George H.W. Bush
2011-10-14 18:43:41 UTC
October 13, 2011
Library
Bush Estate
Houston
Dear Fellow Americans:
I write to you to air some personal disappointment that I have
concerning my eldest son, your former president.
I know he's been out of the White House since January 2009, but many
Americans can't seem to forget or forgive him for some disputed
mistakes he made during his eight years as chief executive of our
great nation.
I mean, come on, people! My son is among the greatest presidents
we've ever had!
Look, he brought democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan, as he promised,
and he finally got the vicious Osama Ben Layden killed, too, didn't
he?
And to this day, the fine folks in Louisiana can't thank him enough
for how he and his staff saved them when Katrina struck. Plus his
administration pulled the country through what might have been a
serious recession. Of course, he couldn't have rescued the nation if
it hadn't been for his friends on Wall Street, who kept our citizens
employed during those testy times.
You know, I have to laugh when people accuse George and Dick Cheney of
ordering the torture of terrorists and other undesirables. When
George was little, why he wouldn't even pick up a little tiny frog for
fear of harming it. Torture, my eye!
Our Department of Homeland Security was established under his watch.
And it placed an extra layer of security on protecting Americans' God-
given rights and personal freedom. And I often marvel at how many
terrorist attacks on U.S. soil have been stopped since 9/11. Yet
stupid people still blame George and his CIA and FBI for failing to
stop those criminals from flying planes into those buildings and the
Pentagon and all. I mean, it's not the president's job to sniff out
terrorists And I know, because I was president once. After all, the
coalition that I formed to defeat Saddam Hussein stopped his
bloodthirsty rule for 10 years, before George courageously re-invaded
Iraq in the name of liberty and finally saved the country and its oil
from the Muslims.
And then there is Afghanistan. My son ordered our troops to go in and
root out the Taliban, so the Afghanis would be able to form a
democratic nation and expand their agricultural exports and spread
euphoria abroad. And you know, I never fail to drop my spare change
into our disabled veteran's cups when I pass them on the street. I
know we lost tens of thousands of our military in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- both killed and wounded. But they died and suffered wounds doing
what they loved, and for a good cause -- our liberty and freedom. At
least now we don't have to worry about Islamic planes and ships
invading us here on our shores.
I know George, like me, wishes we could do more for the families of
our dead and injured troops. Just the thought of our boys with legs
and arms missing and messed up brains sometimes keeps me awake at
night. God bless them all.
One of my great sources of pride in George's administrations is the
boost he gave to America's financial and investment institutions. I
know, personally, my family's shares in the Carlyle Group's hedge
funds have grown exponentially. To the benefit of all our friends and
relatives. And most ordinary Americans, too.
I don't like to brag, but the Bush family has always been a great
supporter of education. So I was overcome with joy when my son
personally designed the No Child Left In Arrears thing. The program
has made our kids number one in the world in taking tests and
memorizing things like history dates. Like I always say, if you
somehow get into Yale and Harvard, you have a lot to give back to
people. And my son did give back plenty.
I have to admit that my time as your president was a wonderful
experience. And even before then, I believe I, like my son, achieved
many things. I always swell with pride when I recall that President
Nixon told friends that I was " .. the type of guy you appoint to
things." So I felt, I, too, made a difference.
Of course, I've been out of public life for years now, living as a
retiree with Barbara and, sometimes, my longtime friend Jennifer. We
make a nice threesome, as I say, and enjoy many wonderful things. And
as Mrs. Bush and I are up in years, Ms. Fitzgerald has been very
supportive, especially when Barbara is away, Jennifer being younger
and more agile than I.
Well, I think I've been a bit long-winded here, but I just wanted to
remind Americans of the accomplishments of my son, the scholar,
military reservist, baseball team owner, governor, and two-time
president and leader of the United States and keeper of its legacy of
moral authority and international respect. Wonderful!
And say, if you're ever in Houston, think of us and we'll do the same.
