Oh, I know, it’s awfully early in the morning to post this, but this has been one of life’s little mysteries to me of late. Why so much Cheney and ZERO Bush? This picture reminds me all over again why I don’t miss him. At All. Does he look smashed to you too?
Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton appeared together Friday for the first time as Frank McKenna, a former Canadian ambassador to the United States, moderated a talk on global affairs in Toronto. The two were paid $150,000 each. Photo: TD Bank Financial Group
From the New York Times:
Former President Bill Clinton really misses the presidency. “All of a sudden nobody plays a song,” he told an audience here on Friday, referring to “Hail to the Chief,” the anthem played at presidential events.
Former President George W. Bush hardly misses it at all. “Free at last,” he proclaimed before the same crowd at the Metro Toronto Convention Center. “I like being in Texas, and I do not miss the spotlight.”
Sounds like there were very few sparks at the event. And this is interesting:
Indeed, though rarely reported upon, relations between the two men had begun to thaw significantly midway through Mr. Bush’s second term, after Mr. Bush teamed up Mr. Clinton and his father, the first President George Bush, on relief efforts after the tsunami in Asia and then, Hurricane Katrina.
Aides to Mr. Bush said he warmed to Mr. Clinton as his predecessor formed an affectionate bond with his father.
Mr. Clinton, meanwhile, offered frequent advice, sneaking into the White House for a secret lunch as early as 2007 to discuss Mr. Bush’s postpresidential plans.
Bill Clinton must be nicer than I am, because the only post-presidential advice I would have given Dubya is “eat sh*t and die.” That would have been my presidential advice to him, too.