Reply #16: George W Bush refuses to criticise Barack Obama in first public speech

[T_i_B]

Might as well post this here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5013747/George-W-Bush-refuses-to-criticise-Barack-Obama-in-first-public-speech.html

As the new administration comes under increasing fire for allowing AIG to pay $165 million in bonuses despite receiving a $170 billion government bailout, Mr Bush, who was making his first public speech since leaving office in January, said Mr Obama had enough critics and "deserves my silence".

His attitude provided a sharp contrast with Dick Cheney, the former vice-president, who said that Mr Obama's ban on torture threatened America's safety, and talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, who said he hoped Mr Obama would fail.

"I love my country a lot more than I love politics," Mr Bush said in Calgary, Canada. "I think it is essential that he be helped in office."

He revealed that he will write a book that will ask people to consider what they would do if they had to protect the United States as president. "It's going to be (about) the 12 toughest decisions I had to make," he said.