# 9/11: Bush's Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 12, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104 "2003-09-12T01:32:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/1 "2003-09-12T01:32:29Z")
> [@](#): > > In the past six weeks, [Bush has cited “9/11”](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57456-2003Sep10.html) or Sept. 11, 2001, in arguing for his energy policy and in response to questions about campaign fundraising, tax cuts, unemployment, the deficit, airport security, Afghanistan and the length, cost and death toll of the Iraq occupation. > [@](#): > > “Every day, I’m reminded about what 9/11 means to America,” Bush said when asked in July about the $170 million budget for his primary campaign… > [@](#): > > President Bush paused in his Labor Day remarks about jobs and told his audience of union members, “I want you to think back to that fateful day, September the 11th, and what happened afterwards.” This actually doesn’t bother me; I’m more amused than anything else. I figure there’s a limit to how many times he can use the invocation of 9/11 as a kind of political magic wand; it already seems to be losing some of its juice. So go to it, George. If you want to use 9/11 to justify everything under the sun, please go right to it. I’m in your corner on this one. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/2 "2003-09-12T01:35:25Z")
I’m dying for somebody to find a mathematical relationship between 9/11 and 42. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/3 "2003-09-12T01:41:36Z")
I wonder if I can use this tactic at work: “Mr. Frog, we’ve noticed you were absent 4 days so far this moneth, and late 12 other times. Can you account for this?” “You know, sir, ever since September 11th, I feel America has changed. And not just the politics, but the people. We are united. We work together. We are spiritually one. And as my co-workers were here the days I was gone, and on time the days I was late, I’d like to remind you that I was here. I was here spiritually, bonded in hope with my fellow Americans.” ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/4 "2003-09-12T02:43:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atreyu \* > \*\*I’m dying for somebody to find a mathematical relationship between 9/11 and 42. \*\* Well, my friend, today is your lucky day! In binary, 9-11-01 translates to 1001-1011-01. We’ll get rid of those pesky hyphens, for 1001101101. Now we convert that number back to decimal notation to get 621. 666 - 621 = 45. Now there were three buildings crashed into on that fateful day, so we say 45 - 3 = 42! Ta-da! What’s more, this is the real reason the fourth plane crashed before it could hit anything! It was in fact _impossible_ for that fourth plane to ever hit a building according to the mathematical laws of the universe! If it had hit a fourth building, then the mathematical synthesis of the universe would have been thrown off! That good enough for ya? (Took me like 5 minutes.) ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/5 "2003-09-12T03:07:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Super Gnat \* > \*\*That good enough for ya? (Took me like 5 minutes.) \*\* Not bad, not bad. I’m impressed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/6 "2003-09-12T03:22:20Z")
Is anyone really suprised he’s doing this? Do you think another politician wouldn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Gjorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@Gjorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gjorp)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/7 "2003-09-12T03:26:22Z")
> [@](#): > > We’ll get rid of those pesky hyphens, for 1001101101. > > Now we convert that number back to decimal notation to get 621. I’m afraid I don’t get this part. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/8 "2003-09-12T04:08:32Z")
Eh. I equate it with the Roman senator Cato ending all his speeches with, “And I think Carthage must be destroyed.” ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/9 "2003-09-12T04:14:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gjorp \* > I’m afraid I don’t get this part. 1001101101 is binary for 621. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/10 "2003-09-12T05:09:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Is anyone really suprised he’s doing this? Do you think another politician wouldn’t? \*\* Am I surprised? No. Are there politicians who wouldn’t be doing it? Certainly. That’s not really the point, though, is it? The real question, to me, is whether it’s acceptable for any politician – and particularly one who supposedly represents America as a whole – to be engaging in this sort of patently obvious manipulation. I say no. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/11 "2003-09-12T05:11:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*Eh. I equate it with the Roman senator Cato ending all his speeches with, “And I think Carthage must be destroyed.” \*\* Ahh! Ancient history! I would say that that analogy falls apart: If we had in ancient Rome the same leadership of “captain army flex time” I would have seen Cato still saying “And I think Carthage must be destroyed.” and then setting the army to conquer Babylon instead. I see Iraq as a deserving scapegoat, but a scapegoat nevertheless. Carthage to me is the money people and organizers that are hiding now in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and I am not supporting here an invasion, but to go back to finding the perpetrators of the 9/11 crime. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/12 "2003-09-12T05:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \* > \*\*Am I surprised? No. Are there politicians who wouldn’t be doing it? Certainly. > > That’s not really the point, though, is it? The real question, to me, is whether it’s acceptable for any politician – and particularly one who supposedly represents America as a whole – to be engaging in this sort of patently obvious manipulation. > > I say no. \*\* I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/13 "2003-09-12T06:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \* > \*\* The real question, to me, is whether it’s acceptable for any politician – and particularly one who supposedly represents America as a whole – to be engaging in this sort of patently obvious manipulation. > > I say no. \*\* Since he’s getting away with it, it seems that it ain’t that obvious to a bunch of folks. And that is sad. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/14 "2003-09-12T07:09:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Since he’s getting away with it, it seems that it ain’t that obvious to a bunch of folks. > > And that is sad. \*\* That’s what kills me. People buy into this crap. Why? Why? Why? ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/15 "2003-09-12T12:34:29Z")
Well, here’s a \*\*very small \*\* consolation - his million dollar “Mission Accomplished” photo op is no longer worth the bandwidth to broadcast. Should have saved the money and hired someone to clean up some of that brush down at Crawford. Maybe get Laura another goddamn **new pantsuit.** ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/16 "2003-09-12T12:36:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seven \* > \*\*That’s what kills me. People buy into this crap. > > Why? Why? Why? \*\* 'Cause it’s easier than _thinking_? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/17 "2003-09-12T13:21:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OttoDaFe \* > 'Cause it’s easier than _thinking_? Especially when that thinking leads to the conclusion that their beloved country has been acting badly, and that they, by their gullible acceptance of outrageous claims, bear responsibility for that bad behavior. That’d be painful, and people don’t like doing things that are hard and painful. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/18 "2003-09-12T13:25:50Z")
Some people are happily “pre-fooled” and as long as Bush or his hate radio cronies say it, it is as good as the truth for them. BTW- did the Spartans have a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/19 "2003-09-12T13:42:22Z")
I don’t think we’re done seeing the flight suit and the “Mission Accomplished” banner. It’ll probably show up on TV spots next summer - grainy, black and white, dissolving into shots of US soldiers filling Walter Reed Army Hospital, then words like “BUSH LIED” or somesuch in large, block letters. Cut to a color view of a determined-but-honest-looking Dean or perhaps Kerry, in color and in focus, and some determined-but-honest-looking positive wording. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104/20 "2003-09-12T13:58:10Z")
Don’t criticize Bush. You’re only encouraging the terrorists. [Rumsfeld said so](http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/6727376.htm), so it must be true: > [@](#): > > Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, concluding a four-day trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, said Monday that critics of the Bush administration’s Iraq policy are encouraging terrorists and complicating the ongoing U.S. war on terrorism. > > \ > > Rumsfeld made clear that he was talking about both the international press, such as reports on the Arab Al-Jazeera television network, and critics in the United States. Seems that everyone’s determined to make things “complicated”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-bushs-answer-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/201104.md?page=2)