Bush declines Obama invite to Ground Zero

[BostonPirate]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...ines-obama-invite-to-ground-zero/#more-157805

“President Bush will not be in attendance on Thursday. He appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight,” said spokesman David Sherzer. “He continues to celebrate with all Americans this important victory in the war on terror.”
Obama’s visit to the primary target of the 9/11 attacks will come four days after he announced bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Obama will also meet with families who lost relatives during the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
A senior Obama administration official added to CNN that Bush "was invited but is not able to come. Which we of course understand."
Bush’s decision not to attend the ceremony comes amid statements from several of his administrations top officials that the former president deserves significant praise for the capture of bin Laden.

This is a wrong decision on Bush's part. The nation needs to see the two of those men standing together as the congress goes about the business of the debt ceiling and the 2012 budget.

I think it may be a bit if sour grapes on Bush's part....

A recent Washington Post pew poll suggests Americans are giving more credit to President Obama than Bush for the killing of the most sought after terrorist
More than three out of four Americans said Obama deserves a great deal or “some” credit while 51 percent said the same about Bush.

 

[hotatlboi]

I think it may be a bit if sour grapes on Bush's part....

While it would have been a nice gesture to see both men together on this occasion, I find no evidence to support this idea.

Bush has been staying out of the picture since his presidency ended. If he says he doesn't want to do this to remain consistent in that, I can't see any reason to doubt the truth of that statement.

 

[White Eagle]

I think he doesn't want to face NYC and be called the war criminal that he is.

 

[BostonPirate]

While it would have been a nice gesture to see both men together on this occasion, I find no evidence to support this idea.

Bush has been staying out of the picture since his presidency ended. If he says he doesn't want to do this to remain consistent in that, I can't see any reason to doubt the truth of that statement.

He's going to be there for the 10 year aniversary in just a few months, so he's being selectively "discreet"....

 

[MisterMajestic]

President Obama extended an invitation to Dubya & Bill...Both made excuses...

I WISH Barack would stop trying to be NICE to people that do not like him....He gets on my nerves with that...

Did he really think Dubya and Billy-boy would actually follow behind him @ Ground Zero while he takes a Victory-lap?...Give me a break....

 

[Kulindahr]

You have to forgive Dubya's absence, for, you see, he recently had a family friend die.

Someone went hunting with Cheney?

 

[BostonPirate]

Someone went hunting with Cheney?

I now have a nose full of Dr Pepper!! LMAO!

 

[Orlandude]

While it would have been a nice photo op to see all 3 President's there, this is planned only as a laying of a wreath with no speeches. Afterwards, Obama is meeting with 9/11 victim families privately.

 

[hotatlboi]

I now have a nose full of Dr Pepper!! LMAO!

They should have gotten Cheney to shoot Bin Laden in the face. He doesn't miss!

 

[mbamike]

At least Obama invited him. IMO, that is more than "W" would have done.

 

[hotatlboi]

He doesn't kill either.

haha touche

 

[ibill1]

I would think Obama knew neither would attend. It's just political decorum to extend an invite, I would think.

 

[thevofl]

He's going to be there for the 10 year aniversary in just a few months, so he's being selectively "discreet"....

I think the two situations are not the same. One is about now; it is Obama's moment. Bush does not want take away from him that spotlight.

The second one is more of a reflection of history.

I think it is classy that Obama asked, and I think it is classy that Bush declined.

 

[chance1]

Classy invite

Classy and consistent thanks but no on GWB's part

This can no be construed as anything but genuine on his part - it's the way he is - he is not in the limelight like Bill Clinton

Also thinking this is his way of actually saying to Obama, you did it - it's your moment

disagree with his politics - fair game

but this is a personal decision that is consistent with his post presidency activity

wish he had gone though - woulda been a good thing

and post writing - swear to god did not see above comments prior to writing mine - we are just on the same page

 

[Lostlover]

it might have been a better political decision on Bush's part to attend, but I take him at his word when he said he's done with politics.

Bush probably doesn't want to do anything except hang out on his ranch drinking beer and watching nascar.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...at-ground-zero/2011/05/03/AFfL9rjF_story.html

He did that in the White House.

And for the BS about not making it political, since when did Ground Zero become political? How political is it for a democratic president to meet up with his GOP predecessor to meet the families of the victims.

 

[rareboy]

Well isn't that a hoot.

We're co-incidentally going to be at Ground Zero tomorrow; giving a tour of the ongoing construction to some friends....we never expected it would be the same day that Obama would decide to pop by after Osama got his skull blown apart.

I've got a chub just thinking about how exciting it will be to finally visit the site knowing that bin Laden took a hunk of lead through the eye....and that it was the last thing he saw coming.

Hopefully Obama isn't staying at the same hotel too or we'll never get room service.

I will be so pissed off if anyone ruins this weekend for us.

Like September 11, 2001....when we were just on our way down to NY for a few days....

And Bush can't be bothered.

 

[BostonPirate]

I think the plan is to lay a wreath, say a prayer and then meet with the families in private to answer any questions they may have about the operation that killed Bin Laden.

 

[Lostlover]

Obama's going down there to meet with victims.

it might be a showing of bipartisanship for Bush to be there, but do you really think the 9/11 victims' families feel like dealing with all the anti-Bush protestors that would invariably spring up?

So now you're the designated spokeperson for the victims? And since when does the presence of protesters prevent a former president from doing the right thing? I remember Bush saying that he's glad people have the freedom of expression unlike in Saddam's right before a planned trip to London for a conference.

Tsk. Tsk. Excuses. Excuses.

 

[Lostlover]

I'm only providing illustrations for the myriad of probable reasons for why Bush isn't going.


if Bush were going, you'd accuse him of trying to get free publicity for book sales.

I wouldn't. However for those that would say that, maybe they'd be on to something. He's only popped up twice since leaving, to help Haiti and to promote his book.

Just think about what you're defending. President Obama attempts to make this a bipartisan meeting and Bush replies, "no thank you, protesters might be there."

This is evidence of the megalomaniac that the psychiatrist (MD) author of Bush on the Couch wrote extensively about. Protesters are challenging Bush's weak 2-D world view. Bush probably has closure on this with Osama's killing. Right has triumphed over wrong. Case closed in his book.

 

[JB3]

I wouldn't. However for those that would say that, maybe they'd be on to something. He's only popped up twice since leaving, to help Haiti and to promote his book.

Just think about what you're defending. President Obama attempts to make this a bipartisan meeting and Bush replies, "no thank you, protesters might be there."

This is evidence of the megalomaniac that the psychiatrist (MD) author of Bush on the Couch wrote extensively about. Protesters are challenging Bush's weak 2-D world view. Bush probably has closure on this with Osama's killing. Right has triumphed over wrong. Case closed in his book.

Oh stop already. Anyone that's read your rants on here over the last two weeks knows that you would have torn him a new one for 'stealing Obama's moment' had he decided to accept the invitation.

As has been said further up the page, the invite was extended out of pure politeness, not out of any real desire to see him there. Same goes for Clinton. Both wisely declined, and instead deferred to the sitting President having the spotlight.