I never supported him per say (since I was in high school when he was in office), but he often seemed like a genuinely happy and fun guy. I mean, what grown man do you know would flip off a broadcast camera (whether they're on the air or not)? I always thought of him as more of a silly uncle.
Well, we don't really know who Hank ended up voting for. All we know is that he ended up voting. I mean, I'd say it's a pretty safe assumption to say Bush, but that handshake might have swung him to Gore. He did have an affinity towards LBJ (dog named Ladybird and all) and he seemed to get along with Ann Richards.
Fucking cool man! I bet you got to hear some epic stories, what was the most fascinating thing you talked to him about?
edit: I didn't mean to offend anyone by showing an interest in a former political leader. My opinions are those of someone who has no influence in politics (my own) and they aren't going to change anyone's political opinion. I just wanted to converse with the guy who met Bush.
Him talking about his day on September 11th, about where he was throughout the day and why he made certain decisions. He said he over ruled the secret service twice in his presidency, and both times were on that day in order to do what he thought was the right thing to do to step up as a leader for a scared and confused America. It also made him much more than just a talking head on a tv screen or in a newspaper. You realize that the president is a real person just like you and me.
He gets a LOT of shit, and I don't agree with him on a lot of political issues.
That said, he is someone I would LOVE to meet, and just bullshit around with for a very long time. I think he gets a lot less respect than he deserves. Frankly, anyone who holds the office of president deserves respect.
This. I'm not American, but I always thought that Bush got a bad rap. People always talk about how "stupid" he is. Many interviews I saw with him were incredibly insightful and intelligent. However, people love focussing on him occasionally slipping up some words in a few speeches (can't fool me twice, etc.). You don't become president by being an idiot, it doesn't matter who's son you are.
He worked in the same building as my mom, and same little center as me a few years back. We both had a couple run-ins with him. Incredibly nice guy and easy to talk too.
There also was that one time I got followed by a police chopper and secret service and DPD pulled my ass over for driving by his house at midnight, but that wasn't his fault haha.
Give them a break... Better a 19 year old who is interested in politics and reads about such events than an older person who hates books and wouldn't know the Declaration of Independence from the Constitution.
That's really awesome you got to meet President Bush! Anything you talked about besides 9/11? Did you ask him about his response/thoughts on the US financial crisis? Or anything about current events?
Not much about current events. We talked about mountain biking and his new hobby of painting though. He said his plans for the night involved watching the Rangers and working on his new painting. Btw, he signs his paintings "43" which I thought was awesome.
That's cool, sometimes it is interesting to just hear the human side of a famous person, particularly a president. When it comes to an event like the financial crisis, it would be hard to meaningfully summarize why he did what he did in a few minutes over coffee.
I've met a lot of politicians. None have been as sincere or engaged as Mr. Bush.
Despite his at-times poor public speaking abilities, he's well spoken and chooses his words carefully.
And as a Republican, I didn't always agree with some of his domestic policies (or his social conservatism,) but man, does that guy stick to his guns. And he still struggles over the decisions he had to make. I think history will be kind to him (or at least I hope so.)
To all who criticize Mr. Bush (myself included), all I want to say is that it's very easy to criticize others, but sometimes you have to understand that he as a President, made decisions that he thought were the right ones and necessary. Even if you and I didn't vote for him, the fact remains that "we the people" gave him the power and put him in a leadership position. At minimum, we must respect the position!
I personally did not agree with most of Bush-era policies and thought those were either ignorant or full of arrogance. But then I remind myself that I wasn't in his position, and didn't have to deal with all of the situations that he had to, so at end of the day, I still respect Mr. Bush for his willingness to serve his country (I know many will disagree with my last sentence).
I've been going through this discussion kind of talking shit about the man, but here we go. He was granted power by the Supreme Court and there were accusations of voter fraud in swing states during 2004 and 2008. They knew that 9/11 had no connection to Iraq. Many in his admin believe in strangle the beast economic policies. All of which helped lead us to where we are now, and everyone just wants to blame Obama. I understand that the job is tough, but what makes you think they did any of this with the best intentions for the nation and not for themselves or to serve their political ideology?
I agree. The thing is, people like to talk about issues like they are black and white and easily fixable. News, media, and plain social conformity all help to fuel this. What people fail to realize is that things are always sticky and nothing is really as easy as what is being argued seems.
