Bush aide: "Please put the harps back in the closet"

The chief of staff to former Pres. George H.W. Bush, who is in intensive care at Houston's Methodist Hospital, told Bush family and friends in an email today that the former president "would ask me to tell you to please put the harps back in the closet," saying, "He has every intention of staying put."

The aide, Jean Becker, added that Bush will be in the hospital for "a while," explaining, "He is 88 years old, he had a terrible case of bronchitis which then triggered a series of complications, partially brought on by the fact that he also has a form of Parkinson's disease."

"Is he sick? Yes. Does he plan on going anywhere soon? No. He has every intention of staying put," Becker wrote. "He would ask me to tell you to please put the harps back in the closet."

Despite early hopes that Bush would be able to spend Christmas at home, a persistent fever kept him in the hospital through the holidays. He was originally admitted to the hospital last month with bronchitis.

• Fmr. President George H.W. Bush battling "stubborn" fever
• George H.W. Bush Pictures

"I can assure you that the healthcare he is getting at Methodist Hospital in Texas Medical is unequaled anywhere," Becker wrote.

"Is there anything you can do? Yes, of course," continued Becker. "Keep him and the family in your prayers. I am thinking heaven has not seen such a barrage of prayer intentions since 'It's a Wonderful Life.'"

[Reality-is-Good]

He was the last Republican president before the party was totally taken over by all crazies, all of the time.

He signed into law The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, refused to invade Iraq, and raised taxes.

He did what he actually thought was best for the USA and the clown crazies turned on him for not being a real team member of Club Dread.

[TJphoto]

I wish him a speedy recovery. I also wish that all Americans had the same Health Care Coverage as him. Congress won't let that happen. "The needs of the few outweigh the the needs of the many"

[BCISLEMAN]

I haven't always agreed w/ GHWB and was very offended by the Wilie Horton ad BUT I think he's a good guy at heart and respect his service to our country.Wish him the best for a speedy recovery.

[JEGlackin]

WHAT makes the spokesman think there are harps in the future for George?

[Reality-is-Good]

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

[gemini9gem]

Putting politics aside, President (H.W.)Bush was a noted veteran of WW2. I wish him a full recovery. I am ashamed to read the posts of my fellow Americans. How do they bring politics into the health issues of an American who made us proud when he served our country in this war. For those of you who served this country proud, I wish you good health as well. The remaining posters, take away politics and wish a man a recovery as you would want others to do for a family member, Republican or Democrat.

[greco99-2009]

I hope he gets well and lives a very long time speaking out against the type of warmongering and corruption that was his signature.

[BearfootArkouda]

"I can assure you that the healthcare he is getting at Methodist Hospital in Texas Medical is unequaled anywhere," Becker wrote. I wonder if the same statement could be made if all citizens (former and current presidents and Senators and Representatives) had to use the Medicare system that the common man is burden with...;-(

[alpinequeen]

The doctors couldn't save the Chairman of the Board.

[A-Hick]

I don't at all care of the political legacy of the Bush family. They represent the worst aspects of elitist political entitlement and advocacy for the speculator classes that have been impoverishing the US, and have resulted in historic levels of income and wealth inequality, as well as the triumph, within the Republican Party, of a culturally destructive neoconservative worldview and reckless imperialism. Poppy Bush was a mediocre president elected through a campaign of dirty wedge issue politics that set the sorry standard for all politics to follow. The younger George Bush an incompetent president unqualified for the office he and his brother stole. I certainly hope there will be no more Bush presidents, and that this family not enjoy any sort of significant political presence in national politics in the future.

That said, I cannot condone the callous comments about the elder Bush's health. I would not wish ill health on anyone, and one does not exhibit any sort of moral superiority over the target of one's distain by advancing the idea that their end of life suffering is justified or proper "punishment," etc. for a life not lived according to one's own standards, or one's ideas of God's standards, etc.

Whether either of the Bushes should have been, or be tried for war crimes, etc. is a legitimate matter of factual inquiry and human law, but not for vitriol borne of speculation about cosmic justice.

I wish HW a speed recovery and good health, and hope he lives long enough to see his "little brown" grandson, George P., fail to score a purchased office in Texas, and Jeb to lose to Hillary Clinton.

[RhondaAutismAdvocate]

A-HICK - your thoughts and comments are well said and dead-on. The Bushys were the WORST presidents - EVER. Anyone who takes the time to open their eyes to the truth knows this.

And, even as much disgust as I have for the lying thieves I wouldn't wish them ill health...

I only wish the rest of the US (referred to as the "47%" by one of their own) would / could come to their senses.

[Proud2BOnRight]

I wish the former President and his family nothing but the best. He is a great American and was a brave man in WWII.

As to the hateful comments by the maggots on this forum who probably consider themselves enlightened and intelligent, I suspect these are people (and I use that loosely) who are upset at their own failures in life and choose to take it out on others. Their problems most likely range from being rejected or ignored by their wives, they were turned down for a promotion or simply hate themselves.

And, they most likely voted for Obama. I bet he would be even dismayed by these comments.

Of course, these cowards would only make these comments over the internet and never to the face of anyone.

This is why these wackos have no credibility. I can't even call them liberals in this case. That would be a compliment.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

I have no problem stating what I think about the bushies to anyone. I was still in the Army when I saw the shrub running in 2000 and verbalized publically all I saw was a dried out alcoholic and not a likable one at that (professionally, I found most alcoholics in the 28 day program to be pretty easy people to deal with). I did not care for the daddy bush, nor his policies, nor his support of Ronald Reagan as VP. I still remember his description of Reaganomics as "voodoo economics," which is exactly what it was. While this bush did have honorable military service and may be likable at a personal level, he failed to imbue his offspring with much sense of honorable decency, and selfless public service. This fiscal cliff we are about to see is a result of the shrub's tax cuts & two unfunded wars.

[willow11st]

Being a third-generation democrat,I STILL wish HW a speedy recovery and pray for his good health!!I still wonder,however,how such a intelligent man could have produced,well, such a "dumbya"!!Heaven help us All!!

[greco99-2009]

H. is for Hubris.

[farkme]

Yeah. Harps? I was thinking drumroll. I am callous. The Bush family robbed America.

[BWB2020]

Too bad he probably won't last long enough to hold him accountable for the Iraq genocide.

But I'll give him this, he does have pedigree.

Prescott Bush sold fuel oil to the Nazis, Bush jacked us into invading Iraq, Shrub Jr. lies us back into Iraq, after lying us into Afghanistan.

What a family of criminals, from their body counts, these misanthropes make the Corleone family look like a Sunday-school choir.

[Proud2BOnRight]

Too bad life hasn't turned out well for you.