Laura Bush's Interview on Today Show May 5

The always serene and classy Laura Bush has a new memoir. Laura and the Bush girls prove that George Bush wasn't all bad. George Bush was one of my least favorite presidents, but I never gave him a mustache or called him names or made a nasty sign about him.

He was doing what he thought was right, misguided probably by the likes of Dick Cheney. I think he brought too much of his own religion to the White House and it negatively affected his decisions. He didn't seem to use religion for personal strength, but rather to decide who is good and who is bad.

The former First Lady wonders if Obama would like to take back some of his criticism of Bush after discovering White House realities. Every problem of the world comes to the desk of the President, she said. Laura is on Twitter for her book tour. Can't wait for George Bush's book.

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Bush and Clinton on Meet the Press Jan. 17

Visit Bill Clinton and George Bush's Haiti fund here. If you can't get enough of Bush and Clinton, see them on This Week here.

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Obama Meets With Bush and Clinton on Haiti - Video

George Bush and Bill Clinton will lead the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund fundraising effort.
"I know a lot of people want to send blankets or water, just send cash," said George Bush. I'm happy to see Bush helping out, especially since Clinton seems to be angling to be the top dog. To help, visit ClintonBushHaitiFund.org.

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Clinton and Bush PSA:

What is She the Governor of Guam?

Ahh, Bush. Matt Latimer, George Bush's former speechwriter has written a book, which will no doubt be a bestseller. Bush, according to Latimer, rips Palin, Obama, Hillary and Biden:

According to Latimer, Bush believed Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee in the 2008 presidential election and quotes the former president as saying “Wait till her fat keister is sitting at this desk,” although the speechwriter-turned-book-writer says Bush didn’t say “keister” (guess he’s urging us to use our imagination).“He didn’t think much of Barack Obama,” Latimer writes. He recalls an occasion when Bush was fuming that it was a dangerous world, and quotes the president as saying, “and this cat isn’t remotely qualified to handle it. This guy has no clue, I promise you.”

On Joe Biden, according to Latimer, Bush had a one-liner he liked to tell: “If bull—- was currency (pause), Joe Biden would be a billionaire.” reuters

Bush thought pretty highly of himself. Read more excerpts at GQ here. His rip on Palin is pretty funny:

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Bono Says He Regrets Dodging Bush's Hug

Obama caught the dodge.

Bush Cleaning Up After Barney

Obama cleaning up after Bush. Or perhaps Cheney.
It's looking more and more like Cheney was the guy in charge, which is why Cheney had no interest in running for president. For some reason, I have a soft spot for Bush. Maybe because he's had the decency to keep quiet and not undermine Obama, who faces significant challenges, partly thanks to the prior administration.
As president, I think Bush was horribly misguided and in over his head. I'm glad he's having a normal life.

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Obama Moves to Rescind Bush's Conscience Rule

Every day, George Bush and the gang seem ever more distant.
Say bye bye to Bush's "Conscience Rule," a Bush parting gift that allowed healthcare workers to deny services or prescriptions for something they personally find objectionable. The rule is said to be a legal land mine.

Reuters: The Obama administration moved formally on Friday to rescind a Bush administration rule to protect health workers who refuse to provide services and information on moral grounds, which had inflamed abortion-rights advocates.

The rule took effect hours before President Barack Obama took office in January, and opponents say the previous administration rushed it through in a last-minute push in a bid to deny patients not only abortion rights, but also contraception and other care.

In a statement on its website, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said it was "proposing to rescind" the rule "in its entirety."

"It is important that the department have the opportunity to review this regulation to ensure its consistency with current administration policy," it said.

Bush administration officials said it merely reflected laws passed by Congress and was meant to prevent discrimination against people based on their religious or moral beliefs and to protect healthcare workers who do not want to perform abortions.

