama movement is cult-like...but...I do think there is a lot of group think going into the movement and it makes me uncomfortable. I have hope...I don't need it delivered to me quite the way he does. I have always been the kind of person that wants to hear the facts...the substance...I'm just not that into how the substance is delivered. He is trying too hard to invoke the name of JFK and to be JFK-like..and..I just feel like I can't trust him now.

[lligrd]

50. I Have Only Seen Pieces Of His Speeches

and I liked what I saw but have never sat still for much. I agree that a lot of it is hooey feel good stuff but so are Hillarys and most politicians. You still didn't give me a good reason for being against him, I mean policies votes etc. Give me something besides feelings. I can't vote based on someone else's vibes.

[frogcycle]

59. I respectfully submit

that you have nothing more than "feelings" to vote for him.

I am seriously conflicted, as I don't have very good "feelings" about either. I cannot get enthusiastic about either. To some extent I have to say "well, bush turned out to be the worst possible 'surprise' - I felt he was a jerk, an incompetent, and a fool, but I didn't realize he'd be so aggressive about f*cking everything up; I just thought he'd fail to do anything good. So now I'm faced with 'which of the two is the least likely to be a snake in the grass'"

I just can't decide. Oh, I don't think they'd turn out to be pure evil, but I don't really get a warm feeling that either one is presenting the facts - it comes down to which one has the worst hidden agenda. That, plus, assuming no hidden agenda, which means that policy-wise they are two peas in a pod, "which would be successful?" Neither presents a clear picture of how they would turn the tide to create a progressive America. "Hope" and "hard work" don't really tell me much.

[rodeodance]

47. read you post also. Bush did lie to all of us.

[frogcycle]

58. People use the word "know" indiscrimately

One can have very strong feelings that something is so. One can actually "know" very little. Despite your assertion that you "knew" all were lies, the fact is that reasonable people can and did have varying degrees of distrust of the data presented. Reasonable people could make judgments as to what, if anything was justified. The rationale presented by darth cheney called "the 2% rule" or some such is not altogether invalid. If you thought there was a 2% chance of something absolutely devastating and irreversible happening, would you take steps to avoid it? Obviously passive steps like wearing seat belts and motorcycle helmets are easy to say yes to. Banning guns on airplanes is a no-brainer. Allowing the police to use deadly force when they think someone poses an immediate threat is a bit trickier. If someone were assaulting you you might want a cop to make a quick judgment of what he was seeing and take whatever action he deemed necessary. So someday you might be fighting off an attacker and a cop might think you were the aggressor. He can not know what he is seeing; he has to use judgment. Whatever he judges appropriate, he could turn out to be mistaken. If that happens, you can call him either a trigger-happy maniac or an abysmal failure in his duty to serve and protect. He might be one of those, and he might be a human being striving to do what's right based on the specific information available to him and getting it wrong.

Casting a vote is binary. It is either "aye" or "nay." I have agonized over many a decision in my life, gotten many right and some wrong. When you get it right and someone else gets it wrong, it is easy to say "I told you so."

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. was she gullible or calculating?

either way, she made the wrong choice PLUS she hasn't apologized.

Further, the only tears we have seen are all self pitying, and no tears for all
of the troups who have died as a result of her mistake!

HER HUSBAND WAS PRESIDENT FOR 8 YEARS, SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER!!!

[busymom]

21. Neither

She was there..at ground zero...helping

And she has said many times that she regrets standing behind George Bush.

[rodeodance]

9. Think of her being in the midst of all this horror--the dead, the disease--she

there--and had to help support the survivors and families.

She wrote about this in here speech on the floor the day of resolution--as a Sen. from ny. this had to have been a factor in her decision--her being there.

[busymom]

11. I agree.

It is always easy to judge history once decisions have been made. George Bush lied. He used 9/11 to push through his own wish to go into Iraq. Many people felt the need to support him based on the evidence that he presented...including John Kerry.....and both Kerry and Clinton have expressed their regret.

[lligrd]

12. We All Went Through That

That is no excuse for giving Bush illegal powers based on lies. Editing to add: I had family members directly affected in Manhattan and they didn't fall for the lies.

[rodeodance]

15. Were you right there--? for days weeks followup?

[lligrd]

23. Nope, But Having Family Members There

We were worried for days (including a child who was sent home from school with no way to get home who could see the WTC from school). Also have family members displaced because of Katrina and they didn't fall for the bull either. Dang, I have a smart family.

[rodeodance]

25. I am not dismissing your situation, But, I do think this long term dealing with

this horrible situation was a factor in her decision.
She was responsible to her constituents at the time also.

It needs to be taken into account. I, for one, will not judge her.

[lligrd]

27. Judging Is A Far Cry From

voting for her!

[rodeodance]

29. To me, you are judging her.

[lligrd]

31. Are You Judging Me?

I am not advocating trying or punishing her. I just don't want to vote for her. She let me down.

[frogcycle]

2. bummer! I thought it was a letter from Dr. Who

[islandmkl]

7. I think it was.

[rodeodance]

34. no matter who from, I hope you take the time to read it.

