Yesterday, Rudy Giuliani defended President Clinton from those that say he was at least partially responsible for Sept. 11. He said, “The idea of trying to cast blame on President Clinton is just wrong for many, many reasons, not the least of which is I don’t think he deserves it.” His next point, which I’m sure Condolezza Rice wishes came out of her mouth, was “I don’t think President Bush deserves it. The people who deserve blame for Sept. 11, I think we should remind ourselves, are the terrorists - the Islamic fanatics - who came here and killed us and want to come here again and do it.”

Thinking outloud during our podcast this afternoon it became quite clear: to say that neither Bill Clinton nor George Bush are responsible for the brutal events of Sept. 11 is the collegial thing to say, and there may be some greater truth in the statement, but there is only one person, as the leader of his party and of the current administration, who can be blamed for what’s happened since that day.

Only George Bush can be blamed for the complete politicization of the events of Sept. 11. Only he can be blamed for using them to advance his policy agenda. Only he can be blamed for using them to catapult us into the war with Iraq. Only he deserves full credit for the strategic manipulation of the American people. He keeps us afraid. He fertilizes the skittish atmosphere we all live in which enables the Republican Party to divide and conquer. He took the path of polarization that Nixon paved and turned it into a four-lane highway.

Considering Mr. Bush is the only executive in the Executive Branch at the moment (Mr. Clinton having long-since moved to Harlem), only he can be blamed for the hate, the fear-mongering, the blind patriotism, the smear-merchants, and the absolute division of this country. He used a national tragedy for political gain and that is all his - and only his - fault.

This post was written by Mary Mancini