Posted on 08/01/2009 3:36:02 PM PDT by Kaslin
The reason President Bush was in San Diego last week:
BUSH SETS RECORD STRAIGHT
I spent last week in San Diego at my firm’s national convention. This year our speakers ranged from Bill Poole, the 11th chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, to the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.
All the speakers were interesting, but it was President Bush we turned out to see.
And yes, I understand writing about Mr. Bush is like throwing red meat to a liberal lion like Joe. Simply mentioning Bush is enough to fire up toxic left-wing boo-birds; still, listening to any former president is interesting and thought-provoking.
It was clear from the start that Mr. Bush had a few things he wanted clarified. He was careful to make the point that he would not say anything negative about President Obama as a person.
That said, he was very clear in his demarcation between himself and Mr. Obama.
For instance when Mr. Bush said, “The office is more important than the person who holds the office,” I felt he was making a not-so-veiled point.
He also said his “temporary measures” to stimulate the economy were never meant to become a “permanent” way of conducting the government’s business. The role of government, he said, is to create an environment where people will risk capital. “Raising taxes kills small business.”
“Polls are not for decision-making.” If a president pays attention to polls it can only compromise his principles.
“I never watched the news or polls. I felt it would add nothing to my ability to make hard decisions.”
On leadership: “Leaders don’t bear grudges. Leaders set clear, optimistic goals.”
And, “even though my candidate did not win, Obama’s election speaks well of America.”
Bush said he understands that harsh rhetoric is “nothing new,” pointing out that many of the same kind of things were said about Abraham Lincoln during his time in office as were said about him.
As for his much-maligned reaction to the initial 9/11 attacks, Bush said he knew instinctively that “the eyes of the world were on me.”
He said that sitting with the kids in that class that day his first reaction was to “do nothing to create panic.”
(2 of 3)
What was his initial reaction to the planes flying into buildings? “We felt the first plane was an accident. The second was an attack on the U.S. When the third plane hit the Pentagon, well, that was a declaration of war.”
He believes the biggest risk to the U.S. is another attack. “They are a patient enemy.
“Time has numbed our emotions about 9/11. Try and remember how you felt during those days. I was mad as hell.”
“Democracy,” he said, “is hard work.”
“Presidents must look over the horizon while Congress is on a two-year schedule. They are always asking themselves, ‘What will this decision do to my chances for re-election?’ Presidents cannot operate that way.”
“There is no such thing as ‘short-term’ history when viewing the presidency. Historians will draw their own conclusions about me, but that will be years in the future.”
“I hope it will be said of me that he never lost faith.”
“In spite of what you might believe, I had a joyous presidency.”
Tom Fife is an investment broker who writes from a conservative perspective. E-mail him at Tom.Fife@Comcast.Net.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090825/OPINION/908250303
Thanks for posting
Thank you for posting this. It is great to hear from GWB---even like this! I love it that, though he did is carefully, he drew distinctions between himself and BHO. You know that he has to be concerned---he knows far more than any of us do about the enemies....
Thanks again. Hope you are healing well. I miss you! (Did you know that today is ohioWfan's birthday?)
Oh, how I wish we could turn back the clock a few years!
Thanks for the ping, DrDeb.
Fantastic! Thanks, Deb. Now we know why he was out there.. ;)
What he said was volumes .. as careful as he is about
his conviction about his successor’s time in the spotlight.
He all but said what we all know: the current resident
isn’t only in the spotlight, he believes he IS the spotlight
and must shine his visage to the world numerous times
a week so he can hear the voice and the ideas he loves
so much ... his own.
I bet if we did a comparison, he’s already outstripped
the times Pres. Bush held a public presser or spoke
officially to the American people in his whole 8 years.
I knew he felt this way... I'm so glad to read it.
And as for this: "He believes the biggest risk to the U.S. is another attack. “They are a patient enemy." <- you have FReepmail.
Thanks for the ping, sorry not been about much recently but mainly due to work/home commitments high at present and evening being tired and having to work around carers etc with meals etc.
Also on top of everything else washing machine went on the blink finally got it repaired yesterday needed several new parts but advised to keep this one going as as long as parts available it would still last longer than the average new machine. I will go for a Miele once this one finally cannot be repaired anymore.
Hi sorry not been in touch much lately but I will post next week some Taxis.
Absolutly the contrast is unbelieveable in one way but in another unfortunately it is not and something that many of us on this thread saw coming.
“Time has numbed our emotions about 9/11. Try and remember how you felt during those days. I was mad as hell.”
I guess there is no way to collectively shake those that have conveniently forgotten the dangers that are out there aimed towards our country but I'd sure like to wake them up somehow.
I felt safe with Bush and Cheney at the helm. Obama???? Not so much. (((big, heavy, sigh))))
You are so sweet, Snugs! How are you? How is your dad? I have not been in touch, either, but think of you often. Hugs to you.
NEW YORK NBC's "Today" show has hired someone with White House experience as a new correspondent former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager.
Hager, a 27-year-old teacher in Baltimore, will contribute stories about once a month on issues like education to television's top-rated morning news show, said Jim Bell, its executive producer.
The daughter of former President George W. Bush said she has always wanted to be a teacher and a writer, and has already authored two books. But she was intrigued by the idea of getting into television when Bell contacted her.
"It wasn't something I'd always dreamed to do," she said. "But I think one of the most important things in life is to be open-minded and to be open-minded for change."
You can read the entire article
Very cool of Jenna to take on this new endeavor! I hope she
is successful! It nearly makes me want to watch the Today show again! LOL!
Thanks for the ping, Kaslin. I had just the read the article on Yahoo. Not sure I should comment on this NBC job.
Neat-o!! Thanks, kas .. ;)
Yeah, I wished she had gone to FOX News instead
Will put the September monthly thread up tomorrow evening.
THANK YOU for the ‘Jenna’ update . . . Good for her!
We should applaud when an MSM outlet (with a large audience share) hires one of our own. While Jenna will avoid political topics; her very presence on the Today Show will help re-humanize the Bush ‘brand’ with a segment of the public totally brainwashed by the haters among us (left and right)!
If anyone here is going, let me know, cause I'd love to meet you there!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.