Poppy, Bubba best buds Old rivals make odd couple

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/303037p-259359c.html

Family and friends who say the improbable love fest between George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton is totally genuine still can't refrain from occasionally rolling their eyes.
Barbara Bush, the 41st President's tart-tongued wife, calls them the Odd Couple. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush now refers to the Democrat who ended his father's political career as "Bro."

A close friend of the Bush family spoke for many partisans on both sides of the political divide last week by musing, "It's a good development for the country - but it sure is a strange development. I'm a little speechless."

And President George W. Bush, who created this tag-team mismatch by naming his immediate predecessors joint envoys for U.S. tsunami relief efforts, brought down the house at Washington's A-list Gridiron Club dinner last month by mentioning Clinton's recent surgery.

"When he woke up he was surrounded by his loved ones: Hillary, Chelsea and my Dad," Bush deadpanned.

BTW, new info on the Clinton slept on the floor story in the article - Poppy brought along a Tempur-Pedic mattress for Bill to sleep on - so it wasn't quite the hard airplane floor.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. What is WRONG with Bubba?

I can't imagine anyone being THAT lonely.

What is WRONG with him?

[jmc777]

2. maybe they're indulging in some "man love"....? n/t

[dsc]

3. The fraternity of ex presidents is a very small one

In this case there are only 4 left (Clinton, Bush 1, Carter and Ford). Ford has all but retired from any kind of public life, Carter also is much less of a traveler, that leaves Bush 1. This is kind of like Ford and Carter who became very good friends early in Reagan's Presidency.

[gordianot]

4. Given Bill's intelligence, he is the son Poppy never had.

Junior is such a screw up and disappointment.

[Straight Shooter]

9. I think you're right. Bill represents achievement by merit.

Even for someone as vile as "Poppy," it's got to be a stinking disappointment to have 4 misfits for sons. Not a single one of them got where they were without the influence, arm-twisting, and money under the table provided by "Poppy" or his friends.

All the same, it's a major disappointment to see our Numero Uno doing this, but Clinton is the quintessential politician.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Maybe ...

... we should check in on the Freepers and see how they are taking this news.

I have a hunch that they're going to have to increase the dosage of their diarrhea medicine soon.

--p!
Not for nothing do we call him Big Dog.

[hollowdweller]

7. Clinton is the Consumate Politician and Deal Maker

If Clinton is perceived in the public domain to be friendly and respectful to the Bush family, especially the old man, it will make the Bush Family/GOP look twice as bad when they start their personal attacks on Hillary when she runs against Jeb.

[glitch]

8. I think you've got it, but it still makes me

:puke:

[NVMojo]

6. this is a cover for the Guckert/White House sex scandal ...

we forgive Bill, you forgive us schpeal ...

[Mark E. Smith]

10. Keep Your Friends Close...

...but your enemies closer.

Trust Bubba.

[CJCRANE]

14. Makes sense.

Bill's just a private citizen now so it's handy to have friends in high places.

[Mark E. Smith]

17. Look at it this way...

...Clinton might know Georgie is mad, and he's doing all he can to keep the little idiot from doing any more damage than he's caused already. Even wiping Poppy's chin.

[unkachuck]

11. I think it's....

....disgusting, I don't trust either one of them....at a time inwhich many are trying to put some fight and backbone into the Dem's, Clintons' love-fest for bushco is just undercutting the effort....

[DanCa]

12. Maybe

It'll take both poppy and bubba to undo the damage that Jr. is doing to the country?

[gordianot]

13. Poppy has a long history cleaning up Junior's messes.

This time he has his work cut out for him. Maybe Bill (the comeback kid) can help. :popcorn:

[AlienGirl]

15. I have a major soft spot for this kind of thing

Old enemies becoming friends is always something I like to see, even if I still think Poppy Bush is a scary mofo. There's just something about people realizing their common humanity and forming bonds of emotion that go beyond politics and everything. :shrug: I'm a sucker for that.

Tucker

[regnaD kciN]

16. From what I recall, McGovern and Nixon...

...were good friends for about a decade before the latter's death. (It began when, by one of the great coincidences outside of Dickens or Hugo novels, they wound up sitting across the aisle from one another on an airplane.) When McGovern decided to make his last presidential run in 1984, Nixon was strongly encouraging him to do so.