The George Bush I Know

The Daily Beast ^ | November 9, 2010 | Mark McKinnon

[Kaslin]

As President Bush’s memoir Decision Points hits stores today, former campaign media adviser Mark McKinnon compares the book to the man he crossed the partisan divide to help elect.

Every president becomes a caricature. The press, partisans, late-night shows, and other arbiters of our culture these days boil down complicated and multi-faceted personalities into one-dimensional punchlines. As President Bush writes in his new memoir, Decision Points, they "questioned my legitimacy, my intelligence, and my sincerity. They mocked my appearance, my accent, and my religious beliefs. I was labeled a Nazi, a war criminal, and Satan himself."

I'm glad President Bush has published Decision Points—not so much because I think it will help rehabilitate his image or improve his place in history, though I think it will help on those counts. I'm glad because I believe readers will get a sense of the George W. Bush who I've known for 15 years—a man who is very different than the distorted public image many have come to accept as accurate. Contrary to conventional wisdom, President Bush is very smart, quietly reflective, often contrite, and deeply humble. He is also a strong leader who, while relying on the strong counsel of many around him, makes his own decisions. He was secure enough to hire a vice president like Dick Cheney, and strong enough that it was never in doubt who was the boss. Just ask Scooter Libby, who Cheney said Bush was going to "leave a soldier on the battle field" by refusing to pardon him.

President Bush, in my view, wisely decided not to make his book a chronology of his administration. By writing about the most important decisions in his life, we get a view of those events that truly shaped his life and his presidency. And we come to gain a greater appreciation of just how complex and difficult the decisions a president must make truly are. As he says, the easy decisions don't get to the president's desk.

And there are interesting, surprising, and moving anecdotes aplenty. Imagine tough guy Don Rumsfeld breaking down in tears in the Oval Office, grieving over the drug addiction of his son.

I have great respect and sympathy for anyone who serves as president today. Given the nature of the challenges we face and the complexity of the world in which we live, compounded by the evolution of technology and proliferation of new media, I doubt we will ever see a president again who remains popular beyond their initial honeymoon phase. I disagree with much of President Obama's politics, but I can only shake my head as I listen to all the wizards who think he can fundamentally change the arc of his presidency, if only he would "connect more with the American people.

George Bush and Mark McKinnon. Credit: J. Scott Applewhite / AP Photo

The book does highlight, however, a fundamental difference between George Bush and Barack Obama. Bush never complains. He never blames others. He takes full responsibility for his campaigns, his administration, his life. He accepts the cards he's dealt. That's the George Bush I know.

When we were up to our knees in the snows of New Hampshire and got whipped by John McCain by 19 points, my advertising colleague Stuart Stevens started packing his bags. I asked what he was doing. "We're going to be fired," he said speaking from the experience of someone who had been in previous presidential campaigns when things went south. But Bush called us all into his room, looked us all in the eye, and said, "When we walk out of here and the defeat we've just been dealt, I want all your heads high. This is not your fault. It’s mine alone. I let you down, and I apologize." And then he went out and gave a speech that Reagan's speechwriter Peggy Noonan told me looked like a victory speech if you turned the sound off. In contrast, when I saw John Kerry after the 2004 campaign (ironically in Paris), he said to me, "You guys did a really good job, and my team really $%&#$ it up." Amazing he would think that. Incredible he would say it. Astonishing he would say it to me.

Readers will be surprised by the number of examples in the book where President Bush takes responsibility for failures and talks about mistakes made—particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, and New Orleans.

I was disappointed that President Bush wasn't able to govern in a bipartisan fashion as he did in Texas with Democratic Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock. Bush campaigned on the idea of changing the tone in Washington. But, then again, so did Barack Obama. They both discovered just how difficult, if not impossible, it is. And the recount poisoned the well for President Bush from the get-go, as many Democrats refused to even acknowledge him as a legitimate president. He writes, “The death spiral of decency during my time in office, exacerbated by the advent of 24-hour cable news and hyper-partisan political blogs was deeply disappointing.”

Bush is very loyal. Perhaps loyal to a fault—in the sense that he kept around people like Donald Rumsfeld around longer than he should have. And he was loyal to the Republican House and Senate, which perhaps led him to sign legislation with huge spending implications he might otherwise have vetoed, like agriculture bills with huge farm subsidies, and other omnibus bills.

But if loyalty is a flaw, I'm glad he's got it. I’ve been the recipient of his loyalty many times over the years. He kept me around both as an employee and a friend when others would have cut me loose, and kept me on as ad director for the 2004 campaign despite an effort to replace me. His was the first call I got when my wife was diagnosed with cancer. And during an FBI criminal investigation into an employee who worked in my office, he never wavered in his support for me.

I didn't always agree with President Bush's decisions or policies, but I never doubted his heart. And I've never regretted for a moment the day I crossed the political bridge to help reelect him as governor of Texas in 1998. It was an honor then. It's an honor today.

