Posted on 06/15/2004 9:25:09 AM PDT by areafiftyone
President Bush certainly didn't score any points with his conservative base on Monday when he praised Bill Clinton to the hilt during the unveiling of the impeached president's White House portrait.
"President Bush was more laudatory and more passionate about Bill Clinton than he was about President Reagan [during Friday's memorial service]," contended nationally syndicated radio host Michael Savage Monday night.
When Bush spoke about Reagan, said Savage, "we got empty homilies. We got less than empty homilies - we got a Mr. Rogers job."
But at the Clinton portrait ceremony, Savage said, "Today we actually got a passionate President Bush. He was almost animated to be around Bill Clinton. The guy looked happy."
Though the Bush-Clinton lovefest left many of the president's fans fuming, Mr. Clinton's obvious enjoyment of Bush's kind words also raised eyebrows inside Sen. John Kerry presidential campaign, which only 24-hours earlier had been assured that Clinton would come out swinging this week against the White House.
"Maybe [Bush and Clinton] have a mutual interest in a Democrat not winning this November," said MSNBC host Chris Matthews, noting that a Kerry loss would pave the way for Mrs. Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.
Someone needs to tell Savage to grow up, for cryin' out loud. Just because Savage has zero class, doesn't mean other people have to act like he does.
Bush did what he had to do as President of the United States, not "President of The Conservatives In America Only"...
Since when did Michael Savage know anything about conservatives?
Nore are they familiar with Jesus' admonition to be "as wise as serpents but as harless as doves."
Bush said nice, respectful things about a former president and didn't mention all the bad stuff. That's only fitting for such an official WH occasion. Bush didn't call Clinton a great man or say that his administration was all good. To say that he spoke more highly of Clinton than of Reagan ignores all that he actually said about Reagan and the fact that he has routinely called Reagan a hero and his own personal role model. Why must conservatives focus on what they consider negatives about Bush right now? Sure, there are things about him some of us don't like, but we should be careful not to discourage conservatives from going to the polls. As I've said before, disagreement with Bush over a few things is not worth letting Kerry win on all things.
Why does that word Stategery always remind me of Saturday night Live? ;-)
Savage is an idiot of the first order. I thought President Bush's comments last Friday at President Reagan's funeral were well written and well delivered, and most importantly heartfelt.
Every President comes back to the Whitehouse for this tradition. Bush had some fun with Clinton, but it was with a sense of humor that wasn't vicious.
We have enough of that every day, I found it a nice change of pace, to be honest.
I voted against Clinton twice, and really despised his Presidency on multiple levels. But there is a time and place for everything. Bottom line, like it or not, Clinton is a two term former President, and in setting like this should be treated accordingly.
We have FR for the other stuff.
Riiight, Mr. Savage. It clearly would've been better to get the Dem base riled-up. Whatever.
Would I have preferred it if President Bush had said to Bill Clinton, "You are a lying sack of sh*t. Having your portrait here is a reminder that you debased the office and this building." The circumstances required President Bush to be a diplomat, and not say what he was probably thinking.
Before conservatives get their knickers in a twist over this, consider this example. Your neighbors have just had a baby. They come out for a stroll with the baby in a buggy. The child is spectacularly unattractive. Do you say, "That's an ugly baby." Or do you say, "That's a beautiful baby"? I rest my case,
Congressman Billybob
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Red
However, there may have been some professional courtesy involved. One of the few times that Willie ever showed any class or acted in a non-partisan fashion was his treatment of Nixon at his death. Willie was almost gracious when he could have been his typical snide and hostile self. I remember thinking, "Wow, Willie is saying all those nice things about Richard Milhouse Nixon, what's he up to."
So, maybe Bush was both showing class and remebering Nixon.
I think now if Clinton makes this personal on his groping and book tour that the people will hate him for it.
Exactly what was W supposed to do? Call Clinton & Clinton a bunch of nasty, thuggish, Arkanciding, sockcucking PsOS? (Which they are, of course...)
If there is anyone who more fits his name than "Savage", I've not yet met him. (Yes, there is sHrILLERY, but that is a moniker, not her real name).
W gets it, Savage never will.
President Bush showed class. That is something that loon Savage knows nothing about. Savage is obnoxious and rude. Anyone who listens to him needs their meds ajusted.
Agreed!!! I saw it as.... Art in Action!
Especially after the week of Reagan that we just experienced.
<sarcasm>Screw all of that-- this is war!</sarcasm>
Did I miss something? Did Conservatives have an election and appoint Michael Savage our spokesman?
NewsMax is approaching DEBKA status.
he has good manners.
Very true. I bought his book a couple months ago and it was a great read. Now I can not stand listening to him on the way home. He twists the facts around to suit his arguments and in some cases tells flat out lies. He knows that there are enough conservative talk show hosts that appeal to mainstream conservatives. He has great ideas and is very smart but he has to appeal to his audience which is becoming very fringe compared to the majority of conservative thinkers.
I think SNL actor Will Ferrell (imitating Dubya) invented the word "Strategery", if I remember correctly.
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