George W. Bush To Skip Republican Convention In Tampa

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

For the second time in a row, Republicans will not host their party’s last elected president at their national convention.

President George W. Bush will not attend the GOP convention in Tampa later this summer, TPM has confirmed. Bush joins his father, President George H.W. Bush, in skipping the event. The elder Bush said he could not attend because of health reasons; the younger said he wants to stay out of the political fray weeks before the general election.

“He supports Gov. Romney and wants him to succeed,” George W. Bush spokesperson Freddy Ford told Politico Friday in a statement confirmed by TPM. “President Bush is confident that Mitt Romney will be a great President. But he’s still enjoying his time off the political stage and respectfully declined the invitation to go to Tampa.”

Ford told TPM he “can’t speak for the rest of the family” when it comes to attending Mitt Romney’s official crowing as Republican presidential nominee. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) is reportedly planning to be on hand for the convention.

Read more: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/george-w-bush-to-skip-republican-convention-in-tampa.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

[libinnyandia]

1. What? Now I'll not have any reason to watch their convention:o)

[bluestateguy]

2. That would be like Herbert Hoover attending the 1936 GOP convention

Although this persistent attendance taking by the media--regarding both conventions--is rather stupid.

[bulloney]

3. I wonder if Bush was "advised" not to come to the convention to avoid embarrassing the party.

A former president not coming to his party convention? Why? Might they find him getting all sloshed and acting like a drunken sailor? Would the mere camera shot of him at the convention remind swing voters how horribly he ran the country?

Will Darth Cheney, Donny Rumdum and any of the other clowns from this administration attend?

Wasn't there a recent report that Romney didn't extend an invitation to the convention to Palin?

This all looks and smells like damage control to me.

[Auggie]

13. Shrub carries the stink of failure and corruption and murder

[DCKit]

32. They're breathing a sigh of relief.

Lucky for us, he's got no memory, and will be there if he's not too drunk to get on the helicopter.

I so want him front-and-center.

[BlueToTheBone]

4. At first I thought it said "asked to

skip"

[no_hypocrisy]

5. “He supports Gov. Romney and wants him to succeed,”

just like McCain. *'s presence is the kiss of death for republican campaigns.

[stubtoe]

6. Maybe there should be political ads including *'s picture next to Mitt's.

Pointing out that their economic policies are similar, etc. etc.

[Zoeisright]

7. They don't want him, and I'm sure it's too much work for him.

Since his main goal in life was to be "famous".

[monmouth]

8. Betcha Palin is thinking of how she can get a hold of that invite...n/t

[KamaAina]

9. "Republicans will not host their party’s last elected president at their national convention"

Wouldn't that be Bush 41?

[NYC Liberal]

16. Ya but I don't think he's going either!

[Art_from_Ark]

28. It is interesting that they included that word "elected"

So yeah, that would be bu$h Sr.

[edhopper]

10. And there is not a hair of difference

between the policies of GWB and RMoney.
But half the country are too stupid to see that.

[struggle4progress]

11. I was hopin he'd give the keynote speech

[sofa king]

27. They are going to miss the "warhorse" speech.

It's not something you see very often the GOP side anymore, but it used to be standard practice for the most prominent living President from the party to deliver the "warhorse" speech at the convention, where the audience is whipped into a froth and the opposition broadsided with the former President's voice and authority.

Reagan did it for H.W. and I think H.W. did it for Shrub. On our side, we've seen Bill Clinton do it twice and I think I remember Jimmy Carter doing it several times. The warhorse speech is usually set for a prime-time slot and it gets wide coverage--which is exactly why they don't want W. to do it.

I have a vague recollection that Nixon really wanted to "help" Jerry Ford at the convention in '76, but he also was invited to stay the hell away.

Which puts W in exactly the company he deserves, doesn't it? At the folding card table in the kitchen, so the adults can enjoy themselves.

[Journeyman]

12. Guess that puts the close to the question if anyone misses him yet . . .

[tabasco]

24. Hahahahaha.

Excellent.

[Skittles]

14. translation: they don't want him

[Berlum]

15. Bush goes AWOL. As usual. Sooooooo Republican.

Bush is the Compleat Republican, a 1% a-hole screw off.

No wonder the other Republicans love him and his Epic FAIL. He is, tragically, the BEST they can do with their pathetic, cesspool-spawned, so-called "family values."

[RFKHumphreyObama]

17. George HW doesn't want to attend because he knows his party

has turned into a bunch of right wing loonies and Bush the stupider has probably been asked not to come because he's political poison. A fitting legacy for him really

[alp227]

29. However, I wonder why it's been speculated that Jeb Bush might be a stronger candidate.

Because Jeb doesn't have as many skeletons in the closet as the two Georges?

[cstanleytech]

36. Actually ole Jeb has the huge skeleton of the florida elections sitting in his closet

so really, does he need more?

[SoapBox]

18. For somebody SO dumb...the smartest thing he's ever done

Hilarious.

[Turbineguy]

19. Good.

I'm skipping it too.

[tanyev]

20. A missing person that nobody will miss at all.

[Major Nikon]

21. Awww, Shrub is persona non grata at the convention again

I guess it would be just too painful for everyone involved to have to see what happened the last time America was stupid enough to elect a Republican presidunce.

[dawn frenzy adams]

22. Bush not going?

Well he might as well attend. After all, Mittens has hired every psychopath, loser and scumbag from the Bush Administration.

[Ready4Change]

23. GOP won't say it. But they sure know it.

Worst President Ever.

[cstanleytech]

35. +To infinity and beyond. nt

[MichiganVote]

25. He never did support his party, in word or action. He/his buddies think its a debutante ball anyway.

None of these republican elites have any use for the party, any party. They make their own rules however they want.

[loyalsister]

30. And I think he was a useful debutante

I don't think he wanted to be president. His personal investment was just for fun "it was awesome being famous and powerful" as opposed to "I'm proud that we toppled Sadaam and laid the groundwork for Obama to get OBL.... He has a lot to be ashamed of, but he could have spun some things to indicate he was interested in what he did as president. Chenney and his advisors were in charge. Chennery could never have gotten elected, so they put Bush up to give speeches, sign bills and enjoy the fun parts of being president.

I don't think he wanted to do it and is relieved to be out of it.

[Overseas]

26. I hope he changes his mind.

[blkmusclmachine]

31. Out, out damn spot.

Did you hear about Operation Northwoods?

[2pooped2pop]

33. The collective "Whew" of the republicans

was mistaken for a wind storm and sent thousands ducking for cover.

[cstanleytech]

34. I wonder what the radioactive half-life is on the Bush name after Jr got through with it. nt

[Lil Missy]

37. He can't stay sober long enough to be there. n/t