Bush: Elites “Didn’t Think I Could Read a Book, Much Less Write One”

[Casino67]

Fox News:

In a rare public appearance, former President George W. Bush talked about life out of the limelight and took a jab at what the "elites" might be thinking of his upcoming book.

"I have written a book. This will come as a shock to some of the elites. They didn't think I could read a book, much less write one," Bush quipped.

Speaking at the University of Mobile in Alabama Thursday night, Bush talked about his memoir "Decision Points," set to be released next month.

"It's about the decisions I made as president, and it's very anecdotal. Here are the stories, and you can decide what you would have done," he was quoted as saying in the the Press-Register of Mobile. The 64-year-old said the tome gives some understanding to the decisions he made on tough issues like the handling of 9/11 and the Iraq war. The president, who has become a target of both Democrats and President Obama since he left office, refused to comment on the current state of political affairs. "You're not going to see me out opining or offering my critique. Frankly, I don't think it's good for the country to have a former president criticize his successor," Bush said.


Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/08/bush-elites-%E2%80%9Cdidn%E2%80%99t-think-i-could-read-book-much-less-write-one%E2%80%9D#ixzz11noBC7O7

[Valin]

They didn't think I could read a book, much less write one," Bush quipped.

 

 

Well what can I say except, so many of the books written by the left are unreadable.

[AceRimmer]

He, His Dad, Laura and Barbara have more class in one toenail than Obambi and Michelle could ever hope to have...

 

[Casino67]

"Frankly, I don't think it's good for the country to have a former president criticize his successor," Bush said.?"

 

Wonder if Carter or 0 will take heed?

[Rheo]

"Frankly, I don't think it's good for the country to have a former president criticize his successor," Bush said.?"

 

Wonder if Carter or 0 will take heed?

That would be an obvious hell no.

 

President Bush has so much class, I love how he gets his point out there, without demeaning the ones doing it.

[Valin]

"Frankly, I don't think it's good for the country to have a former president criticize his successor," Bush said.?"

 

Wonder if Carter or 0 will take heed?

 

 

"I feel that my role as a former president is probably superior to that of other presidents"

James Earl Carter

 

[SrWoodchuck]

"Frankly, I don't think it's good for the country to have a former president criticize his successor," Bush said.?"

 

Wonder if Carter or 0 will take heed?

 

 

"I feel that my role as a former president is probably superior to that of other presidents"

James Earl Carter

 

Valin!

 

This is an obvious reference to the "killer wabbit" episode. I have to point out that for someone like Jimma, who peed himself when startled by his own shadow; the wabbit did have vewy shawp teeth, and evewy disease known to man.

[saveliberty]

Hat for the elites, who use the adverb "unexpectedly" fervently when describing economic conditions since January 2009:

 

[Stella]

I hate to point this out to GWB, but he is one of the elites. His elite background even tops many of those who consider themselves elites. He got degrees from Yale and Harvard.

 

I do miss him and his sense of humor.

[Casino67]

Stella

 

We never had to look up Bush's nostrils when he talked to us.

 

 

[pollyannaish]

Stella

 

You bring up an important point. It seems to me that "elitism" is a word we use interchangeably for a lot of things.

 

I have met many people with elite educations and training that do not act "better" or "smarter" than the blue collar guy down the street and I have met many blue collar type folks who think that the elites don't know anything and are worthless and only think that people like them know anything.

 

What sets an elite (in this sense) apart, in my opinion, is not where one was educated, or what kind of background they have...but the hubris of believing that they know what is best for everyone. The belief that "I" know better what is good for you than you do.

 

In politics, the left is particularly elite in the areas of the best way to manage money and choices relating to lifestyle in the areas of health and energy. The right can be particularly elite about how one should behave relating to social and moral issues such as marriage, end of life issues and traditional values. The elite believe that the choices they make for YOU are the best ones and you should have no say in the matter because, frankly, you are too stupid to make those decisions for yourself. You require their exceptional help in these area.

 

I think what it comes down to is the concept of service. When President Obama said "we are the ones we've been waiting for" it showed a kind of arrogance that said "Well, FINALLY. The right people are here to fix this big mess those stupid people made." His attitude has been one of arrogance, blame-shifting and an inability to see past his own "better" beliefs so he can learn as he goes along. He doesn't seem to be one of us. He blames us for his problems. He whines about his position. He gets angry when is he questioned.

 

President Bush on the the other hand, seemed to understand that he was there to serve and to defend the country and the constitution. He seemed to respect the American people (all of them, even those that disagreed with him) as being the strongest part of the country, not the weakest. He seemed to trust us. He understood that he was beholden to all of us, not just the rightest wing of his own party. And when his chance to do it was over...he just went home confident that he'd done the best he could while it was his to do. There is a spectacular humility to that, really.

 

To me, that is the core difference between the two men. And it has absolutely nothing to do with party...because I believe there have been both kinds, on both sides since the founding of our country.

 

But in the end, it is that kind of "I know how to run your life better than you do elitism" that makes me furious. I mean, really, really button-pushing angry. And it doesn't matter who it comes from. If you want to see me explode...put Barbara Streisand quotes about how we should all live our lives in front of me. And that's the kind of elitism I see in the Obama administration...as they proceed to seriously muck things up.