[Al B.]

Shirley made no bones about the fact that Bush's performance in the Nashua debate confirmed for Reagan what he already suspected...that GHW Bush did not handle pressure very well, AT ALL. Shirley actually said that Reagan (at the time) did not think Bush was qualified for the Oval Office.

Shirley did confirm what you said, that Reagan came to respect Bush as a loyal ally while he was VP.

I agree with you on how Reagan would view Palin.

[Brices Crossroads]

I though Bush’s reactions to Gordon Humphey’s last ditch plea to include the others, “I’ve worked all my life for this and I’m not giving it up.” sounds eerily like something Mittens would say. These Eastern snobs think the Presidency belongs to them not to the hoi polloi:

“When Bush came out of his holding room and headed to the stage, Humphrey pleaded one last time to include the others in the name of “party unity.” Bush spat back at Humphrey, whom he loathed, “No f—ing way! I’ve worked all my life for this and I’m not giving it up. . . . I’ve done more for party unity than you’ll ever know!””

http://article.nationalreview.com/410403/fast-times-at-nashua-high/craig-shirley?page=2