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<p>TOKYO — Former President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the Japan Series between the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham Fighters.</p> <p>Bush, wearing a Yomiuri warmup jacket, took the mound Tuesday at Tokyo Dome and threw a pitch to Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe that bounced once in the dirt before being caught.</p>

Every president will blame the past one, either directly or indirectly (using media commentators or spokesmen.) And many times it is valid to do that. Most Americans agreed that G.W. Bush could not be (entirely) responsible for the successful Sept 11, 2001 attacks or the 2001 market crash. Much of what he had to work with his first nine months was left over from the Clinton administration. But liberals (progressives) to this day still say that the "September 11, 2001 attacks were on Bush's Watch" after only nine months in office and that Bush was left a booming economy by...

NEW DELHI (AFP) – Former US president George W. Bush said Saturday that the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan must be won to stop a return to "brutal tyranny" in the nation. In a wide-ranging speech to a leadership conference in the Indian capital New Delhi, Bush said defeating the insurgents was "necessary for stability" and peace both in the region and globally. "If the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and their extremist allies were allowed to take over Afghanistan again, they would have a safe haven and the Afghan people, particularly the Afghan women, would face a return to a brutal...

For all the global love-in, the new president has led rich nations to neglect principled action and row back from climate deals Of all the explanations for Barack Obama's Nobel peace prize, the one that rang truest came from Nicolas Sarkozy. "It sets the seal on America's return to the heart of all the world's peoples." In other words, this was Europe's way of saying to America, "We love you again", like those weird renewal-of-vows ceremonies couples have after a rough patch. Now Europe and the US are officially reunited, it seems appropriate to consider whether this is necessarily a...

Once upon a time, when you were just a kid, Mom or Dad probably read you "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.” And years later maybe you read this 1942 classic by Hildegarde H. Swift to your own children.   Little Red was saved twice by children, once from being auctioned off and once from neglect. The story begins with the introduction of a little lighthouse sitting on the rocky Manhattan shore of the Hudson River.  “It was round and fat and red. It was fat and red and jolly. And it was very, very proud.”  The...

Former President George W. Bush addresses a Fourth of July crowd at the Let Freedom Ring 2009 festival at Crystal Beach Park Arena in Woodward, Okla., Saturday, July 4, 2009. (AP Photo) How many times during the last eight years did you hear that George W. Bush was a dangerous right-wing extremist? Probably too many to count.What you heard less often were expressions of the deep reservations some conservatives felt about Bush's governing philosophy.Conservatives greatly admired Bush for his steadfastness in the War on Terror -- to use that outlawed phrase -- and they were delighted by his choices...

George Washington Bridge Worker Dozes on Job Monday, 31 Aug 2009 MYFOXNY.COM - A security worker on the George Washington Bridge was apparently sleeping on the job, according to a northern New Jersey news Web site. The Cliffview Pilot , which covers Bergen and Hudson counties, posted photos of a guard apparently dozing inside a guard booth near the New York side of the bridge Monday morning. A bicyclist said he saw the man sleeping in the booth at 10:15 a.m. and snapped the photos. Joey Lepore said it was the third time he has seen an attendant sleeping inside...

Your editorial claims that Congress was complicit in Bush administration human rights abuses. Here are the facts: Until Sept. 6, 2006, only a handful of members of Congress were aware of the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques." Congress passed the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 to prohibit the CIA's use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" -- the same standard as the Geneva Convention. After learning of the CIA program, Congress took action. I introduced an amendment to the fiscal 2008 intelligence authorization bill to limit the CIA to interrogation techniques authorized by the Army Field Manual....

Photographs of Bush, with commentary by the photographers who followed him for 8 or 9 years. Quite the contrast with Barry.

Ticket sales for Bush’s Saturday evening speech have been "fantastic,” said Landon Laubhan, a Woodward promoter who is handling arrangements for this weekend’s activities. The way sales are going "we will be sold out for Saturday by Thursday,” Laubhan said. The former president’s appearance, his first in Oklahoma since he left the White House earlier this year, is part of a July 4 celebration to mark improvements at Crystal Beach Park and the park’s 80th anniversary as well as the Fourth of July holiday. Bush is scheduled to speak at 6:20 p.m. Saturday in the park’s rodeo arena, which can...

