George W. Bush Gives First Public Reaction to Osama Bin Laden Death

ABC News ^

[Sub-Driver]

George W. Bush Gives First Public Reaction to Osama Bin Laden Death

Former President George W. Bush made his first candid public comments on the killing of Osama bin Laden during an appearance Wednesday at a conference of hedge fund managers in Las Vegas.

"I was eating souffle at Rise Restaurant with Laura and two buddies," Bush said when asked what he was doing when he received the call from President Obama, according to an ABC News contributor who attended the event.

"I excused myself and went home to take the call," Bush said. "Obama simply said 'Osama Bin Laden is dead.'"

Bush said Obama described in detail the secret mission to raid bin Laden's Pakistani compound and the decision he made to put the plan into motion. He told Obama, "Good call."

The 43rd president and man who initiated the hunt for bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks has shied from the spotlight since news broke nearly two weeks ago. Bush has declined interview requests and Obama's invitation to join him at Ground Zero to meet with victims' families and first responders four days after the raid.

But appearing before the crowd of 1,800 at the glitzy Bellagio resort and casino, Bush appeared light-h earted and relaxed in talking about bin Laden's death.

[DannyTN]

Real men eat anything they want to.

[mnehring]

Couldn’t he have faked it and said barbeque or something more manly?

Other than the fact he isn't a Clinton who cares more about the image of the statement than the honesty, it would be a hard lie to pull off. Rise No.1. pretty much does nothing but souffles- it is their specialty.

[driftdiver]

Good grief, the man is the reason the CIA and Seals finally got Osama. Give him some friggen credit and stop nitpicking minutia.

[BigSkyFreeper]

You need a damned hobby.

[stuartcr]

Sounds like most of the comments about food are right here on FR.

[angcat]

Good god I would love to sit and eat Souffle with President Bush!

[Madame Dufarge]

Give him some friggen credit and stop nitpicking minutia.

Thank you, that sure needed to be said.

I noticed that he praised the intelligence community and Seal Team 6, but "Good call" was about all he could say about Obama.

And rightly so.

[A Texan]

Bush doesn't care. He is not trying to get reelected, he is not trying to impress anyone, he is just being himself. I say good for him. I huge problem in our country today is everyone worrying about what someone else thinks well I say screw that, be yourself. If someone doesn't like it they can go pound sand.

[mnehring]

Yep, I was making a snarky comment and after I posted, I was shocked to see my prediction came from here instead of DU.

[stuartcr]

Sometimes there’s not that big a difference...

[PLD]

What's wrong with eating souffle..It could have been his desert Chocolate souffle happens to be one of my favorites..Then one has Savory Souffle - Lots of savory souffle recipes like gruyere, asparagus, crab or lobster souffles as well as dessert souffles like pineapple or chocolate.

[F.J. Mitchell]

He coulda said he was chewing up nails and washing them down with carbolic acid. But he didn't need to.

[sleddogs]

Nothings a wrong!

Bush eating souffle = scrambled eggs

OBL eating a bullet = scrambled brains

It’s symbolic.

[Madame Dufarge]

So? Does he lose man points or something?

I recall that Roosevelt Grier did needlepoint, being secure in his masculinity and all.

[Vendome]

That was pretty gracious.

[Tucker39]

“Biscuits and SAUSAGE gravy.”

Now it’s right!

[GOP Poet]

Excellent points—both!

[Vendome]

I occasionally like a good souffle after dinner.

[Quilla]

Michael Mina serves a black mussel souffle at the Bellagio that I understand is divine.

[Vendome]

In that case it’s not a dessert.

It’s a pot pie for dinnuh!

Southern Bahbuhque. Yum!