At the end of Decision Points, Bush writes about how at the completion of his presidency, things were not ending as he had planned: "I reflected on everything we were facing. Over the past few weeks we had seen the failure of America's two largest mortgage entities, the bankruptcy of a major investment bank, the sale of another, the nationalization of the world's largest insurance company, and now the most drastic intervention in the free market since the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt. At the same time, Russia had invaded and occupied Georgia, Hurricane Ike had hit Texas, and America was fighting a two-front war in Iraq and Afghanistan. This was one ugly way to end the presidency.

"I didn't feel sorry for myself, I knew there would be tough days. Self-pity is a pathetic quality in a leader. It sends demoralizing signals to the team and the country. As well, I was comforted by my conviction that the good Lord wouldn't give a believer a burden he couldn't handle."

I didn’t always agree with President Bush’s decisions or policies, but I never doubted his heart.

Finally, President Bush relays what it's like coming to earth after being in the Oval Office when he takes Barney on his first walk around a civilian neighborhood. After Barney does his business, Bush relates how humbling it was to grab a plastic bag to pick up what everyone had been throwing at him the last eight years.

That's the Bush I know.

[raybbr]

Here is the George Bush I know:

BTW, to all you Bush lovers (not you "fishtank") - how is George Bush wanting to create a "new America" any different than Obama wanting to "fundamentally change America"?

We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture.

Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende.

For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America.

Our future cannot be separated from the future of Latin America.

As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico.

George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000.

You can read the speech here.

Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:

In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster

[stephenjohnbanker]

” BTW, to all you Bush lovers (not you “fishtank”) - how is George Bush wanting to create a “new America” any different than Obama wanting to “fundamentally change America”? “

The only difference is that unlike Obama, Bush was not a Marxist. This means our destruction would have been slower.

[fishtank]

“Bush was not a Marxist. This means our destruction would have been slower.”

Hey, I love your sarcasm! So, so, so true.

I mean, what a relief that Bush wasn’t a Marxist!

I’m SOOOOOOO glad that he was just a run-of-the-mill blueblood-internationalist-stripedpants-globalist!!!

\sarc

Thanks for the post....

[fishtank]

nice post -— needed reality here on this thread..

[fishtank]

I guess you missed this??? I’ve saved this list for YEARS!!!

By fishtank...updated Dec. 6, 2006

Here’s what a “conservative” is supposed to be?

* Doing his very best to destroy American sovereignty by melding America into Mexico into Canada???

* George W. Bush (43): “I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul.
I knew that President Putin was a man with whom I could work.”

* Allowed his wife to call a homosexual partner’s mom the “mother-in-law” ???

* Allowed the new Iraqi constitution to have a clause where no law would contradict Islam.

* Wanted to sell US port operations to Dubai - a nation that supports terror.

* Advocates a completely open border - to the detriment of national security.

* Calls the Minutemen “vigilantes”.

* Continually calls Islam a “religion of peace”.

* Pursues “free trade”, not fair trade. “Free trade” has not been very fair, so far.

* Supported Specter over Toomey.

* Told Hush to host Specter with softballs, and then Hush carries the water.

* Continually supported Linc Chaffee, and what did it win in the long run?

* Let Ted Kennedy write the education bill.

* Did nothing to rein in pork barrel government spending.

* In an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Charles Gibson, Bush said he believes that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God. “I think we do. We have different routes of getting to the Almighty,” Bush said.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=193746&page=1

*****

I’m listing the actions of the PRESIDENT (Bush), FYI.

[ohioWfan]

Wow. That's quite a 'list' fishtank.

So you believe that conservative men should restrict what their wives say? Interesting. (I hope you're not married).

And you believe that an error in judgement about Putin 10 years ago should forever be held against President Bush?

And you believe that the very legitimate Dubai ports deal was a negative?

And you truly, truly believe that President Bush doesn't believe in U.S. Sovereignty? Hoo boy! Can we say 'cult??'

And you really believe that he called the Minutemen 'vigilantes?' (better check that one out.....)

And can you find ANY sitting President (including the now perfect Reagan) who didn't support an incumbent Senator in an election? Just one??

Your 'list' is filled with gaping holes, presumptions and grudge-holding.

The cartoon was more fitting your 'thought' process. Stick with the drawings. They're more compelling than this 'list' of yours....

[ohioWfan]

So then, eleni, your definition of 'good' is to do exactly what you want politically?

Then, may we presume that the United States has never had a 'good' President, in your esteemed opinion? Certainly Reagan's blatant amnesty and broken campaign promises about taxes and shrinking government keep him from qualifying.

IMO, if anything is 'sad' it's your jaded view.

(btw, people who did their homework were not 'misled' by these imaginary 'schemes.' Shame on you for not paying attention to what he said before and after he was elected).