Tweets from an Iranian http://twitter.com/ThinkIran (1) January 31, 2006 George W. Bush State Of The Union “Tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: (2) America respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win... 3) your own freedom. And our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran.”

On Oct. 3, as the spreading economic meltdown threatened to topple financial behemoths like American International Group (AIG) and Bank of America and plunged global markets into free fall, the U.S. government responded with the largest bailout in American history. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, better known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), authorized the use of $700 billion to stabilize the nation's failing financial systems and restore the flow of credit in the economy. The legislation's guidelines for crafting the rescue plan were clear: The TARP should protect home values and consumer savings, help citizens keep...

Patrick Bibb, a 19-year-old from Dallas, glanced at his cell phone. He was in the middle of his economics class at Texas Christian University on a February morning. His caller ID read withheld. He decided not to answer. When class ended, he checked his messages and found that George W. Bush had been trying to reach him. The sophomore listened to the voice mail. He heard the former president of the United States thank him at least four times. Bush was happy that the teenager had been selling welcome home george & laura signs for $20 to people all over...

A lot of the difference, the change if you will, between Obama and Bush has much to do with the word humility. George Bush is and was a humble man. Obama thinks the world counts on him and him alone to lead us. Bush went to church and prayed often. Obama puts out press releases about his supposed piety. The left sold a great bill of goods to the American people claiming that Bush, et al. were arrogant while insisting that Obama was a “man of the people.” The 65th Anniversary of D-Day is fast approaching. Barack Obama will attend...

BOAO — Former President George W. Bush cracked jokes about how he scoops up after his dog on neighborhood walks and then turned to more serious subjects like terrorism and the financial crisis Saturday during his first overseas trip since leaving office.

The Bush Administration approved the use of "insects placed in a confinement box" during the interrogation of top Al Qaeda official Abu Zubaydah, according to a 2002 document that President Obama declassified for release Thursday. The legal memorandum for the CIA, prepared by Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee, reviewed 10 enhanced techniques for interrogating Zubaydah, and determined that none of them constituted torture under U.S. criminal law. The techniques were: attention grasp, walling (hitting a detainee against a flexible wall), facial hold, facial slap, cramped confinement, wall standing, stress positions, sleep deprivation, insects placed in a confinement box, and waterboarding.(View...

ARLINGTON -- Former President George W. Bush received a strong standing ovation from Rangers fans as he walked to the mound on Monday afternoon at the Ballpark in Arlington to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. Bush was joined at the mound by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and three military heroes: Gen. Jeffery Hammond of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, 1st. Sgt. David McNerney of Houston -- winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor in Vietnam -- and Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, winner of the Navy Cross for heroism in Afghanistan. Bush threw a strike...

VIDEO: In his first big appearance locally since moving to Dallas from the White House, Bush received a standing ovation and overwhelming cheers from a crowd of about 40,000 after the public address announcer said, “We welcome home the 43rd president.” http://www.butasforme.com/2009/04/06/former-president-bush-throws-opening-day-strike-at-texas-ranger

The press never reported that Democratic strategist James Carville said he wanted President Bush to fail before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But a feeding frenzy ensued when radio host Rush Limbaugh recently said he wanted President Obama to fail.

WASHINGTON — Calling into question the legitimacy of all the signing statements that former President George W. Bush used to challenge new laws, President Obama on Monday ordered executive officials to consult with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. before relying on any of them to bypass a statute. But Mr. Obama also signaled that he intends to use signing statements himself if Congress sends him legislation that has provisions he decides are unconstitutional. He pledged to use a modest approach when doing so, but said there was a role for the practice if used appropriately.

