What happened to the Bush Administration regarding terrorism is that they regarded it as a secondary issue, and associated with Clinton. One of those Clinton issues.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Clinton himself acted in ways which increased the threat of terror.
Clinton was very early on aware of the problem of international terrorism.
The atmosphere is different in Congress after September 11. Terrorism is no longer an abstract issue, but a real, tangible threat.
We have struggled with terrorism for a long time. In the Reagan administration, I was a hawk on the subject. I said terrorism is a big problem, a different problem, and we have to take forceful action against it. Fortunately, Ronald Reagan agreed with me, but not many others did.
I think there was a pretty smooth hand-off from the administration of President Clinton to the administration of President Bush, particularly in the counterterrorism area. The reason I say that is because there was, for transitions, I think a stunning continuity.
The attack on Clinton on terrorism is entirely politically inspired by the right-wing of the Republicans, and has no basis in fact whatsoever.
Those are the two issues: Protecting the homeland and stopping the war and going after ISIS in a way that ends the terrorism.
Before 9/11, absolutely, there were concerns about terrorism; but the world fundamentally changed.
The 2000s were marked by terrorism and a bipartisan desire to fight it.
This was not an act of terrorism, but it was an act of war.
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