Sincerely Yours,
G.H.W.B
Library
Bush Estate
Houston
Dear Fellow Americans:
I write to you to air some personal disappointment that I have
concerning my eldest son, your former president.
I know he's been out of the White House since January 2009, but many
Americans can't seem to forget or forgive him for some disputed
mistakes he made during his eight years as chief executive of our
great nation.
I mean, come on, people! My son is among the greatest presidents
we've ever had!
Look, he brought democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan, as he promised,
and he finally got the vicious Osama Ben Layden killed, too, didn't
he?
And to this day, the fine folks in Louisiana can't thank him enough
for how he and his staff saved them when Katrina struck. Plus his
administration pulled the country through what might have been a
serious recession. Of course, he couldn't have rescued the nation if
it hadn't been for his friends on Wall Street, who kept our citizens
employed during those testy times.
You know, I have to laugh when people accuse George and Dick Cheney of
ordering the torture of terrorists and other undesirables. When
George was little, why he wouldn't even pick up a little tiny frog for
fear of harming it. Torture, my eye!
Our Department of Homeland Security was established under his watch.
And it placed an extra layer of security on protecting Americans' God-
given rights and personal freedom. And I often marvel at how many
terrorist attacks on U.S. soil have been stopped since 9/11. Yet
stupid people still blame George and his CIA and FBI for failing to
stop those criminals from flying planes into those buildings and the
Pentagon and all. I mean, it's not the president's job to sniff out
terrorists And I know, because I was president once. After all, the
coalition that I formed to defeat Saddam Hussein stopped his
bloodthirsty rule for 10 years, before George courageously re-invaded
Iraq in the name of liberty and finally saved the country and its oil
from the Muslims.
And then there is Afghanistan. My son ordered our troops to go in and
root out the Taliban, so the Afghanis would be able to form a
democratic nation and expand their agricultural exports and spread
euphoria abroad. And you know, I never fail to drop my spare change
into our disabled veteran's cups when I pass them on the street. I
know we lost tens of thousands of our military in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- both killed and wounded. But they died and suffered wounds doing
what they loved, and for a good cause -- our liberty and freedom. At
least now we don't have to worry about Islamic planes and ships
invading us here on our shores.
I know George, like me, wishes we could do more for the families of
our dead and injured troops. Just the thought of our boys with legs
and arms missing and messed up brains sometimes keeps me awake at
night. God bless them all.
One of my great sources of pride in George's administrations is the
boost he gave to America's financial and investment institutions. I
know, personally, my family's shares in the Carlyle Group's hedge
funds have grown exponentially. To the benefit of all our friends and
relatives. And most ordinary Americans, too.
I don't like to brag, but the Bush family has always been a great
supporter of education. So I was overcome with joy when my son
personally designed the No Child Left In Arrears thing. The program
has made our kids number one in the world in taking tests and
memorizing things like history dates. Like I always say, if you
somehow get into Yale and Harvard, you have a lot to give back to
people. And my son did give back plenty.
I have to admit that my time as your president was a wonderful
experience. And even before then, I believe I, like my son, achieved
many things. I always swell with pride when I recall that President
Nixon told friends that I was " .. the type of guy you appoint to
things." So I felt, I, too, made a difference.
Of course, I've been out of public life for years now, living as a
retiree with Barbara and, sometimes, my longtime friend Jennifer. We
make a nice threesome, as I say, and enjoy many wonderful things. And
as Mrs. Bush and I are up in years, Ms. Fitzgerald has been very
supportive, especially when Barbara is away, Jennifer being younger
and more agile than I.
Well, I think I've been a bit long-winded here, but I just wanted to
remind Americans of the accomplishments of my son, the scholar,
military reservist, baseball team owner, governor, and two-time
president and leader of the United States and keeper of its legacy of
moral authority and international respect. Wonderful!
And say, if you're ever in Houston, think of us and we'll do the same.
Sincerely Yours,
G.H.W.B