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Bush Was Right When It Mattered Most ~ by Karl Rove
Posted on 01/22/2009 12:05:03 AM PST by STARWISE
n a Daily Beast exclusive, a former Bush advisor files his account—and his photos—from aboard the former president’s flight back to Texas.
Knowing it would be impossible to get out of the city Tuesday morning, many of us arrived Monday night at the very funky Econo Lodge by Air Force Andrews Base. The Blair House it was not. But good to be humbled on the way out.
We jumped in a van in the morning and watched Obama’s inaugural address from the lobby at Andrews. The group of 100 or so watching, of which 100 percent were George Bush supporters, all offered their enthusiastic applause for the new commander in chief.
Not to say there weren’t some critical reviews of the speech, complaints about taking unnecessary shots, and grousing about borrowed ideas, but there was an absence of malice one normally sees among the constituencies of the vanquished.
And then we all boarded the plane. Among the passengers, longtime Bush family, friends, and staffers included the former president’s mother and father and daughters Jenna and Barbara, Karl Rove, Karen Hughes, Dan Bartlett, Josh Bolten, Joel Kaplan, Jared Weinstein, Mike Meece, Andy Card, Don and Susie Evans, Blake Gottesman, Clay and Ann Johnson, Ed Gillespie, Barry Jackson, Joe Hagin, Israel Hernandez, Jeanne Johnson Phillips, Margaret Spellings, Alberto Gonzales, Brad Freeman, Jim and Debbie Francis, and Roland and Lois Betts.
“Grateful.”
That’s the word expressed not just by former President Bush, but his staff, as well, on the last flight home aboard on what any other day of the last eight years would have been Air Force One, but today was Special Air Mission 28000.
I can only imagine the blogosphere lighting up with what will be some version of “good riddance.” But while I expected the president’s mood to be defiant, bitter, defensive, or vengeful toward his critics, he was anything but.
As he toured the cabin of the airplane throughout the flight, visiting with old friends, family, and staffers, he was filled with equanimity, grace, and a generosity of spirit.
Bush has gotten to know Obama during this transition period and he has a pretty good gut for people. His gut tells him Obama has what it takes to be a successful leader.
And while I’m reluctant to quote the president directly from private conversations, I think I can fairly report that he feels a genuine warmth for President Obama. He admires his sense of family, his relaxed and easygoing nature, and his character.
He has gotten to know him during this transition period and he has a pretty good gut for people. His gut tells him Obama has what it takes to be a successful leader. Not yet tested. Not yet proved he is willing to make difficult and unpopular decisions. But the potential is clearly there.
And it’s nice to see that while some partisans have yet to sheath their swords, Obama too has warmed to President Bush during this period of peaceful, diplomatic, and graceful transition.
He now believes, as does anyone who knows President Bush, that he is a “good guy” and that “he made the best decisions that he could at times under some very difficult circumstances.”
I also know the Obama team has deeply appreciated the degree to which President Bush and his staff went out of their way to make for a smooth transition.
President Bush acknowledged that before Obama was even sworn in today, he knew his life had changed when his usual morning papers failed to be delivered at the White House.
About midflight, everyone gathered with President Bush in the conference room to view a moving and emotional 22-minute video produced by Scott Sforza and edited by Laura Crawford that included administration highlights and personal messages and thank-yous from staff and Cabinet members.
Mrs. Bush strolled the aisles thanking friends and staffers. The president’s father, with his walking stick, hobbled through, as well, with a familiar glint in his eye and smile at the corner of his lips. Wife Barbara padded around behind him, ever ready with a witty riposte to any and all.
Karl Rove was in his usual seat in the conference room, challenging Joe Hagin and Blake Gottesman to a game of cards. And winning. Insisting they autograph the final score. And I was snapping pictures all along, inspiring Josh Bolten to declare me a “tourist.” Which I happily admitted I was and have been all along.
There was a lot of talk of old days and old times. About how eight years had flown by. About how children had grown. There was no high-fiving or celebration. And no weeping or whining. Just a quiet and friendly exchange of hugs between longtime colleagues and friends who had traveled a lot of miles together and weathered a lot storms.
And in the end, we all were simply grateful for the incredible ride.
~~PING!
BTTT before I head to bed.
Thanks Starwise.
Thanks for the thread! I think President Bush realizes what a special privildege it is to be President, and it is a select group of folks. And I am sure that he wished Obama well, etc. And I hope that President Bush is correct in saying that Obama has what it takes. Obviously not so he can push his Marxist ideas through - but I do hope that he can continue to keep us safe. I however, have my extreme doubts.
Thank you for pinging me.
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md., Jan. 20, 2009 – The U.S. military bid farewell today to the outgoing commander in chief during a stirring and emotional departure ceremony in which he called leading men and women in uniform the highlight of his presidency.
A joint service honor guard, military band and about 4,000 cheering, flag-waving fans greeted former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush as they arrived here from what’s been called “the ultimate change of command ceremony.”
The participants -- former staffers, invited guests and servicemembers and their families -- waited inside the 316th Airlift Wing’s Hangar Six to hail the president and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
They watched the inaugural ceremonies on a jumbotron screen suspended from the hangar ceiling, then waited with anticipation as Bush lifted off from the Capitol grounds aboard the Marine Corps VH-3 helicopter referred to as “Executive One.”
