Emotional elder Bush attacks son's critics

Reuters ^ | 3/30/2004 | staff

[wjersey]

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - An emotional former President George H.W. Bush Tuesday defended his son's Iraq war and lashed out at White House critics.

It is "deeply offensive and contemptible" to hear "elites and intellectuals on the campaign trail" dismiss progress in Iraq since last year's overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the elder Bush said in a speech to the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association annual convention.

"There is something ignorant in the way they dismiss the overthrow of a brutal dictator and the sowing of the seeds of basic human freedom in that troubled part of the world," he said.

The former president appeared to fight back tears as he complained about media coverage of the younger Bush that he called "something short of fair and balanced."

"It hurts an awful lot more when it's your son that is being criticized than when they used to get all over my case," said Bush, who has often complained about media coverage of both Bush presidencies.

Iraq has been torn by violence and instability since a U.S.-led invasion last year toppled Saddam in the hunt for his alleged weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons have been found but the Bush administration says progress toward a stable democracy is being made.

The former president, who waged the first Gulf War against Saddam in 1991, described progress in Iraq as "a miracle."

"Iraq is moving forward in hope and not sliding back into despair and terrorism," he said.

Some critics of the war say the White House focused resources on Iraq instead of the hunt for Osama bin Laden, whom Washington blames for the Sept. 11 attacks.

[Our man in washington]

One of the things I admired about Dubya was how he dealt with the issue of his father in the year 2000. Some "experts" were saying he should distance himself from his father. Pundits were making predictions about how the Bush campaign would "handle" the first President Bush.

At the convention, Dubya praised his father and said he was proud to be George Bush's son. The message seemed to be "screw the focus groups. This is my family you're talking about." I bet it got him votes, but more importantly, it was the right thing to do.

[what's up]

Iraq has been torn by violence and instability

And there was no violence or instability before th war, right?

[Cicero]

Disgusting headline.

[what's up]

Some critics of the war say the White House focused resources on Iraq instead of the hunt for Osama bin Laden

And no mention of those that speak out in favor of Bush? How Reuters-esque.

[deport]

Poppy is going sky diving on his 80th birthday.

---

Gonna sell tickets for the event to raise money for charity.... I bet Babs is about ready to put her foot down on this type adventure.....

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2457475

[Eccl 10:2]

"Good for Poppy. Now where's Babs?"

Poppy's the GOOD cop.

Babs is...

[Paul Atreides]

If I had felt that strongly about it, I would have at least declined to give that festering pustule, Tubby Kennedy, that award, in Texas.

[MediaMole]

Osama bin Laden, whom Washington blames for the Sept. 11 attacks.

Typical reuters crap.

[DLfromthedesert]

He's thinking, "If it only happened 8 or 9 months sooner, that could have been me, and I would have been much better at this".

[Howlin]

Precisely.

[Alberta's Child]

The former president appeared to fight back tears as he complained about media coverage of the younger Bush that he called "something short of fair and balanced."

This has to be a joke. Was this the real George H. W. Bush, or the one Dana Carvey plays on Saturday Night Live?

[Right_in_Virginia]

Re: Post 6...

I'd forgotten about this "picture". It sums it up nicely, doesn't it?

[Alberta's Child]

Actually, he's thinking . . .

So that's what a normal family looks like, huh?

[Temple Owl]

That is him! The first pervert!!!!

[SandRat]

An emotional former President George H.W. Bush Tuesday defended his son's Iraq war and lashed out at White House critics.

It's one thing to have George Bush the elder lash out at you but, ......

I pity the fool that stirs the "First Grandmother" aka Barbara Bush to come out after them.

[ladyinred]

They just can't do a story about what the former President said without getting in their own partisan opinions can they? My heart goes out to 41 and his wonderful Barbara. I think he was pretty measured in his remarks. Let's let Barbara loose on them!

[DLfromthedesert]

LOL!!! Now what was the witch thinking?

[Peach]

Boy, did you nail that picture with those lyrics. His speech at the National Cathedral was one of the most powerful speeches I've ever heard in my lifetime.

My parents went to church that day and stopped by the house on their way home. I opened the door and they gasped "what's wrong"...I'd been crying so hard for the first time since 9/11 that my entire face was swollen and I could barely talk.

I think it is the president's steady leadership in those early days that will garner enough support this election.

[okie01]

The reporter is too stupid to understand that this editorial garbage is exactly what President Bush is talking about.

The reporter wasn't stupid; it was a Reuters report. He knew exactly what he was doing. It was an "in your face".

Petty, juvenile crap. Not to mention despicable.

[Howlin]

You going?

BTW, where are John Kerry's parents?