George W. Bush offers tough Trump takedown in campaign debut

[webfact]

George W. Bush offers tough Trump takedown in campaign debut
JULIE PACE, AP White House Correspondent

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) — George W. Bush never mentioned Donald Trump. But with his folksy touch, the former president unleashed a tough takedown Monday of the billionaire businessman who has upended a Republican Party his family has long led.

"I understand Americans are angry and frustrated," Bush said during his first campaign rally for his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. "But we do not need somebody in the Oval Office who mirrors and inflames our anger and frustration."

Trump's rise has confounded the Bush family and its allies. But despite months of predicting the brash billionaire would fade, it's Jeb Bush whose White House hopes are in peril, particularly if he's unable to pull out a strong showing in Saturday's South Carolina primary.

The race has entered an increasingly nasty phase in South Carolina, with numerous negative ads airing on local television following an unusually caustic debate this past weekend in which Trump confronted Jeb Bush about his brother's record as president.

Trump has led polls in South Carolina, but is trying to fend off attacks from his chief rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who describes himself as "a consistent conservative" who can be trusted. Bush is trying to pull ahead of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich to emerge as the more mainstream alternative to Trump and Cruz, both of whom party leaders consider unelectable.

George W. Bush emerged from his self-imposed political hibernation to try to give Bush a boost. He layered each validation of his younger brother with an implicit critique of Trump.

He urged voters to back a candidate who will be "measured and thoughtful" on the world stage. A candidate whose "humility" helps him understand what he doesn't know. A candidate who can win in November's general election.

"All the sloganeering and all the talk doesn't matter if we don't win," Bush said. "We need somebody who can take a positive message across the country."

With his brother as a strong warm-up act, Jeb Bush delivered an impassioned version of his campaign speech, touting his experience as Florida governor and vowing he could put Republicans back in the White House for the first time in eight years.

"I can beat Hillary Clinton," he said of the Democratic front-runner. "I can promise you that."

The former president's return to presidential politics has been met with blistering attacks from Trump about the unpopular Iraq war and the economic recession that began at the end of his administration. Trump has also repeatedly reminded voters that the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks happened on Bush's watch.

"If the ex-president is campaigning for his brother, I think he's probably open to great scrutiny, maybe things that haven't been thought of in the past," Trump told reporters Monday.

Rather than gloss over 9/11, Bush leaned in. As the crowd fell into a hushed silence, he recounted in detail his whereabouts on the morning of the attacks and praised the troops that served in the two wars he started in response.

"Your most solemn job as voters is to elect a president who understands the reality of the threats we face," he said.

As he praised South Carolina's Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, the daughter of Indian-born parents, Bush pointedly said, "Thank goodness our country welcomed her parents when they immigrated here in 1969."

It was a reminder of how much the Republican Party has changed since he was president. While Bush championed failed legislation that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of people in the U.S. illegally, many current Republican presidential candidates have fought to outdo each other with tough enforcement policies, even mass deportations.

Jeb Bush spent months trying to figure out what role, if any, his brother might play in his campaign. The 43rd president left office deeply unpopular with a nation fatigued by the Iraq War and angry over his botched response to Hurricane Katrina. He's also a reminder to voters eager to break with the political establishment that Jeb Bush would be the third man from his family to serve as president.

But South Carolina is a state that has long been friendly to the Bush family. Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush each won two Republican primaries in the state, and their family retains deep social and political ties here.

George W. Bush has kept a low profile since leaving the White House in early 2009. He retreated to his home state of Texas, where he picked up painting and delved into work on his presidential library, public health projects in Africa, and events for wounded military service members.

The former president is the latest member of the prominent political family to hit the campaign trail to help prop up Jeb Bush. Family matriarch Barbara Bush had hit the campaign trail in New Hampshire, delighting voters with her outspoken style and tenacity, as the 90-year-old traipsed through snow to get to events.
___

Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Columbia, South Carolina, and Jill Colvin in Charleston contributed to this report.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-02-16

[thaibeachlovers]

Al Gore was wrong to stop Bill Clinton campaigning for him, but Bush is even more wrong for asking GW to campaign for him. GW, a lying war criminal that took the US into an illegal war with Iraq and destabilised the middle east, while laying the groundwork for IS also allowed the global financial meltdown which has ruined millions.

If Bush's opponents can't take that guy apart, they shouldn't be running for POTOS.

[keemapoot]

"He ain't heavy, he's my brother?"

Inserting George W. will hurt Jeb more than help. He should go back into hibernation. The US and the world has a long memory and those memories are not fond ones.

*George H.W. would be a different story, but he's not spry enough to help.

Edited February 16, 2016 by keemapoot

[ehs818]

This only goes to show the fact that Jeb is desperate! Bringing out a loser like W is the kiss of death. Every member of the military knows that all of those lost lives were wasted. And this is the man that brought it all about. Foolish move!

[djlest]

guess Clinton will be the first female president then.

[bark]

I watched his speech today. His time in the White House, made him age twice as fast. Never know why men want to take on all that pressure.

He is and was a millionaire before. Some people need the power !

[tkramer]

I think that we might be underestimating the naivete of the American populace.

