Posted on 11/02/2003 7:44:55 PM PST by Radix
WASHINGTON - When Sen. Edward M. Kennedy accepts a public service award from former President Bush next week in Texas, awkward moments are bound to buffet the two chiefs of America's most prominent and powerful political families.
The liberal Bay State senator has emerged as the harshest Capitol Hill critic of Bush's conservative son, President George W. Bush.
Kennedy actually called Bush a serial liar in a blistering speech last month on Iraq.
``It will be the pink elephant just sitting there in the middle of the room,'' Jim McGrath, a spokesman for the elder Bush, said of the simmering tensions between the Bushes and Kennedys.
But the ex-president plans to confront the delicate issue head-on at the award dinner, stressing the importance of fair-minded bipartisanship even when politics turns bitterly personal.
``(Former) President Bush will have something to say about that,'' McGrath said. ``He wants to send a message in that regard.''
The elder Bush and his wife, Barbara, are fiercely protective of their son, the president.
So the dinner and awards ceremony Nov. 7 at the Bush Presidential Museum at Texas A&M University poses a public test of their good will and grace.
``It's a little bit difficult since Ted spoke out rather indiscriminately - was that a good word?'' Barbara Bush told CNN recently. ``Anyway. Certainly makes it a little bit difficult. But (Kennedy) has served for many, many years as a senator and I'm certainly going to be there and welcome him.''
The Bush Presidential Library was flooded with angry e-mails and threats from GOP donors and supporters after it was announced that Kennedy would receive the 2003 George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service.
``The outcry that erupted indicated there is a misunderstanding of what the award is all about,'' said McGrath. ``It's not just for excellence in conservatism in public service. It's for excellence in public service. (Former) President Bush welcomes the opportunity to clear the air.''
Last fall, before the Iraq war began, the elder Bush approved the Bush Library Foundation Committee's decision to give Kennedy the award, a crystal sculpture and $20,000 cash prize.
Last month, Kennedy accused the younger Bush of hatching a phony war, ``a fraud . . . made up in Texas'' to boost his political career.
``We were told lie after lie after life after lie,'' fumed Kennedy on the Senate floor in his widely publicized speech.
Bush, apparently miffed, termed Kennedy's harsh words ``uncivil'' when pressed by reporters for a response. White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. phoned Kennedy privately to complain about the personal attack on his boss, GOP and Kennedy sources confirmed.
Kennedy said he is eager to receive the award. Several Kennedy family members are expected to make the trip to College Station with the 72-year-old senator.
``It will be a very special occasion for me and the entire Kennedy family,'' said Kennedy. ``I am truly honored. I look forward to visiting . . . former President Bush.''
Maybe they could all go for a swim after?
Kennedy may have been in public service...but there is nothing about it IMHO that is excellent.
If it was an award for Longevity in Public Service...then there would not be much of an outcry. But for the Bush Library Foundation to award Kennedy any recognition for excellence flies in the face of those who supported President Bush (the elder) against the very types of agenda's Kennedy's "excellence" was trying to push through. I can see why they are upset. They have a right to be.
It smacks of a country-club atmosphere amongst these politicians irrespctive of what side of the aisle they are on. Reminds me of Hatch's cozing up to Kennedy...it just reaks!
Yes, every day when he looks in the mirror.
Why won't the ex-president call a press conference like he did when the NRA used the term "jack booted thugs," after Ruby Ridge.
The ex-president publicaly resigned from the NRA at that press conference on national TV.
There was no mention of fair-minded bipartisanship.
When this award was initially announced I wondered about the "excellence" part in relation to T. Kennedy. Then the furor over the bloated one's remarks. I wondered again when I read this article. As you said, if the award was for longevity of service, as opposed to excellence, okay; I guess.
Any idea who determines the recipient of the award? Is it an annual event?
The original article was posted here about a week ago. It stated that the SOLE determiner of the award was George Herbert Walker Bush himself.
I know...go figure...
I have posted here on FR.com a nbr. of articles by Andrew Miga over the last half year or so. I figure that people would take note of his reports by now. Some of his articles are not on the "on-line" version of the Herald. That is annoying, because after I read the hard copy, I always check the web site. When they deny access, which they often do they have wasted my time, and my time is precious to me.I check almost every day for his reporting.
During the road to Baghdad reporting last March the Herald was posting some of the very best images of the war on their web site. The Boston Herald, will never be taken seriously by Media elitists, but I read the Herald every day, and I only look at the Globe now and then.
Reason? The Herald does not pretend to be objective, whereas the Globe is a disgusting abomination, and is an insult to the very defintion of the word journalism, and the concept of objectivity. The Globe, is a subversive enterprise, and the world needs to see what I see. I cannot help the fact that I see these things so plainly. Thus, I share.
Then why is Ted receiving the award? This whole thing is just plain weird!
You have it right, but there is also the possibility, that the Bushes are simply not going to defile themselves by stooping to the tactics that fat Teddy the Murderous pig would and does lower himself to without cease.
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