perhaps harry taylor IS for real

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/GERALD HERBERT

Real estate broker Harry Taylor criticized President Bush at a town-hall meeting at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. Bush seemed to take the criticism in stride

i'm still dubious but he just MAY be what he seems to be (a true patriot)

Bush critic talk of town

JIM MORRILL
jmorrill@charlotteobserver.com

Friday was not a normal day for Harry Taylor.

He did two national TV interviews. His phone rang all day. E-mails flooded his inbox. People he never met called him a hero and a patriot. He became a darling of Internet blogs, including one called simply: thankyouharrytaylor.org.

"It's like I've got 10,000 butterflies jumping up and down in my stomach," he said in an afternoon interview. "It's been that way for 27 hours now."

A day before, President Bush called on Taylor during a question session after a speech at Central Piedmont Community College. "I have never felt more ashamed of, nor more frightened, by my leadership in Washington, including the presidency," Taylor told Bush. "And I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and the grace to be ashamed of yourself."

"I'm not your favorite guy," Bush interrupted at one point, waving off boos directed at the Charlotte businessman and giving him a chance to speak.

Even Taylor lauded the president's gracious response. But his comments made waves way beyond CPCC's Halton Theatre.

His public scolding was picked up by media from around the country and as far away as South Africa. Even the official Chinese news agency reported it. The media reaction began when a flock of reporters mobbed him right after he left his seat Thursday.

"I felt like I had just hit the home run to win the World Series," he told CNN's Soledad O'Brien Friday morning. When she asked if he'd spent a lot of time thinking about what to say if given a chance, Taylor had a ready answer.

"Yes, about six years worth," he said...........