Eight years ago today, some third world savage Islamofacist barbarians murdered 3000 of my fellow New Yorkers.
President George W. Bush said in his final public speech to the nation that while the American people went back to leading their normal lives, he never did.
Neither did I.
https://tygrrrrexpress.com/2007/09/permanent-flame-9117/
Many people do not know that the Federal Building in Los Angeles was a target. I live within walking distance of that building.
On September 11th, 2004, I interviewed a friend of mine that was in one of the towers, getting out with only eight minutes to spare.
On September 11th, 2005, I broadcast my final radio program from the USC College Campus.
This was not enough. I decided to do whatever I could to make sure that I flew every 9/11.
I would go anywhere and everywhere. No matter where, I had to go somewhere. I still believe that when we fly, we win.
On September 11th, 2006, I flew from Los Angeles to Oakland. The Chargers and Raiders played on Monday Night Football. The jets flew on high, and they flew proud before the game. It was the opening week of the season.
On September 11th, 2007, I flew from Chicago to New York. I ended up at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey for Sean Hannity’s Freedom Concert. This was the first 9/11 since 2001 that fell on a Tuesday. Rudy Giuliani lit up the crowd. A couple of weeks later I would meet him personally and thank him for his leadership.
On September 11th, 2008, I flew from Los Angeles to Chicago. This was only days after meeting some real American heroes in Minneapolis.
In the days leading up to 9/11/9, I exchanged emails with former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. For those who need to know what heroism consists of, remember that president George W. Bush relied on Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Rudy Giuliani relied on Bernie Kerik. Thank God that on the worst day in America in decades, perhaps ever, those three men rose to the challenge of protecting this nation, along with many fine soldiers and many ordinary yet courageous citizens.
Commissioner Kerik offers his thoughts and reflections of September 11th, 2001.
http://www.newsmax.com/bernard_kerik/sept_qaida_towers/2009/08/11/246440.html
Newsmax looks at the heroism of Commissioner Kerik.
http://w3.newsmax.com/a/sep09/bernard_kerik_trial/
On September 10th, 2009, I flew from Los Angeles to Oakland. The Chargers and Raiders are actually again kicking off the opening week of Monday Night Football, but this year that game is not until the 14th.
The 10th was my speech to the Tri-Valley Peninsula RWF. They are truly inspiring women.
September 11th, 2009, brings my flight back from Oakland to Los Angeles. The USC Trojans are holding a rally that night to commemorate the anniversary. I will most likely be on the Pepperdine Campus, meeting Colonel Buzz Patterson.
September 12th, 2009, I will be at that Federal Building in Los Angeles. Although it is still the same short walk, thousands will come from all over in the name of freedom and liberty.
September 13th, 2009 features NFL Week 1, followed by the Chabad Telethon.
For those who do not know, A Chabad Rabbi and his wife were murdered in 2008 in a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India.
September 14th, Chargers vs Raiders.
I say this in a matter of fact manner to try and convey normalcy. Yet nothing I feel this week is normal.
My close friend growing up in New York has his birthday on 9/11. My close friend in Los Angeles has his birthday on 9/13.
Yet as I try to share the joy, I can’t help but notice how my face tightens, my eyes scowl, and my fists clench this time of year.
I have no desire to understand r dialogue with genocidal lunatics.
They want to create a Caliphate.
I pray to God that my generation has the steel spine and iron will to prevent this.
Civilization hangs in the balance. All I can do is play my small role.
I pray for all of you on the ground.
As for me, I will be in the air.
It will only be a one hour flight, but for one hour, I will be where I need to be today.
I will be, along with many others, taking back the sky.
America the Beautiful.
Absolutely. Always.
eric
Remember When The New York Times Reported The News? We Will Never Forget. Warner Wolf, 11 September 2001.
http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/09/we-will-never-forget.html
I’m not half as interested in Obama as I am in what comes after him.
