Bush: “I don’t want to be out there critiquing him, his every move”
George W. Bush is a rare man and we really should be thankful that he served us the very best he could. In his wide-ranging interview with Captain Interruption Charles Gibson, he said something that, I believe, encapsulates his goodness and humility about as well as it could be done.
GIBSON: How do you mentally adjust for life after January 20th?
BUSH: Check in about February 15th. I don’t know. That’s going to be an — that’s an interesting question. We’ve been in the spotlight now for 14 years. We’ve lived in the Governor’s Mansion and the White House. It’s going to be an interesting adjustment.
GIBSON: Do you talk to yourself in the shower about that?
BUSH: I generally sing in the — no. (Laughter.) No, I’ll begin to think about it — obviously this financial situation makes it really hard to think about what life’s going to be when we get out of here, because I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about people who are losing work, or watching their 401Ks go down.
And I’m confident I’ll adjust, obviously. And I’m beginning to think through what I’m going to do. I intend to write a book. I’m going to build an institute at Southern Methodist University, along with the library and archives. That’s where Laura went, right there in the heart of Dallas. And other than that, I’m just going to take it when it comes. I’d like to — I tell you what I don’t want to do, I don’t want to draw attention to myself. Pretty much had it when it comes to —
GIBSON: You want to withdraw from the limelight?
BUSH: I think so, yes. I’d like to live life without the limelight for a while. I don’t — I think it’s going to be real important for me to get off the stage. We got a new man coming on the stage; I wish him all the very best. And I don’t want to be a — I don’t want to be out there critiquing him, his every move.
[Emphasis mine]
That already sets him apart from the last two Democratic Presidents we’ve had who have spared no opportunity to criticize him, especially to our enemies.
But I really do believe him. On January 20th, George W. Bush will pull a slow fade and perhaps we’ll see him in the national spotlight again the way his father has been – as a representative of the goodness and generosity of our country. You won’t see him making high-profile speeches in the Middle East and he won’t run around legitimizing every tinpot tyrant who whistles for him. He will be gracious, and pleasant, and likeable.
And he will do a lot of good just as he’s done a lot of good for the past eight years. That’s just the kind of guy he is and I’m thankful for him.
Other Posts of Interest:
- “Total Failure”? Hardly.
- Thank You, Mr. President, for Holding Fast to Your Values
- Mr. President, Bring them Back.
Category: President George Bush
