Posted on 03/10/2005 10:47:27 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
Bill Clinton enjoyed a round of golf yesterday with his old rival turned new buddy, the first President George Bush, in the odd couple's latest outing in front of the cameras.
Such a joint appearance would once have looked like a stuffy piece of presidential protocol. For years Mr Clinton was all but the devil incarnate to diehard Republicans after he upset Mr Bush's bid for re-election in 1992.
But the atmosphere of the old presidents' club and the pair's recruitment by the White House to be America's co-chief fund raisers for the victims of the Asian tsunami, has forged an intriguing bond.
Yes, they were mismatched, Mr Bush senior conceded recently. But despite their rivalry on the campaign trail, he went on, they had never been hostile.
In a rare public and even Clintonian display of sentiment from an essentially private man, he added: "Maybe I'm the father he never had". Mr Clinton's father died in a car accident a few months before the future president was born.
Mr Clinton too has been the model of courtesy, regularly deferring to his predecessor's extra 22 years of experience, even though, as a two-term president, he technically trumps Mr Bush.
To the bemusement of his enemies on the Right, on the government 757 jetting across Asia, Mr Clinton insisted on ceding the only bed to his elder travelling companion and sleeping on the floor.
"He was very considerate of the old guy. That's me," Mr Bush told the Houston Chronicle. "I mean, like the room on the plane. There was every reason in the world he should have had equal time if not priority, but he insisted. That's a tiny little thing that meant a lot to me."
Democrat and Republican, liberal womanising baby-boomer and old-fashioned, blue-blooded conservative, ostensibly the heads of America's two most powerful political families have little in common.
But their rapport has blossomed since they exchanged warm words at the opening of Mr Clinton's presidential library last November.
At the same time, in a sign that America is not as polarised as the recent election suggested, relations between Mr Clinton and George Bush the younger are positively cordial.
However, as Mr Clinton and the elder Bush headed off with Greg Norman to a Florida golf course yesterday to raise money for the tsunami victims, the first voices were heard suggesting that the love-in had risky repercussions for the Republicans.
Mr Clinton's wife, Hillary, a senator for New York, could be a powerful Democratic candidate for the presidency in 2008. As Mr Clinton undergoes an operation today, to remove scar tissue from last year's quadruple heart bypass, the Clinton family can be guaranteed yet more high profile and heart-warming coverage.
It emphasizes that WJC is over and in the past. It denatures him in an odd way. HR's claim to bask in his light is thereby diminished to an appreciable extent. That may seem counter to punditry, but when are they ever right? Look up the administrations of President Gore and President Kerry.
Ouch. What if it turns out Dubya's appointment of these two newfound buddies ends up helping Billary win back the White House? ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHH!
ah why would the fact Clinton and Bush Sr. get along be a risk for Republicans, I think it is cute and indicative of the fact that people can have differing political views and still be friends (hell being a Canadian conservative I'd have no friends if I only had conservative friends, lol), I see the radical left crowd going into spasms everytime they see Bush Sr. and Clinton together, looking obviously chummy, the golf game yesterday must have been killer
methinks, as Democrats go, most Republicans would take Clinton over the Kerry Dean camp any day.......
"Clinton and Bush Sr. both had a hand in the CIA drug-running in Mena,"
Have not heard this particular conspiracy theory, details please.
Oh I don't know about that! George HW Bush has a much richer resume than Clinton. Unless of course you include CIC of the Arkansas National Guard. ;-)
They do seem like sincere friends.
Sherman Skolnick is starting to make more and more sense tese days.
"Yep, it bothers me that they are promoting hillary for 08."
Why would that bother you? Hillary being Dem nomination is the best thing that could happen for the Republicans, she is unelectable on many levels, even many liberals hate her. I pray for a Hillary 08 campaign
I hadn't noticed the charisma, but people whom I am close to who have met Clinton say that he is indeed charismatic. So, yes, I can see where he could be a fun guy to drink or pal around with. Not forgetting who he is, though, before I get flamed for that remark.
As for the whoring around, while it's wrong, the fact that he's married to Hillary does make it somewhat understandable.
LOL! Dan, that would be a sight to behold! Of course at their respective ages, I'm guessing that GHWB can't do much more than lead by example. FWIW I've considered Poppy to be one of the most decent men to join the Presidential club.
> When people age, they tend to mellow, especially politically, and I think Bush 41 feels partially vindicated by his son's success.
In one of her books, Peggy Noonan describes HW as kind of weepy towards the end of his presidency. I am sure that now he is bursting with pride.
"For years [c]linton was all but the devil incarnate to diehard Republicans..."
Yeah and now he's a lovable scoundrel. Hmph!
Do a search in the FR archives. I've been a member of this Forum since the old 'Whitewater' days and it's all documented here. You'll figure it out.
"blue-blooded conservative,"
um i disagree here
I mean i think G HW Bush is ok but he was not quite a true conservative
he was the "moderate" when he ran against Reagan in the primary
however i have come to respect him lately for a number of reasons
Totally understandable on his part. (shudders, thinking of the hildabeast naked)
yet if it weren't for the "read my lips" statement and Ross Perot (maybe we can drum one up for the Dems in 2008), he would have been reelectd.
Isn't it funny that the only way The Slacker President can portray credibility and stature is to hang out with someone that already has those qualities!
They said she would be unelectable in NY. Now the vast majority of UPSTATE voters like her.
All she has to do is pick off EITHER fla or oh.
THink about it.
So is GWB going to hate Bill Clinton now because of sibling rivalry?
Indeed, he was very charasmatic.
But people should keep in mind: Once a seducer, always a seducer, in all things.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.