Rush Limbaugh took a lot of heat for saying he wants President Obama to fail -- but a lot of Democrats felt the same way about former President George W. Bush during his second term. An August 2006 poll conducted by FOX News/Opinion Dynamics showed 51 percent of Democrats did not want Bush to succeed. Thirty-four percent of independents also did not want Bush to succeed. By comparison, 90 percent of Republicans said at the time that they wanted Bush to succeed, and 40 percent of Democrats said the same. Conservative radio talk show host Limbaugh says he doesn't want...

Speechwriter David Frum says Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh is hurting the Republican Party. Rush is new (talking) head of the GOP His controversial quips come faster than a locomotive and he leaps over spineless Republicans in a single sound bite. He's Rush Limbaugh - and he's kryptonite for the GOP, says conservative pundit David Frum. Frum, an influential former Bush speechwriter, charges in this week's Newsweek that the bombastic radio talk show host is trashing the Republican Party by allowing the Democrats to anoint him de facto party leader. "Limbaugh is kryptonite, weakening the GOP nationally," writes Frum, who...

6 weeks into their perspective administrations, had GWB leading 13 percentage points higher than Obama. GWB's poll numbers were higher in comparison to Obama's, EVEN after stealing the presidency (SARCASM) and ticking off half the nation. How can this be? All the liberal media told us Obama was the one to lead us to a brighter future. Obama poll numbers are in a free fall.

How did we get here? I want to know because I'm not an economist, and although I've tried to put it all together, it doesn't make sense. Here's what I think has happened, but it feels incomplete: Banks loaned money to people who didn't qualify for those loans because of Carter's Community Reinvestment Act. This was stupid, but people (who?) were making money off it, so they didn't stop. Barney Frank defended against regulation of Fannie and Freddie proposed by GWB because he received money from both. The people couldn't pay their loans, so the banks needed to get that...

We are in financial and economic trouble.  And by "we", I mean just about everybody, from the US to Iceland  and Latvia.  Isn't it worth, say, ten minutes to try to figure out how this happened?  That is, while we throw virgins into volcanoes and go into debt at a rate of about one trillion dollars every two months in frantic attempts to save ourselves, shouldn't we also try to figure out what's really going on? Since I don't have a PhD in economics, I won't convince Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) of anything .  But I think it worth a...

How can any Republican complain of Obama's spending habits or complain about his stimulus, given the way Republicans spent "the last eight years"?  Well, I'm going to tell you exactly how. According to the newspapers and TV news, Republicans have no leg to stand on when it comes to spending.  President Bush spent more than President Clinton did.  He waged an imperial, unnecessary war that sent spending out of control.  The Republicans spent more on bailouts than the Democrats did. President Obama made these sentiments clear, as reported by the Kansas City Star . "It's a little hard for me...

Editor's note: Tara Wall is deputy editor for The Washington Times. Before joining the newspaper, she was a senior adviser for the Republican National Committee and was named a public affairs director in the Department of Health and Human Services by President Bush. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In his final radio address as president-elect on the Sunday ahead of his inauguration, Barack Obama said President Bush "extended the hand of cooperation" to him throughout this period of transition. It was a final act of civility, on Mr. Bush's part. It is a trait that is not surprising to those who know...

The Dalai Lama, a lifelong champion of non-violence on Saturday candidly stated that terrorism cannot be tackled by applying the principle of ahimsa because the minds of terrorists are closed. "It is difficult to deal with terrorism through non-violence," the Tibetan spiritual leader said delivering the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture here. He also termed terrorism as the worst kind of violence which is not carried by a few mad people but by those who are very brilliant and educated. "They (terrorists) are very brilliant and educated...but a strong ill feeling is bred in them. Their minds are closed," the Dalai...

In December, I was asked to file a second report on an automobile accident that took place back in September, during a visit to Los Angeles. A truck slammed into my car from behind while I was stopped at a traffic light. As I sat down to write a new report, I tried to recall the details, beginning with where the accident took place, which I remembered as having been on Wilshire Boulevard. Fortunately, I had saved a copy of my first report on this same accident, which showed that it took place on Santa Monica Boulevard, not Wilshire, which...

