George H.W. Bush Sobs Praising Son Jeb

Former President Says He's 'Emotional One,' Lauds Son's Leadership

(AP)  Former President George H.W. Bush broke down in tears as he cited his son, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, as an example of leadership.

Mr. Bush was addressing lawmakers, his son Gov. Jeb Bush's top administrators, and Florida state workers gathered in the House chamber for the last of the governor's leadership forums.

He said he was proud of how his son handled losing the 1994 governor's race to popular incumbent Democrat Lawton Chiles, and vaguely referred to dirty tricks in the campaign.

"He didn't whine about it. He didn't complain," the former president said before choking up. As he tried to continue, he let out a sob and put a handkerchief to his face. When he spoke again, his words were broken up by pauses as he tried to regain composure.

"A true measure of a man is how you handle victory and how you handle defeat, so in '94 Floridians chose to rehire the governor. They took note of his worthy opponent, who showed with not only words but with actions what decency he had," Bush said before again sobbing.

After his defeat, Jeb Bush formed a group called Foundation for Florida's Future which promoted education policy. He also helped open a charter school in a poor Miami neighborhood, helped the state Republican Party organize a convention and straw poll to have sway in the 1996 presidential election and lobbied for education and campaign finance reform bills. Bush won the first of his two terms in 1998.

"The moral of the story is to serve with honor and your governor has served with honor," the former president said.

"I'm the emotional one," Mr. Bush said later. "I don't enjoy breaking up, but when you talk about somebody you love, when you get older, you do it more."

He also talked about his recent friendship with former President Clinton. He recalled a political cartoon showing his son, the president, opposing gay marriage and then walking into a room and finding his father on a sofa with Clinton's arm around him, prompting him to shout, "Dad! What are you doing?"

Mr. Clinton, said the elder Bush, got a chuckle out of that one.

"(Clinton) cut it out of the paper and said, 'Don't you think we ought to cool it, George?"'

The former president also answered questions. When asked about the vision for his grandchildren, he said neither he nor his wife are pushing them toward politics or running for public office.

"But I hope that they will, I hope quite a few of them will," he said before pausing and joking about the current President Bush's daughters. "I'm not sure I'd count on the twins doing this - Jenna and Barbara - but they're full of life and they might."

[randalds]

Well put emhawks. What is also esp galling about their real indifference (and in many cases outright hatred of) the common man is George W's pretending to actually be a common man with his phony movie set ranch. He tries to pretend that he comes from a hard ranch background, when his "ranch" wasn't even built until 1999. Then all of the out building were built with old lumber to give it that aged look so it'd look real on camera during remotes by the networks. It's an insult to working people when he is actually the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Texas. His "ranch" is as phony as he is.

[emhawks]

ourtommorrows:
Although our assessments of the Bush family are vastly different, I respect your opinion. As I said in my previous post, I don't hate the Bush family. I can understand why many do. My feelings about the Bushes aren't politically motivated as I'm an Independent & could care less if someone is a Democrat/Republican.
I believe my assessment of this family is correct. Their world revolves around oil, greed & a cold-blooded indifference to the ordinary American or "the common man"; this includes the former Pres. Bush. As for the current Pres. Bush, no I don't expect him to break down in tears whenever he speaks about the Iraq War & those who have died. But I don't expect him to lie to the American people about a country having WMD's & involve us in a bloody, useless war that has claimed the lives of 2800 soldiers & thousands of Iraqis. Regarding 911, I believe the 911 investigation should be re-opened; there are too many questions that still need to be answered.
Read about(you may have already):
The Bush family history with the bin Laden family.
The Saudi Binladin Group
The Carlyle Group
Books- "The Price of Loyalty" by Ron Suskind; "Crossing the Rubicon" by Michael C. Ruppert

[randalds]

Bush committed a war crime by launching an unprovoked war of aggression against Iraq, a country that clearly posed no threat to the US and Bush knew that at the time. It was a war of conquest and greed based on lies and started out of pure arrogance and ego on his part. In the process he slaughtered hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children, including nearly 3000 of our troops. Also in the process he attacked our civil and constitutional rights, our justice system, attempted to jail and torture dissenters, and dragged the name of the country I love through mud and filth.

What's not to love, right?

[randalds]

It's hatred that has a valid base though. Yes I do hate George W. Bush and why not? His arrogance and ego have led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. His continued arrogance and ego prevent him from acknowledging how badly he screwed up going into Iraq and therefore many more human beings will die. All of the blood of all of those people is on his hands and his hands alone. As far as I am concerned he is no better then a mass murderer and serial killer, so of course I hate him. I hate insane murderers.