President's Day Survey: George Bush 36th out of 42

OUCH. Abe is tops, according to historians' rankings. George is near the bottom. Reagan is 10.Read C-SPAN's survey and see the top 10 here:

Based on the results of historians surveyed, George W. Bush received an overall ranking of 36. Among other recent Presidents, Bill Clinton who was ranked 21 in the 2000 survey, advanced six spots in 2009 to an overall ranking of 15; Ronald Reagan moved from 11 to 10; George H.W. Bush went from 20 to 18, and Jimmy Carter's ranking declined from 22 to 25.
As in 2000, C-SPAN was guided in this effort by a team of academic advisors: Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Rice University; Dr. Edna Greene Medford, Associate Professor of History, Howard University; and Richard Norton Smith, Scholar in Residence at George Mason University. The team approved the ten criteria, which were the same used in C-SPAN's 2000 Survey, reviewed the list of invited participants,
and supervised the reporting of the results. Harvey C. Mansfield, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Government at Har

Here's a list of the historians who did the ranking.
Or you can just watch:

Cheney Bush Turned Loose 100s of Guantanamo Detainees

Cheney-Bush released 270 Guantanamo detainees that they at first said were "serious deadly threats." This was mentioned during Leon Panetta's confirmation hearing to head the CIA. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse was making a point on secrecy:

Bush's Biggest Mistake

Bush's biggest mistake: he didn't communicate with Americans. There was ZERO transparency. 
Here he is in a finely compressed video, being himself and bidding farewell to the press today:

Bush Leaves $1.2 Trillion Deficit

Citizens Joining Obama on Whistle Stop Tour

Today, Obama meets with past presidents and tomorrow, he'll give an economic speech. In a few minutes, he's holding a press conference.
Then there's this:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee announced that a group of everyday Americans has been invited by President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden to join them on the Whistle Stop Tour to Washington, D.C. the Saturday before the Inauguration.

These everyday Americans from all walks of life have made extraordinary contributions to the life of this country - the worker who became a champion for workers’ rights, the soldier who became an advocate for servicemen and women suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; those who have lost their jobs and struggle bravely to cope in economic turmoil, and those who work tirelessly to make real the dream of a better future for their children.

“Each one of these families has their own remarkable story to add to our American story, and we’re thrilled they’ve agreed to join us as we travel to Washington,“ said Josh Earnest, PIC Communications Director.

The invited guests include the following: Mark Dowell, Crestwood, KY; Matt Kuntz, Helena, MT; Jim and Alicia Girardeau, Kansas City, MO; Juliana Sanchez, Albuquerque, NM; Rosa Mendoza, Las Vegas, NV; Lisa Hazirjian, Cleveland, OH; Kirsten Meehan, Dover, NH; Roy Gross, Taylor, MI; Shandra Jackson, Arlington, TX; Quincy Lucas, Dover, DE; Patricia Stiles, Parker, CO; Gregg Weaver, Fairless Hills, PA; Tony Fischer, Cinncinati, OH; Lilly Ledbetter, Jacksonville, AL; Mike and Cheryl Fisher, Beech Grove, IN; and Randy Wehrman, LeClair, IA.

The PIC previously announced details of the Whistle Stop Tour. In the tradition of past Presidents-elect, there will be a series of events open to the public as the First and Second families make their way to the nation’s capital. The group of Americans traveling with the Obamas and Bidens will also appear on stage with them at the public events.

In keeping with the theme of the 2009 Inauguration, “Renewing America’s Promise,“ the President-elect and Vice President-elect will hold events in some of the cities instrumental to that promise: Philadelphia, where that promise was realized; Baltimore, where that promise was defended, then immortalized in our national anthem; and Washington, where Americans of all backgrounds will gather over four days, united in common purpose and resolved to renew that promise once more.

Saturday morning, January 17th, President-elect Obama and his family will hold an event in Philadelphia before boarding a train for Wilmington, Delaware, where they will be joined by Vice President-elect Biden and his family. Together, the families will travel to Baltimore and hold another event, before finally arriving in Washington, D.C.

