Catcalls at Bush's Final Exit

Flying Send Off - Bush just can't catch a break...
United States
January 20, 2009 4:56pm CST
I am ANYTHING but a fan of former president Bush, yet I can feel sorry for him to some extent as the lame duck cannot catch a break even as he leaves the White House for the final time. On CNN video he is escorted to the helicopter by the Obamas for his flight to Texas you hear the catcalls. * As Bush and family ate their final dinner in the White House, a shoe found its way over the White House fence. The tosser was arrested, message received.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Some people just do not know how to behave in public and have no ideas about good manors. I disagree with much that Bill Clinton did in his presidency and think that his lying under oath, taking advantage of a star struck young woman and breaking the oath of office were deserving of him being removed from office, but I would never make catcalls when he left office or at one of his overpaid speeches today. There is a time, place and method for expressing your opinion in this country and some people don't realize that freedom also comes with responsibility and giving respect where respect is due. Bush worked very hard and made an honest effort in very difficult times and no matter what anyone says, he deserves credit for there not being another terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11 2001. Even I will allow that Clinton also worked hard and accoplished many good things but his errors where ones of morals and not of defective intelligence reports.
2 people like this
• United States
21 Jan 09
Bill Clinton's moral slips hurt fewer people in my opinion than Bush's obsessions, wars, and intelligence snafus. The word "war criminal" has been uttered more than once by the news personalities regards Bush. There is a lot of anger out there.
• United States
23 Jan 09
That's possible... The Bushes and the Clintons are certainly close enough.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
20 Jan 09
If everyone will recall, early in Bush's term in office, his approval rate was very high. Who knows what Obama's approval rate will be by the time he goes out of office!
• United States
21 Jan 09
Quite right, the memory hole is a problem, and Bush was very good at the moments after the attack. * Bush started to go wrong when he focused on Iraq, a country that, at least to my knowledge, had no link to the attack or terrorism at the time. Admittedly, Hussein was as charming as a scorpion in a boot, he had no links to Al Queda. * The American public can't get their minds around the Iraq business. They see it costing money and energy that could have gone elsewhere such as Afghanistan where we understand bin Ladin to be, or to our own economy that is rapidly going in a hole of it's own. * As for Iraq itself, progress is sparse in the view of most Americans compared to cost and lives outlaid. That view may be or not be incorrect. * Most Americans simply see their hard earned money worth less then it used to be, their futures less secure, and they are scared. They remember Bush inherited Clinton's surplus, and left a deficit. The reasons are unknown to many. The suspicion however is Iraq. * Who ever left this mess, Bush can't be entirely at fault, the mess is just too big for one person to make, Obama and his group have a big pile to clean up.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I'm pretty sure there were catcalls at other events he appeared at, when he still was president. He is probably used to it. One cannot make everybody happy in that business. He might even have thought how glad he is that it is over and he won't be subjected to the verbal abuse for much longer. I don't think it's okay to do this. I don't even like it when they do it at sporting events. But I guess Americans are so used to display their displeasure and disapprovement in this way, some just couldn't help themselves. Doesn't exactly make them look good nor portray America well to the rest of the world. As to the shoe thrower, he might not have even known about it. Probably not even cared much either. It's a stupid statement to make anyway. On the other hand, it most likely made Obama aware of things to come... once the gloves come off, people will treat him the same way. It all depends on how the public opinion will be managed. He might end his term(s) more popular than Bush but one never knows. I'm sure that experience will always be in the back of his mind;)
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
20 Jan 09
And there's no insult for insult or getting back at from George W. Bush because that's the kind of man he is, gracious and forgiving and a gentleman to the end. Which is more than I can say for a good share of the American people.
2 people like this
• United States
21 Jan 09
At this point in time, getting cat calls as he exited the White House, I kinda felt bad for the guy... That could not have been easy.
• United States
20 Jan 09
Well I am sure Bush never saw the shoe and to tell you the truth it probly does not upset him. As President you are never going to make everyone happy. You are always going to have one group or another critizing you. I hope that person realizes he or she is in major trouble for that. I hope that joke was worth the trouble he is now in. Very childish behavior in my opinion.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jan 09
I have to admit, who ever he or she is had nerves made of pure steel to fling anything over that kind of 'private' property. Thats like an amplified version of egging the principle's car.
• United States
21 Jan 09
That or they did not have two brain cells in their head to get themselves into that kind of trouble over something so stupid.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jan 09
That's a valid viewpoint.
@CRIVAS (1815)
• Canada
21 Jan 09
Well I have to say that I don't really feel that sorry for him. He was supposed to be making decisions to help his country and instead I think that he made decisions based on helping himself. I am really surprised that he lasted as long as he did. I mean there was 11.5 trillion dollars spent during his presidency. Doesthis sound like something you would want your president to do? I think not.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
20 Jan 09
There were catcalls when he appeared at the Inauguration, too, but I doubt he cared. He knows what his approval rating was...and he knows what he accomplished and where mistakes were made. I think he's probably relieved that it's all behind him now. I do wish folks had acted with more class tho.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jan 09
There is the crowd psychology factor that may or may not have entered into this. People as individuals often behave differently than they do in mobs. Resisting the mob psychology or peer pressure calls for an extraordinary human being, something which few of us are.