President Bush, speaking at the winter commencement of Texas A&M University in College Station on Friday, named Biloxi resident Kendrick Kennedy as one of the most inspirational people he has met during his presidency. "I thought I would share a few of the most powerful examples of courage and service that I have witnessed over the past eight years," Bush said. "America is blessed to have citizens... whose hearts are big enough to share the greatest gift of all - the gift of love. "Kendrick Kennedy shared that gift... after Hurricane Katrina struck his hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi. Even...

Anyone care to guess who will state that OBL succeded in bringing down America financialy by bringing down the Twin Towers.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush expressed remorse that the global financial crisis has cost jobs and harmed retirement accounts and said he'll back more government intervention if needed to ease the recession. "I'm sorry it's happening, of course," Bush said in a wide-ranging interview with ABC's "World News," which was airing Monday. "Obviously I don't like the idea of people losing jobs, or being worried about their 401(k)s. On the other hand, the American people got to know that we will safeguard the system. I mean, we're in. And if we need to be in more, we will."...

With the U.S. economy in crisis, George W. Bush’s already slumping popularity levels have sagged even deeper. This summer, his own political party kept him away from its national convention in St. Paul. The President himself has been reduced to wistful hopes that history will somehow justify him. At this low point, some counterbalance: 1) Even as you read this, Indian commandos are waging a deadly urban battle against Islamic terrorists. Those soldiers have almost certainly trained with U.S. Rangers or Marines — part of an intensifying U.S.-India security partnership that has been one of the most signal foreign policy...

November 22, 2008, 0:00 a.m. The Limits of Success -- and FailurePresidencies do not turn out as presidents or their constituents expect. By Michael Barone We Americans are blessed with a history that teaches that things work out right. Our first president set the precedent of relinquishing power he could have had for life and returning to his farm. Two of our greatest presidents were struck down, Abraham Lincoln by an assassin and Franklin Roosevelt by grave illness, at a moment of transcendent victory. Such a history of exceptional leaders is a blessing but also a weakness when things...

Bailouts: Compassionate Conservatism or Loony Liberalism? Don Boys, Ph.D. Well, the Federal Welfare Agents (members of Congress, Bush, Obama, etc.) are at it again—giving away money that is not theirs. Even little children know that it is stealing to take from the haves and give to the have-nots. Do sane people really believe that it is right, by any standard, to take from the producers and give to the parasites? By what logic should taxpayers bailout banks and mortgage companies? After all, the feds don’t rescue a small businessman who doesn’t make it in the food business or a machine...

President Bush is unhappy the conversation between him and President-elect Barack Obama has been cast as a trade-off between Bush signing a second stimulus package in exchange for congressional passage of the Colombia Free Trade Deal, administration officials told FOX News on Tuesday.

In short, we already have a socialist president―and his name is Bush. Bush’s latest scheme, as he explained in his Saturday radio address, is a November 15 “international summit,” including the United Nations Secretary-General, to “begin developing principles of reform for regulatory bodies and institutions related to our financial sectors.” This is bureaucratic doublespeak for what has been called “global governance.” Some may fear with good reason that world government and global taxes are on the way in and U.S. sovereignty is on the way out.

Mr. Gore's campaign is convinced that the argument -- along with his stands on Medicare and the environment -- is crucial to winning Florida's 25 electoral votes, and that those votes may determine the election. He returned here today with recent polls contradictory. One tracking poll conducted for Reuters and MSNBC shows Mr. Gore with a lead of 12 percentage points in the state. A Los Angeles Times poll taken from Oct. 27 through 29, meanwhile, gave Mr. Bush a four-point advantage. Gore aides and state Democratic Party officials said they believed Mr. Gore had a lead of two to...

Tracking poll: Bush may be expanding lead over Gore By CNN Polling Director Keating Holland WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Texas Gov. George W. Bush may be expanding his narrow lead over Vice President Al Gore in the hard-fought presidential race, according to Friday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll. Friday's results indicate Bush garnering 50 percent and Gore drawing 40 percent of likely voters' suppor

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of Americahe strength of our Nation is found in the character of our citizens. During National Character Counts Week, we recommit ourselves to instilling strong values in our youth and encourage all Americans to develop good character. Parents and families can teach children the timeless principles of respect, responsibility, honesty, commitment, and compassion. In our communities, parents, mentors, clergy members, teachers, coaches, and neighbors serve as role models by dedicating their time and talents to help others. At home and abroad, members of our Armed Forces exemplify the true character of...

