Just a quick observation. I just finished watching a portion of the George W Bush interview with Hannity. Of course this is in support of his new memoir “Decision Points.”
I must note, I am not a fan of Hannity nor particularly George W. I did, however, come away with a revelation of sorts. I believe that the media has done such a thorough job of demonizing George W that often we are left with a caricature rather than a portrait of the real man.
I came away with what I hope is a much more balanced impression of the man. In fact, I found myself noting that he came off as much more dignified, professional, honorable and Presidential than Barrack Obama (at least without a teleprompter).
My regret is that the special was aired on Fox, so most of our more left leaning members will probably not see it. If you get a chance to catch a replay or view it online I encourage you to do so.
[quote]JEATON wrote:
Just a quick observation. I just finished watching a portion of the George W Bush interview with Hannity. Of course this is in support of his new memoir “Decision Points.”
I must note, I am not a fan of Hannity nor particularly George W. I did, however, come away with a revelation of sorts. I believe that the media has done such a thorough job of demonizing George W that often we are left with a caricature rather than a portrait of the real man.
I came away with what I hope is a much more balanced impression of the man. In fact, I found myself noting that he came off as much more dignified, professional, honorable and Presidential than Barrack Obama (at least without a teleprompter).
My regret is that the special was aired on Fox, so most of our more left leaning members will probably not see it. If you get a chance to catch a replay or view it online I encourage you to do so. [/quote]
Matt Lauer did a interview with him and I watched it. I was pretty impressed by G.W. from the interview, what i got is that hes just a Man who was doing the best he thought for the country, if anything it shows the man was much more diverse then what the media(both types liberal and conserative) showed of him.
Excellent interview for sure. You see so many oft-repeated clips of him fumbling questions, its easy to forget what an eloquent (at least in his own way) speaker he is. Also it highlighted, how SLOW Obama speaks, its as if he views his TV audience as hard of hearing, or slightly retarded, lol.
[quote]JEATON wrote:
Just a quick observation. I just finished watching a portion of the George W Bush interview with Hannity. Of course this is in support of his new memoir “Decision Points.”
I must note, I am not a fan of Hannity nor particularly George W. I did, however, come away with a revelation of sorts. I believe that the media has done such a thorough job of demonizing George W that often we are left with a caricature rather than a portrait of the real man.
[/quote]
Bingo! You’ve struck gold with this one. The mainstream liberal media wanted to destroy GW and they did a great job. On the other hand Bush did not do a whole lot of these types of interviews as he was worried about the “gothya” factor. When the media tried to destroy Ronald Reagan with misinformation he’d simply go on TV and speak directly to the American people and within days his poll numbers would sore. But then he is called “The Great Communicator.”
History, and time, is ALWAYS much “kinder” to a President than when they were in office; whether it be Nixon, Clinton, Carter, Bush…or Lincoln.
And if the “MSN” was out to “destroy” Bush…they need to learn some lessons from Conservative Media (print, TV, radio, and cyberspace); which has made the “MSN” look like grade-school amateurs when it comes to “President Destroying”. (By whatever means you wish to define that).
What struck me - and I am someone who views Bush with mixed feelings, there is much to commend and there is much to criticize - was the tone and tenor of how he observes leadership and the Presidency itself. He refuses to shift blame. He takes responsibility and says it is fair to criticize him. The buck clearly stops at his desk.
The man clearly has put a lot of thought into what leadership is supposed to be. Now, people are free to disagree with his decisions and even some things he “led” us into, but I am gald to see a President (ex-President reflecting backwards) with respect for the office and appreciation for the virtues of leadership.
The reality of his presidency is so different than what the MSM portrayed it is amazing.
I disagree with some of what he has done but I have never doubted his intelligence of his commitment to do what he thought was the right thing for the American people.
[quote]Mufasa wrote:
History, and time, is ALWAYS much “kinder” to a President than when they were in office; whether it be Nixon, Clinton, Carter, Bush…or Lincoln.
And if the “MSN” was out to “destroy” Bush…they need to learn some lessons from Conservative Media (print, TV, radio, and cyberspace); which has made the “MSN” look like grade-school amateurs when it comes to “President Destroying”. (By whatever means you wish to define that).
Mufasa [/quote]
No question conservative media is out to destroy liberal politicians, I never made a counter claim. But, unfortunately at least for now, the mainstream liberal media is much larger. All we really have right now is talk radio (liberals tried but failed to break into that market) and FOX News. A few other minor ones here and there but that’s it.
“…I disagree with some of what he has done but I have never doubted his intelligence or his commitment to do what he thought was the right thing for the American people…”
I agree with this 100%, BB…
And this can be said about all 44 of the U.S. Presidents…including Obama…
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
What struck me - and I am someone who views Bush with mixed feelings, there is much to commend and there is much to criticize - was the tone and tenor of how he observes leadership and the Presidency itself. He refuses to shift blame. He takes responsibility and says it is fair to criticize him. The buck clearly stops at his desk.
