Bush: "Molly Ivins was a Texas original"

[sabra]

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/02/bush_mourns_his.html#more

<snip>

"Molly Ivins was a Texas original,'' said Bush, who originally came from a line of Connecticut Yankees who had adopted the Lone Star state as home and became something of an original himself, managing partner of the Texas Rangers, governor and finally, of course, president. And Bush, who had conceded in a radio interview just this week that "I'm not that good at pronouncing words,'' has saluted Ivins for "her passionate belief in the power of words, and her ability to turn a phrase.''

Ivins, a best-selling author, widely circulated newspaper columnist and fierce critic of the president, lost a struggle with cancer yesterday. She was 62.

"Molly Ivins was a Texas original,'' the president said in a statement released by the White House late last night. "She was loved by her readers and by her many friends, particularly in Central Texas.

"I respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words, and her ability to turn a phrase,'' the president said. "She fought her illness with that same passion. Her quick wit and commitment to her beliefs will be missed. Laura and I send our condolences to Molly Ivins’ family and friends.''

[terrya]

1. It must be tough for him to do this sort of thing.

Sending out condolences to people who absolutely loathed and despised you. And trying to sound sincere in the process.

[Dora]

3. I imagine it's not difficult for him to do at all.

After each word of condolences he issues, I imagine he's probably breathing a sigh of relief that another agitator and advocate has fallen quiet.

[Jim Warren]

8. You bet

You know his handlers had some staffer write it up and after half-listening to the comments he grunted his consent.

[redqueen]

15. Did she loathe and despise him?

I dunno... I read where she implied or even outright said otherwise.

:shrug:

[Captain Hilts]

19. The comments for Peter Jennings and Katharine Hepburn were really, really bad. nt

[MUAD_DIB]

2. Bullsh*t. Bush doesn't respect anything except power: His own.

I hate false praise.

Prick

[femmedem]

4. That is the single nicest thing he's done the whole time he's been in office.

He acted like a normal person. Wow.

[Ninga]

5. Hello?? I don't think he wrote that statment....not one word of it.

[Katherine Brengle]

6. Probably not - I honestly doubt he knew who she was...

but it was still the right thing to do, so for that he gets "not subhuman" points for the few seconds it took to utter the words.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Did you know that they attended the same high school?

I am surprised that the White House issued this statement. I just lost a bet that he'd let his pettiness get in the way of manners.

[Marie26]

17. They go back to high school

Molly Ivins & Bush went to the same high school in Texas, and she covered him extensively while he was governor. He knew who she was, I'm sure.

[MUAD_DIB]

7. C'mon. He didn't write it. He's an asshole.

[femmedem]

12. Hey hey, I didn't say he's not an asshole.

I said it was the single nicest thing he's done while in office. That is really damning with faint praise.

;)

[pnorman]

9. I agree.

And I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on this (although my gut tells me otherwise)

pnorman

[Bridget Burke]

10. And Shrub is a classless fake.

I'm sure Connecticut doesn't want to claim him, either.

[Hand]

11. And Chimpy is a Texas fake. nt

[Marie26]

13. Good for him

That's the first & last time I'll ever compliment Bush for anything. But this was nice.

[bif]

14. Like he ever read a word she wrote!

Fuckin' dunce. He doesn't read newspapers, so what the hell does he know about her anyway?

[Meldread]

18. He didn't write it...

...but at least he took the time to utter a few words of respect. It's more than he does for most, and more than I expected from him in the first place.

I guess it just goes to show, if you set the bar low enough, he might eventually out do your expectations.