[ourtomorrows]

emhawks

You are incorrect in your assessment of, at the very least, former President Bush. He gave a speech at the college I work for two years ago in which he addressed 9/11. As he was describing his own reaction and how he personally felt when he met with a group of elementary school children a short time after the attack, it was very clear how that event and the lives lost had impacted him. I saw that with my own two eyes.

In addition, if anyone has viewed the David Frost interview with former President Bush of a few years ago, when the topic turned to Desert Storm and the soldiers lost, the former President had trouble continuing with the interview. You could tell quite clearly that he felt every death personally and knew that it was his responsibility and his alone.

I am continually amazed by many of the postings here. Do you expect the current President Bush to break down in tears during a press conference when asked about the policy in Iraq. No sitting world leader can react that way, to far too many, it would be a sign of weakness. As I said before, the hatred here is so sad.

[emhawks]

To RandalDS:
I agree with you on this one. I do not hate the Bush family, but I see them for what they are. In a profession that oozes with corruption (both Rep. & Dem.), they are at the top of the garbage dump. Tears?? There are no tears from this family for the 2800 dead soldiers or their families. No tears for the ordinary Iraqi people (the innocent ones) who are dying daily because of this useless war. No tears for the 911 victims or their families. No tears for the ordinary, middle-class American (the "backbone" of America), many who struggle daily with economic problems & rising health-care costs (to name only a few things).
Don't hate them; but waste no sympathy on the Bush family. They have none for you.

[rastack54]

In this day, no one sends their children off to war. Upon reacging the age of maajority, however, they have everfy right to send themselves - and should mine make that choice, I will respect their choices and back them 100%.

[frankly6]

Perhaps he's crying about what an incompetent moron W turned out to be.

[bellal-2009]

I didn't think much of this story until I saw the actual footage which was extremely touching. Former President Bush is getting old. Is it just him, Carter and Clinton left?

[randalds]

I disagree ourtomorrows, they are a family of monsters. The father was not as bad as the inhuman thing that passes for his son sitting in the White House, but neither is any prize. As far as I'm concerned Bush the Younger is nothing more then a mass murderer on a historic scale and that's how history will correctly see him. The shame for all of them is that Jeb looks like he may actually posses a brain and even the smallest hint of a soul, but his brother has screwed up any chance he has for office.

[getcentered]

bushrocks1:

BORING!


Get a girlfriend, or a boyfriend.

[catt42701]

I admire Mr. Bush's feelings for his children and grand children but I do hope the rest of them stay out of politics. Please!

[arthurcl1]

Bush Sr. Crying about Bush Jr. Losing House and Senate. What a crying shame and a tremendous embarassment! Bush Jr, the worst foreign policy ever. He even needs his dad to tell him Gates is the right man to take over for Rumsfield! Because Jr. doesn't know what to do now! No wonder he is crying! How embarassing and the U.S. will not re-elect another Bush! The Bush Dynasty of Empire Madness is Over!

[thgdriver]

ourtomorrows

Very well said!

[ourtomorrows]

Gov Jeb Bush, perhaps the republican nominee in 2012? One can only hope.

I suppose it should not suprise me on this site that no one finds anything redeeming in a father's love and pride in his son. You all hate the Bush family so much you can see nothing but your hate. It is truly sad. They are not the monsters you all make them out to be and fortunately, I have every confidence that NONE of you insipid hate filled folk will have any influence on how history remembers the former President, the current President and perhaps a future President.

It is really disturbing to see so many of you so blinded by bitterness and hate.

[roach9703]

Welcome to George Clinton the only person you will ever love!

[avgeno]

It blows my mind that there are so many falling for this Bushrocks1 ploy. The answer is simple...ignore him/her or whomever and/or report the comment. Leave it at that and move on. His actions by repeated posts are against the Rules of Engagement for this Comment Section regardless of what his posts reflect. Move on or report it, but ignore him/her/it.

[fascistusa]

End the Neo-Con Fascist Crime Regime of the Bushes.

STOP THE REWRITING OF HISTORY!!!

You are LIVING 1984 Orwell.

Our History is being REWRITTEN.

You are all a bunch of SLAVES.

[laurieleemoo]

Not unless he gets off his big butt to do something about it

[laurieleemoo]

okay...well I do like his other son...GW, but now way in heck would I EVER vote for JEB. He has allowed the spanish to take over Florida and I will NEVER forgive him for it.