The crowd roared as the former president and vice president made their dramatic entrance into the hangar.
The rousing sounds of the “Air Force One” movie theme rung out as the huge hangar slowly opened, revealing the huge blue-and-white presidential aircraft glistening in the sunlight.
Children climbed onto their parents’ shoulders to catch a better glimpse, and spectators hoisted cameras high to capture the moment in history.
Bush admitted that he wasn’t sure how he would feel passing the presidency to the next administration, but declared, “I am thankful, I am grateful and I am joyful!”
“I’ve had a lot of great experiences,” as president, he told the group, but said none has been better than leading military members who have volunteered to serve the country in a time of danger. Bush said he’ll miss being commander in chief and being able to stand in front of the troops to tell them “how much we respect you and how much we admire you.”
Bush said he’ll leave the presidency with his “head held high,” confident that he took the right course in difficult times. Historians will sort out his time in office, he said, expressing belief that they’ll note “we did not shirk our duty, we did not shy away” from difficult decisions and that “we served with conviction.”
Cheney praised Bush for taking on “the big jobs that needed doing” after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks launched some of the greatest challenges to ever confront the United States. “George W. Bush protected America,” he said. “History remembers such leaders and marks them well.”
Bush shook hands with many in the crowd, then turned toward the VC-25 aircraft that would take him home to Texas. The flight was designated Special Air Mission 28000 rather than Air Force One, which belongs only to the airplane carrying the sitting president.
On the tarmac, Air Force Brig. Gen. Maggie Woodward, the 89th Airlift Wing commander, escorted the Bushes to a red carpet stretching to the aircraft. A 42-piece joint honor guard flanked both sides of the carpet.
At the end of the carpet, Air Force Col. Steven Shepro, commander of the 316th Wing, and Col. Eric Snadecki, his vice commander, said their final goodbyes before Bush climbed the steps to the plane.
Shepro said he felt honored for him and his airmen to bid a personal goodbye to the departing former president. “It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend,” he said. He credited his elite team that regularly serves the president -- with the Air Force’s only flightline protocol office and a second-to-none security detachment, among them -- with bringing honor to the Air Force.
“This is another moment in history that they share,” he said. “We’re giving him a fitting sendoff just like we always do.”
Command Chief James Davis, Andrews’ top noncommissioned officer, relished his base’s role in the inauguration and presidential departure ceremony. “We are a part of history, from the person working the logistics to the ones in the cordon to the ones marching in the parade,” he said.
“We’re all here to honor our former commander in chief as he departs,” said Army Sgt. Tyler Murray, one of six members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard” to serve in the joint service honor guard. “President Bush has looked out for his troops, and we’re here to honor him.”
“It’s wonderful being a part of it, especially as a military member,” agreed Air Force Tech. Sgt. Steven Hawkens, from the 316th Security Forces. “It’s breathtaking, it’s exciting, it’s wonderful to see these things going on.”
Thank you, Mr. President. Ya did good. May God bless you and Mrs. Bush in your retirement.
Darn, if he could have only gotten amnesty passed...
Thank You President Bush for keeping us safe from terrorist attacks for the 7+ years after the September 11 attacks. I pray to God that what President Bush put in place will continue to keep us safe.
btt
What he put in place in regard to that is being systematically dismantled.
Paul O’Neill, Scott McClellan, etc. The list could go on. Bush is a good man and kept our country safe, but he really didn’t and doesn’t belong in politics because he doesn’t have what it takes to face the enemies(yes, ENEMIES) we have here at home. And it’s interesting to note Mark McKinnon was an advisor to former TX Demonrat Gov. Ann Richards and a member of that party and has been an admirer of 0bama.
Thanks for heads up - good article
You are absolutely correct about Bush. At the DC level of politics the old saying “Expect the best about people but prepare for the worst” does not apply. Bush would have been better served with the line from ‘Conan the Barnarian’ that talked about eliminating your enemy without mercy and rejoice in hearing ‘the lamentations of their women.’
It won’t be mentioned in the LSM but I would bet that anyone on Capitol Hill hired during the Bush Presidency has already been told to get their resume’ in order.
Was happy to see Don Evans again. President Bush’s closest friends are classy dedicated people who truly love their country.
I will make a small wager that the airplane was not looted on the way back to Texas....just for openers.
“he feels a genuine warmth for President Obama. He admires his sense of family, his relaxed and easygoing nature, and his character.”
Gosh, where have I heard that before?
Putin!
The sweetest picture of them all is grownup Barbara sitting on her Daddy’s lap! I thought she was sitting on his lap in the smaller picture, but the enlargement shows it much more clearly. As the mother of twin girls four years older than the Bush girls (and just as opposite in looks and demeanor), I have always been interested in them and realized from personal experience that raising twin girls is an achievement in itself! Thanks for posting it!
He has a pretty good gut for people?! Oh please, this is the man that looked into Putin’s eyes and knew he could trust him! It’s damn sad that he can feel a genuine warmth for a president who thinks this nation is so fundamentally flawed. Bush may have a lot of good qualities but being a good judge of people is not one of them. Bush has shown a lot class in the transition but the obama white house has not; Read the website.
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