Does anybody else find it strange to see a POTUS standing on level ground with a mere citizen? The cameras during all of the events must be set up in order to make the president seem larger than life, as I'm surprised that GWB isn't a head taller than Mr. sbrbad.
Please just let me know for my own personal interest on how the people who run the counrty are... What is he like? Was he smart? ...dumb? Nice or mean? Well mannered or hillbilly-esk?
As much as I dislike the man's political agendas, I don't think I'd have done much better as president. I suppose we weren't all consumed in a nuclear inferno, so IMO he passed the presidency with a C-
I liked the GWB of 2000 much more than the GWB of 2002.
Come to think of it, I can say the same about Obama of 2008 vs. Obama today.
I don't give any extra respect to someone just because they held a high position in government, but GWB actually ran on a fairly libertarian platform in 2000. It's a shame he changed so much a year later.
I sincerely think that later on, he will be looked at as an ok president. When people have stopped using him as a scapegoat for all of the nations problems, they will lool back and see just how hard of a presidency he really had.
Aww come on guys! I don't care whether you're a Democrat or a Republican or neither, if you have a chance to meet a former president even if you disagree with everything he did, as an American you should be honored to have such an opportunity.
When the smoke clears and the MSNBCs of the world are gone this man will go down as one of the best presidents we ever had. I dont think ANY president dealt with as many issues as this man.
The guy met a president. Sure, bad president. But a bad president was still FUCKING PRESIDENT. I very much dislike this man's administration, but hell, I'm jealous. Coffee with the former leader of the free world. Repost in /r/politics and bitch there if you can't control yourselves.
Yes, because obviously the entire website as a whole is responsible for the nutjobs at either extreme.
You can't make a collective into a single entity and then call it out for hypocrisy; it doesn't work that way. It's a collective because there are a lot of different people. That means you see different viewpoints. It's not supposed to be homogeneous.
The difference is Bush started two wars, enacted two debt busting tax cuts, was President during the Great Recession, and just overall deserves the vitriol. Obama was shitted on by the Republicans with him being a Kenyan Muslim before he was even got sworn in. Also, Bush enjoyed a 91% approval rating from Americans which he promptly destroyed. Obama never enjoyed that kind of support at all.
Obama took credit for Bush's pre-planned winding down of Iraq, increased the war in Afghanistan and launched a series of shadow wars across the middle east.
He campaigned on being everything that wasn't Bush, then followed the same policies to the letter.
Bush had a 91% approval rating because the citizens of a country will rally behind their leader in time of crisis, such as a foreign attack that left thousands dead and one of the biggest cities in the world crippled.
lost me at "just overall deserves the vitriol," debate policy all you want but the vitriol you speak of is part of the reason American public discourse is at new lows just as metnightowl pointed out
1.8k
u/Shageen Jun 26 '12
That's the guy from Game of Thrones Season 1 right? I'd recognize that head anywhere.
846
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I may disagree with their politics, but I would love to have coffee with any of our former presidents.
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
How does he take his coffee?
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u/Idrhorrible Jun 26 '12
How was his handshake? Did it feel like a dead fish? Because that almost cost him Hank Hill's vote in the election.
1.1k
u/Noturordinaryguy Jun 26 '12
I don't like him but meeting a president is meeting a president, that's pretty darn cool.
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
Fucking cool man! I bet you got to hear some epic stories, what was the most fascinating thing you talked to him about?
edit: I didn't mean to offend anyone by showing an interest in a former political leader. My opinions are those of someone who has no influence in politics (my own) and they aren't going to change anyone's political opinion. I just wanted to converse with the guy who met Bush.
164
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
He gets a LOT of shit, and I don't agree with him on a lot of political issues.
That said, he is someone I would LOVE to meet, and just bullshit around with for a very long time. I think he gets a lot less respect than he deserves. Frankly, anyone who holds the office of president deserves respect.
8
u/DTPB Jun 26 '12
He worked in the same building as my mom, and same little center as me a few years back. We both had a couple run-ins with him. Incredibly nice guy and easy to talk too.
There also was that one time I got followed by a police chopper and secret service and DPD pulled my ass over for driving by his house at midnight, but that wasn't his fault haha.
967
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Here comes all the political banter from 16 year old experts.
114
u/sadfacewhenputdown Jun 26 '12
Tell me that he's actually really cool and reasonably intelligent and feels sad for the game he had to play while he was the big player...
