GOP to Bush: Don't Let the Door Hit You On the Way Out (by John Nichols for The Nation)

[marmar]

BLOG | Posted 06/06/2007 @ 12:19am
GOP to Bush: Don't Let the Door Hit You On the Way Out


Tuesday night's Republican presidential debate was, for the most part, a polite affair. Candidates frequently spoke of how much they agreed with their opponents. They acknowledged that, despite differences on issues as fundamental as abortion rights, they would back one another against any Democrat in November, 2OO8. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney took the wind out of his mild criticisms of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain when he kept referring to his fellow front runners as "my friend."

But the candidates did not go entirely soft when it came to taking partisan potshots.

There was one Republican who suffered a trashing: George W. Bush.

When the candidates were asked how they would "use" the outgoing president in their administrations, the responses were breathtaking.

Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo, an outspoken foe of the Bush administration's immigration policies, told the story of a call he got from White House political czar Karl Rove during a dust-up on the issue several years ago. Tancredo said an angry Rove told him to "never darken the door of the White House."

"I've been so disappointed in the president in so many ways," said Trancredo, who complained about the administration's immigration, education and prescription-drug policies before asserting that, "As president, I would have to tell George Bush exactly the same thing that Karl Rove told me"

Yikes.

That's not a policy difference. That's hate.

But even the Republicans who supposedly like Bush played the president's failures for laughs. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=202538

[izzie]

1. Well Bush is hardly a real GOP person he just used the party

And the creeps hung on and hang on as some all do when some one has power. It is hardly the belief but the power that is the come on. Just watch the flip flops now in that party. One can change ones mind over the years but it is not the same as flipping on some thing for votes. Like father Bush and the womens right thing. One day he is for a womens right rs and the next he is not. That day he moved on to the ticket as Vice. As Bush loses power why would these guys stay around?

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. this was the most interesting part of the whole debate

it's a shame that the field didn't give better answers.

What exactly is going to happen to this guy once he leaves office? He's not going to travel the world as an ambassador - everybody hates him. He can't make college tours - college kids hate him. He can't be a leader or advocate for any one issue - he doesn't know enough about any issue to do that.

What is he going to do for the rest of his life? Clear brush on his ranch?

He'll probably be a corporate consultant or something for an oil company, ala Guiliani, and stay as far away from the public eye as possible.

[wakeme2008]

3. IMHO Bush will not be a Bill Clinton and get $100,000 + to

speak....

[tanyev]

4. OMG. Can you imagine anyone paying to hear that man massacre the English language?

I wouldn't even go if somebody paid me.