We now have one hell of a mess to clean up, fiscally and financially speaking. The country is facing a wholesale collapse of the Dollar, rampant inflation and the still unsolved issues with regard to fixing Medicare and Social Security. Large portions of the tax base in Rust Belt states have evaporated, thanks to the General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcies. Some of those areas will never come back.
I had a professor in college who told me you don’t need a school lunch program if you don’t have an ass. That was prescient advice from a guy who never dreamed that a 9/11 could or would happen here.
Not but a couple years after the towers were built I worked as the Maitre D at Fraunces Tavern on Broad n pearl, the oldest structure in Manhattan across from the NYSE. Everyday going to work I’d get off the train little early on Church st. just so I could walk past the towers while grabbing a dog and a newspaper, maybe shine my shoes.
24/25 years and 6000 miles later I sat in my living room and bawled like a blubbering little boy as I watched the faces of those people get crushed and there was not a thing I could do to help them. Every Sept 11th I stand and look at the exact spot in my living room where I broke down like feeble lunatic.
Everyday since then, if not a prayer, at least a miniscule thought goes out to all those people in that hood that maybe were still there that day, and those that definately were. The shoe shine guys, the vendors, the guides in the towers and all those who died had to live and die in a horror we can only imagine.
Its also the day I decided that Bush truly was the man as I saw the look on his face when Card gave him the news. I said to myself “yup, were gonna kick some ass now”. It was that look that gave me my peace and strength in knowing this crap was not going unanswered.
Bless Bush and especially those that went down and their loved ones.
Mick, damn I got a lump in my throat reading your post. I could not believe what saw happening that day was really happening. I wish their was something more I could have done besides get mad as hell. I agree with your feelings when Bush got the news. He was one pissed off President and he did kick some ass. I was and am proud of him all who are fighting the war. All we can do is support the fighters and continue to carry on our fight the best we can
God bless you and the United States of America.
Toma
The US delegate to the IAEA at the Ban Moon ( is he a moon God too),
recently revealed that Iran CAN make one nuclear device., if it desire.
(It has over 7,000 centrifuges spinning gas into enriched uranium, sufficient to make one bomb-its stated goal 50,000).
But Iran still says it’s only making enriched uranium for electricity.
Yeah, and I’ll sell you the Washington Bridge for 24 dollars, or the Brooklyn Bridge for half that amount.
Iran just submitted a proposal to 6 nations..those nations which
are monitoring it’s enriched uranium adventure..and can propose
sanction, if Iran doesn’t comply with 3 UNSC resolutions, passed
years ago.
The US, under Obama, is giving Iran til the end of 2009 to get with it,
or face harsh (er) sanctions.
As if more sanctions will have an impact.
Our UN delegage Rice, was enthusiastic about Iran’s latest proposals (before she saw them). Russia is also enthusiastic..in essence the proposals say nothing about Iran’s nukes..but everything about
other countries with the capability ( read: the Jewish state and US ).
Hey guys, read in today’s LA Times that our boy in Venezuela
Chavez…is now getting 100 Rusky tanks, thanks to his
attitude about those 2 breakaway provinces in Georgia.
Russia will also give him billions of dollars worth of credit.
Putin says..why not, dah to Chavez. Chavez in the meantime
just said that it’s about time to clip the wings of the USA, and divide the world against the power to the north.
I recall after Obama’s election that he reached out to Chavez by
shaking his hand…and to Ahmad in Iran by allowing more time for
them to make nukes by only “talking” and “engaging” with that regime.
Over at the other end of the planet, Jong got a big propaganda plus
when he released 2 admitted Koreans who really did provoke and
violate No. Korean laws. Thanks Clinton….
BTW, Jong still hasn’t stopped making plutonium and fitting his
warheads with bombs..as far as I know.
Thanks Obama Hussein.
You are my kind of guy.
Back in Washington, the Obama Justice Department wants to
look into the activities of a few attorneys who okayed the use of
water boarding..AND is pissed off at the use of “warrentless summons” by the Bush administration to obtain secret communications between our
enemies.
In northern Iraq, over 20 Kurds were blow to pieces the other day.
