I liken the Bush visit to the WH to the aging pilot who wanted to sit in the cockpit of an old plane

[bigtree]

I'M proud that President Obama, our Democratic president, isn't as petty and vindictive as many of his opponents have been throughout his term and has enough class and grace to welcome former President Bush and his son into the White House. They are in town for a press social event (Alfalfa Club) they'll both be attending and were invited in for a 'personal' visit.

I think that President Obama provides a good example for the nation, in that, he demonstrates through quality gestures like this that our politics doesn't necessarily need to be waged on a personal level. Treating each other with respect and comity doesn't preclude our acting on principle, or following through on our aspirations or responsibilities; even if obvious conflicts and differences do exist between us.

In light of the certainly unprecedented level of disrespect and public insult displayed by public officials and others seeking public office toward this President and his presidency, Barack Obama's natural and genuine forbearance against responding in kind is its own beacon and appeal to our humanity. That's a quality that's sorely lacking in our debates and interactions inside and outside of the political arena.

Bravo to President Obama for his kind gesture in inviting the Bushes for a White House visit; even if it is just a mere buoy of hope in an ocean of political animosity and deliberate divisiveness.

[rfranklin]

1. Bush Sr. giving his son a look at the office he'll be occupying in four years...

Pretty sure that's what the plan is. By then Bush Jr. will be forgotten by the American voters.

[bigtree]

2. not as if he hasn't seen it before

. . . from a more inviting viewpoint.

[Life Long Dem]

23. Your not helping this rumor any.

[TheWraith]

42. Not a chance.

I think the Bush name is toxic for the foreseeable future.

In any event, I REALLY don't get all the people having a fit over the fact that Obama did what every other President does and respectfully hosted a former POTUS. Hell, Bush Jr. hosted Jimmy Carter for a visit.

[rhett o rick]

46. Yes they are, after all, all part of one big family, the 1%. nm

[dsc]

50. He did?

I have to admit I don't recall a solo visit by Carter to the Bush Jr. White House. Incidently, I don't disparage Obama for having Bush there but I am astounded at the idea that Carter got a solo invite by Bush.

[TheWraith]

56. I doubt Bush reached out to Carter and offered.

But as a rule any time a former President feels like visiting, it's protocol to roll out the red carpet for them.

[Paka]

3. My President has class. n/t

[madokie]

4. And that is one of the reasons I call him My President also.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. That's one of the things I like most about him

I don't get how some people say that he is "divisive" and/or "thin-skinned" with a straight face.

[bigtree]

6. projection, maybe

I'm sure the fact that he's likely to best them, intellectually and otherwise, puts some folks in opposition on the defensive.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. I'm sure

I've learned to not be too surprised or shocked at the ability of right-wingers to be hypocritical and/or project their own faults on us- I just get upset about the fact that there are some people whom are so easily swayed into believing what they are saying.

[highplainsdem]

7. Agreed. K&R!

[LynneSin]

9. I liken it to keeping your friends close and your enemies closer

nuff said

[lonestarnot]

10. Then you can frame the picture. I won't be.

[monmouth]

11. I don't think it's any secret that H.W. likes POTUS and Jeb does too. What's not to like??? n/t

[T S Justly]

12. The son and grandson, and ideological heirs, of a Nazi should not be allowed anywhere near the WH.

Or, in America.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar

[bigtree]

13. kick

[jwirr]

14. Given the disrespect that President Obama is getting from so many rethugs. This is going to help

him in the long run. His behavior is perfect.

[bigtree]

19. the contrast

. . . is indeed perfect.

[MadHound]

15. You can liken it to whatever you want, the fact remains

That this was simply another meeting of the 1%.

[bigtree]

17. you'd think that, by now,

. . . you'd have something more substantive than yet another mostly meaningless conflation of a Bush and Obama.

I give that a 2 on the Obama/Bad scale.

[MadHound]

30. What isn't substantive in my post?

Obama is a member of the 1%, as are the Bushes(and Clintons for that matter). They were also having a meeting in the White House. What isn't substantive about that?

[bigtree]

31. it's meaningless rhetoric

. . . it tells me almost nothing about them except their income bracket. It's one of those slices of rhetoric which sounds better with a few hurrahs and back-slaps behind it.

You need some +1,00000's or something like that to give it a boost.

[rhett o rick]

47. I have something supstantive to say. Your adoration of the Bush Crime Family is sickening. They are

enemies of WeThePeople and yet Pres Obama caters to them.

By the way, you will be happy to know that the police are brutalizing Occupy Oakland.

[bigtree]

51. there's no 'adoration' here at all. You're just a fool for trying to suggest so.

You've apparently no reading comprehension beyond whatever suits your own bias against this president and his supporters.

There's no 'catering' here at all. I'm not surprised, though, to see you equate common decency with some sort of capitulation. I shudder at the thought of the type of society, that you apparently would support, which regarded the petty politics we sometimes practice, as some sort of noble enterprise worth emulating.