[ohioWfan]

Wonder where the rest of the boy band is. When one appears on an “I hate President Bush” thread, surely the others can’t be far behind.....

[KeyLargo]

House Republican: Bush ‘destroyed GOP’
By Michael O’Brien - 11/10/10 11:29 AM ET

Former President George W. Bush is no “class act,” a Republican lawmaker insisted Wednesday. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) said Bush had “destroyed” the GOP during his eight years in office in a blunt shot at the former Republican president, who on Tuesday released his book, “Decision Points.”

Rohrabacher tweeted Wednesday:

@MarkRMatthews Bush not class act, destroyed GOP, jailed Ramos & Compean, left us bailouts, gave more power to fed gov & China.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/128593-republican-bush-destroyed-gop

[eleni121]

Good comes from actions—most of Bush’s actions while in office and out have not been not “good”.

Is that simple enough for you? we’re not talking rocket science here-—he is not a next door neighbor - he occupied the presidency and he did not measure up.

Worse— He paved the way for the Obamination.

[ohioWfan]

That "Bush caused Obama" tripe is just not backed up by reality, eleni. I know it's the feeling of many around here, but it's just not historically accurate.

I'll leave you to your own personal definition of "good," which defies all reason, and end by saying...President Bush is a good man. Period.

[eleni121]

Elitist Bush like all elitists called American border patriots vigilantes. What is good about that? Nothing.

http://www.rense.com/general63/decries.htm

[Revolting cat!]

Next time please PING me early enough so I can post: IBLBHCP (In Before Lame Bush Has Class Posts!)

[ohioWfan]

LOL! More of the same........only the 'elitist' charge is new......and a hoot.

You can't win this argument, eleni. George W. Bush is a good man whether you agree with his political positions or not.

[eleni121]

I wonder where the profits are going from this “please love me” book of BS?

[Revolting cat!]

We elect mediocrities, because they make us feel good about our poor selves, and we diss brilliant men like Alan Keyes. Briliance doesn’t sell, it makes us feel inferior.

George Bush is a singularly inarticulate man, someone else observes on this or the other concurrent thread. True. But didn’t he have a staff of Harvard educated speech writers? What happened?

And now this inarticulate man writes a book. Writes? No, “writes”! My daughter axed me last night if I was going to read it. I answered that I’d read it as soon as the alleged author has read it. I don’t have to remind you instances when your favorite politicians and celebrities were exposed as not having read their own books.

I told her I’d sooner read Keith Richards’ book, that is when it comes down in price to $6 a copy on Amazon or at Half Price Books.

In the meantime, let’s believe, as Karl Rove once informed us that George W. Bush reads 100 books a year. Maybe he does, I dunno. Neither do you!

[fishtank]

House Republican: Bush ‘destroyed GOP’

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/128593-republican-bush-destroyed-gop

[fishtank]

I’ve been aware of Bush’s faux ways since many years ago in Texas when he and Rove stabbed the forerunners of the Tea Party in the back.

This was even before he was governor in Texas.

Don’t lecture me, please, and watch out who you put the “cult” label on ... maybe you need to go light another candle in front of the “W” shrine you keep in your living room.

[ohioWfan]

Don't lecture YOU? LOL! Now that's funny.

(Actually I knew immediately after I posted that response to your 'list' that I shouldn't have stuck that 'cult' crack in there because it would give you an excuse to avoid dealing with the rest of my questions......and sure enough I was right. All you did was whine and attack and evade the actual questions).

At any rate, your 'list' is like Swiss Cheese, fishtank. Filled with yawning holes so big you could drive a truck through them.

So instead of defending it by answering my specific questions, you grab onto the one word that makes you mad and call me an idolator (a tired old ad hominem from a tired old bunch of BDSers). I've dealt enough with Bush haters to know better than to give you an escape hatch, and I was stupid to do it.

Anyway, your evasion says a lot since it's clearly the best you have.

But I gotta say, if you really think Laura Bush should only say what her husband 'allows' her to say, I do hope you're not married.....what a weird thing to include on a 'list' of dastardly deeds that the eeeeeevil Bush has imposed on the world.

Oh well. Maybe sometime you can answer the rest of the questions I asked, eh? You know, like that absurd accusation that patriot, country-loving George W. Bush doesn't believe in U.S. Sovereignty? That one's a hoot.

If not, enjoy stewing in your 'I-hate-Bush' juices. Must be a great way to live.....hating a man of integrity. If it weren't a deliberate choice on your part, I'd feel sorry for you.

[ohioWfan]

Gee..........I think the Republicans just smashed the Dems into the ground on election day, fishtank.

Seems like they haven't been 'destroyed.' I guess that might be called a 'matter of opinion' as to whether or not a President can destroy a party that clearly has not been destroyed, eh?

Question.......were you upset after the Republican victory? Or were you encouraged that it is the Republicans who listened to the people (with some obvious exceptions)?