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Former President Bush, now "retired guy" still refuses to criticize Obama

Posted 22 Sep 2009 in Barack Obama, George W. Bush, responsibility

I heard the recording of this interview on my drive home yesterday. Whether you agreed or disagreed with President Bush’s policies (and I STRONGLY disagreed with several of Bush’s policies), you must admit the man has class.

“My place in the world is out of the spotlight,” he said in the interview Monday morning. “I am going to meld back into society and try to contribute to the community.

“I’m through with that phase in my life. I’m happy to be . . . an active citizen of the Metroplex.”

A few of his remarks during the radio interview:

President Barack Obama: Bush said he told his successor that he would not criticize the work he does in office. “I didn’t like it when other former presidents criticized me,” he said. “I believe he needs a chance to make the decisions he believes are necessary. He’s going to find there are a lot of opinions out there.”

It was a continuation of his March interview where he first declined to find fault with President Obama.

Former President George W. Bush said on Tuesday that he won’t criticize Obama because the new U.S. president “deserves my silence,” and said he plans to write a book about the 12 toughest decisions he made in office.

Bush declined to critique the Obama administration in his first speech since leaving office in January. Former Vice President Dick Cheney has said that Obama’s decisions threatened America’s safety.

“I’m not going to spend my time criticizing him. There are plenty of critics in the arena,” Bush said. “He deserves my silence.”

Bush said he wants Obama to succeed and said it’s important that he has that support. Talk-show host Rush Limbaugh has said he hoped Obama would fail. [Reader "Kanaka Girl" reminds us that this was said in the context that Limbaugh hoped Obama would fail at forcing America into socialism. -FMP]

“I love my country a lot more than I love politics,” Bush said. “I think it is essential that he be helped in office.”

If I were cynical (who, me?) I’d say all this is because Bush is not a strong conservative and actually shares some of Obama’s priorities, albeit to a lesser degree. But regardless of the real reason, I’m glad to see Mr. Bush is abiding by the unwritten rule that former presidents do not publicly criticize the policies of a sitting successor. Presidents Carter and Clinton would be wise to do the same.

Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT

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