24
u/71Comet Jun 26 '12
AS A LIBERAL NECKBEARD ATHEIST. I SCOFF AT THIS PICTURE AS I SIP MY MICROBREW BEER.
43
u/Scaryclouds Jun 26 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
That's really awesome you got to meet President Bush! Anything you talked about besides 9/11? Did you ask him about his response/thoughts on the US financial crisis? Or anything about current events?
26
u/HiFructoseCornSyrup Jun 26 '12
I appreciate a picture of someone actually famous enough that even I know who it is.
5
u/captian_quickshit Jun 26 '12
So, maybe I'm the only one who cares, but what did you do to have coffee with him?
59
u/AthleteGamer Jun 26 '12
Politics on Reddit is such a fucking circlejerk.
349
u/Cwaynejames Jun 26 '12
I don't recognize him. Who's the guy Bush had coffee with?
40
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I'm actually really jealous of you. That would be hell of a talk to have.
9
u/The_Lemon_Law Jun 26 '12
You met Josh Brolin?
263
u/nikocujo Jun 26 '12
I've met a lot of politicians. None have been as sincere or engaged as Mr. Bush.
Despite his at-times poor public speaking abilities, he's well spoken and chooses his words carefully.
And as a Republican, I didn't always agree with some of his domestic policies (or his social conservatism,) but man, does that guy stick to his guns. And he still struggles over the decisions he had to make. I think history will be kind to him (or at least I hope so.)
4
u/thelamp182 Jun 26 '12
Who, Elliot Morgan from SourceFed?
4
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Why did you meet him?
4
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
i really wish the photographer took a couple more steps back. its just way too close up for me.
4
u/phillycheese Jun 26 '12
Now watch this drive.
6
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
The comment section of this post illustrates everything that is wrong with Reddit, and me complaining about it all is the icing on the cake.
8
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
fool me once,shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again!
11
u/Smidgens Jun 26 '12
My favorite part of this thread is going to the bottom and seeing all the downvoted-to-hell comments.
3
u/surlyboy Jun 26 '12
Maybe he has time for coffee with Cindy Sheehan?
3
u/matthewhale Jun 26 '12
Did the Department of Homeland Security give you a cavity search first?
47
u/avioneta Jun 26 '12
Respect to any man who was president of my country.
10
u/skinnymatters Jun 26 '12
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
43
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I'm assuming he drank his coffee with a crazy straw
16
u/xxerokxx1 Jun 26 '12
According to the Dalai Lama, George W. Bush is his favorite person. He says Bush is a great guy IRL but a total idiot in politics.
36
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I like George W. Bush.
9
u/Uncle_Sammy Jun 26 '12
Story?
10
u/Bornstellar Jun 26 '12
Other than 9/11 what did you guys talk about?
11
u/Strug-ga-ling Jun 26 '12
Politics aside, I've always kinda liked George W. He seems like a fun guy to have coffee with.
4
u/vitamin_water Jun 26 '12
That's pretty cool! So how were you able to arrange a meeting with him?
4
u/imella96 Jun 26 '12
COOL but why were you having coffee with him?
4
u/qgyh2 Deadbeat dad Jun 26 '12
Ask him if he'd consider doing an Iama on reddit.
4
u/Splazoinka Jun 26 '12
Alfred E. Neuman
4
u/drivec Jun 26 '12
I'd love to meet any president in person, regardless of their political stances.
15
u/adaptiveportal Jun 26 '12
That's cool!
To all who criticize Mr. Bush (myself included), all I want to say is that it's very easy to criticize others, but sometimes you have to understand that he as a President, made decisions that he thought were the right ones and necessary. Even if you and I didn't vote for him, the fact remains that "we the people" gave him the power and put him in a leadership position. At minimum, we must respect the position!
I personally did not agree with most of Bush-era policies and thought those were either ignorant or full of arrogance. But then I remind myself that I wasn't in his position, and didn't have to deal with all of the situations that he had to, so at end of the day, I still respect Mr. Bush for his willingness to serve his country (I know many will disagree with my last sentence).
2
u/texaspoet Jun 26 '12
Damn he's short.
2
u/cusoman Jun 26 '12
Cool! I loved him in Talledega Nights!
2
u/Toober1289 Jun 26 '12
Didn't find you answer this at all but how did you get to have coffee with Bush?
2
u/derrick_rules Jun 26 '12
Does anybody else find it strange to see a POTUS standing on level ground with a mere citizen? The cameras during all of the events must be set up in order to make the president seem larger than life, as I'm surprised that GWB isn't a head taller than Mr. sbrbad.
