Does anyone really believe that Bush wants Obama to succeed?

[AlinPA]

Bush has done everything he could to set up a mess for the new administration.

At the meeting of the presidents today he said:

"One message that I have, and I think we all share, is that we want you to succeed," Bush added, a beaming Clinton at his other side. "Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/ap_on_go_pr_wh/the_presidents__club

[AtomicKitten]

1. I suspect Junior followed that statement by giggling. n/t

[babylonsister]

2. Not at all.

Midnight regs, denying the Obamas the use of Blair House, insinuating more of his appointments into the government, I don't believe.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4782150
Bush makes 45 more last-minute appointments (Mukasey, Chertoff, more!)

[donco6]

3. Utter BS.

It's his fondest desire that everyone will wish he were back after a few months of Obama. You can take that to the bank.

[PlanetBev]

4. I can top that

Sean Hannity said that he "really wants Obama to succeed."

Oh, I'm sure....

[Boomerang Diddle]

5. no

especially considering he tried to destroy the country

[NYC Liberal]

6. I actually do. The question is, succeed at WHAT.

Bush has been successful, if you realize who he's been doing everything for all the time. So has Iraq, if you realize that all the chaos and violence lines the pockets of Halliburton, Blackwater, and all the rest.

[Demobrat]

7. I don't think he cares one way or the other.

As long as he can continue to live in his bubble.

[Tempest]

8. Obama succeeding would put Bush's administration in an even poorer light

So no, Bush doesn't want to see Obama succeed.

[Enrique]

9. no, but it would be unwise for his statement to be sincere

"I hope the country continues on the downward spiral I started, so Jeb can win in 2012 and make me Attorney General."

[JuniperLea]

10. Bush is an accomplished liar...

If he said the sky was blue and the grass was green, I'd run to a window and check to be sure.

[RichGirl]

15. True that...

But I also think that he was told what to say and he said it.

[JuniperLea]

16. I agree...

Most of his lies are fed to him.

[Fire1]

17. I fourth that motion

[santamargarita]

11. He never wanted the country to succeed so why would he change now

[Renew Deal]

12. The Bush's want him to fail and Clinton doesn't want to be outshone.

[tiptoe]

13. Election subversion,torture,illegal war,treasury drain,millions murdered -- All for Privatization.

At least try to prosecute saboteurs, traitors and murderers.

 

[leftstreet]

14. Succeed at what? Lining the pockets of the Ruling Class - sure

Anything else, probably not.

[democrattotheend]

18. Depends how you define "succeed"

I know I'm going to get flack for this, but I have a tendency to give people the benefit of the doubt, and I honestly believe that most of the time, Bush has done what he believed to be in the best interest of the country. The problem was not that he did not have the national interest as he saw it at heart as much as it was that his idea of what was good for the country was so misguided. I certainly believe that this is true with respect to keeping our country safe.

Do I think Bush wants Obama to succeed at, say, passing the Employee Free Choice Act or rolling back some of his attacks on the environment? No, of course not. But If Obama were faced with a national security crisis as president, then yes, I believe Bush would want him to succeed at averting disaster, just as anyone would. I would imagine that he would want Obama to succeed in the broader sense of being able to pick up where he left off on some of the less partisan stuff, especially when it comes to continuing progress they've made (if any) in any foreign negotiations or stuff like that.

I feel like with everything going on in our country right now, people recognize the need for government more than usual, and politicians seem to be more willing than usual to break with ideology and do what works to try to avert a meltdown. So call me crazy, but I'm at least mildly optimistic that maybe there are some Republicans who care enough about the country to want Obama to succeed. Certainly not all or even most, but some.

[AlinPA]

21. I should have said "to govern as chief executive". They certainly want him to fail as a president.

We might find one or two who may wish him well. Obviously, I am not as optimistic as you about republicans. I think they would be delighted if things got worse domestically and abroad during the Obama administration.

[Nye Bevan]

19. I have met sociopaths like bush

They look you in the eye, appear to be very sincere, and say all the "right" things. But they don't mean a word of it.

[galaxy21]

20. Bush is sucking up to Obama in case he needs a pardon

[Johonny]

22. I agree they wanted to end liberalism

Cheney did everything to bankrupt the country so the next president would basically have no choice but to cut social programs. They wanted to end the ability of the government to do anything but give money over to corporations. Right now the country is in a terrible mess. I don't think the average American understands that 4 years will not be enough time to dig the country out of the mess it's in.

[hamsterjill]

23. Liar!

If Shrub's lips are moving...he's telling a lie.

[slackmaster]

24. Who cares?

I don't.