Bush: I'd rather be right than popular

CNN ^ | 07/07/06

[TigerLikesRooster]

Bush: I'd rather be right than popular

President, wife sit down for wide-ranging birthday interview

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush isn't troubled by some of the weakest approval ratings of his presidency, he said Thursday in a wide-ranging birthday interview with CNN's "Larry King Live."

"When history looks back, I'd rather be judged as solving problems and being correct, rather than being popular," Bush said.

"The president that chases the opinion poll is the president that will have failed policy," Bush said in an exclusive joint interview along with his wife, Laura, at the White House.

Some members of Congress are nervous about the effect Bush's political problems might have on their own fortunes in this fall's midterm elections.

But Bush predicted that Republicans would keep their majorities in the House and Senate, "Because we're right on winning this war on terror, and we've got a good economic record," he said. "People are working under the leadership of the Bush administration and the Congress."

When it comes to the most controversial single decision of his presidency -- invading Iraq -- the president told King he would make the same choice again, even knowing that Saddam Hussein's regime did not have weapons of mass destruction.

"We removed a tyrant," Bush said. "He was an enemy of the United States who harbored terrorists and who had the capacity, at the very minimum, to make weapons of mass destruction. And he was a true threat."

The president also said he believes recent missile tests by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il could present an opening to rally international pressure on the Pyongyang regime.

"I think he wants us to either fear him or pay attention to him. And I view it as an opportunity ...

[Southack]

Outstanding!

[jveritas]

President George W Bush: THE LEADER. I am very proud of our President. God bless him.

[the invisib1e hand]

"When history looks back, I'd rather be judged as solving problems and being correct, rather than being popular," Bush said.

When this season's fickle storms of public opinion have faded into memory, and after the prevailing foul spirit has been defeated, you will be remembered among the greatest, President Bush of the great -- you and your cabinet.

[familyop]

...good man. Go, Mr. President, and take care of business in Iran!

[lone star annie]

Well GW you are right on many things, but your shamnesty bill needs to go.

[the invisib1e hand]

/choppy grammar

[blitzgig]

This is the kind of thinking that I want in a President.

[nopardons]

bttt

[KJC1]

Excellent.

[funkywbr]

What it's like to be a pityfull dim DEM!~}

Actual Healine:


In Conn., Lieberman Defends Seat, War Stance

[Fudd Fan]

AMEN!

How wonderful is it to have someone who thinks and acts like President Bush, rather than someone who won't decide what to have for breakfast before a poll is taken (8 years of THAT was quite enough).

God bless this president!

[adorno]

"The president that chases the opinion poll is the president that will have failed policy,"

That sounds like a back-handed slap at a former president, and poll-watching politican who went by the initials "Bill Clinton".

[COEXERJ145]

This alone shows why history will be favorable to President Bush.

Another reason is because I will be one of those writing it.

[Merry]

Clinton wanted to be popular and governed accordingly. He left a mess in North Korea and other places. George Bush is a great President.

[Jameison]

"When this season's fickle storms of public opinion have faded into memory, and after the prevailing foul spirit has been defeated, you will be remembered among the greatest, President Bush of the great -- you and your cabinet"

Yup.
Who even remembers that FDR had some of the lowest poll ratings since poling begun, during the grim moments of WWII?
Today FDR is invoked all the time, especially by the RATS.
Governing by opinion polls isn't leading, it's instead, being led by drive-by media noise.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

There are times when this President brings a tear to my eyes.

[do the dhue]

Hear!!! Hear!!!

I would rather be wrong and strong then weak and right too.

[SandRat]

Ain't he a little tease???

[Republican Wildcat]

Sounds like he came across very well here.

[KJC1]

Agreed. President Bush has had challenges literally left and right for 6 and a half years. Too many people forget that. Thank God he doesn't blow and twist in the wind trying to please everyone all the time.

[lonestar67]

Bush is awesome!

History will note him as a great president.

[Fudd Fan]

He's human, ok?

[msnimje]

The sad thing about this is how polluted this country is with total and complete nincompoops. Thank goodness the president does not want to do what THEY want him to do.

