November 24, 2008
Obama Should Learn from Bush (John Feehery)
As President-elect Barack Obama puts together his Cabinet and grapples with the failing global economy, he should use a resource that nobody is thinking of: President Bush.
No, not that President Bush. The first one. The guy who lost to Bill Clinton in 1992.
Obama should give him some sort of honorary position and keep him engaged in what is going on with the world.
President George Bush the First, unlike his son, has a vast and deep knowledge of the political history of the globe. He has incredible judgment, the best Rolodex in the world, and very strong relationships in countries that matter to us deeply.
As a former ambassador to China, Bush understands both the culture and the people. Over the next two years, no country will be more important to us as we climb out of this financial mess that we currently find ourselves in.
Bush, whose clear-headed diplomacy helped break up the Soviet Union, also knows Russia well. He can be very useful in keeping the Russian-American relationship from falling off the tracks.
Bush obviously understands the Middle East. He put together the coalition that kicked Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait and he knew when to say when and keep Iraq as a useful counterbalance to Iran.
Bush also has incredibly strong relationships throughout Europe, Asia and South America. He wasn’t particularly good at domestic politics, but we had no better and more experienced president in the field of international affairs than George Bush the First.
Bill Clinton might win a popularity contest if it came to a vote of the peoples of the world, but among the world’s leaders, George Herbert Walker Bush is more respected.
The first President Bush has largely kept his mouth shut about the performance of his son. His former colleagues, like Brent Scowcroft, have taken to speaking for him, in expressing his displeasure with some of the policies of George Bush II.
But Barack Obama will have to rely on many different voices to help guide him through the most difficult global economy in seven decades. Obama shouldn’t hesitate to call on George Bush. He is a true patriot and a great resource for the new president.
Visit www.thefeeherytheory.com.
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John;
If HW couldn't control his son, why should Obama take advice form him?
Comment by Mike Coleman — November 24, 2008 @ 11:41 am
He may not be experienced in raising a son, but Obama wouldn't ask for advice in raising his daughters. He needs the best advice & experience in foreign policy & Bush I has it in spades. A fact you might have noticed if you had been paying attention!
Comment by Frank — November 25, 2008 @ 7:11 am
That's a splendid idea and if Obama is truly interested in gathering the best and brightest he'll take note. And by the way, John; "controlling" his son has nothing whatever to do with his expertise in global affairs. Do all the parents you know have Stepford children?
Comment by Candide — November 25, 2008 @ 8:42 am
Sorry, I meant "Mike", not John.
Comment by Candide — November 25, 2008 @ 8:42 am
Bush and family were friends to OBL and his family and did a lot of business over the years. I found it fishy that BUsh II allowed the Bin LAden family to leave the USA when no one else could fly and it has taken 7 years and he still hasn't located OBL. On top of that, teh FBI wanted poster of OBL has the embassy bombings but not 9/11. If his father couldn't get his son to find the people that did 9/11 why should Obama take advice from him?
Comment by Mike Coleman — November 25, 2008 @ 10:36 am
Can you say Council of Foreign Relations?? It was formed in the USA year 1921.Based in NYC and DC. Put CFR in search and read read read. Interesing.
Comment by Laura — November 26, 2008 @ 1:20 am
Can you say Council of Foreign Relations?? Put CFR in search and read all about it. Both father and son are members as is Bill Clinton. Not sure about obama.
Comment by Laura — November 26, 2008 @ 1:21 am