Recognizing that you know absolutely nothing substantive about me personally, I'm going to regard your comments as a reflection of your own ignorant politics, rather than try and rebut the rest of your nasty, arrogant comments. What a hoot that you can sit wherever you are and think you can credibly make these judgments. You don't deserve anyone paying a wit of attention to your nonsense.

Don't bother responding to this as if I'm actually reading your bullshit. You can go back to talking to yourself and whoever will give you hurrahs and back-slaps for your juvenile insults.

[rhett o rick]

53. You call letting war crimes go unpunished as "common decency".

Go ahead and call me a fool if that's where you are.

[Edweird]

16. Wow.

[UTUSN]

18. The aging pilot longing to crash one more plane. R.I.P, the crew. Who's next - Mc5planes?!1 n/t

[bigtree]

20. that was 'W'

During the Second World War (H.W. Bush) served on 58 missions from 1942 to 1945 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

[Brother Buzz]

29. GHWB was shot down and rescued by the navy

His three crew members didn't survive.

[bigtree]

34. huh

you'd think I'd remember that, but it would have come to me in a newspaper or magazine when it was part of his campaign. Go figure. Fucking war.

[Brother Buzz]

38. During Junior's war, we saw photos of GHWB jumping out of planes on his birthday

He was practiced

[UTUSN]

41. Thanks. n/t

[opihimoimoi]

21. His AUROA of POSITIVITY breaks down barriers....he gonna killum this Nov...

[bigtree]

25. !!!

[rhett o rick]

48. A real tough guy. Can kill by drone, but wont give a shite about the homeless in his

own country. Appoints all Wall Streeters and effectually says fu to Main Street.

But you can gloat, because we have no choice. It's Wall Street Obama or Wall Street Mittens. Yes this is Democracy.

[lunatica]

22. What are the teabaggers saying and I'll tell you why the photo was released

[Major Nikon]

24. Once you become president, you're part of an exclusive club

Once a sitting president leaves office, they tend to put at least part of their partisanship away and respect whoever is in office simply for the challenges they face and all understand. Most presidents tend to work towards the transition from politician to statesman after they leave office.

[alphafemale]

43. Most exclusive club in the history of the world.

I think George the elder has been very gregarious to both Clinton and Obama. I think george the lesser wants to forget he ever had the job.

[Major Nikon]

44. He still lives in Dallas

I see him and Pickles every now and then at the Rangers games. I don't think they spend much time at the pig farm. He bought it in 1999 to appear more like a man of the soil to the rubes.

[malaise]

26. Except that this old pilot wants

that other son to Occupy said WH

[Major Nikon]

45. He can want in one hand, shit in the other. See which one fills up first

The GOP won't even have Jeb, and everyone else is sick of the Bush crime syndicate.

[rhett o rick]

49. And yet Pres Obama welcomes them. nm

[Rex]

27. Who is that peeking over Poppy's shoulder?

The bust, who might that be?

[bigtree]

28. bust of Churchill out

MLK in . . .

[Rex]

33. That was my guess!

Thanks!

[whatchamacallit]

32. Spinning like a top...

Last edited Sat Jan 28, 2012, 03:21 PM - Edit history (1)

"Quick, we have to square our "reason for voting for Obama" - fear and loathing of evil republicans - with this disturbing picture!"

[Rex]

35. A former POTUS talking to the current POTUS

with a former governor should raise no alarms, unless we are supposed to read more into this...which would be silly.

[whatchamacallit]

36. You're right it's silly

It's not like they have any influence, or Obama would protect, adopt, and expand their policies or anything...

[bigtree]

37. you mean, they'd actually plot whatever in front of the cameras and all

. . . instead of just doing it in a phone call (using their secret 1%er Rolex phones) or something less obtrusive (like carrier pigeons with messages scrawled on $100 dollar bills)?

That's just silly, whatchamacallit.

[whatchamacallit]

39. What do you mean, they've been operating in the open since before 9/11

They even published a manifesto: http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf

[bigtree]

40. well that's just ignorant

that won't qualify for silly

[Honeycombe8]

52. This is a good thing & has been traditionally done, except by Obama. I suspect he did this...

in response to criticism that he hasn't done this in the past.

This is a good, respectful thing. Respectful of prior Presidents and of the office of the Presidency. Both of those men were elected by our country at different points in time, and they should speak. Many things are different, but some things stay the same. And it can only be helpful for the current President to keep communications open with the only few people in the world who understand what he's gone through in the last few years. But I doubt Poppy is one to give advice or even his opinion. He has stated before that's not what he's about, that he did his service, and it's over.

I'm glad Obama is at least tryiing to reach out to people, whoever they may be. The Clintons and the Bushes are big friends.

[woolldog]

54. Obama reminds me a lot of Bush I

On a personal level I like both of them.

[aquart]

55. Wheelchair? since when?

Nobody has matching posture. But both Jeb and Obama are protecting their private parts.