QQQ, with a thought about George Bush

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Wednesday, January 14. 2009

QQQ, with a thought about George Bush

"When I get out of here, I am getting off the stage. I have had my time in the Klieg lights."

George Bush. God bless him. I still don't think he ever really wanted or enjoyed the job and the power and visibility all that much. I think he took it on as a duty while his personal core lay elsewhere - with God, family and pals, and his ranch - which I think is entirely to his credit. No grandiosity or narcissism at all in him, as befits his Yankee heritage, which is why he's always been a half-hearted pol: he is a man, not a political pimp. A kind, caring, self-deprecating man with a great sense of humor, plenty of humility and plenty of balls - and plenty of good AA under his belt. Some of us have met the guy, and agree. But go ahead and argue with that if you want to.

Posted by Bird Dog in Quotidian Quotable Quote (QQQ) at 12:00 | Comments (8) | Trackbacks (0)

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Bird Dog ... I, too, am a long-time admirer of George Bush, even if I didn't and don't agree with all of his decisions. But I give him a break on them, because I don't know, can't know all of the factors that went into those decisions. But I admire his continuing grace under pressure, his self-controll when the yammering masses on the left have attacked him so unfairly, his genuine courtesy to all he meets. In 20 years or so, the public summing up of his service as President will have shifted considerably, as smarter minds and cooler heads prevail -- prevail somewhere, at least.

I hope.

Marianne

#1 Marianne Matthews on 2009-01-14 13:34 (Reply)

Throughout it all he remained Gentleman George!

#2 LLoyd Chandler on 2009-01-14 14:00 (Reply)

Above all, he's a man of integrity. He did not govern by approval ratings. He was strong enough to make very difficult decisions and stand by them, regardless of the personal attacks that he endured.

It's hardly surprising that Obama's positions inch closer to Bush's, now that he receives the same security briefings.

#3 obladioblada on 2009-01-14 14:25 (Reply)

Well said Bird Dog. It is comforting to see the tide slowly turn.
I disagreed with several positions President Bush took during his 8 years, but stood by him and supported his non-poll based decisons.
I wonder how many of us can say they stood by him in the past 4 years when critics derided him.
I know for me it was only possible when there was some form of legitimate substance in the argument presented and that was a rarity, as the critics usually prefer opinion over fact.
Is our society that capable of being manipulated?

#4 Ansley H. Ryman (Link) on 2009-01-14 15:28 (Reply)

BD, that was about the finest thing I've read in don't know how long. Yes, you are right about George Bush the man. George Bush the president will sadly need an asterisk, as despite all his efforts he was never able to lead but half the country.

The other half clearly made a deliberate decision* early onto refuse to be led by this president under any condition and at any cost.

Did this unique & post-1860 unprecedented oppo ploy duly damage his presidency? Of course it did, how could it not; it is a 'results' job first & foremost.

But to his everlasting credit he turned away from spite & malice and thereby contained within his person as much as possible of the damage that the oppo's dangerous & ugly politics gladly does the nation.

* (Florida 2000 when their precedent-set right to steal all close elections was ambushed by a Democrat-like airborne lawyer assault on the venue where the usual theft was to have taken place)

A quibble to close: GWB the Yankee? Well okay, you can have half. The other half has to stay up HWY 281 about an hour from here: the ranch.

#5 buddy larsen on 2009-01-14 16:01 (Reply)

Bird Dog... I agree with everything you have to say about GWB. Although I haven't always agreed with everything he did, he's won my loyalty during his years in office.

I respect his personal integrity. He was there to do a job and he's done it.

#6 PeterGunn on 2009-01-14 18:51 (Reply)

I've worked for him before, and I would work for him again.
My favorite observation - actually, there are two of them -
First thing "W" does each morning is feed his dogs.
And he is the same man you see on Saturday night as he is on Sunday morning.
We live in a world of opposites, and his lasting legacy will be the exact opposite of what the droll morons who manipulate our national opinion think they know it will be. At least among free-thinkers.
I loved the answer to the inquiry about what he would be doing on Wednesday morning next week - He would feed the dogs, make coffee, and bring Laura a cup.
�bama not only is incapable of filling "W"s shoes, he would be incapable of polishing them.

#7 The Distributist (Link) on 2009-01-14 19:36 (Reply)

"...his lasting legacy will be the exact opposite of what the droll morons who manipulate our national opinion think they know it will be. At least among free-thinkers."

You put into words what I couldn't. Thank you.

I don't know where I read it, but the president 'sneaked' over to Walter Reed and Bethesda several times a week to see the soldiers. Bush hand wrote letters to every family who lost a soldier, and he invited many families to the White House. This was all kept secret. The quiet visits to the hospital were handled without the usual SS marked presence. My son's girlfriend has been to Walter Reed twice for routine medical care when Bush was there. Areas were cordoned off and there were SS around, but the hospital carried on as usual.

Bush was never too big for his position. He honored his position as few have before him.
`

#8 Meta on 2009-01-15 12:09 (Reply)

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Wednesday, January 14. 2009

QQQ, with a thought about George Bush