Posted on 09/18/2006 8:06:26 AM PDT by Isara
Dignity: Maybe it's because his father was born with a silver foot in his mouth that President Bush learned to be gracious to even his most bitter political rivals.
...He's been called a moron (former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien), a Beelzebub (Sean Penn, who cleverly added, "and a dumb one") and a son of a bitch (Democrat Paul Hackett, who lost his bid last year for an Ohio congressional seat).
...lying bastard, evil maniac, Fuehrer (all courtesy of Cindy Sheehan), white-knuckle drunk (Martin Sheen), George bin Bush (assorted wags), terrorist (a universal invective) and fascist (both implied and claimed by a variety of public figures).
His own treasury secretary even likened him to a "blind man" after he left his post...
...
A timely example of Bush's temperance: his words... about the Wednesday death of Ann Richards, a fellow Texan and his 1994 gubernatorial opponent.
...
"I'll miss her... And so I'm sad she passed away, and I wish her family all the best, and all her friends. She had a lot of friends in Texas. A lot of people loved Ann Richards."
Recall, it was Richards who, as the keynote speaker at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, made a famously dismissive personal wisecrack at the expense of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, the Republican White House nominee.
"Poor George, he can't help it," cracked Richards. "He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."
Some believe that remark motivated the younger Bush to run against incumbent Gov. Richards in 1994. If so, he chose the appropriate path for payback. Rather than engage in a vituperative exchange, he met her on the political playing field and challenged her on the issues — and then beat her on election day after she had publicly called him a jerk.
He took the high road then — and does so today.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
That bunch of White Trash have convinced me that they really are a bunch of White Trash.
Actually, I read that he's up to 47%. As if the polls mean anything.
You said: And look what his "New Tone" has gotten him... 40% approvals. This "new Tone" thing isn't working too well.
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You are correct, IF one measures oneself by what others think of you. I try not to do that, and I hope you do also. If President Bush is doing what he thinks is right (and I do disagree with him on a few things), the approval numbers are irrelevant. Polls are for those who seek to guide their behavior by popular approval.
Mr. Bush is conducting himself for history, not gotcha points in the short term. He is doing what he thinks is right. While I am sure he hopes others agree, whether they do or not won't affect how he works. I like that. We need more of it.
His new tone got him elected twice as gov of Texas and twice as President. I'd say it works very well.
Good post. God bless President Bush, his family, and his administration.
I loved seeing him take the pitcher's mound in New York before Game 3 of the World Series in 2001. I was so glad when he was out of harms way.
And the American people responded to his style of leadership again in 2004. As proven by the popular vote. Or was it the Electoral college? Oh, wait it was BOTH! And since he was "Selected, not elected" in 2000 we should get to reelect him in 2008!
"we should get to reelect him in 2008!"
I'll second your suggestion. :-)
It seems there are a lot of people who put much faith in the polls, I put absolutely none in them. If the almighty exit polls had been the final say, Kerry would now be president.
Where's the pics of John Kerry showing his athletic abilities? I can't find them. They are too funny.
So, as President of the United States you decide how to spend your time. Petty cat fights which diminish the status of the office, or spend that time working away doing as much as possible for the American people.
We saw this trait in Bush when he called in Jim Baker to handle the manipulations and quarrels over the first election - where was Bush? He was back at his ranch setting up the new government for when he finally got in office. He just checked in with Baker daily to hear the details.
Amazing to me. We all hung on the newsreports following the drama. Not Bush, he delegated it and took the positive stance that he was indeed going to need to get his government in place.
One of the reasons I realized that Bush was an extraordinary man with faith, confidence and determination. He does not get sidetracked.
I agree. Bush is highly unusual in this regard for a politican. He has the courage to try to do the right thing. So did Abe Lincoln.
Either that, or he's been called these things all his life, and it doesn't bother him anymore.
Everyone covers her "silver foot in his mouth" comment, but actually GHWB's comeback at the GOP convention was even richer. Unfortunatly it wasn't in words, but he took both hands and shaped them over his head in a huge beehive to emulate her hairdo .. he didn't need to mention her name. It was priceless.
Yep - like fail to close the borders and pushing amnesty for tens of millions of illegals aready here....
Yep, that's good for the country.
Now, before you get too mad, I respect GW as a person who stands up for what he believes. I just find it unfortunate that some of what he believes is so terribly bad for our country.
It works well with 40% of the American public. If you consider 40% a great number, who am I to disagree with you.
Gee, that 40% approval is really gonna hurt when he runs for president again in 2008.
No, but IT could affect GOP turnout in the fall elections. I did not say it will, I said could.
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