Posted on 10/30/2009 9:18:14 PM PDT by Steelfish
Manmohan, Bush Get Candid Over Lunch
31 October 2009
NEW DELHI: Prime ministerial lunches are rarely fun affairs. People sort of get on with it, and then get on with their lives. Not on Friday.
Early in the day, former US president George Bush, on a pleasure trip to India, announced cheerily, “I’m off to have lunch with my old pal.”
He sauntered across to the home of his pal, one Manmohan Singh, who famously abandoned his starchy mien to declare this nation’s “deep love” for Bush, then stood stoically through the vicious jokes hurled at him. But for all those present at the “friendly” lunch this afternoon, Bush clearly reciprocated in full measure. The food wasn’t to die for but the conversation, declared one guest, was adequate compensation.
Colleagues reported that Singh was rarely as “chirpy” as he was on Friday afternoon. The conversation was light and sparkling, there was a lot of laughter and banter. So when Singh talked about how much he appreciated the huge gesture of the nuclear deal, Bush quipped, “Yeah, it was a big deal and to get it we had to break a bit of china.”
Embarrassed but grateful laughter greeted this. His new venture of having his presidential library at the Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Bush declared, was his main interest now.
He is also writing a book, “but most of America doesn’t believe I can read”. The laughter now was a little more uncertain because it wasn’t clear whether the assemblage should be laughing at the ex-prez of the US, or tut-tut at the American people’s naivete.
At the outset, Bush disarmed all by thanking them for coming to see a “retired guy”.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com ...
~~ PING!
Bush was no Reagan. But he was so superior as a President to Obama, Clinton, Carter or Johnson, he may as well have been a Lincoln, Jefferson or Washington. And the fact that he can laugh at himself is just one of many profound distinctions between a typical Republican and a typical Democrat (to say nothing of the Democrat-In-Chief.)
I know that he made many mistakes policy wise, but boy... I miss this guy as a president...
Bush -class act!
Ditto to what you said.
I read this morning that Obama’s hangers-on were miffed that after the White House had put together a state banquet, Singh had invited Bush, “the one who started all this mess”.
What a weird article!!
The article is weird because the writer can’t get away from his agenda.
And seemingly too, his BDS
Comapare this to the original UK telegraph (India edition) that depicted the meeting as a plus for Bush. I agree, the BDS in this article had foam-slobber all over the words.
Does anyone think this little soiree wasn't cleared with the Administration?
Anybody think that Obama wouldn't/couldn't use Bush to slip a discreet note to the Indians at the exact, ticklish moment when Hillary is breaking Paki crockery across the border and generally raising hell with the Paks for playing footsie with the Salafists?
Of course, Obama couldn't do that with Jimmuh, could he? Character tells.
Is that what it is? I must be getting slow in my old age. Couldn't figure this one out. BDS - makes sense. Thanks.
I was happier when W won 2004. I will never forget that liberal BDS “not worth to wipe your ass” reading material Newsweek and Time producing Bush covers the week after he won the election in 2004.
I am glad that we are paying for Bush by having ODS. All us FREEPERS have ODS...it feels great to give back. lol.
1) Love of Country;
2) Protecting the American People (their #1 job); and
3) The expansion of Liberty & Freedom throughout the world.
Added Bonus: President Bush had a heart, loyalty, and decency. There were ADULTS in the White House during his Presidency.
Ping to my previous post....
Living as close to the border as we do, we wanted more from Bush...especially after 9-11, with regards to closing it or tightening it up.
BUT, I miss him and his love of our country. Plus, with the lovely Laura by his side, they are a class act...something that is sorely lacking in the current WH occupants.
SO TRUE ... and so sadly missing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Thanks for the ping star
Well said
I'm sure you've also noticed that when they do that walk across the lawn, BO and MO are scowling! I've never seen such unhappy people. Bush always smiled and gave a little wave. BO just sneers and MO....well, she sneers no matter what the occasion!
I know that he made many mistakes policy wise, but boy... I miss this guy as a president...
We're stuck with marxist BO because Jorge Arbusto screwed the pooch and engineered the worst GOP thrashing in living memory.
It's an administration I'd love to forget. Worse than Nixon. The only hope conservatives have to regain power is to distance themselves from him as far as possible.
India was not one of his mistakes but a wise move.
How adorable is that:-)
Me neither. Where exactly is the BDS in this article ? I only see the opposite.
“We’re stuck with marxist BO because Jorge Arbusto screwed the pooch and engineered the worst GOP thrashing in living memory.
It’s an administration I’d love to forget. Worse than Nixon. The only hope conservatives have to regain power is to distance themselves from him as far as possible. “
No NEA Member Left Behind
Medicare
Amnesty with chain migration
“See you at the signing”
mega (with a small 'm', as opposed to a capital M which means something else) dittos.
I think it’s a case of (BDS)DS :-)
When Heads of State came to the White House and sat in the chair opposite President Bush in the Oval Office, they all seemed to be delighted to be there. We saw the photos on FR’s “Day in the Life...” thread.
Americans never saw these photos of happy international visitors, because the media/democrat complex considered that showing them would be “pro-Bush propaganda.”
I remember many photos of Mr Singh, practically looking jolly in the presence of President Bush. He knew that Bush was a friend to India, and a person he could count on.
Any so-called mistakes that GWB made were the result of too much trust on his part. He trusted too many of Clinton’s left over people. He was nice and let them stay in their jobs, and they betrayed him at every turn. He trusted the Fed big wigs and we see how that turned out. I will always believe that he could have been the greatest president ever if only he had done the things he knew how to do, if only he had not been so nice and easy going.
Agreed.
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