Obama says he's kept in touch with Bush - values the confidence of his predecessors.

[jefferson_dem]

Obama says he's kept in touch with Bush
Posted: 03:55 PM ET

From CNN.com's Kristi Keck

President Obama says he values the confidence of his predecessors.

(CNN) – Despite their opposing political views, President Obama says he’s kept in touch with former President Bush since moving into the White House.

Asked by CSPAN if he’s had any conversation with Bush since the inauguration, Obama replied, “I have.”

“I think that although I've only been president four months, I think a general policy of keeping confidence with your predecessors is important,” Obama said in an interviewed aired Saturday.

Just this week, Obama slammed the Bush administration to taking America “off course” in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack. In a speech on national security Thursday, he said his administration has been forced to deal with “a mess” that was less for them.

Obama told CSPAN that after 9/11, the government “cut too many corners and made some decisions that were contrary to who we are as a people.”

“I think there were adjustments that were made even within the Bush administration to try to deal with some of those mistakes. There are still consequences, though, to some of those earlier poor decisions, and I think Guantanamo was one of them. And it's a messy situation. It's not easy,” he said.

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http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/23/obama-says-hes-kept-in-touch-with-bush/

[Cha]

1. I like the

way he tries to keep everyone in the loop whether they take good advantage of it or not.

[Deja Q]

3. Bush is irrelevant; doesn't the world hate him or something?

Then again, thanks to Chavez doing his extortion stunt a few weeks back...

I'm ambivalent, but it still is logical to at least understand the mindset of one's predecessor and gain their confidence.

[Deja Q]

2. So when he said to the press dude "I like to know what I'm talking about",

which was a hidden dig at Bush*, and while Bush* knew some pertinent things, why can't the President keep confidence with the people as well?

[Drunken Irishman]

4. He said he would during their meeting prior to his inauguration.

I do agree that it's important the current president keeps in touch with past presidents. They are the only people on the planet who know what you're going through.

But it's surprising at just how few former presidents we have left:

Bush
Clinton
Bush
Carter

It's very possible by the time Obama's second term is up -- if he's elected, there will only be Clinton, Bush and Obama.

[Cha]

6. And, It's Obama's MO to

keep the communication going.

[lapfog_1]

5. I wonder if Bush has admitted to Obama

that his biggest mistake as President was choosing Dick Cheney as Veep?

[jenmito]

7. "...I think a general policy of keeping confidence with your predecessorS is important,"

He was only asked about Bush. I see nothing wrong in having conversations with your predecessors (including, but not limited, to Bush). He called him to inform him before giving a speech on his Iraq policy IIRC. What's wrong with that? He never claimed that he took or asked for ADVICE from Bush. I saw the interview on C-Span this morning.

[MADem]

8. Common courtesy. It's why Bush talked to Clinton, and Clinton to Big Bush...etc.

About the only one who didn't get a lot of calls was Reagan, because his dementia was progressing so rapidly.

But when you think about it, it's a small club--Carter, Big Bush, Clinton, Baby Bush, and Obama--only five guys who know what it feels like.

"They" say (and I believe "them") that membership in that small club can mitigate a lot of the sharp edges. The political differences are still there, and they're real, but the civility factor is pumped up because it's such an exclusive membership...!

[TahitiNut]

9. "The girls found another one of your stashed bottles of Jack Daniels. Should we send it to you?"

:evilgrin:

[Raine1967]

10. To which Bush Replied:

Damn that Jenna!

:rofl:

[ClarkUSA]

11. "George, I need some advice -- on what's the best bag to use when picking up dog poop."

[blueclown]

12. War criminals are best left ignored. n/t

[TankLV]

13. Well THAT explains a lot...

STOP TALKING TO THE WAR CRIMINALS!!!