In Slate Magazine, William Saletan says the polls are so stacked against John McCain, there’s no possibility he can win. The race is over. Oh, wait. That was eight years ago, and he was talking about George W. Bush. Since Labor Day, the media have released about 20 polls on the presidential race. Three show a dead heat, one shows George W. Bush leading by a single percentage point, and the rest show Al Gore leading by one to 10 points. In the latest polls, Gore leads by an average of five points. It's fashionable at this stage to caution...

Why Bush Is Toast By William Saletan Posted Thursday, Sept. 14, 2000, at 3:00 AM ET Since Labor Day, the media have released about 20 polls on the presidential race. Three show a dead heat, one shows George W. Bush leading by a single percentage point, and the rest show Al Gore leading by one to 10 points. In the latest polls, Gore leads by an average of five points. It's fashionable at this stage to caution that "anything can happen," that Bush is "retooling," and that the numbers can turn in Bush's favor just as easily as they turned...

From Wikipedia: In psychology, a person who has a martyr complex desires the feeling of being a martyr for its own sake, seeking out suffering or persecution because it feeds a psychological need. In some cases, this results from the belief that the martyr has been singled out for persecution due to exceptional ability or integrity. Theologian Paul Johnson considers such beliefs a topic of concern for the mental health of clergy. Other martyr complexes involve willful suffering in the name of love or duty.

I was on Oprah in 2000 when she had Bush running against Gore. She allowed both to come on and let her viewers decide who they would vote for. At that time Gore was ahead by, I believe, 10 pts. After her show Bush went up 8 pts. SHE knows that by having Palin on everyone will love her and the election could very well turn the tide. Her man Obama on 2 times this year and none for McCain or Palin speaks volumes. Maye Oprah used to be fair and unbiased but she has forgotten or doesn't care about...

While the Democrats had their week of unchallenged propaganda about their party – how perfect it is and how terrible the Republicans are – the latest good news about the economy and the average adjusted gross income went unnoticed. Once again, when Democrats don’t like the facts, they just ignore them with the help of the mainstream media. On August 26, Investor’s Business Daily reported data from the Internal Revenue Service showing that the average U.S. income had increased every year for five straight years through 2006. In fact, the $58,029 average was $739 higher than the peak year of...

8/15/2008 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- I learned a big lesson on service Aug. 4, 2008, when Eielson had the rare honor of hosting President Bush on a refueling stop as he traveled to Asia. It was an event Eielson will never forget -- a hangar full of Airmen and Soldiers getting to see the Commander in Chief up close, and perhaps even shaking his hand. An incredible amount of effort goes into presidential travel because of all of the logistics, security, protocol, etc ... so it was remarkable to see Air Force One land at Eielson on...

With all due respect, I'm pretty sure Dubya & Co will continue being the laughing stock of international affairs over here in Europe for a long time (- Hey, I'm aware you Americans have invested him with the highest of US offices, but I wrote "With all due respect" initially, so I won't drone on about how much many of us Europeans actually admire America, our common interests etc, out of sheer courtesy:D). Europe and the US will remain best friends and just like my (personal) best friend since 30 years and I squabble from time to time (I'm 39),...

I was curious on how NBC portrays Bush during his visit to the Olympics, and especially on how he was portrayed among the athletes (which surely are not all Republicans). Quite surprise that they actually have a section dedicated to W.

Full Article at Political Capital Before you read this article, take a couple steps back from your political opinions - because I can already hear the partisan bickering. I want you to approach this and analyze it in an antiseptic, neutral way - regardless of whether you are a Bush lover or Bush hater. I think both camps will find things to love, and hate in this article. But, reserve judgment please - because this is an article about how history will remember George W. Bush, it is not a political judgment on his presidency. Indeed, you will find several...