[frogcycle]

57. well I did and it was good. But

does nobody have a sense of humor any more?

[jillan]

3. What a wonderful letter, and another reminder of all this great woman has done.

[NastyRiffraff]

4. Lovely letter indeed

I've heard many stories about what Hillary did in those awful days, all of them much like this one...people literally bumping into her, surprised that she was walking about with little or no protection, comforting people and helping al she could. It's not something she talks about a lot, but she was there.

As for Bush, he was there too, with his bullhorn and his disruptive security. After he disappeared for almost 24 hours after the attacks.

[rodeodance]

24. I have not heard very many. and Bush!!!

[ruggerson]

6. k/r

[rodeodance]

54. k

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. Hillary 911 Hillary 911 Hillary 911

I hope she makes this her campaign theme! It worked great for Rudy.

[lligrd]

16. Touche nt

[rodeodance]

19. This is lovely sent to Sen. Clinton and all you do is crap on it and moke it!!

[lligrd]

28. Oh Please, I Acknowledged Her Accomplishments

but it doesn't diminish her failures. She failed me. If she wins the nomination, I will support her but I will do all I can to keep from having to vote for her.

[rodeodance]

41. we talked upstream. I really thought the 9/11 rudy dig was uncalled for. But

glad to hear you will support her if gets nomination. i am sure i will 'see you around":-)

[lligrd]

51. Take Care Rodeo nt

[rodeodance]

17. GO POOP on another thread! --Shame on YOU!!

[Straight Shooter]

18. Cynical know-nothing.

Read my post downthread. You mock her efforts to help the rescue workers.

[Straight Shooter]

14. Clinton Calls on President to Provide Answers Regarding EPA’s Response to 9/11

"Now, Mr. President, I rise to talk about another very important issue, one that directly affects the people I represent in New York, but which I believe affects our entire country, affects the credibility of this administration and our government. I'm speaking about the report released on August 21 by the Office of the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency entitled, "E.P.A.'s Response to the World Trade Center Collapse: Challenges, Successes and Areas for Improvement." now as the title suggests, this report is carefully researched, constructively presented, and it outlines how the E.P.A. Carried out its charge in the immediate and longer-term aftermath of the terrible attacks that struck New York on the infamous day of September 11, now almost two years ago.

No one will ever forget that day. And those who were there in lower Manhattan will never be able to erase the images, not just the visual images but the feelings, the smells, the sounds, the smoke. I remember so well-being there the day after seeing the firefighters emerging from the haze that hung over the site, covered in dust and debris. The rescue workers who all of us saw and many of whom I have met, who guided people to safety without a mask or a bit of concern about their own long-term health. And I'm sure that Americans remember and New Yorkers lived with the apartment buildings, the business buildings that were covered in gray dust. Now when we turned to our government here in Washington for guidance in the hours, days, and weeks after that tragedy, one of the questions that I was asked and that I know the E.P.A. Was asked, the white house was asked, the city and the state were asked is the air safe?

Now what did the E.P.A. Tell us? The E.P.A. Said, yes, it's safe. Go back to work. Get back to your daily lives. Mr. President, it's a very hard thing to stand on this senate floor and say this, but I believe that our government let us down. And it wasn't by accident, and it wasn't a mistake during the chaos of those terrible days. But instead, spelled out in this report by the E.P.A. Inspector General, it's clear that the E.P.A. was overruled and directed about what to say. Now I want to underscore the important fact that this report is not the product of my office. It's not the product of an advocacy group or an outsider. It was done by the E.P.A.'s own career watchdog.

Now why do we have inspectors general? Well, because we know that our government needs somebody to keep track of and hold accountable the actions that are taken. It's not a republican or a democratic job. It's a nonpartisan job. It's sort of like sergeant Friday. They just want the facts. They want to be able to know what's actually going on in the bowels and the processes of these huge bureaucracies that perform so many important functions. But still, like any human institution, needs some extra eyes on what they're doing. So the inspector general of the E.P.A. Looked at the actions that the E.P.A. Took to address the quality of the air affected by the collapse of the world trade center and what the E.P.A. Told the public about the air we were breathing. The Inspector General rightly acknowledges that E.P.A., like all of our governmental entities at the federal, state, and local level involved with the response to September 11 found themselves dealing with an unprecedented crisis whose scope and nature none of us ever imagined.

And I admit, and I think it's fair to say that no part of government was prepared for the enormity of what occurred on September 11, and that's understandable because of what did happen. So in that spirit, and I think realistically so, the inspector general recognized that the particular demands placed on the E.P.A. Were considerable. And I was there day after day, down at ground zero, in the city, meeting with E.P.A. Officials. And I know how stressed they were because of all that they were having to contend with. But still, even taking into account the unprecedented nature of the attacks, the implosion of the buildings, the release into the air of billions and billions of particles of all kinds of compounds and chemicals, still the E.P.A. Inspector general found and asserted that where the agency could and should have been more thorough, more proactive, more effective in its responsibility, it did not live up to what we should have rightly expected.

