• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

Bush is staying out of politics

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter

Attachments

  • Picture 3.png
    Picture 3.png
    250.1 KB · Views: 149

thcri

Gone But Not Forgotten
I wonder why? I know he has stayed out of Politics but I would think in this case he would want to go? I am somewhat confused.
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I dunno.

Seems to me that if both Bush/Obama went then it would not be a 'political' event but rather would be an American event. Then again, maybe Bush believes Obama would politicize it and criticize Bush? I really don't know.
 

loboloco

Well-known member
Bush honestly believes that former presidents should stay completely out of the political arena. He declines invitations to many events because they might be construed as political. Unlike other former presidents he has a little bit of respect for his position and tries to act with a little dignity.
 

pirate_girl

legendary ⚓
GOLD Site Supporter
I think Bush should have accepted the invitation.
Like you said Bob, it could have been an American event, vs political, but that's not the way things work in this country now.
After all, who better to be by Obama's side than Bush at Ground Zero for crying out loud.
Perhaps Bush is showing some class and allowing O to have his moment in all this.
 

ki0ho

Active member
GOLD Site Supporter
Ya dont supose it is because GW is a man of his word???? maby a class act?:biggrin:
 

JEV

Mr. Congeniality
GOLD Site Supporter
Obama's visit to Ground Zero will be nothing more than a campaign stop. He has failed to acknowledge his predecessor's contributions in laying the foundation which made it possible to get Bin Laden, and is acting like he is the great strategist and mastermind of this action. No small wonder Bush would stay away, so as to not get caught up in aura surrounding from the messiah. True leaders give credit where credit is due. Politicians act like they do it all themself. Could be why Obama didn't get a bump in his poll numbers following Bin Laden's capture/demise. Maybe even his own supporters see the magnitude of his ego, and his unwillingness to give credit where credit is due. Actually, if Obama had his way, Bin Laden would never have been caught, because Obama wanted all prisons holding muslim extremists shut down, and all information gathering techniques abolished. Seems he wants to protect his peeps from harm. JMHO
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
GWB said he wanted to stay out of the spotlight. That is what he is doing.

Looks like Obama did get a little bump in the polls according to the NYT.


New York Times/CBS Poll Finds Rise in Obama's Poll Numbers After Bin Laden Raid

Support for President Obama has risen sharply following the
killing of Osama bin Laden by American military forces in
Pakistan, with a majority now approving of his overall job
performance, as well as his handling of foreign policy, the
war in Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism, according to
the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The glow of national pride seemed to rise above partisan
politics, as support for the president rose significantly
among both Republicans and independents. In all, 57 percent
said they now approved of the president's job performance, up
from 46 percent last month.

But euphoria was tempered by a sense of foreboding: more than
six in 10 Americans said that killing Bin Laden was likely to
increase the threat of terrorism against the United States in
the short term. A large majority also said that the Qaeda
leader's death did not make them feel any safer. Just 16
percent said they personally felt more safe now.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/politics/05poll.html?emc=na

 

grizzer

New member
Bush is correct in staying away.

Obama will make this a re-election checkpoint.

Bush has said he will attend the 10 year anniversary of the dead.
 

CityGirl

Silver Member
SUPER Site Supporter
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ba2z3U7vLs&feature=fvwkrel"]YouTube - Obama Announces Bin Ladens Death (LIVE)[/ame]


Obama announcing death of Bin Laden said:
Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.

It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.


And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.


On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.

We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda -- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.


Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.


Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.


And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.

Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.


Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.

For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.


Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must –- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad.


As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.

Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.


Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.


The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.


So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.


Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.


We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.


Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.


And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.


The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.


Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.


I get that Obama is not liked or appreciated by many but where are people getting the idea that he has taken credit for himself? Were these same words to have tumbled out of GWB's mouth, this type of posting would not be taking place on this forum. Obama is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If he fails to act as commander in chief he is a spineless wussie. When he acts as commander and chief he is a usurper of credit. For heaven's sake, folks....even a blind squirrel gets a nut every now and then and the clock is right twice a day and all that jazz....

Step away from the false left/right paradigm for just a minute, will ya?
 
I totally agree with you CG. I didn't vote for Obama and I won't vote for him in 2012 either. But every little thing he does is criticized. Bin Laden is dead. Obama gave the go ahead for the mission. He is the President of the United States. Give a little credit where credit is due. You still don't have to like him or his politics.
 

pirate_girl

legendary ⚓
GOLD Site Supporter

If he fails to act as commander in chief he is a spineless wussie. When he acts as commander and chief he is a usurper of credit.

When has he acted as a commander in chief?
Oh wait, why yes.. for the first time ever... slightly, in recent days.
 

waybomb

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
For whatever reason, I don't recall any gwb speech dotted with so many "I"s. GWB tended to use we and us etc.

Again, perception - I am not going to waste a bunch of time pulling up every speech of both guys and count percentages of "I"s to "we"s. etc.
 

CityGirl

Silver Member
SUPER Site Supporter
For whatever reason, I don't recall any gwb speech dotted with so many "I"s. GWB tended to use we and us etc.

Again, perception - I am not going to waste a bunch of time pulling up every speech of both guys and count percentages of "I"s to "we"s. etc.


It tends to happen when one is on the defensive...

"I am not a muslim."

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."

:w00t2:
 
Top