Posted on 09/19/2005 6:33:57 PM PDT by wagglebee
Thirty-six hours after ex-president Bill Clinton bashed and trashed his son on everything from his handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis to the Iraq war, former president George H.W. Bush says he still likes Clinton.
Appearing during commercial breaks on ABC's "Monday Night Football," the president's father was asked how he and Clinton managed to get along.
"I like him," Bush 41 said, despite the verbal thrashing Clinton administered to his son on ABC's "This Week" the day before.
Given two more opportunities to comment on his relationship with Clinton, Bush Sr. declined to say a single negative word about his successor.
Mr. Clinton, on the other hand, demonstrated no such graciousness when asked on Sunday about the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.
"You can't have an emergency plan that works if it only affects middle class people and up," Clinton told ABC's "This Week."
He said the allegedly slow federal response disproportionately affected African Americans and was caused by the Bush tax cuts.
"This is a matter of public policy," Clinton told his former communications director, George Stephanopoulos. "And whether it's race-based or not, if you give your tax cuts to the rich and hope everything works out all right, poverty goes up and it disproportionately affects black and brown people."
GHWB plays by club rules while Slick Willie plays Brutus.
its not "class" - its something else, I just don't know what it is. the Bushes rehabilitated this man, why?
Poverty went down. Facts are a stubborn thing.
I don't know, I don't think I could still profess to "like" or be "friends" with someone who is actively trashing my son day after day. Oh well, that's just me.
I think GHWB is simply following the tradition of former presidents NEVER publicly criticizing another president (whether sitting or former).
P.S. Ask Dan Rather about the PJ Mojahadeen :-)
Bush 41 has too much class to dig into a former president, even one that deserves it so much like Clinton. I respect Bush for that.
It may indeed be a sign of class, and while I can respect his decision to not get in the gutter with Clinton (especially during an inappropriate venue like MNF), at the very least it should convince Bush the Elder of the folly of being such a public buddy of Clinton. While I'm sure there is some genuine altruistic motives for Clinton in all of his charity work, I also don't doubt for a second that it is part of the plan to 'moderate' Hillary in preparation for 2008.
what is wrong with keeping silent?
There's a point where you cross from being a nice guy to a freakin' sap.
Every once in a while GHWB reminds me why he only served one term.
They should ask Barbara what she thinks.
Willy knows the ins and outs of GHWB's involvement in Iran/Contra and how they allowed drugs into the country in the name of spreading democracy. In return, GHWB most likely knows all about Clinton's "China gate" and more. They carry each other's secrets to their graves.
There is something really strange about the whole thing.
Agreed. A simple "no comment" would have said enough.
That tradition is now null and void. Clinton broke that tradition.
Yeah, I have no doubt he will be the first one in line when the strip clubs in New Orleans reopen.
GHWB is a wuss, just like he was when he was President. He doesn't have anywhere near the stones (or even the brains)of W. He never did and he never will. JMO, but this kind of statement is par for the course for GHWB.
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