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Dubya and Me
The American Scholar ^ | August 25, 2011 | Walt Harrington

Posted on 10/03/2014 7:04:05 PM PDT by mwilli20

“What is it like to be president of the United States?”

President Bush leaned forward, put his elbows on his knees, and stared at me intently. “Are we off the record?”

“Yes.”

And he began to talk—and talk and talk for what must have been nearly three hours. I’ve never told anyone the specifics of what he said that night, not even my wife or closest friends. I did not make notes later and have only my memory. In the journalism world, off the record is off the record. But I have repeatedly described the hours as “amazing,” “remarkable,” “stunning.”

(Excerpt) Read more at theamericanscholar.org ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bush; dubya
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To: ryan71

I was going to quote that line too.

I recall some aide talking about Bush at those meetings. He would just listen. No notes, didn’t say much unless to ask a question. They thought he wasn’t really paying attention. Then one day he told them what he was going to do, gave them the reasons and the facts told to him in earlier meetings to back it up, etc.

I recall the day after the first election some liberal at work was all distressed about Bush getting elected, that she hated Bush, etc. I replied “Yeah - I don’t care for him all that much either. He’s too liberal.” She looked at me like I had two heads!

Given the choice between George W. or Al Gore - it was easy.


21 posted on 10/04/2014 12:03:46 AM PDT by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts 2013 is 1933 REBORN)
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To: Moonman62

W “reestablished” Big Government after 8 years of Bill Clinton? OK.


22 posted on 10/04/2014 12:08:53 AM PDT by John W (Autumn of Recovery VI: This Time We're Serious)
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To: mwilli20

bkmk


23 posted on 10/04/2014 12:09:42 AM PDT by AllAmericanGirl44
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To: Moonman62

Bush left those conservative principles he had behind. Bad mistake and now he has lost a lot of admiration. Too bad for a lot of us to get the conservative power back. Thank you, GW! I love you, man.


24 posted on 10/04/2014 12:47:48 AM PDT by Christie at the beach
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To: BenLurkin
"Obama makes W look like a genius, a patriot, and a defender of the Republic"

If we are talking about president Bush and how he handled the aftermath of 9/11, the WOT, and considering that this type/scale of attack and type of enemy had never been seen before- He (Bush) was all of those- a genius, a patriot, and a defender of the Republic.

He kept our nation safe. There were no further attacks or "incidences of work place violence" while W was in the WH.

25 posted on 10/04/2014 12:49:45 AM PDT by Pajamajan ( Pray for our nation. Thank the Lord for everything you have. Don't wait. Do it today.)
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To: Russ

Your naive & juvenile inability to separate the politics of running a country & that of family is part of what has brought us here, including the emotional BS that brought us the Puppet.

Your pity moves me; BRB...

...thanks for that. I DO feel better now.

Can you write something asinine every morning about this time?


26 posted on 10/04/2014 4:27:25 AM PDT by logi_cal869
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To: mwilli20
I got to spend an hour and a half with W in 2006 when he invited me and Victor Davis Hanson and three other historians to the White House to discuss war and history.

I knew then he was extremely intelligent and well read.

Bush's biggest weakness, more than his sometimes naivete about the libs, is that he really thinks all people want life to be better for everyone and that all Americans really do love America.

I am convinced that Obama, if he doesn't hate the USA, deeply dislikes it and has done everything he can to make America look like Kenya. Bush simply would not understand that world view.

27 posted on 10/04/2014 5:48:17 AM PDT by LS ('Castles made of sand, fall in the sea . . . eventually.' Hendrix)
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To: John W

W “reestablished” Big Government after 8 years of Bill Clinton? OK.

...

Yes he did. Clinton was light years ahead of W when it came to fiscal responsibility. Some of that, though, was due to the huge Republican win led by Gingrinch in 1994.


28 posted on 10/04/2014 5:50:23 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: Cicero

You left out “He failed to go after election fraud.”

After the Florida debacle in 2000, it was obvious it needed to be done.


29 posted on 10/04/2014 6:11:04 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: LS

Thanks for that direct insight.


30 posted on 10/04/2014 6:43:53 AM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: Moonman62

Clinton was not. He went kicking and screaming, and demonized any effort at reigning things in. He was at least pragmatic enough to sign off on things when forced by a Congress which had heavy popular support and then claim the victory when it worked.


31 posted on 10/04/2014 6:48:32 AM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: BenLurkin
GW IS a genius, a patriot, and a defender of the Republic. Obama is an ignorant traitor, a terrorist and an enemy of the Republic.
32 posted on 10/04/2014 6:57:30 AM PDT by Louis Foxwell (This is a wake up call. Join the Sultan Knish ping list.)
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To: lepton

Clinton was not.

...

Who was better at fiscal responsibility when they both had Republican congresses?


33 posted on 10/04/2014 7:02:20 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: Moonman62

In that area Bush strayed when Mitch came home to straighten things out here in Indiana after years of dem governors.


34 posted on 10/04/2014 7:29:50 AM PDT by John W (Autumn of Recovery VI: This Time We're Serious)
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To: logi_cal869

Your superior, condescending attitude is nauseating. That might be asinine in your mind but it’s the truth...and I’m glad you feel better.


35 posted on 10/04/2014 11:43:21 AM PDT by Russ (Repeal the '17th amendment)
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To: sickoflibs; mwilli20; Gilbo_3; Impy; GOPsterinMA

Political disagreements aside, I still think he’s a decent guy.

I won’t slam him.

As for Jeb: No, we don’t need a dynasty...


36 posted on 10/04/2014 1:15:11 PM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: Russ

I’ll re-read your naive snottiness in the morning.

You’re ACES! You should charge a fee!

Remember: I just posited an opinion...YOU attacked ME for having a different one.


37 posted on 10/04/2014 2:01:38 PM PDT by logi_cal869
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To: Bullish; sickoflibs; logi_cal869; Cicero; Moonman62; logitech; John W

What struck me reading this article is what a bunch of fools we are falling for the libs and the media’s game. 8 years of Bush the discourse was all about whether Bush was a retard and we would engage and argue with anything from hate to reasoned arguments about how intelligent he was.

Instead we should have argued and fought only internally and against his liberal views and actions.

We keep getting engaged in these discussions and get sidetracked for what should be our purpose: keep our guys on the conservative path.

Do I have a solution? Unfortunately no, the next candidate will most likely me even more liberal than Bush, and the media will most likely distract us again :-(


38 posted on 10/04/2014 2:52:15 PM PDT by mwilli20 (BO. Making communists proud all over the world.)
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To: Bullish
Was he ever asked why he left the party with no one other than the loser John McAmnesty to run for president?

Bush's fault again? How does one come up with such stupid crap? He left the office in dignity, he didn't owe us anything after that......

The GOP voting public gave us McCain in the primary, not President Bush..........Sheesh!

39 posted on 10/04/2014 5:09:05 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Don't harsh my buzz homie......)
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To: yldstrk
I miss President Bush

I miss him too.
40 posted on 10/04/2014 5:11:33 PM PDT by novemberslady
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