For the latest information on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, please visit www.pic2009.org.

Obama and Bush to Meet Again in January

Update: The White house says the meeting will take place Jan. 7 with Carter, GWHB, Clinton, Bush and Obama.
Original post: 

That's according to CNN. I'd love to sit in on that meeting. I see this as a symbolic message to the world that says the US isn't sinking into a tar pit, because former presidents, republican and democrats, are working together. I'm sure there will be big photo ops.

CNN has learned that President-elect Barack Obama and President Bush have privately agreed to try and come together again in January for a second post-election meeting at the White House, but this time they're inviting the three living former presidents as well.

Two sources familiar with the plans tell CNN that at their first post-election meeting in the Oval Office on Nov. 10, Obama proposed that the two men get together again before the inaugural along with former presidents Jimmy Carter, George Herbert Walker Bush and Bill Clinton.

Bush Will Aid Auto Industry

Bush speaks and speaks and speaks. He sure is getting in his last words.
He's considering all options to bailout Detroit's automakers:

CNN: President Bush said Tuesday that he is "considering all options" in aiding the U.S. auto industry because doing nothing could lead to further economic decline.

"A disorganized bankruptcy could create enormous economic difficulties, further economic difficulties," he said. "I feel a sense of obligation to my successor to make sure there is a not a huge economic crisis. Look, we're in a crisis now. We're in a huge recession, but I don't want to make it even worse."

On the shoe attack:

"I didn't have much time to reflect on anything, I was ducking and dodging," Bush said.

The journalist was "looking for notoriety," Bush said, adding that authorities shouldn't "overact" in their treatment of him.

"First of all, it's got to be one of the most weird moments of my presidency," he said. "Here I am, getting ready to answer questions from a free press in a democratic Iraq, and a guy stands up and throws his shoe. And it was bizarre, and it was an interesting way for a person to express himself."

He added, "I'm not angry with the system. I believe that a free society is emerging, and a free society is necessary for our own security and peace." there's more

White House Dog Barney's Christmas Video

Barney's so cute.

The Best Goodbye Kiss: Shoes

The shoe hurler is being heralded a hero. The man obviously had pent-up anger. It strikes me that the shoe incident is an apt punctuation mark on the Bush presidency. It's not nice to throw shoes, especially at a country's leader, but after 8 years of an administration that didn't listen to anyone, I'd like to throw a shoe, figuratively. I guess I did when I volunteered and voted for Obama.
I don't think anyone will be throwing shoes at Obama. At the very minimum, he commands respect. In case you missed the video, it's here.

Times Online: The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at President Bush during his farewell visit to Baghdad was hailed a hero in the Arab world today as thousands marched to demand his release.

Muntazer al-Zaidi tore off his shoes and flung them at Mr Bush as he stood beside Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, during a press conference in Baghdad's Green Zone yesterday.

"This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq," he shouted before being overpowered by security guards and bundled out of the room.

Bush Surprises Iraq Man Throws Shoe

Bush still says the war was necessary. Read about his final FUs
Here is the shoe hurling. This guy is mad. Bush is a good ducker. He goes on to talk about shoe ducking. 

This video is about his visit.

Update:

George Bush's Library

Funny stuff by way of the Swamp:

Suspend your partisan ties for the moment, and take a virtual tour through the library that the retiring president is planning at the alma mater of the outgoing First Lady, Southern Methodist University. And, when you're finished, design your own room.

There is...

"The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.

"The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.

"The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.

"The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.

"The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.

"The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
Read more.

Here's what Bush said today at West Point. He's talking about his favorite subject, terrorism.

The Election of Barack Obama is Going to Lift Our Spirits

That's what George Bush said, and for the first time, I agree 100% with Bush.
He actually seems human in this video and has kind words to say about Obama:

Bush Never Did Interview With NYT

But he called Rush and did Fox.