(The Kurds are on our side).
Yet, Gitmo is to be closed..so that the 200 remaining prisoners can
be treated better..and a kinder image projected to the world.
Hey Obama, hows about rescinding the closure..and keeping them there, rather than putting them in Illinois, Montana or some other maximum US prison. I mean..we could always provide them with cable TV, a direct line
to Bin Ladin, and a pool, complete with portable bar (oh I forgot, they don’t drink..just behead people).
I hear that one of the potential prison locations has problems in the community. You see, the residents are fearful that it may attract all
kinds of nefarious people..sort of like placing a steak in front of
a meat deprived person.
No, will never happen.
Neither could 19 Saudi Muslims bring down those WTC towers in
New York. No way.
In Lebanon, Hariri, the son of that guy who was murdered 5 years ago (inestigation still on going), just stepped down from the P.M. office.
He cannot get the Shia, Sunni, Christians, etc., to unite in a govt.
Some say Hezbollah is against any limitation of their power..and
stopped the unity govt from forming.
Remember, Hezbollah. They now have 80,000 rockets aimed at Israel,
according to Israeli sources. (they clam only 40,000). A Katyusha rocket was fired into Israel today..I wonder who fired it, maybe Santa Claus?
Back at the ranch, Obama still wants to talk to Iran and Syria.
Nancy Pelosi thinks that maybe we should not send more troops to
Afghanistan..in that bottomless pit of trouble.
Is Pelosi waking up.
I was for getting rid of the Taliban initially and Saddam’s regime.
I am not against defending Sunni against Shias. Sorry folks.
I admit to being very prejudice. I hate people who openly boast of
targeting me, my friends, family and neighbors. What can I say!
In California, a poll shows most residents think our local state government
is lousy, BUT the national leaders (Boxer and Feinstein) are just great.
Maybe the Republicans just don’t know how to sell themselves.
Our two Senators are getting rave reviews…
Oh before I forget, GM’s sales are going south again to foreign cars.
The 50b Obama dollars just arn’t convincing America that their cars
are worth buying.
Sorry Obama..you fail again.
Maybe that guy from Carolina was trying to tell you something.
Man, I sure do hate this day. I like that they decided not to make it a holiday – after all, there’s nothing to celebrate. I like that they decided to make it a national day of “service.” It honors the Finest and Bravest that gave so much that day.
I’ll never forget that day. I saw a lot from my vantage on the other side of the Palisades. I remember getting a ride home that day from a friend. She was pregnant. I remember saying to her that her child would never know the view of the towers in the distance growing up. But then, I didn’t either. The towers were built as I was growing up.
I remember saying to her, “You know who did this – right?” She knew. “You know what’s going to happen next right?” “What?” “All the cloudy day patriots will suddenly love New York. They’ll be waving flags and screaming for vengeance, etc….” Something like that. Sure enough, I was right.
I was never able to look directly at “Ground Zero.” The whole thing just made me sick. The WHOLE thing. WHY it happened. WHO it happened to. HOW it happened. WHAT we did afterwards. It’s all just sooooooo sickening.
I hope the families of the victims from that day are doing okay today. I hope they’re taken care of. Everything else from that day… I’d rather forget. But I can’t. 9/11 didn’t “change” anything – except the way we look at the world. Unfortunately, that was not a change for the better. THAT is another thing that sickens me about 9/11.
JMJ
Anyone who thinks the only thing that changed was the way we see the world is either being ” “SIN”acle” or just plain dum. It changed the way we travel, the way we think, how we define our ideologies, ideologies period, the dyamics of the whole playing field , including our enemies. If theres anything sickening about what we did afterwards its that we havent shoved that creep bastards jewels up his goats ass
http://bellalu0.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/citizens-converge-on-washington-d-c-president-flees-to-minnesota/
Yeah who is advising the President? The people he needs to convince were in D.C. yesterday…hearts and minds this is really basic. If you really want bi partisanship you have to speak to ALL Americans – not just your echo chamber.