Posted on 06/01/2013 10:46:05 AM PDT by rickmichaels
In a rare break from form, former President George W. Bush expressed an understanding that Obama is "having a difficult go," and offered a few seldom-heard comments on the presidency.
"I'm not surprised," Bush said in an interview to the Huffington Post during his annual Warrior 100K three-day mountain bike race, held each year around Memorial Day on his 1,500-acre ranch. There were 75 veterans at the event, 13 of whom had been wounded in the very wars Bush had started.
"I think that if you study the modern presidency, two-term presidents have a different set of issues on their second term than their first term," he said. "One thing's for certain. After seven or eight years, people are beginning to say, 'Surely we can do better than this.' Secondly, the unexpected happens, and if you look at Ronald Reagan or Clinton or myself — myself in particular — there's a kind of fatigue."
It was an unusually candid statement for the former president, who slipped almost entirely into silence after leaving office five years ago — which, by his own admission, frequently annoys those at the Bush Institute who would like him to speak out more. Apart from the occasional public appearance and recent library opening, Bush has kept himself largely out of the limelight — which, he says, was good for him.
"I don't long for [fame]. Nor do I long for power. I've come to realize that power can be corrosive if you've had it for too long. It can dim your vision … I don't long for fame. And really, gonna shy away from it."
"Fame can become very addictive," he added. "And I've had all the fame a man could want."
When asked about the controversy surrounding Obama's drone program, Bush seemed to approach it from a different angle. "He's charting a course that he is comfortable with," he said. "I tend to look at it not from the political side of things, although obviously almost everything is political. I tend to look at it from a historical perspective. I'm obviously a student of the presidency. I've read a lot about it and plus I was one. And it's just amazing how history repeats itself."
It remains to be seen how history will view the two men, though it's looking all the more likely that they may go down together. Iraq and Afghanistan were handed down from one administration to the other, as were the hyper-controversial Guantanamo Bay prison and drone programs. Both men have attempted to navigate a new kind of warfare in a 21st century world, and both did it under the shadow of the 9/11 attacks.
"I'm not surprised the president is having a difficult go," Bush admitted. "It's part of the presidency. It's one of the challenges of the presidency, is how do you deal with this?"
Is Dubya really that clueless?
Clueless about what, exactly?
People need to realize someone like Bush making opinionated comments against Obama would probably only help Obama. He is a classy and clever man and obviously knows better.
He’s demonstrating his “compassionate conservativism”, which by definition is a clueless, gutless and disingenuous form of liberal mindset.
I read somewhere long ago that Marvin Bush was the only one with any common sense, but we never, never hear from him.
An interesting article, he’s looking at Obama’s presidency from a perspective none of can really have. It tends to skew things I suppose.
In any case, I do not like Obama’s policies and the way he’s leading the country. And after having some time to look at Bush’s policies in retrospect, many of them were and are just as detrimental as Obama’s.
I think in the End Bush loves this land and the people who make up her citizens. Obama, well... His record speaks for itself. If you are on his side, he’s wonderful, if you aren’t, then you are an enemy to be crushed.
"I think that if you study the modern presidency, two-term presidents have a different set of issues on their second term than their first term," he said. "One thing's for certain. After seven or eight years, people are beginning to say, 'Surely we can do better than this.' Secondly, the unexpected happens, and if you look at Ronald Reagan or Clinton or myself -- myself in particular -- there's a kind of fatigue."What's his FR nick? ;')
If it was a knee-jerk reaction to the headline, no problem.
You Bush haters are the ones who are clueless, stupid and don’t have a hope of ever getting it.
I agree with comments on this thread that a strong statement against 0 from Bush would probably HELP 0.
That being said, being fatigued is a bit different than being a fascist.
I don’t think he is “that clueless.”
Looking at his responses he wisely, and I personally think with some foresight, steered way from making any comments that would give the LMSM and the Obama Administration any talking points. W elected to let them stew in their own juices.
IMHO the next to final paragraph shows what the interviewer was hoping to get.
In BO’s case, it’s not fatigue, it’s sheer laziness. Now, he can be more lazy than he was in the first term. Only one meeting a day, if that, more vacation in a year than many will have in a lifetime, non-stop feet on the table, watching tv — all while paid for by the taxpayers.
I think every word that Bush said was true. Americans tire of the president quickly. Not one President in modern times has escaped scandal.
Nixon - Resigned in disgrace.
Reagan - Iran Contra was a disaster that should never happened. Look at Iran today!
Clinton - Monica...all that needs to be said.
Obama - IRA scandal taking up a lot of time and energy that could be used to help people get back to work.
I believe a one-term six year presidency would be a boon to our nation.
It’s hard to digest the fact that Bush himself said he was, “the President of all the people.” At least that’s what I think I heard directly after his election. If he takes a stance one way or another, he is criticized. I, personally, wish he was/and is more instructive. He’s taking the high road on this topic. . . it’s probably the safest. Didn’t agree on everything that happened during his administration, but he was soooooooooooo much better that the “Occupier.”
I thought it was an unwritten rule that former presidents didn’t criticize the current or “sitting” President or its administration. That’s why I think George W. is just being “vague” in his assessment of Obama’s, shall we say, challenges. I can remember only one (I could be wrong on the number) living former presidents who broke this rule. The former president’s name (Drum role please) Jimmy Carter...
Bush says why he thinks Obama is "having a difficult go" and it's a valid and sensible explanation.
He even says that he's "not surprised." So did Meacham or his editor not even read the article?
Sounds like one of those living here who was either sleeping or "out of the loop" on 09-11-01.
Socialism.
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