Pretty Cool,

He's a class act. He and Laura come to at least one SMU game per year.

Like Bush's policies or hate them, it is hard to hate him as a person.

He has always come across like he could just be a guy living down the street.

(10-20-2014 09:14 PM)Niner National Wrote:  Like Bush's policies or hate them, it is hard to hate him as a person.

Agreed. A few years ago a polysci student at Miami was diagnosed with serious cancer and made a request to meet him through Make-a-Wish or a similar organization. They granted it, though the student expected just to say hi, shake hands, and part ways after a photo op. Much to his surprise, Bush took out two whole hours just to talk with him about politics, life, etc. He's one of the worst presidents in our history imo, but I sure do like him as a person. His father seems kind warm-hearted as well.

(10-21-2014 07:23 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(10-20-2014 09:14 PM)Niner National Wrote:  Like Bush's policies or hate them, it is hard to hate him as a person.

Agreed. A few years ago a polysci student at Miami was diagnosed with serious cancer and made a request to meet him through Make-a-Wish or a similar organization. They granted it, though the student expected just to say hi, shake hands, and part ways after a photo op. Much to his surprise, Bush took out two whole hours just to talk with him about politics, life, etc. His father seems kind warm-hearted as well.

That's good, I'd like to meet him as well...

I've met him several times, had dinner with him on a couple of occasions, both when he was running the Rangers. Also have met George and Barbara on many occasions, used to go to the same church (St. Martin's, Houston). They are all incredibly nice people, whether you agree with their politics or not--and I agree sometimes, not others. I saw GHWB move much closer to the religious right over the course of his political career. That's not who he really was when I first met him, and I like the older better than the newer version. The really sad thing for the republicans, IMO, is that GHWB and Jack Kemp for some reason simply couldn't get along. That's really surprising, because I found them both to be very nice people on many occasions. And I think some sort of melding of the old GHWB philosophy with Kemp's would have been the way for the party to go. But Bush and Kemp probably met for the first time about the time that Bush was getting pushed hard toward the religious right, and that is probably the main reason why that didn't happen.

Think I've mentioned it before on here, so sorry if I'm repeating, but back in the late 1990s there was a George Strait concert at Rice Stadium, and because I give money to the athletic program I was given the chance to buy 4 VIP tickets. I gave 2 to my secretary and her BFF, and took the woman I was dating at the time with the other 2. We were having dinner on the club level of the press box when I heard, "May we join you," and it was GHWB and Barbara. We had a delightful dinner and conversation, then they left. I was thinking I had really impressed my date, so I asked what she thought, and she said, "I think if I'd been president I could find a better barber." At some point my secretary called on my cell and said, "Hey these are great tickets. Guess where I am?" I didn't know so I asked her to tell me. "Cindy and I are backstage having a beer with George Strait." "Well, we just got through having dinner with George and Barbara Bush." Never did decide who had the better experience.

(10-21-2014 07:23 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(10-20-2014 09:14 PM)Niner National Wrote:  Like Bush's policies or hate them, it is hard to hate him as a person.

Agreed. A few years ago a polysci student at Miami was diagnosed with serious cancer and made a request to meet him through Make-a-Wish or a similar organization. They granted it, though the student expected just to say hi, shake hands, and part ways after a photo op. Much to his surprise, Bush took out two whole hours just to talk with him about politics, life, etc. He's one of the worst presidents in our history imo, but I sure do like him as a person. His father seems kind warm-hearted as well.

The senior Bush never really seemed as warm as W. He seemed like he could be a dick in off-handed comments. However, there is no question that he and Barabara are quality people and genuine (there's little question that Barbara deserves tons of credit for the strength and warmth of the entire family).

(10-21-2014 09:09 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I've met him several times, had dinner with him on a couple of occasions, both when he was running the Rangers. Also have met George and Barbara on many occasions, used to go to the same church (St. Martin's, Houston). They are all incredibly nice people, whether you agree with their politics or not--and I agree sometimes, not others. I saw GHWB move much closer to the religious right over the course of his political career. That's not who he really was when I first met him, and I like the older better than the newer version. The really sad thing for the republicans, IMO, is that GHWB and Jack Kemp for some reason simply couldn't get along. That's really surprising, because I found them both to be very nice people on many occasions. And I think some sort of melding of the old GHWB philosophy with Kemp's would have been the way for the party to go. But Bush and Kemp probably met for the first time about the time that Bush was getting pushed hard toward the religious right, and that is probably the main reason why that didn't happen.

