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The New Civility
Bush adviser Mark McKinnon says the president is making an exceptionally graceful exit—and was actually excited to spend time yesterday with the man taking his job.
I am picturing, yesterday afternoon, a moment when President-elect Obama and first lady Laura Bush stole off to sneak a cigarette on the Truman Balcony.
OK, maybe that’s a smoke too far. But no question, there is permeating the corridors and monuments of our nation’s capitol a new civility.
Few remember now, and who can blame them, that George W. Bush once pledged to change the tone in Washington. It would be an interesting exercise for some journalist to go back and compare the campaign speeches of Bush and Obama on the topic of bipartisanship, working together, a new beginning, putting past differences behind us.
No one will be ripping the O's off the computer keyboards on their last day in office.
And I know, despite what happened, it was heartfelt and genuine on the then-governor’s part. He was an incredibly bipartisan governor in Texas. Alas, the recount poisoned the well from the get-go. Democrats wouldn’t recognize Bush as the legitimate heir to the presidency and everyone divided immediately and from then on for eight years into fiercely partisan camps.
But no matter what you think of George W. Bush, he is a true gentleman. And he reveres and respects the office of the presidency. No late-night pizzas deliveries in this White House. I only own one suit, but I wore it every time I went to the White House (note to Axelrod: get one). And I believe contrary to conventional wisdom, President Bush was actually excited about spending time yesterday with the man who will soon take his job. He loves giving tours of the White House, the Oval Office, and the Residence—none more so, I imagine, than to its future occupant.
The Washington Post writes: “It’s heartening to see how closely and amicably the current White House is working with the incoming one to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible... Here, President Bush deserves enormous credit.”
Presidential scholar Stephen Hess, in the same article, says: “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an outgoing administration work as hard at saying the right thing. This is really quite memorable.”
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Myra Adams is a media producer, writer and political observer. Her media clients have included national associations, political interest groups and corporations. She was on the creative team with Mark McKinnon that created the now infamous John Kerry "Windsurfing" ad for the Bush 2004 presidential campaign and served on the McCain Ad Council during the 2008 McCain campaign. Myra's web site www.TheJesusStore.com contributes all profits to Christian charity.
Grill Him Again!
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Not a Game-Changer
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
fashion
Ah yes, civility!
That's the beautiful thing about endings, and beginnings. It's time to say Long Live the United States!
Now history will have a chance to take a look at the Bush Presidency.Rendezvous in what, one, two three, four years time? to see how it stacks up with hindsight.
z911empire
i just warmed my mittens by this piece.
funkychicken
Yes, I can almost imagine a contemplative, melancholy Cheney roasting chestnuts by an open fire.
greblok
Hmm...dunno 'bout Obama, but I'd rather have to fix an O on my keyboard than fix (a) an unmitigated economic disaster bordering on another Depression, (b) an incompetently fought war to the tune of billions a month with no victory or exit strategy, (c) a federal deficit the size of China, (d) a rapidly overheating planet.
Such "civility" is akin to an obnoxious frat boy handing you a broom with a drunken smile on his face, after spending eight years trashing the place.A broom he knows you have to take.
What a gentleman!
panderwatch
Bush and Obama have been mum about their recent conversation at the White House. But an audio tech from the press pool as able to pick up this exclusive audio tape:
http://panderwatch.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/bush-and-obama-at-white-hou se-private-conversation-caught-on-tape/
Winvestors
The notion that Bush was "an incredibly bipartisan governor in Texas" is Republican disinformation. I live in Texas. Bush
aligned himself with a few very conservative Democrats who
were virtually indistinguishable from Repulicans; that is not bipartisanship. If Bush is a true gentleman with his my or the highway attitude, the standard is very low.
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n--Y--longcrlchitoiur
I noticed something really strange about my way of thinking. Before Obama was elected, I was always angry at Bush, always criticizing his policies, his disregard for the environment and scientific progress, and his asinine speeches/press conferences.
But now, all that has changed. I think the reality of him leaving office just suddenly struck me, and I was willing to let bygones be bygones. I even dismissed the recent rumor that he used Purell after shaking Obama's hand as just that, a mere rumor, whereas I would have taken them to heart weeks before.
Change indeed.
Donaldos
The implication that Bush had nothing to do with the partisanship, that it was all because the Democrats wouldn't recognize his legitimacy, doesn't square with reality. Bush's bipartisan bona fides from his Texas days are not quite as shiny as are presented; he accomplished little; in any case many of the Dems were as conservative as the Reps.
I'm glad Bush got decorum right, though. It almost makes up for everything else.
pskramer
What I don't understand (and what frightens me) is:
Are all the secrets from Cheney and Defence and CIA and Attorney General necessarily given over to O's people or are there thousands of doings we'll never know about. It frustrates me to think that there's been torture and rendition (for example) that will never be outed. Is the Bush administration that low?
Someone tell me it isn't so!
sifta7
Hate to be the one that is unimpressed here, but it looks like the following campaign promise has been left by the wayside:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Barack_on_torture.html
That is, Obama will have the AG "immediately investigate" the potential of war crimes having occurred in the White House, or such was said in April. Last I heard, graciousness and charm was not a way to get out of war crimes. It does not even "almost make up for it" as another poster said.
Now, we are getting reports that, perportedly, Obama will chose to continue the policies of renditions and torture. And thus continue the crimes. According to "experts at Rand" it would be silly not to continue it. Way to go Rahmbo!
Oddly, it seems as if McCain would have more readily rolled back this ignominy.
clubed60090
Hmm, this article is akin to complimenting someone because he or she said "hello" when they answered the phone. There are some basic expectations of civility that I have of every person - politician, President or otherwise.
I think it is pretty sad when "civility" being shown by the current President of the United States to the President-elect is reported on as if we should all be impressed.
dMiner
Why do you print a piece by a Bush henchman? Of course he is going to polish the turd. Just as they did with the awful Reagan, the reinvention of George Dubblya Bush has begun. Get the cuffs on him already!
dMiner
Get the cuffs on him already!
pfaff99
This is some ridiculous spin that ignores what actually happened in these 8 years.
The recount didn't prevent Bush from being bipartisan in 2001--he just recognized he had an R House/Senate that would do what he wanted, so why reach out.
And after 9/11, the country truly, actually united. Everything was bygones. Bush could have shown his natural bipartisan nature then. Instead, he spent 2002 "marketing" the Iraq war right before an election, then ran around the country campaigning telling people "Democrats aren't going to protect the country"--over the ineffective DHS, of all things! If you wanted to be bipartisan, one would hardly suggest being the first to politicize 9/11.
Then he ran a base-targeted 2004 race where he was, again, a long ways from bipartisan.
McKinnon, way to not let what actually happened cloud your precious memories.
And stuff it with the "w"s on the keyboards as some giant transition sin that was low class. The notion that this was an actual issue is laughable.
Thank you.
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