GWB Displays More Class Than BHO

[thegladhatter]

Obama never misses a chance to point out any flaws in the previous administration. But GWB has ten times more class than BHO has ever even had a chance to rub elbows with.

Bush refuses to criticize Obama in Canada

Mar 17, 6:14 PM (ET)

By ROB GILLIES
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) - Former President George W. Bush says he won't criticize President Barack Obama because Obama "deserves my silence," and says he plans to write a book about the 12 toughest decisions he made in office. Bush's speech Tuesday at a luncheon in Calgary, Alberta was his first since leaving office.
He declined to comment about the Obama administration like former Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney said Sunday that Obama's decisions are threatening the nation's safety.
Bush says he doesn't know what he'll do in the long term but says he'll write a book that will let people determine what they would have done if their most important job was to protect the country.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090317/D97021CO0.html

[drunken monkey]

Now hold on a minute.
GWB refuses to criticise Obama at this moment in time and you say he has class but Carville declined to speak his views against GWB at a time when GWB deserved his silence and you use that as an example of double standard?

[thegladhatter]

#1. Carville is not a former president.
#2. Carville can say ANYTHING he wants.
#3. The issue involving Carville was completely different. It was regarding the Left's desire to silence the conservatives. I am not trying to silence ANYONE. I just think things should be fair and balanced.
#4. It is generally a point of etiquet for the sitting pres to not slam the out-going pres, and vise versa. BHO wouldn't understand.
#5. You're reaching.

[drunken monkey]

here in the UK, the major parties happliy criticise other parties' actions for many many years after the fact right down to serving Members of Parliament have to apologise for past generations' actions if demanded.

Incidentally, it was specifically the later Carville/press incident that you mentioned that I am talking about; not the Obama wanting to silence Limbaugh issue that I have to say, I agree with you about.

I just don't understand how one individual gets praise for his choice of silence and the other opted for the same choice at a similar juncture and you use that against him and his party.

[thegladhatter]

...again....and I'll type real slow for you...
Limbaugh was lambasted by the left for wanting BHO to fail. It is understandable for Limbaugh to feel that way because he wants Marxism to fail.

This set off a firestorm of negativity from the left. They wanted conservatives silenced. "How dare they wish for our messiah to fail?!?"

Left leaning mouthpieces continually let their feelings be known during the Bush era. They were absolutely gleeful when things in Iraq were tough. I think they enjoyed seeing flag-draped coffins returning so they could use the images as leftist antiBush propaganda.

[drunken monkey]

Yes.
I got that bit.
And again, I'm not talking about Limbaugh.

Carville, on hearing of the attacks on the Twin Towers decided to hold his peace because it was the right thing to do at that time.
Does this mean Carville has as much "class" as GWB, especially seeing as he can, as you pointed out, say whatever he wants?

[thegladhatter]

I don't know that I can be any more clear on this, but I will try.

My issue is/was NOT with Carville. I LIKE Carville. He is wrong more often than not but I find him engaging and humorous. His wife is much more right than be is, but that is beside the point.

My issue was that the left thought/thinks it's okay to with the conservative failure on the country, but the right can not express their views. That is all. Carville can (and will) say any damn thing he wants, anytime he wants. Rush should be safe doing the same thing.

That's all I'm trying to say about that...

But....In THIS country....it is generally accepted that former presidents DON'T rag on sitting presidents and vise versa. The UK is a different country, in a different continent, and often on a different planet .

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by bagwanshrirashnish

My issue is/was NOT with Carville. I LIKE Carville. He is wrong more often than not but I find him engaging and humorous.

Ahh, then I apologise because I never picked up on that amidst the general criticism of the Democrats.

One thing though, is it fair for you to then use him as an example of the left openly criticising GWB, considering that while he harboured criticisms of GWB, especially when in that example, he didn't say anything?

[thegladhatter]

What's good for Limbaugh is good for Carville.

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by bagwanshrirashnish

What's good for Limbaugh is good for Carville.

That's the bit I never quite got from the other thread because as, the article says, Carville didn't actually say anything at that point.
That's what confused me.

Again, as I said before, I'm not a believer in political censorship.

[ericn1300]

Who cares what Carville or Rush say. GWB is silent because it's a tradition that no former president speaks out against the sitting president.

[BNaylor]

Whether you like or hate Bush he does follow a code of honor which IMO is important and an indicator of character. The link and article posted doesn't tell the whole story. Here is a better one with more detail.

Source: StarTribune/AP

"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.

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

Link to Article

In contrast Obama is blaming Bush and ramping up the rhetoric. That could prove to be double edged sword and he is losing Republican support as a result. The bottom line is it is Obama's watch now.

Source: Washington Post
Obama's New Tack: Blaming Bush

In his inaugural address, President Obama proclaimed "an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics."

It hasn't taken long for the recriminations to return -- or for the Obama administration to begin talking about the unwelcome "inheritance" of its predecessor.

His approval ratings remain strong -- above 60 percent, according to the most recent Gallup poll -- but have dropped from their highs almost entirely because of falling support among Republicans since he took office.

Link to Article

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

Who cares what Carville or Rush say. GWB is silent because it's a tradition that no former president speaks out against the sitting president.

that, I wasn't aware of.
There seems to be a tradition of accountability here that means a party leader never truely escapes for his/her party's past actions that perhaps I'm too used to. Of course, there have been times when certain subject matters have been deliberately ignored when it could be damaging but that is more down to the individual.

[BNaylor]

Jimmy Carter had no issues speaking out against G.W. Bush so the above really doesn't hold true. The part that gets me is when Carter claimed Bush was the worst President ever. Speaking of the pot calling the kettle black. Carter still takes top honors for being one of the worst.

The sad part is Carter is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and failed to grasp the meaning of honor.

Breaking tradition, Carter rips Bush's policies
Gannett News Service

WASHINGTON — Former President Jimmy Carter said Thursday that "fundamentalism" under George W. Bush has resulted in a "dramatic and profound and unprecedented change" in American policy that threatens the United States at home and abroad.

Link to Article