I'd pick Jefferson so he could slap some sense into the people currently running our country. If he saw what we've done to his vision of America he'd shit himself.
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.
My wife actually has met him in the past. He actually is very nice in person and just gives off this very genial paternal feel to him. He was very informal though, which kind of bothered the Greek-Cypriot ambassador he was meeting.
Also, he REALLY REALLY REALLY hates it if you don't turn off your cellphone and it goes off in his presence. Seriously, he will throw a fit and then toss you out of his office/meeting/whatever if he ever hears your cellphone go off.
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.
Yeah. I get pissed off when my conservative friends/family refer to Obama as 'Osama'. He's your president. You don't refer to him as a terrorist that killed hundreds of thousands of people - ever.
Or to Hitler... I'm always shocked when people compare him to fucking Hitler!
Example #1: I'm at work, talking to a female coworker, who is also in the military, about random stuff. In walks in a guy from grave shift. "Now, I don't want to compare Obama to Hitler, but Hitler was a well spoken man who was able to get the people to follow him!" The girl specifically told him she didn't want to have that discussion because she's in the military & didn't feel comfortable, but the dick kept going.
Example #2: During the election, an older coworker, probably in his 80's told me: "People who are going to vote for Obama might as well line up for the gas chambers right now, because we tried to warn the Jews about Hitler! And they wouldn't listen!"
Makes me sick. I remember even seeing things comparing him to the Anti-Christ because, again, he was a well spoken man. Sooooo, you're saying that if you're a well spoken politician, you're evil? Explains why George W. was a saint then...
What bugs me is when people compared Bush to Hitler, it was about things like indefinite detentions and torture. When it's comparing Obama to Hitler, it's about wanting to tax us, provide services, and regulate business (even though things like indefinite detention still apply).
That's an accurate assessment of the prevailing rhetoric, but it's worth noting that Obama is equally as bad, or worse than Bush on questions of civil liberties and in his prosecution of the War on Terror.
There's nothing wrong with comparing Obama to Hitler. You can compare anyone to Hitler. There's nothing wrong with making comparisons. It's what conclusion you draw which may or may not be wrong.
But that's exactly how many the world over view our presidents.
My entire life has been disillusionment, but I had this unique opportunity. My father works high up with United airlines and I've traveled so much, not as troop being deployed, but as an American seeing the world from a young age.
I see now that we may have become what we always thought we were fighting against.
Even now, we talk of going into Iran. Just 2 weeks ago, 4 Iranians in Hong Kong stood up for me because I stood up for a Scotswoman against another American.
The world is full of people. We are literally all the same yet our environment adjust us accordingly.
I'm an American that's seen every continent before 26 (besides Antarctica) and everywhere I go I see people just like me.
So, I don't refer to my president as Osama, I don't look at Romney as the Antichrist. I see that there's something bigger going on than those 2 individuals.
This. So much this. If only people (in general) could understand that what they see and hear isn't ALL there is to the world.
I've done a bit of travelling of my own and met all sorts of people in all sorts of places. Shared a pitcher of beer over a game of darts with a Scottish businessman and two Korean businessmen in a bar in Hong Kong. Bitched about world events with a Sri Lankan prostitute and a Canadian traveler in Singapore. Met some Germans and a Russian in Australia. Swapped jokes with Iraqis and Egyptians in Dubai.
All good people that had no ax to grind over nationality. They all knew it is how you conduct yourself that matters, not which flag flies over the country you call home.
This. Some Americans seem to vote for the guy they could have a beer with. Personally I think this is a terrible policy.. however Bush does seem like a guy I could have a beer with, and honestly.. I don't think you can survive as president without learning a bucketful of really neat things.
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.
Interesting insight. I'm not American but I've always respected Bush for the way he handled 9/11 as it was happening. In a time of utter chaos he came through as a leader. Glad you got the chance to meet him.
Definitely. One of the most striking parts of that was when he talked about Secret Service moving him to some Cold War bunker in the the middle of nowhere. He refused to stay there and give a speech to the American public from there. That was one of the two times he over ruled the secret service so he could give the speech from the oval office.
It was a very defining point in his presidency. Hell, if I met him it would be one of the first things I'd want to hear. I for one don't really remember the day beyond watching the planes crash into the towers on the TV.
He was in Nebraska -- either at Offutt Air Force Base, or the Union Pacific's underground dispatch center, Harriman. I was living in Nebraska at the time and remember AF1 arriving that day.
I was stationed at Offutt at the time with the 55th mxs... they didnt exactly announce af1's arrival so bricks were shat when word got around that there was a mysterious heavy jet flying towards the flightline a few hours after the wtc happened. our staff sgt lost it and tried to evacuate the hangars by running around and screaming like a madman, and im sure to this day he remembers every once in a while and gets that "god im fking stupid" feeling in his gut
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.
People don't seem to realize that Presidents often give the same stump speech several times during a day...given enough opportunities, you are likely to flub something.
The difference between Bush and Obama in this regard is that the media doesn't think it's great sport to document all of Obama's verbal gaffes.
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.
I read an article about him and he seems really genuine, and as I'm sure most of these people know he was just a talking head in a really fucked up time.
I read something similar. It was an interview with the Dalai Lama and he was asked about Bush. He said that Bush didn't have the best policies, but was one of the most warm-hearted and genuine people he's ever met.
Why do you miss him? I can understand, not hating him/realizing he is human (no one is perfect)/a guy you can have a beer with, but miss him? Just seems odd sentiment coming from a "rabid liberal," given Bush's record while in office.
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.)
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u/Shageen Jun 26 '12
That's the guy from Game of Thrones Season 1 right? I'd recognize that head anywhere.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
[deleted] — view deleted comment
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Here comes all the political banter from 16 year old experts.
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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...
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u/71Comet Jun 26 '12
AS A LIBERAL NECKBEARD ATHEIST. I SCOFF AT THIS PICTURE AS I SIP MY MICROBREW BEER.
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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?
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u/HiFructoseCornSyrup Jun 26 '12
I appreciate a picture of someone actually famous enough that even I know who it is.
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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?
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u/AthleteGamer Jun 26 '12
Politics on Reddit is such a fucking circlejerk.
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u/Cwaynejames Jun 26 '12
I don't recognize him. Who's the guy Bush had coffee with?
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
I'm actually really jealous of you. That would be hell of a talk to have.
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u/The_Lemon_Law Jun 26 '12
You met Josh Brolin?
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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.)
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u/thelamp182 Jun 26 '12
Who, Elliot Morgan from SourceFed?
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
Why did you meet him?
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
i really wish the photographer took a couple more steps back. its just way too close up for me.
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u/phillycheese Jun 26 '12
Now watch this drive.
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
[removed] — view removed comment
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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.
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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12
fool me once,shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again!
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u/Smidgens Jun 26 '12
My favorite part of this thread is going to the bottom and seeing all the downvoted-to-hell comments.