George W. Bush…
…is now about as popular as Obama
Or perhaps I should say that Obama is about as popular as Bush.
Just with different people, I’d wager.
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
…is now about as popular as Obama
Or perhaps I should say that Obama is about as popular as Bush.
Just with different people, I’d wager.
I wonder what this would look like if the MSM hadn’t spent 8 years demonizing Bush and 5 years protecting Obama?
I suspect that some of those claiming approval of Obama are lying, either to the polling question or to themselves.
Richard Aubrey
I suspect that some of those claiming approval of Obama are lying, either to the polling question or to themselves.
As deluded Yellow Dog Democrats, they are not aware that they are lying to themselves.
Gringo.
I am thinking of a relation who got really, really annoyed at me objecting to Obamacare a couple of years ago.
Recently, she said of a local business, “Wait until Obamacare comes in,”, the implication being the biz wouldn’t be long for the world.
I don’t think she has a single clue about her earlier viewpoint.
From what I can glean, she and her daughters support anything that the Powers That Be claim is opposed by conservatives. That’s the primary datum for them.
I was a supporter of Bush while he was President. I have given money to his Presidential library. However, my feelings about him are less favorable today than when he was in office. Why? He has just been too invisible. I understand his desire to let Obama govern without him nipping at his heels. However, his silence indicates a tacit approval of Obama’s policies. Even though anything he says will be criticised by the MSM, I still think he has a duty to be engaged, if only as an elder statesman giving policy speeches for Republican pollcies. Look at how active Bubba Clinton has been. Yes, Bubba may not always help the democrat cause because of who and what he is, but he is trying to shape events. Bush should, IMO, do the same.
JJ,
I think Bush was right to be quiet. He has given the next generation room to state their positions and grow as leaders. There are new battles to be fought, and even the old ones need to be taken on in a new way. Nothing he says would convince those with BDS, and others who might defend him would simply be stuck with his label. Besides, he is serving as an outstanding example of what class is, and it’s lots better than cool.
Fox has a slideshow up taken from a new book by Bush’s WH photographer. I think I will buy the book.
I agree with JJ but recognize that President Bush has his own life to live and may want to decompress for awhile. That “awhile” should largely be over. It wouldn’t take much for him to give a speech that supports and defines conservative positions. I also remember he is a Bush, an elite new world order family, and that his evangelical turn was most propitious in our country’s history. Otherwise? Well, who knows.
And another argument can be well made that his “above the fray” attitude has lent dignity and ultimately persuasion to conservative politicians.
Here’s a speed we need more of:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/04/gun_bill_defeat_is_not_enough.html
As far as Bush not pushing back against things…From what I can recall from a few interview articles foggily remembered, Bush struck me as a bit of an amateur historian in how he viewed things, particularly his own reputation. I can easily see him looking back at Truman, for example, and applying that to how his own legacy plays out. Time does eventually give even the dimmest perspective. He’s probably more concerned with how people see him 30 years down the road.
Agree with expat. I am no fan of Dubya, but . . .
I am not convinced he has any further obligation to this country (beyond whatever obligation you or I might have as citizens) after all the sh#t he’s taken for eight years. He’s done his time, and that’ll be enough, thank you.
I think sharpie’s almost correct: “his ‘above the fray’ attitude has lent dignity and ultimately persuasion” not so much “to conservative politicians”, who
-1- are not in need of persuading about anything, and
-2- are not particularly pleased with having him around as a millstone about their necks, deserved or not deserved;
but dignity to the conduct of the office of president and of the quasi-office of ex-president — concerning which any conservative may be proud, and is no millstone for anyone.
It’s now up to the remaining gang of conservatives to develop (evolve?) a little spine and make the case. (Some are doing that and are experiencing the bullets and stink-bombs of leftie hate.) The very sad fact is, having Dubya visible doesn’t help conservatives develop a spine or make a case, but does add still more weight to the millstone — deserved or not deserved.
Expat says it very well: “he is serving as an outstanding example of what class is, and it’s lots better than cool.” If only the low-information crowd were capable of recognizing class when they see it, and not being so taken in by cool.
JJ: “Bubba may not always help the democrat cause…”
Uh, most political analysts think his speech at the Democratic Convention got Obama re- elected. Unbelievable as it may be, he is a very popular ex- president.
MJR and expat: “he is serving as an outstanding example of what class is, and it’s lots better than cool.” If only the low-information crowd were capable of recognizing class when they see it, and not being so taken in by cool.”
Agreed that he shows much more class than Carter or Clinton. But that’s not a very high standard. Your arguments are good ones and there’s a part of me that agrees. However, he was resolute while President even in the face of MSM and progressive attacks. Does he not feel as much angst as I do about the course of events since he left office? Enough time has passed for the low information voters to forget all the bilious garbage sent his way. (Otherwise, how is his appproval rating as high as it is?) Anything he says today will be reported. He still could have a Bully Pulpit of sorts. IMO, his voice on domestic issues such as energy policy, EPA regulation, AGW, and other issues that Obama is using to strangle the economy would be welcome and might help. My instincts (Scot-Irish) are to stand up and fight. So, I could be completely wrong. As the Gambler says, “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.”
A skill I’ve never quite mastered.
Thats ok..china i still massing troops and has gkne to level 1 status….
Bush is a great distraction
Kudos to u for stepping on the mine of destraction n entertainment
Just keep trestkng the mental minefield as a pacman game and see what points u get NOT avoiding
Do note that we barely noticed what the UK n other countries did….
