Posted on 03/18/2009 7:02:38 AM PDT by presidio9
Getting two standing ovations at his first speech since leaving office, former President George W. Bush said that if President Obama wants help, he can pick up the phone and call. Otherwise, Bush said: He deserves my silence.
There's plenty of critics in the arena, Bush told a crowd in Calgary, Canada. I think it's time for the ex-president to tap dance off the stage and let the current president have a go at solving the world's problems. If he wants my help and I agree with him, I'll give it.
This stands in sharp contrast with former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has twice hammered Obama in media interviews.
Sitting onstage with his legs crossed casually, the former president revealed that he plans to remain involved in one of his signature issues combating AIDS and malaria in Africa.
One of the examples I would like to set is to be useful as a Baby Boomer not play golf in retirement but actually contribute to society, he said. And this could be an interesting way of getting people involved.
The malaria initiative is a really cool initiative. It's measurable. You get to measure how many nets that have been distributed. It's easy to measure and it's easy to implement.
Bush was interviewed by Frank McKenna, a well-known Canadian businessman and politician, who asked why Bush took on HIV/AIDS and malaria eradication, which McKenna called the greatest single contribution, probably, to world health.
Remember, I was a compassionate conservative, Bush said.
On what Bush called his maiden voyage as a speaker for hire, the former president quipped: I actually paid for a house last fall. I think I'm the only American to have bought a house in the fall of 2008.
Turning to the news of the day,
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Bush is flying his true colors...and they are the colors of the RINO Party.
I do not want him to succeed. I want him to fail....
Too bad Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Hussein Obama did not do the same.
Obama already is a miserable failure.
Funny how reporter takes shot at cheney but does not mention
all the shots clinton and carter took at bush almost immediately.
and, continued to do for eight years.
That’s the Kiss of Death.
The MSM is going to run this story in every nook and cranny they have left, but we really could do without all those dupes. No offense presidio9.
Bush sounds like he’s ready to help Jimmy build some houses.
I get so tired of Bush bashing on FreeRepublic. Cut the guy some slack.
I certainly was disappointed with some things he is responsible for--and am grateful for others.
It's over--he's gone--get over it!
His stance would be the correct one, except Presidential courtesy had already been thrown out the window under Bill Clinton and now Obama, along with assistance from that walking anus Jimmy Carter.
You cannot play a game if only one side is playing it.
He’d exhibit more “class” by keeping his mouth shut.
wimp
Bush _ damned if you, damned if you don’t.
It too bad the only Democratic former Presidents that have any respect for the office of the President are the deceased ones.
He is showing class and showing up Carter and Clinton.
There’s really only one political party.
He should refuse to comment instead of offering encouragement.
“Out of respect for a long tradition of former presidents not criticising their predecessors, I decline to comment.”
“Sitting onstage with his legs crossed casually, the former president revealed that he plans to remain involved in one of his signature issues combating AIDS and malaria in Africa.”
...with other people’s money. Mr. ex-president, your “signature issue” may be a worthy one, but what gave you the right (other than federal might) to force all of us to donate to it? If you are truly the moral man many here claim you are, you would have created a VOLUNTARY charity to raise the money you seek. But no, it’s just so much easier to steal it from taxpayers for your pet projects.
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