The right leadership after tragedy

GRIEF, HORROR, sorrow and sympathy — after a tragedy like Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech, these are the appropriate first responses from not only typical Americans but the nation's political leaders. Part of any president's job is helping the nation grieve, and President Bush, as he has before, assumed that responsibility gracefully with his appearance at Tuesday's memorial for the young people senselessly slaughtered the day before.

Ronald Brownstein

April 18, 2007