Bush on Kennedy: 'I actually like the fellow'

The Dallas Morning News ^ | January 9, 2002 | By G. ROBERT HILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

. . . . . . .I took my blinders off years ago. A person needs to pick their fights. This is only year one of at minimum a four year term, I will allow President Bush time to play the hand he was dealt the way he sees best.

BIG BUMP to that! You nailed it, IMHO. . .

[Jefferson Adams]

end-runs the Constitution day after day,

please explain. War on terrorism? Either you're with us, or you're against us.

Bitter libertarian, eh?

Define "us" Kemo Sabe.

If by "us" you mean the Constitutionally governed and protected United States of America, then I'm with you. But if you mean the pro-unaccountable-big-government fascist entity that's taking wings right before our eyes - sorry, but I gotta side with the Founders of this country instead. They were afraid this was going to happen, and they did everything in their power to prevent it. But several generations of sheep have allowed it to come to pass.

And no, I'm not a libertarian, nor am I bitter. I'm merely a Christian Constitutionalist who believes what the men and women who built this country believed.

[VRWCmember]

"He is a fabulous United States senator," the president said. "When he's against you, it's tough. When he's with you, it is a great experience."

When he (Kennedy) is with you, you should do some SERIOUS soul searching to make sure you are not on the WRONG side of the issue.

[lilylangtree]

I have to question GW's taste. None, and I mean none, of the Kennedys have ever been worth their salt in gold. Frankly, none have ever been worth even their own salt.

[Scholastic]

BUMP~

[MadIvan]

It's just an example why I should not be a politician. I don't believe in extending an olive branch to our socialist enemies. The duplicitous and downright evil behaviour we have seen from them since the arrival of Bill Clinton means that we soil ourselves by extending our embrace to them.

Best Regards, Ivan

[copwife]

I LOVED that Tessy had to "kiss up" to W in MA. The reception that the president received in this one party state was a thing of beauty.

[copwife]

I LOVED that Tessy had to "kiss up" to W in MA. The reception that the president received in this one party state was a thing of beauty.

[Zack Nguyen]

There is something to your point. R's get eaten up by the left because they are not politically adept enough to defend themselves.

Bush the Elder immediately comes to mind. President W. is much more politically adept than his father, however, and is smarter than he likes to let on. I have no problem with him being friendly with Ted Kennedy. Asking the President to do otherwise is silly.

However, I think most conservatives would have a major problem with any bill that Ted Kennedy supports. Kennedy would never, ever, under any circumstances, support legislation that would actually reform the public school system. The teacher's unions, and his own leftist ideology, would absolutely prohibit it.

[Don Myers]

"its Muslim you dumbell. Spare us your bigotry"

It looks like an Islamic to me. And they could have spared us the 9-11 attacks. Bigotry? It is called survival.

[Don Myers]

"My understanding is (as that link points out), that the Islam religion is a peaceful religion (as President Bush has repeatedly said)."

Please don't take this personally, but Islam a peaceful religion? In a pig's eye!

[CIB-173RDABN]

Well I guess the best we can do is to agree to disagree.:-)

[Miss Marple]

But Ivan, you applauded our standing up for Blair in his support of the war. This is the same thing. When Kennedy starts with weirdo socialized medicine proposals, or starts making attempts to fatten things for the unions, Bush will vigorously oppose them.

The educational system in this country needs some help. This is the best bill Bush could get through the evenly divided Congress, and he needed to get Kennedy's help to do it.

Kennedy is, as someone said earlier, an icon to many in this country, who remember the days of JFK and Bobby. He is the sole heir of their tarnished legacy, and with his character flaws could never have been president. He is entrenched in Massachusetts until he retires or dies, so he is not going away anytime soon. He has one loser of a son, a failed marriage, a new wife he can't keep up with, and a drinking problem that is publlic knowledge. His health cannot be too good.

I imagine the drinking stems from the urge to wash away some nightmarish memories from a certain car accident many years ago.

He is an old, sad man who once had a chance to be great, but let it pass him by. I don't think it hurts to be nice to someone who maybe, in the twilight of his life, is regretful of things done and undone.

"The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven..."

[MeekOneGOP]

Dittos here, Ivan. I don't have what it takes to make a politician, either. Bush is doing a great job on the War front, and a really good job domestically, IMHO. There are many here on FR that have high suspicion of him. He has few here on Free Republic that feel as stongly supportive of him as me. Character flaw on my part I guess! :o)

[MeekOneGOP]

Please don't take this personally, but Islam a peaceful religion? In a pig's eye!

---

Well, I had trouble resolving this issue in my own conscience. I had to find out why a religion would advocate the mass murder of thousands of innocent civilians. The research I did led me to information regarding the Islamic religion, and what I found out was that a few groups took the religion and bast***ized it to fit their own political agenda of hate for the U.S. and the destruction of the same.

Now, if you have information that documents beyond all doubt that the Islam religion is a total sham (i.e., advocates murder, mass murder, etc.) and that ALL Muslims are terrorists, please point me to that. I think you'll have trouble finding credible evidence of that argument, though.

Thanks.

[MeekOneGOP]

WOW! I wish I could compose a reply as well as that one, Miss Marple! Very eloquent and well expressed! Thanks.

[MizSterious]

Ah, but because he's "our" man (as in, a Republican), we're not supposed to notice these things. As you know, I don't say this very often publicly, but I think this occasion calls for it. The president has changed, but the government is still the same. Sort of like Clinton, with his pants zipped up. (reaching for asbestos reading glasses...)

[MizSterious]

"I certainly hope this is a tactic of some sort. I find nothing loveable about a worm eaten adulterous socialist piece of filth like Kennedy."

That's about it in a nutshell--you've said it best. I don't care if it is a "tactic." It's sick.

[Carolinamom]

I noticed how pleased Kennedy seemed with the praise Bush heaped on him. Despite what we think of him, Kennedy is human and responds to flattery. As for President Bush's methods....superb......I keep thinking of the phrases "getting more flies with honey" and "killing with kindness". GWB thus keeps the libs off balance.

[MizSterious]

"Point is, I don't have to like a person's politics to like them as a person. Do you?"

In a word, yes, especially if those "politics" include some of the vicious crimes the Kennedy crime family have perpetrated. Hang out with dogs, you get fleas. I see no virtue in Kennedy, and anyone who does should be viewed with raised eyebrows.