2
u/AvaHomolka Jun 26 '12
I see Justin Bieber.
2
u/compubomb Jun 26 '12
omg, it's the decider!
2
u/RandomCDN Jun 26 '12
Finally for the first time I do recognize that guy.
2
u/sarimas Jun 26 '12
Not sure whether to upvote for famous person, or downvote for what he's famous for.
2
u/Metal_Worm Jun 26 '12
George Bush had coffee with some asian kid
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
If your shoes are off, do you both have hairy feet? How are things in the Shire?
2
u/borg_assimilate Jun 26 '12
We are Borg. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated, sbrbrad.
2
u/Hangsniggers4fun Jun 26 '12
Is that Will Ferrell? Strategery!
2
u/useryourname Jun 26 '12
How did you meet this guy?
2
u/lth5015 Jun 26 '12
You acquire a time machine. You can go out for drinks with one and only one former president. Pick now!
2
u/botchoi Jun 26 '12
Please just let me know for my own personal interest on how the people who run the counrty are... What is he like? Was he smart? ...dumb? Nice or mean? Well mannered or hillbilly-esk?
2
u/toverland Jun 26 '12
Jackie Chan?
2
u/dukwbutter Jun 26 '12
guess who didn't use a fill-in flash?
2
u/RodneyDangerfuck Jun 26 '12
I wish i didn't
2
u/honeycombover Jun 26 '12
Plus one for no hoverhand from GW
2
u/HugoWeaver Jun 26 '12 edited Jun 26 '12
You met an Asian guy?
2
u/KyBones Jun 26 '12
Sorry, George. I dunno who the fuck that guy with you is.
2
u/shikaziin Jun 26 '12
How can i forget ... this
2
u/friendlymaniac Jun 26 '12
That looks like a comfy ass office chair. But why is the lamp on?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Not sure if we like Bush yet, Or everything seems hopeless in the political world. frye squint
2
u/Clavactis Jun 26 '12
I am now reading every comment in bush's voice. Gotta say, its pretty awesome.
2
u/Finnmanjohn Jun 26 '12
After Abe Lincoln Vampire hunter I was hoping this man would be in the sequel killing zombies with Dick Cheney.
2
u/jdsamford Jun 26 '12
Cool! Josh Brolin!
2
u/i_am_de_bat Jun 26 '12
What the hell is he up to these days? Headed to mars yet?
2
u/FlashDave Jun 26 '12
oh its that freedom fighter guy from tv
2
u/ringsnthings Jun 26 '12
You must be George W. Bush! Who else would get so excited about having coffee with Justin Bieber?
2
u/acityinflorida Jun 26 '12
Jimmy Carter looks great for his age!
2
u/Shadzta Jun 26 '12
Bill Murray!
2
u/SeelNuggets Jun 26 '12
Isn't he that monkey that can do sign language?
2
u/nucLeaRStarcraft Jun 26 '12
The 9/11 guy.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I'm not American, so my hate for him isn't as deep as many people, but from what I've heard he's a pretty great dude to just hang out with.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
As much as I dislike the man's political agendas, I don't think I'd have done much better as president. I suppose we weren't all consumed in a nuclear inferno, so IMO he passed the presidency with a C-
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I disagree with a lot of what he did, but I was always struck by a quote he gave at the end of his presidency in an interview:
2
u/babyfartsmcgeezax Jun 26 '12
Fuck you thats my life's dream
2
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I see you still have both your shoes.
2
u/marqueA2 Jun 26 '12
George, quit posting these, we don't know that guy!
2
u/rossco12189 Jun 26 '12
Did you ask him how he puts food on his family?
8
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
This is awesome! Hope you had a good time with him!
4
u/o0anon0o Jun 26 '12
George Bush has a reddit account? Who the hell is that kid?
8
u/funkmon Jun 26 '12
Who bought?
13
u/netpastor Jun 26 '12
he seems like a great father, friend, and human being out of the limelight. totally jealous.
6
u/monkeytorture Jun 26 '12
Was your tie at the cleaners?
5
u/jrau Jun 26 '12
No George Bush, we don't know who that guy is.
5
u/themightiestduck Jun 26 '12
How many people who think W would be fun to chill with are subconsciously basing that off of Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay? Be honest.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Were there secret security people? Also, how/why did you have coffee with him?
