April 27, 2008
NO ONE'S EVER ENJOYED THE OFFICE MORE:
Bush tweaks candidates at correspondents' dinner: President Bush pokes fun at his potential successors at White House correspondents' dinner (CHRISTINE SIMMONS, 4/26/08, Associated Press)
"Senator McCain's not here," Bush said of GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain. "He probably wanted to distance himself from me a little bit. You know, he's not alone. Jenna's moving out too."Bush then referred to scandals that have dogged the campaigns of the two remaining Democratic candidates, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, in explaining their absence: "Hillary Clinton couldn't get in because of sniper fire and Senator Obama's at church."
Mr. Bush is the first president since TR--including, especially, FDR--who seems ready for a third term. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 27, 2008 8:56 AM
Now, now - you're being obtuse. While Clinton may not have been "ready" for a first term, we know that he lusts after a third.
Bush, like Ford, Reagan, and his father, will walk away from the job with class and detachment.
And the Dems will have to fight over how their former Presidents will be displayed (if at all) in Denver. Quite a difference.
Posted by: ratbert at April 27, 2008 9:55 AMI don't know, OJ. Judging by W's appearances on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball and Deal or No Deal, he seems like a person who is more than willing to say goodbye to this job on 1/20/09. Though those appearances have brought out a human side of W that we could've really seen more of over the last 8 years.
Which brings me to an idea: We know that W has had families of killed soldiers/Marines over at the White House for comforting. We know that W has been subject to the range of emotions, from being given the once-over by a grieving father to crying with a soldier's mother. We've got to think that there are video copies of these meetings. W should really consider releasing those video copies. While it wouldn't help the current political situation, it would surely help foster a more positive political and human legacy for W that would pay dividends in the future.
Posted by: Brad S at April 27, 2008 12:00 PMBeing ready for a third term isn't the same as lusting after it.
Bubba lusts for the perks, Carter, well we know he only lusts in his heart, or some place, I can't remember exactly where.
Posted by: erp at April 27, 2008 12:04 PMCarter lusted for that Peace Prize. The Gospels speak to such things far more than to Bubba's raunch.
Enjoying the job is important if one is to be any good at it. Clinton saved himself here, because if he had been one-tenth as unctuous as the peanut farmer, he would be the Warren Harding of today. Or the Nixon.
Posted by: jim hamlen at April 27, 2008 8:35 PM