The man clearly has put a lot of thought into what leadership is supposed to be. Now, people are free to disagree with his decisions and even some things he “led” us into, but I am gald to see a President (ex-President reflecting backwards) with respect for the office and appreciation for the virtues of leadership.[/quote]
[quote]Mufasa wrote:
“…I disagree with some of what he has done but I have never doubted his intelligence or his commitment to do what he thought was the right thing for the American people…”
I agree with this 100%, BB…
And this can be said about all 44 of the U.S. Presidents…including Obama…
“Muslim/Kenyan/Socialist/Marxist/Nazi/Al Quada Loving-American Hating/Grandma’ Killing/White People Hatin’/Gun Stealing/Tax Raising/Japanese Bowing/Joan Behar Lovin’/Soros Puppett/Mac Daddy” Anti-Christ…"
(I’m sure I’ve missed something…)
Some of those things are probably true. For example, how do you attend such a church for 20 years with Pastor Wright and not walk away somewhat tainted?
I’m happy to see former President Bush receiving some good reviews and I hope he sells many books. But as others have mentioned, I also have mixed feelings about his Presidency. I think it is natural emotionally to look back and have greater positive views of the past. And from what I’m seeing feel some of that is going on.
Personally, at this point though I’m ready to look to the future.
Thought this article did a nice job summing up how I feel on the topic.
“Bush nostalgia: Letâ??s not get carried away, ok?”
Say what you want about G Dubba, he isn’t what he has been portrayed. There was a part of Matt Lauer’s interview when he remembers when he went to ground zero. The guys digging for survivors were calling him George. Not Mr. President. “You have to get these guys, George!” The entire country was looking at him to make decisions. And waterboarding? Three guys were waterboarded and it saved American lives. It is beyond me how liberals justify all of their hate and criticism.
[quote]optheta wrote:
I was pretty impressed by G.W. from the interview, what i got is that hes just a Man who was doing the best he thought for the country…
[/quote]
If true Mr. Bush actions are exposed as foolish which is just as dangerous as an individual with malevolent intentions.
[quote]PNewport1010 wrote:
Say what you want about G Dubba, he isn’t what he has been portrayed. There was a part of Matt Lauer’s interview when he remembers when he went to ground zero. The guys digging for survivors were calling him George. Not Mr. President. “You have to get these guys, George!” The entire country was looking at him to make decisions. And waterboarding? Three guys were waterboarded and it saved American lives. It is beyond me how liberals justify all of their hate and criticism. [/quote]
It is beyond me how you (I hate to just categorically lump conservatives into a neat little package with you like you do with liberals) actually believe the talking points and apologetic BS you hear on Fox for what was arguably one of the worst presidents we have had to date on several key areas (jobs would be a great example). People like you seem to have the sole argument “he kept us safe from them terrorists and stuff.”
The country was looking for him to make decisions, he did, they were poor ones.
You have no idea how many people were actually waterboarded regardless of the official reports. Neither do I by the way but based on conversations with old Army buds that are over in the sandbox we’ve done it to a lot more than 3 people. Not that I really have that big an issue with it in the first place as an interrogation technique though.
He has been portrayed as a cavalier cowboy that puts his cronies into key positions regardless of their merits and a president that is willing to expand the powers of his office beyond what they are designed for to push his agenda through. Are you really so blind as to say this is an inaccurate portrayal (and yes he did do some good things despite these character flaws)?
Sure he seems like he’d be super cool to grab a beer with and shoot the breeze. I get that and I’d be game for that. That doesn’t mean his actions while in office are commendable.
[quote]optheta wrote:
I was pretty impressed by G.W. from the interview, what i got is that hes just a Man who was doing the best he thought for the country…
[/quote]
If true Mr. Bush actions are exposed as foolish which is just as dangerous as an individual with malevolent intentions.[/quote]
Homework assignment…
Please list the foolish decisions and we will compare and contrast between Bush/Obama. And we will add congress to the mix.
[quote]optheta wrote:
I was pretty impressed by G.W. from the interview, what i got is that hes just a Man who was doing the best he thought for the country…
[/quote]
If true Mr. Bush actions are exposed as foolish which is just as dangerous as an individual with malevolent intentions.[/quote]
Homework assignment…
Please list the foolish decisions and we will compare and contrast between Bush/Obama. And we will add congress to the mix.
[/quote]
It is amazing anyone can even make such a statement. Have Americans already forgotten how catastrophic his presidency was? BTW, I have no intention of making a comparison between these two presidents since it is blatantly obvious that both of them to be atrocious (as is true for the vast majority of politicians throughout history). Should Obama be considered worse? Of course. It seems each succeeding presidency becomes worse than the previous one. Amusingly, people quickly forget how bad the previous one was and become all nostalgic for him.
[quote]JEATON wrote:
I believe that the media has done such a thorough job of demonizing George W that often we are left with a caricature rather than a portrait of the real man.
[/quote]
I had the opportunity to meet and speak with GW at a fund raiser when he was running the first time (not a long conversation, over 5 min). And I found him to be smart, witty and very adept. But the mainstream liberal media hates republicans so they painted him a certain color and the public having little choice bought it.
The mischaracterization of Republicans has been going on for a long time. Keep in mind according to the MSLM,
Eisenhower was intellecually dull.
Nixon was a crook (okay that one was right)
Ford was stupid (He played football in College and they used to say he was hit in the head too many times, Nice huh?)
Reagan was stupid. (He was only an actor they said, what did he know?)
They destroyed Dan Quayle’s reputation. This began on day one when he was announced as VP.
And they also destroyed Sarha Palin’s reputation (but she seems to be getting revenge by never going away)
EDIT: I’m glad that people get a second look at GW. And at least part of the blame goes to his advisors who kept him away from this type of interview.