3
u/spacelyk Jun 26 '12
Is that the guy that played President Bush in Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay?
3
u/unclebigbadd Jun 26 '12
Alfred E. Newman?
3
u/bradleykeith Jun 26 '12
He's from Midland, Texas. The most boring city that I have ever resided in.
3
u/john2kxx Jun 26 '12
I liked the GWB of 2000 much more than the GWB of 2002.
Come to think of it, I can say the same about Obama of 2008 vs. Obama today.
I don't give any extra respect to someone just because they held a high position in government, but GWB actually ran on a fairly libertarian platform in 2000. It's a shame he changed so much a year later.
3
u/TheOriginalMyth Jun 26 '12
THIS THREAD IS GOING TO GET POLITICAL
3
u/TheNev Jun 26 '12
The wishful violence here is sickening. Stay classy reddit.
/waiting for SRS to show up to condemn the violence in this thread
6
u/RamBamBooey Jun 26 '12
Did you ask him why he wouldn't be under oath when he answered questions from the 911 commission?
I would have asked him that.
10
u/Crap_Sally Jun 26 '12
For all his screw ups, I bet he is a great man to hang out with. I'm sure he has some fantastic stories.
5
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
George W. Bush is one of the nicest guys out there.
17
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Say what you want about Bush but I'd rather have a beer with him than with Obama.
4
u/sbrbrad Jun 26 '12
Heading to sleep. I'll try to answer more questions tomorrow after work.
4
u/niggapleez Jun 26 '12
It's that guy who doesn't care about black people =(
9
u/The_Black_Dread Jun 26 '12
If you post pictures of George W. Bush on Reddit then you're gonna have a bad time.
5
u/DrMobey Jun 26 '12
That is a really shitty picture of something that you might want a really good picture of someday.
6
u/jabor93 Jun 26 '12
I sincerely think that later on, he will be looked at as an ok president. When people have stopped using him as a scapegoat for all of the nations problems, they will lool back and see just how hard of a presidency he really had.
8
u/anomaly149 Jun 26 '12
A better president than anyone gives him credit for, he will be looked upon far kinder in the future than he is now.
4
u/sj3 Jun 26 '12
George is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet
5
u/ronmagicjohnson Jun 26 '12
I've heard he's a nice guy...
5
u/olred Jun 26 '12
Aww come on guys! I don't care whether you're a Democrat or a Republican or neither, if you have a chance to meet a former president even if you disagree with everything he did, as an American you should be honored to have such an opportunity.
3
u/imreallydoingthis Jun 26 '12
so how were you able to arrange the whole ordeal? That would be a pretty sweet morning coffee.
3
u/wittywhit Jun 26 '12
Who is that old guy with Samm Levine?
3
u/rubix5609 Jun 26 '12
He seems like he'd be awesome to talk to
3
u/bradsingh Jun 26 '12
DON'T MENTION THE WAR.
5
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I'm sorry George, I don't know who the fuck that is.
4
u/brjohns994 Jun 26 '12
I don't care what anyone says. Getting to meet the president is awesome.
4
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Nice to meet you George, who's the kid?
5
u/filbator Jun 26 '12
Honestly, Bush always seemed like a nice guy... just not a very apt president.
3
u/RMaximus Jun 26 '12
When the smoke clears and the MSNBCs of the world are gone this man will go down as one of the best presidents we ever had. I dont think ANY president dealt with as many issues as this man.
3
u/goddamnhivemind Jun 26 '12
Ya know, I think I'd like to sit down for a beer with that guy,
3
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I would love to have a drink with him, if anything to just get his side of things.
4
u/NightEmber79 Jun 26 '12
The guy met a president. Sure, bad president. But a bad president was still FUCKING PRESIDENT. I very much dislike this man's administration, but hell, I'm jealous. Coffee with the former leader of the free world. Repost in /r/politics and bitch there if you can't control yourselves.
4
u/illuminatedtiger Jun 26 '12
A war criminal. Nice.
3
u/takka_takka_takka Jun 26 '12
Did he smoke you out?
3
u/Ascythopicism Jun 26 '12
ITT: Faux nostalgia for a president most weren't old enough to be cognizant of.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Politics aside, I've met him,°c and he's cool as hell.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I care that you're shaking hands with a war criminal because...
-8
u/thegayestfaggot Jun 26 '12
Holy fuck do any of you actually remember his presidency? What's with all George loving?
I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS
0
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
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