We looked to the E.P.A. To give us straight information and to help us try to reduce the dangerous emissions in the air from the collapse, from the cleanup and the recovery. And the inspector general looks particularly at the potential exposure, but the general public should be very reassured by initial sampling." nothing about proper handling, transportation, or disposal. These are very disturbing revelations. You know, what the E.P.A. Reported, what they wanted to report to the public in their press releases and communications was different from what they did report and yet all of us relied on those reports ...

http://clinton.senate.gov/~clinton/news/2003/2003905941.html

She gave a detailed and eloquent statement. I have only posted the first part of it. The remainder is at the link. Please read this and pass it on.

Hillary has fought very hard to help those affected not only by the devastation of the first impact of the terrorist attacks, but the aftermath. Yet you never hear her boasting about her relentless efforts to hold people accountable.

If someone wants to start a separate thread on this statement, please do so. Good night (and good luck).

[rodeodance]

22. hey thanks

[ElsewheresDaughter]

35. What a great women Hillary is and what a GREAT President she will make.

[noac7]

37. Great

I'm just happy we have two very good options for President. You guys are all arguing like a Repug president will be the better choice. Get over it, more than half the nation has already voted in the primaries, and most people here are just busy convincing themselves they've made the right choice.

[rodeodance]

39. CA made the right choice:-)

[petgoat]

42. As the Senator from Ground Zero, Hillary had the clout to exercise some leadership

and say:

"Nobody is more concerned with terrorism than I am,
but I think we should read this USA Patriot Act before
stampeding to enact it."

She didn't. History called. She adopted the fetal
position and whimpered.

She's the problem, not the solution.

[ArkySue]

44. Lovely letter.

:kick:

[avrdream]

46. Great letter. Sounds like the Hillary that we supporters love.

But someone will shit on this thread for sure. I can't believe you keep going, rodeo.

[rodeodance]

52. you bet-this letter is the lady we love.--can't quite on her now

[rodeodance]

53. k

[Tom Rinaldo]

55. The writer got me choked up - what a wonderful woman SHE is

"To be honest, I refused any assistance for several years... Even if I knew that I would get as sick as I have, I would help again... I remain grateful for what I have and not bitter about what I do not........."


and yes this is also a lovely testimony to Hillary Clinton

[ruggerson]

56. ...

[Straight Shooter]

60. Hillary works quietly in the background to right the wrongs.

But all some people can do is continue to point a finger of blame at her.

Never-mind the candidate that Black Commentator calls Mush Mouth on the Iraq War; namely, Barack Obama. This article is from December 2005, but it just goes to show how selective a memory his supporters have when it comes to Barack's ease with how he switches from one rhetoric to another, depending upon whether he's trying to woo Democrats or Republicans.

Obama Mouths Mush On War

U.S. Senator Barack Obama has planted his feet deeply inside the Iraq war-prolongation camp of the Democratic Party, the great swamp that, if not drained, will swallow up any hope of victory over the GOP in next year's congressional elections. In a masterpiece of double-speak before the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations, November 22, the Black Illinois lawmaker managed to out-mush-mouth Sen. John Kerry - a prodigious feat, indeed.

Obama's speech had the Democratic Leadership Council's (DLC) brand stamped all over it. Triangulating expertly, Obama first praised the war record of Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), who has called for immediate steps towards U.S. military redeployment out of Iraq, hopefully in six months, then dismissed both Murtha's bill and any hint of "timetables" for withdrawal. In essence, all Obama wants from the Bush regime is that it fess up to having launched the war based on false information, and to henceforth come clean with the Senate on how it plans to proceed in the future. Those Democrats who want to dwell on the past - the actual genesis and rationale for the war, and the real reasons for its continuation - should be quiet.

Both sides are wrong, says Obama - deploying the classic triangulation device - for engaging in a "war of talking points" - "one I am not interested in joining."

Then Obama positions himself above the fray: "Iraq was a major issue in last year's election. But that election is now over. We need to stop the campaign."

http://www.blackcommentator.com/161/161_cover_obama_iraq.html

Barack Obama, the one who always wants to have his cake and eat it, too.

[Pathwalker]

61. A kick for this beautiful, heartfelt letter.

:kick:

Thank you for posting it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

62. What an awesome post! I did not know that WTC volunteers have FREE medical care because of her!

Because of you, Senator Clinton, thousands of WTC volunteers have free medical care for their rescue related illnesses.

That is just one thing she has done that has gone unreported by the MSM. That should be used by her campaign. What a wonderful thing for her to do! Of course she won't get credit for it here...because, after all, her name IS, Hillary Clinton.:eyes:

Thanks for the post rodeodance! K & R!

[PatSeg]

63. Wonderful letter

Thank you for posting it.

[BigBearJohn]

64. Next thing you know, they'll be saying Hillary is soft.

God love her. This is the Hillary I have come to know and love.

[THUNDER HANDS]

65. um....

...well....

uh.

oh nevermind.