To the editor:

As a regular reader of the opinion columns and these letters to the editor, as well as a regular poster on the Reader Reaction forum, I’ve finally seen enough silly defense of the president’s seven minutes of hesitation, most recently in an Aug. 27 letter from Jim Morris, to respond.

It seems that there were only two perceived courses of action for the president, either stay and continue to read or panic and flee the room. I feel the need to point out that no one in their right mind, even the liberals attacking Bush’s hesitation, would suggest he should have done anything as stupid or alarming. Perhaps, as a third option, he could have excused himself calmly, and put himself back in communication with the presidential system, if you will.

Whether his presence would have meant anything had he done so is indeterminable and totally irrelevant. The simple fact is that while he was in that room, he as our leader was cut off from the rest of the nation that he was supposed to lead. Had he calmly excused himself he would not have scared or panicked the children, and it’s foolish for anyone to suggest that he had to stay out of concern for the children.

Brian Mellor,

Lawrence