Barbara Boxer: “landing on a carrier in good times is understandable. Many Presidents have done that. Unfortunately, for this one, he…”

“landing on a carrier in good times is understandable. Many Presidents have done that. Unfortunately, for this one, he had a sign that said ``Mission Accomplished,'' and that was not to be. I understand wanting to land on a carrier in dress in good times. By the way, that was a moment when the whole world was with us, and he could have again engaged the international community, but he said no. They did not support us in the invasion, and they were not going to have any of the contracts. It was going to be kept for the people in this country, the Halliburtons, essentially. No, we could not share the glory of the moment--a horrific mistake, I think, when history is written. I do not fault a President for landing on a carrier in good times. I do not fault a President--all of them have done it--for marching in parades with the heroes, the people who chose to fight for their country. Every one of us loves to stand for them, every one of us feels stronger, every one of us feels taller, every one of us feels proud. I do not fault the President for wanting to stand next to heroes, many of whom signed up. I do not blame him. But when things go wrong, that is the time when a real leader steps forward. A real leader would stop his ordinary schedule. A real leader would not be climbing into a campaign bus. This is my opinion, and this is my country, and this is what I think. A real leader, when faced with a crisis such as this, would stop everything.”