Posted on 06/14/2004 12:09:41 PM PDT by ambrose
(06-14) 11:54 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
President Bush offered a glowing tribute to former President Clinton on Monday as the White House unveiled the official portraits of the 42nd president and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Bush rode into office on a promise "to restore honor and dignity" to the White House after eight years of Clinton, and he was bitter at Clinton for defeating his father in the 1992 presidential contest. Moreover, Clinton plans to campaign for the man trying to oust Bush from office, Democrat John Kerry.
But on Monday, Bush delivered a lengthy, forceful defense of his predecessor, and welcomed dozens of Clinton administration officials back into the White House. It was Clinton's first return to the White House since leaving office, said a spokeswoman, Tammy Sun.
"As a candidate for any office, whether it be the state attorney general or the president, Bill Clinton showed incredible energy and great personal appeal," Bush said. "As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need and the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."
Bush left Clinton laughing so hard that his face turned red with a jibe about Clinton's optimism in campaigning in Texas for George McGovern in 1972.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Yea, yeah, yeah. Get the transcript. Now allow President Bush's voice to run in your head as you read the words -- complete with his speech cadences. Every statement that President Bush made about Clinton could be interpreted a different way. This Texan is cagy. His statements on the surface sound highly complimentary and cannot be faulted by anyone, but there is an undertone that tells the real story
As one of our local new commentators mentioned -- there is a huge "class gap" between the Clintons and the Bushes.
I would not call this a "defense" of X42. This was merely business as usual and will make the Clintons look chaep & tawdry as they criticize President Bush over the next few weeks.
BTW, did anyone notice Chelsea? Looks like she's had the hair "straightened" and has had some more plastic surgery sessions and a professional make up job for the occasion. Hillary too. But the artist did nothing to disguise the famous Hillary hips in his portrait.
Would like to see that guy who does a Reverse Speech do one on this statement.
GW is a gentleman ... reason #2,481 he should be our next President ... and how nice if we never had to look at the Clintons again ...
It might be that President Bush was trying to reach out to moderate Dems that voted for Clinton.
Who's Kerry?
Oh, yes. Rush commented that the gathering would have been a good place for a "mass arrest".
There was Hillary, Bill, Hugh Rodham, Tony Rodham, and ever so many lesser criminals gathered in one room. Where was John Ashcroft when we needed him?
Wouldn't been very PC to for Bush to have said "EIGHT years America put up with this lying, rotting piece garbage whom was refered to by a segment of our morally decaying society as President William J. Clinton...."
Really, what would you have said instead?
Bush took what could have been a cold, perfunctory duty and turned it into a gracious and dignified ceremony. I heard it on Rush and was dumbfounded.
It reflected on his class, and Clinton's lack of it.
No one can claim Bush is vindictive and hateful.
This was brilliant.
"Glowing"? What'd I miss?
Romans 12:19-20.
12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
LOL!! I bet I've passed that pic 5 times-- and I'm just now noticing the sink!
Hey, it was the least he could do. After all, Clinton's handing him four more years in office, isn't he?
GWB invited Senator Kennedy over for that showing, and the courtesy was repaid by getting Sen.Ken to sign his name as the author to Bush's no child left behind educational reform (i.e. national testing standards, the ability to fire teachers who perform poorly, the ability to close failing schools, etc.).
That got the far left enraged at Sen Kennedy, so much so that even Kennedy has been forced to turn 180 degrees to bash his own bill (now a law) for bizarre "reasons" (e.g. no funding...on the largest educational spending in world history, uh huh).
Anyone who says he offered a glowing tribute did NOT listen -- go back and read the remarks and take note of what was NOT said.
Bush was demonstrating he has more dignity, honor and grace in the tip of his little finger than exists amongst the entire assemblage of Clinton's and Clintoids then enjoying his hospitality.
Hi law girl, long time no hear. Just what I was saying in my post.
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