"They're sheep. They like Bush enough to credit him with saving the nation after 9/11. Three thousand people get killed, and everybody thinks they're next on the list. The president comes along, and he's got his six-guns strapped on, and people think he's going to save them"

Ed Asner's quote paints a critical photo of public sentiment following the occasions of September 11, 2001, especially regarding previous President George W. Bush's leadership. Asner uses the metaphor of "sheep" to describe the American populace, indicating that they are passively following a leadership narrative without critical idea. Making use of "sheep" recommends a herd mindset, where people are quickly affected by dominant voices or actions-- here, specifically by the government's and President Bush's responses to the crisis.

In the consequences of 9/11, the fear of terrorism was prevalent, altering the American mind and the country's political landscape. Asner highlights this worry with "Three thousand people get killed, and everybody believes they're next on the list", highlighting the widespread stress and anxiety that another attack might take place anytime. This sense of vulnerability made numerous Americans more reliant on strong leadership, which Asner suggests Bush exemplified with his decisive, combative stance-- symbolized by "six-guns strapped on", stimulating an image of a Wild West sheriff all set to take on risks.

The quote critiques the way worry can lead to the recommendation of aggressive, possibly oversimplified approaches to complicated geopolitical issues. By crediting Bush with 'conserving the country,' Asner notes an oversimplification of the efforts and responses needed to address terrorism, suggesting that the populace may have given Bush undue credit just because they were relaxed by a perception of assertive management.

Asner's quote shows hesitation towards both the general public's response to Bush and Bush's approach of dealing with the crisis. It questions the characteristics of worry, power, and leadership in a post-crisis America, requiring deeper reflection on how nationwide stories are formed and the possible pitfalls of accepting simplistic options to intricate issues.