[stevenl]

This only goes to show the fact that Jeb is desperate! Bringing out a loser like W is the kiss of death. Every member of the military knows that all of those lost lives were wasted. And this is the man that brought it all about. Foolish move!

He has nothing to lose at this point.

[chuckd]

This only goes to show the fact that Jeb is desperate! Bringing out a loser like W is the kiss of death. Every member of the military knows that all of those lost lives were wasted. And this is the man that brought it all about. Foolish move!

What you might be forgetting is this is the Republican primary in a southern state won by a Bush four times.

The Jeb Bush campaign isn't trying to get any Democrat votes.

"The former president’s approval rating among South Carolina Republicans stands at 84 percent, according to a private poll commissioned two months ago by Katon Dawson, a former state GOP chairman. That would put him in a tie with Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott as the most popular Republicans in the state."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bewildered-by-2016-race-george-w-bush-returns-to-the-trail-to-boost-jeb/2016/02/12/49cf7242-d1a6-11e5-abc9-ea152f0b9561_story.html

[Suradit69]

Al Gore was wrong to stop Bill Clinton campaigning for him, but Bush is even more wrong for asking GW to campaign for him. GW, a lying war criminal that took the US into an illegal war with Iraq and destabilised the middle east, while laying the groundwork for IS also allowed the global financial meltdown which has ruined millions.

If Bush's opponents can't take that guy apart, they shouldn't be running for POTOS.

And, despite what Republicans claim, he was the president when the worst ever terrorist attack took place in the US.

It could have happened under whoever was president at the time, but it was the boast of the GOP that America could only be safe under a right-wing whacko ... I may not have their wording exactly right.

Anyway bringing in the worst president in living memory to bolster your campaign is a definite sign of desperation resulting in a bizarre response. Great for the Democrats though.

With less than a week to go before South Carolina's Republican primary, the GOP front-runner also reiterated that the 9/11 attacks happened during President George W. Bush's time in office — an apparent attempt to overshadow the former president's Monday campaign appearances on behalf of his brother, Jeb Bush.

And the Donald seems to be positioning himself to run as an Independent if he doesn't get the nomination.

Trump also took aim Monday at the Republican establishment, accusing the Republican National Committee of packing its debate audiences with donors — a move he claimed violated the loyalty pledge he signed in September vowing to run as a Republican and support the party's eventual nominee.

Edited February 16, 2016 by Suradit69

[augustwest]

Dumb and dumber

[keemapoot]

Dumb and dumber

I kind of look at the family like this: Smart (dad), Dumb (George W. - squandered legacy), and dumber (Jeb) who fails to exhibit any charisma or engender the same excitement his older brother and dad did.

Remembering those comical clips from George W.'s masterful oratory though might make me reconsider his placing.

Edited February 16, 2016 by keemapoot

[Ulic]

Al Gore was wrong to stop Bill Clinton campaigning for him, but Bush is even more wrong for asking GW to campaign for him. GW, a lying war criminal that took the US into an illegal war with Iraq and destabilised the middle east, while laying the groundwork for IS also allowed the global financial meltdown which has ruined millions.

If Bush's opponents can't take that guy apart, they shouldn't be running for POTOS.

I agree with you 100% but it is POTUS (President of the United States)

[Bababooey]

I'm no fan of Jeb and I'm no fan of W.

But what's Jeb got to lose by bringing Dubya to South Carolina?

Nothing is working for Jeb! This probably won't work either but it's his best shot.

[willyumiii]

"the billionaire businessman who has upended a Republican Party his family has long led."

​It was GW himself who was the final nail in the coffin of the credibility of the GOP.

Trump is just taking advantage of the empty hole GW left in the party.

The party is dead and not smart enough to know it.

They may lose the Presidency and control of congress next year.

[dcpo]

Al Gore was wrong to stop Bill Clinton campaigning for him, but Bush is even more wrong for asking GW to campaign for him. GW, a lying war criminal that took the US into an illegal war with Iraq and destabilised the middle east, while laying the groundwork for IS also allowed the global financial meltdown which has ruined millions.

If Bush's opponents can't take that guy apart, they shouldn't be running for POTOS.

And yet in comparison to Trump and Cruz, the current front runners in one of the only two significant parties, he gets to play the role of level headed moderate. We live in interesting times.

[Marvo]

Did somebody say

W=w?nker.

already?

[dunroaming]

Can't imagine Corbyn wanting Blair's support at the next election in the UK.

I love the fact that Trump laid it on the line about the last Republican President. Maybe if he is elected (fat chance) he will put Bush on trial for his war crimes? Now that would be impressive!!

[MyFriend You]

guess Clinton will be the first female president then.

If Hilary Cllnton is elected president "I'm moving to Pattaya"

[grumpyoldman]

guess Clinton will be the first female president then.

If Hilary Cllnton is elected president "I'm moving to Pattaya"

I'd say thats a whole lot better than Trump and Udon Thani !!

[thaibeachlovers]

guess Clinton will be the first female president then.

If Hilary Cllnton is elected president "I'm moving to Pattaya"

I'd say thats a whole lot better than Trump and Udon Thani !!

Given the strong anti opinions of some on T V about the Donald, I really do wonder what they are going to do if he does win. Go into mourning for 8 years? 555555555555555555555