by Mark Silva
George W. Bush cannot get over the affection for Elvis Presley that the former president's onetime counterpart from Japan displayed at Graceland.
Bush, making his first overseas appearance as a former president and appearing in Boao, China, today for the Boao Forum, joked about life after the White House - picking up after his dog in neighborhood walks in Dallas, for instance.
Speaking of dogs: Bush shared some of his fondest moments with foreign leaders, such as the time he listened to then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sing Presley's "Hound Dog" while visiting Graceland.
After leaving the White House and moving into his retirement home in Dallas, Bush set out to walk his Scottish terrier Barney. He brought a bag - a good-neighbor requirement and an ironic emblem as well, it seemed to him:
"I was picking up what I had been dodging for eight years," Bush said.
After leaving the presidency in January, he said, he had plopped down on a sofa and proclaimed, "Free at last."
Wife Laura Bush told him: "You're free to do the dishes.''
As he had in an earlier appearance in Calgary, Canada, Bush refrained from any direct criticism of his successor, President Barack Obama, and indeed pointed to the outcome of the election as a sign: "He was not my first choice, but now that this election was made, it speaks volumes about the United States of America.''
The Associated Press contributed.
Comments
"Bush, making his first overseas appearance as a former president and appearing in Boao, China,"
Now would be a great time to arrest the war criminal (Bush) and put him on trial.
Posted by: Drago G | April 18, 2009 1:33 PM
""I was picking up what I had been dodging for eight years," Bush said. "
S/B: " I am finally having to pick up what I have been creating these last eight years". "I long for the days Turdblossom covered my back, and took care of whatever I created as being the "other" guys fault!"
Posted by: barkleyg | April 18, 2009 4:01 PM
Drago,
Name the crime.
Posted by: Terry | April 18, 2009 4:54 PM
He let the liberals and progressives in our government go bonkers and spent too much. His last two years in office he let the Dems. in Congress nearly destroy our economy. Should have stayed more conservative. He never blamed America or Clinton and has quietly refrained from any Obama criticism. A classy gent, who stayed above the vile and deceitful hate from the liberal MSM and the confused, mislead, free lunch mentality of the left who are now happy with the socialist inspired agenda brought to them on their children's and grandchildren's dime. Never heard him disparage Americans or America. History will judge him well.
Posted by: bubba Porter | April 18, 2009 5:36 PM
Terri,
TORTURE!
.
Posted by: Drago G | April 18, 2009 6:02 PM
It's had to believe that in just eight short years the BushCo Republicans have gone from holding power in the White House and both branchs of Congress to being a bunch of tin foil paranoids who stand on the sidelines shaking their teabags and screaming that the sky is going to fall if we don't listen to them.
The GOP may be an empty black hole as a political party nowadays but the comedy material they provide us with is priceless.
Posted by: Hulk Smash! | April 18, 2009 7:03 PM
Hey China!
If you want to improve relations with the US you could do us a big favor and arrest and imprison Bush the war criminal while he's over there.
Best Wishs and Thank you from America and the World
Posted by: Borat | April 18, 2009 7:40 PM
Drago,
If BO isn't going to prosecute the actual CIA operatives that did the alledged "torture", why would a another country prosecute a former president of that country?
Even the loons in Spain back down.
Go whine about something else.
Posted by: Terry | April 18, 2009 10:51 PM
Just four years for Obama.
Vote out: his bashing of America in Europe, accepting Latin American criticism of America and sending American taxpayers' money to those nations.
Tired of this guy after only 100 days. He's a kid, who Rahm Emanuel pushed into the water, he can't swim and he's grabbing onto anyone or anthing that can keep him afloat. Unfortunately, he's drowning the whole country while he flails around seeking "level" ground.
He's out in 2012. And vote out his cronies in 2010 to balance Congress.
The only difference Obama has made is flattening our wallets and handing our money over to those who don't work and nations who bitch-slap us around.
Obama is a neophyte being directed by those out of his league. It is clear that they are all floundering. He can't, and they aren't keeping America safe.
Posted by: Roddy | April 19, 2009 9:08 AM
Well, it was a field trip of sorts.
He did a little research on past Chinese dynasties to see if there are any pointers for the Bush Dynasty.
Only conclusion he came to: elections are inconvenient things.
Jebidiah would have a tough time running against Obama in '12.
But the main point was: $$$$. How much, and from which Chinese oligarchs?
Might have been a bit of a disappointment in that dept., however, since Replican prospects are so very dim at the moment.
Posted by: ornery | April 19, 2009 9:14 AM
Bubba:
There were numerous times when Bush and people in his administration whined about President Clinton and blamed him for the political and economic problems that Dubya faced.
Deal with the truth.
Posted by: BC | April 19, 2009 1:23 PM