That hundreds of innocent people were forced ag gun point like criminals and woithout constitution.
The UK had to say it!!!!
Cause the people here dont get they are currently in a police state….what u waiting for to decide?????
They have even pretended that they can kill u without due process, wighout u knowing the accuser your guilty till u prve innocence (thanks feminism for normalizing that), u can be searched at will,dont have to be protected,cant protect yourself, have no habeus corpus
And race based blood n soil is our ideology
(Problem is they replaced germans in sudentland w american indians, minorities, n women – so it fooled u)
We have post birth abortikns
The protected race classes
Disenfranchised by race for business n school
Lots morectoo!!!!
Game Over
The funny part is they tricked those losing so well they still dont get they lost!!!!,
I wonder when each belief piont of each person will be reached….
Just remember
Itsnit what u believe it tobe
It is what it is regardless of belief
U can bound me up in anutshell
And call me a king of infjnite space
I no longer have to provexwhere we are going
We arrived
Now get off yhe bus and see where u are tovarish
Just remember
They never taugght u how it works
What it ca or cant do
Etc
You stand as a dodo before the hunter
How bout a list of shat would be it
And remember…
The power is able to give n take
While represetative cant
Ie. Under constutuion that cant be suspended and replaced like a light swith… what happenrd was not legal
But under depotism ghey can turn ur rights off at will n turn them on again (its another sspsct of wht totalmeans) , if it serves them to keep u ghinking they exist!!!!!
But notice all over the world
Represetative leaders claiming the peoples will
And then dealing with roits or gun buys
Just think what would happen if china suspends business for one month…..bcause of korea…cant blame china, its kims fault…. here we would get our rights turned off long enough to getit
Get what???
Tgat who can turn them off abd on has total power
The constutional sheild is gone other than show
JJ formerly Jimmy J, 1:58 pm —
While I do credit your point, I find it hard to buy in.
George W. Bush, like his father, was never an effective advocate for anything in which he believed. I contend that much the opposite is the case: both George Bushes were ^terrible^ speakers (and ineffective advocates).
I think Dubya knows that, and, given the renewed BDS heading his way, champing at the bit, if he so much as quietly dips his little toe into the arena of ideas, I’m ultimately left with my earlier opinion, that “he’s done his time, and [from his personal perspective] that’ll be enough, thank you.”
I don’t recall that George HW Bush and Reagan made a lot of noise as ex-Presidents either, in contrast to Carter and Clinton.
Eric,
Maybe that’s because the first two felt the weght of the job, and the second two the warmth of the spotlights.
JJ,
I would like to see Bush write a low-key but regular column, while otherwise staying out of the spotlight as he’s been doing.
It wouldn’t have to be academic writing. Say 800 words a pop for general consumption, just speaking to the people. That column/blog would be innocuous, inasmuch it wouldn’t criticize the present administration or be ideological.
Rather, Bush would color his subject matter, eg, a current event, with contextual perspective from the last President dealing with similar issues.
Two things could be accomplished on the sly. His personality, integrity, and intellect could come through. In defense of his legacy and a political point of view, he could add points that are illustrative of his thinking as President. Eg, if presented with situation X, what are the pro/cons of choices A, B, C to respond to X.
Again, his column would not be a partisan critic of the current President, but rather enriching the public understanding of current events from the mind of the last President. In his own words.
Dubya has been following the traditional role of ex-Presidents. Until Jimmah Carter with his opinionating on Gulf War I and his trip to Nork etc. etc., the traditional role for ex-Presidents was to stay on the sidelines.
Jimmah’s forays into politics as an ex-President was probably an attempt to undo the scorn that he had elicited in such a large part of the population. Unfortunately for Jimma, his self-righteous pontificating has backfired, as it has only served to make him our least-esteemed ex-President. Had Jimmah kept his mouth shut, I imagine I would not have concluded that he was also the worst President of the 20th century. [Disclaimer: I voted for Jimmah in 1976.]
I cannot see Obama as a quiet ex-President. Unfortunately.
I’m hoping that some people are experiencing a epiphany about Obama, especially lately. When John Kerry compares the Boston Bomber victims to the terrorists who tried to invade Israel, that comes from Obama. Obama was the one who twisted Netanyahu’s arm to apologize to Erdogan (Turkey) for killing what amounted to an invading force.
http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/35812.html
Eric, you should apply to be an advisor to W. What you have suggested would be an excellent addition to the political discourse. Bush does not have to second guess Obama and should refrain from speeches as he is not a great or moving speaker. He merely has to frame his ideas in terms of the choices available and why he would pick X versus Y.
MJR, I understand your distaste for W. He was never a great speaker. I would listen to his speeches and think they were just so, so. But when I read them, I realized they were usually well-crafted and with some substance. Unfortunately, the delivery distracted from the content. That’s why I see Eric’s suggestion of a written column as a good one.
All that said, W will probably not engage in much except ceremonial duties. As you say, he’s had his turn in the barrel and deserves the peace and quiet.
JJ, I would if I knew how.
“Bush should, IMO, do the same.”
The problem is whether the American people deserve any longer to be saved by good leaders after pissing on potential successors such as Sarah Palin.
There comes a point when the people, full of wickedness, deceit, corruption, decadence, gluttony, jealousy, and sadism no longer deserve to be saved.
How many people should be sacrificed to save the lives of Leftist murderers and terrorists? How many people should throw away their ordinary lives for the pleasure of serving and saving Hollywood rapist directors and Democrat prostitution ring leaders?