"Stay classy, George"

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_06/018665.php

HE ALMOST MADE IT FIVE MONTHS.... In March, George W. Bush had a chance to criticize his successor, but he took a pass. "I'm not going to spend my time criticizing him," Bush said. "There are plenty of critics in the arena. He deserves my silence."

It was a good move. Not only is there an expectation of decency when presidents leave the stage, but Bush, of all people, should be as silent as possible. pb The less he says, the better.

Last night in Pennsylvania, however, the failed former president decided to play fast and loose with his vow not to criticize President Obama, who Bush apparently no longer believes "deserves his silence."

Former President George W. Bush fired a salvo at President Obama on Wednesday, asserting his administration's interrogation policies were within the law, declaring the private sector not government will fix the economy and rejecting the nationalization of health care.

"I know it's going to be the private sector that leads this country out of the current economic times we're in," the former president said to applause from members of a local business group. "You can spend your money better than the government can spend your money."

Repeatedly in his hourlong speech and question-and-answer session, Mr. Bush said he would not directly criticize the new president, who has moved to take over financial institutions and several large corporations. Several times, however, he took direct aim at Obama policies as he defended his own during eight years in office.

Bush, without a hint of irony, talked about his expertise in knowing how to use government to "expand the job rate in the United States." What's more, asked about the facility at Guantanamo Bay, the former president said "I told you I'm not going to criticize my successor," before using some unusually cheap rhetoric: "I'll just tell you that there are people at Gitmo that will kill American people at a drop of a hat and I don't believe that persuasion isn't going to work. Therapy isn't going to cause terrorists to change their mind."

Asked if he finds the new president's policies "socialist," Bush started to answer, saying it "depends on..." before concluding, "We'll see."

Stay classy, George.

That said, I wouldn't be too surprised if Obama's team found all of this encouraging. The more there's a "Bush vs. Obama" dynamic, the more it benefits the current occupant of the Oval Office, not the former.

-Steve Benen

[Merryweather]

1. Oh dear God - it was bad enough when it was just Cheney that wouldn't shut up. n/t

[cap]

3. Note to George: We just had an election and guess what, YOU LOST!

now just get over it. Don't be a sore loser!

[Glorfindel]

2. Well, that's a relief....it would be much WORSE if Bush praised Obama

and his policies. :evilgrin:

[pipi_k]

4. I wouldn't worry...

Nobody but Barney and the minority of people who still think he's a decent human being believe any of that shit anyway.

[Aristus]

5. Asshole. He spent a lot of my money on this fucking war, that's for sure...

Money for war=good; money for health care=bad. Conservative thought process... :eyes:

[tridim]

6. Please, please keep talking whistle-ass.

Maybe Faux should give Bush and Rove a show together?

[Uncle Joe]

7. Yes, that's why 40+ million Americans are un-insured and 50+ million are underinsured.

It's all because the private sector has spent the nation in to good health.

I sort of agree with Bush, I'm not sure that therapy would ever help him.