Ex-President George H.W. Bush in stable condition

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 29: Former President George H.W. Bush talks with Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at Bush's office on March 29, 2012 in Houston, Texas. / Tom Pennington/Getty Images

HOUSTON Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush remains in stable condition at a Houston hospital, but a lingering cough related to bronchitis likely will keep him there through the weekend.

Methodist Hospital spokesman George Kovacik said Saturday there is no change in the status of the 88-year-old Bush from earlier in the week. But Jim McGrath, a spokesman for the 41st president, said "he still has the cough and we're now not expecting him to be discharged this weekend."

McGrath said doctors are "going to play it safe there for obvious reasons."

Aides had expected his discharge soon, but McGrath said "the cough has taken longer to clear up" than anticipated.

• George H.W. Bush hospitalization draws concern

Bush has been in and out of the hospital recently for complications resulting from bronchitis. He has been treated with antibiotics and steroids, and this marks Bush's second extended hospital stay since November.

Hospital visitors have included Bush's son, former President George W. Bush, and his wife Laura, who live in Dallas.

The former president has a form of Parkinson's disease that has forced him to use a wheelchair or motorized scooter to get around. Bush was seen a few weeks ago attending a Houston Texans NFL game, something he does frequently.

The elder Bush was vice president under Ronald Reagan from 1980 to 1988, when he was elected president. He lost his re-election bid to Bill Clinton four years later.

Bush and his wife, Barbara, now make their winter home in Houston and spend summers in Kennebunkport, Maine.

The former president was a naval aviator in World War II — at one point the youngest in the Navy — and was shot down over the Pacific. He achieved notoriety in retirement for skydiving on at least three of his birthdays since leaving the White House in 1992.

[IPonUall2]

Prescott Bush-Traitor American Nazi Banker to Hitler at Union Bank, conspirator to overthrow the Roosevelt white house in 1934.
GHW Bush- Mastermind of Bay of Pigs, member of CIA since college but lied congress when appointed head of CIA, Assassin conspirator of John F. Kennedy.
G.W. Bush-endgame to Prescott's treason...USA becomes a plutocracy, Fascism replaces a constitutional republic.

[IPonUall2]

Nixon was recorded in a phone call "E. Howard Hunt threatens to talk about the whole Bay of Pigs thing....meaning the assassination of J. F. Kennedy." E. Howard Hunt supervised the operation using an anti Castro hit squad. J. Edgar Hoover was on to them, he brought down Bush senior..Prescott earlier in history.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
I wish him to recover.
"au revoir"

[Jenn222]

Bush equates war for me. A terrible legacy for both these Bushes. What a mess--war zone--the world will always be since Desert Storm, 911..... There should have been another way to protect America than going to war in the Middle East. What is this love affair with Israel. And we are the civilized people! HA!

[omnibus66]

Try going to your doctor with a cough and see if it gets you a stay in the hospital. If you're lucky, after a one or two hour wait the doctor will spend at most five minutes with you, and then you're on your way with the usual yadda yadda about rest, fluids, and maybe some cough syrup. If you have insurance, it will have cost you your copay. If not, a hundred bucks. Is this a great country, or what?

[Jenn222]

Oh, that's cute! And SO true. Good take!!

[BWB2020]

"RESIN-SMOKER says:Too bad that both Sr and Jr are still around.... Between the two of them they've done more damage to this country then any war or terrorist action."

I would rather they hang around long enough to be tried for their crimes against humanity.

If the stress of the trial caused either or both of them to croak, at least we would have had the pleasure of seeing them brought to justice.

[bwlewis1964]

G.W. Bush views on race made him unfit to be president...

http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/George_Bush_Sr__Civil_Rights.htm

[Carol Raphael BROSN]

President George H.W. Bush merits our gratitude for his lifelong service to this country. Prayers and Best Wishes for a speedy recovery. (Miss) Carol Raphael BROSNAN

[kbbpll]

Lifelong self-service you mean. His actual "service" to this country is debatable. Being the first Shadow President certainly merits mention.

[gbgentleman]

Overnight for a cough? Most people's health plans would refuse to pay for such a travesty.

[jechaucer]

He probably has pneumonia but they won't admit to it.

[mattrick78]

A good president. I wish him well.

[kbbpll]

Imagine what this guy is going to take to his grave. I guess he was just a naval aviator and a skydiver, huh?