Posted on 12/01/2008 4:20:59 PM PST by Wegotsarah.com
President George Bush said he doesn't view the 2008 election as a repudiation of his presidency, but of his party.
"I think it was a repudiation of Republicans," Bush said during an interview with ABC News that aired Monday. "And I'm sure some people voted for Barack Obama because of me."
But he said he thought most people voted for the president-elect because they "decided they wanted him to be in their living room for the next four years explaining policy."
"In other words, they made a conscious choice to put him in as president," he said.
Bush said his party's nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, had "a tough headwind" for two reasons -- the swooning economy and the difficulty for a party to retain the White House for three straight terms.
"Obviously the economic situation made it awfully difficult for John McCain to get a message out," Bush said. "And I felt that Barack Obama ran a very disciplined campaign" and inspired voters.
McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate helped him, Bush said, because it "energized the party."
>> George W. Bush: Clueless to the end.
>> Can anyone think of a worse two term President?
Most every lib agrees with you.
a worst two term president? Bill Clinton comes to mind
Bush, meet Norelco.
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton’s wife is now Secretary of State, but George Bush’s brother Jeb can barely show his face in public these days.
Sad.
If he had been a little more aggressive on this issue, he may have flipped enough of those voters to win.
******************************
Wish elections were sort of a computer game- where you could reset- and see how McCain would have made out if he had voted against the bailout.
President George Bush said he doesn't view the 2008 election as a repudiation of his presidency, but of his party. "I think it was a repudiation of Republicans," Bush said during an interview with ABC News that aired Monday. "And I'm sure some people voted for Barack Obama because of me."
It was a repudiation of the form of "compassionate conservatism" articulated by Bush. You can't be a little bit socialistic - that comes across as lacking in any values. The right answer is to be compassionate and to articulate why true conservatism is the compassionate answer. I understand completely why so many Klan types became democrats. There is no more effective way of keeping blacks down than through liberalism.
But he said he thought most people voted for the president-elect because they "decided they wanted him to be in their living room for the next four years explaining policy." "In other words, they made a conscious choice to put him in as president," he said.
They did - as the Affirmative Action President. It wasn't a vote for Obama (fortunately). It was a vote for "the black guy" - sadly.
Umm, I know we are in for worse.
..
Thank G-d that I will no longer have to hang my head when relatives and friends identify me with Bush and as a Bush voter. After Jan 20, I will no longer feel it necessary to offer some kind of feeble excuse for Bush policies with the idiotic argument that Obama or the democrat policies will be worse.
Poor W. He is getting it from both sides now.
LLS
Bush comments should come as news to some Freepers who see the GOP in the most glowing terms. The GOP needs to address Main Street family concerns instead of throwing them under the trade bus. Time to recover the lost Reagan Democrats.
Bill Clinton
LLS
It’s such a shame....he did it to us by doing it to himself. One day the people will wake up and force a change in the party or walk away. I can no longer support a party which refuses to stick up for itself. They start to grow some nads or I’m movin’ on.......
Bingo! Did no one ever tell Bush, did he never imagine that if he pauperized middle America, they were going to drop him like a hot potato.
Was he really this clueless all the way from the beginning?
Was he unconscious when he gave this interview?
I would say a lot of credit goes to the New Majority and the moderate powers that be in the GoP for setting the party up for not one but two arse-whuppings.. and then putting their heads back in the sand again.
jmo
I agree.
Well, at least he finally defended a conservative by acknowledging Palin helped the Party.
He frustrates me. He could have been a better leader, he had the tools, but his instincts were all wrong. They leaned toward appeasing the Left and the RINO’s and trying to be liked. Still do. This is why I’ll never support another Bush. I think it’s ingrained in the character from birth.
What did they have to lose? If they had stood up for themselves and (with Bush and McCain) against the Dems Fannie May and Freddie Mac fiascoes, the MSM would have trashed them, but the MSM did that anyway. At least by making a stand, they would have given more people a reason to vote for them, as opposed to against the Democrats.
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