[Fudd Fan]

LOL~! Y'THINK?!

[1035rep]

"President George W Bush: THE LEADER. I am very proud of our President. God bless him."

DITTO!
 

[freedumb2003]

Well GW you are right on many things, but your shamnesty bill needs to go.

But I even have to give him begrudging respect for that. He is a Globalist and thinks we shouldn't have N or S borders. And his policy supports that.

It may p!ss me off, but at least he is principled. The prior inhabitant of the White House blew whichever way the trial balloons blew. And that led to Somalia. And Somalia led to 9/11.

If you get a man with guns to stand behind what he means, you have to at least admire his stance.

Even if it is wrong-headed as all get out.

[KantianBurke]

"Bush: I'd rather be right than popular"

Mr. President, when it comes to free pills for granny, CFR, border control, increasing funding for the NEA, Harriet Miers, steel tariffs, billions wasted on AIDS in Africa and a whole other host of issues...you're neither.

[nicollo]

"When history looks back, I'd rather be judged as solving problems and being correct, rather than being popular," Bush said.

Gotta love the guy, but we must also know that this is the talk of a 2nd term president. No way he could have said that going into re-election.

And that's not a bad thing. We want our politicians to be accountable to public opinion -- to a point.

Pinging Karl Rove.

[jveritas]

Go my fellow freeper :) we need people like you to write the true History.

[Texasforever]

You are really sad.

[KJC1]

I'm pretty sure President Bush DID say this before the last election. He has never been poll-driven or FICKLE.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

I saw his and Laura's pictures on a billboard today. On the east side of the road going south through Crawford.:-)

[jveritas]

All the topics that you mentioned above are meaningless from historical point of view.

[blitzgig]

I love the contrast between Clinton to Bush. Bush shows he is dedicated to doing the right thing no matter what the stupid polls say. Clinton was a gutless tool who always jumped when the polls said jump. Ultimately, history will honor Bush and humiliate Clinton, and rightly so.

[COEXERJ145]

The good thing is the President doesn't give a d*mn when it comes to the opinions of the unappeasables such as yourself.

[Howlin]

Well GW you are right on many things, but your shamnesty bill needs to go.

Give it a rest for ONE DAMN THREAD, okay?

[Jedidah]

The whole interview was impressive. GWB was poised, articulate, and passionate.

I love this president.

[Pelayo]

but your shamnesty bill needs to go.

Granted, but, if he believes he is right, then no amount of "unpopularity" will change his position.

[John Jorsett]

Bush: I'd rather be right than popular

On illegal immigration, he's managing to be neither.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

I love our President. He's the best. Happy 60th!

[Howlin]

FGS, take that to another thread. There certainly are enough of them.

[LUV W]

Howdy Sandy...I ain't teasin'!

[Howlin]

And that's exactly why I love him.

[Texasforever]

On illegal immigration, he's managing to be neither.

You don't get it do you? Like him or hate him he has his own set of principles that he follows. He is following those principles on immigration. In fact he is one of the very few that is actually holding to his principles on that issue.

[Fudd Fan]

AMEN, FRiend, AMEN!

[UCANSEE2]

When President Bush finally leaves office, I will be thinking about this.

On CSPAN I listened to a presentation on the Founding Fathers.

During the creation of our nation, They were worried that if they elected George Washington as President, and failed to form a new Union, that George W. would be embarrased, having to step down from the PRESIDENT to an everyday citizen.

One of the founding fathers stated this (paraphrased):

You don't understand. The President is the servant of the people, the servant of the nation. When he leaves office, he is stepping back up to a normal citizen.

President Bush treats the office of President this way. It is his task, it is his responsibility, and he must always consider the good of the nation, the good of the people.

[AdamSelene235]

Who even remembers that FDR had some of the lowest poll ratings since poling begun, during the grim moments of WWII?

FDR was a traitor and domestic enemy of the Constitution.

[dalereed]

Nobody gives a damn what you think either!

[Onelifetogive]

"The president that chases the opinion poll is the president that will have failed policy," Bush said...

If FoxNews did a "Daily Show" bit, they would put up a picture of Clinton when W says this.