Think I've mentioned it before on here, so sorry if I'm repeating, but back in the late 1990s there was a George Strait concert at Rice Stadium, and because I give money to the athletic program I was given the chance to buy 4 VIP tickets. I gave 2 to my secretary and her BFF, and took the woman I was dating at the time with the other 2. We were having dinner on the club level of the press box when I heard, "May we join you," and it was GHWB and Barbara. We had a delightful dinner and conversation, then they left. I was thinking I had really impressed my date, so I asked what she thought, and she said, "I think if I'd been president I could find a better barber." At some point my secretary called on my cell and said, "Hey these are great tickets. Guess where I am?" I didn't know so I asked her to tell me. "Cindy and I are backstage having a beer with George Strait." "Well, we just got through having dinner with George and Barbara Bush." Never did decide who had the better experience.

That's a pretty awesome story.

(10-21-2014 09:32 AM)I45owl Wrote:  The senior Bush never really seemed as warm as W. He seemed like he could be a dick in off-handed comments. However, there is no question that he and Barabara are quality people and genuine (there's little question that Barbara deserves tons of credit for the strength and warmth of the entire family).

I've found GHWB to be warmer, but that may be because I know him better. Or maybe because he still has a little New England in him, and while that may put some Texans off a bit, I have spent enough time up there to appreciate that in addition to the Texan warmth. I will agree that Barbara is the warmest (and probably the strongest) of the bunch.

(10-20-2014 08:58 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  Pretty Cool,

yes he is...

(10-21-2014 09:39 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(10-21-2014 09:32 AM)I45owl Wrote:  The senior Bush never really seemed as warm as W. He seemed like he could be a dick in off-handed comments. However, there is no question that he and Barabara are quality people and genuine (there's little question that Barbara deserves tons of credit for the strength and warmth of the entire family).

I've found GHWB to be warmer, but that may be because I know him better. Or maybe because he still has a little New England in him, and while that may put some Texans off a bit, I have spent enough time up there to appreciate that in addition to the Texan warmth. I will agree that Barbara is the warmest (and probably the strongest) of the bunch.

I am only going off of apocryphal stories and public persona. Also, when I said "can be", I meant specific contexts with people that he didn't have much interest in. W seemed better in general in reaching across the aisle and ideological boundaries and at least being civil. Put another way, if someone has reason to want to talk to you, I wouldn't expect anyone to be a dick.

I have very little time for the entire family.

They are some seriously corrupt individuals, whether they are nice or not in person means little.

When I was in Kurdistan I saw firsthand where the family were making a killing thanks to the "little war in Iraq." Everywhere you turned the Bush family or their cronies had their fingers in something. It makes you sick to your stomach, or at least they do.

(10-21-2014 09:09 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Never did decide who had the better experience.

For two women, George Strait.

I only met GWB one time, and while it was in a line of people shaking hands he did look me straight in the eye and said "Nice to meet you."

Felt very genuine.

Also, I used to work closely with Denny Hastert when he was Speaker of the House. When he had down time, which was just about never, he only wanted to hear about what you were doing, your family, and anything non-political. Once, he cooked hotdogs for a bunch of his staffers while his wife Jean made drinks. Pretty cool when I was in my early 20s.

(10-21-2014 01:47 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  I only met GWB one time, and while it was in a line of people shaking hands he did look me straight in the eye and said "Nice to meet you."

Felt very genuine.

Also, I used to work closely with Denny Hastert when he was Speaker of the House. When he had down time, which was just about never, he only wanted to hear about what you were doing, your family, and anything non-political. Once, he cooked hotdogs for a bunch of his staffers while his wife Jean made drinks. Pretty cool when I was in my early 20s.

I can't stand Slick Willy, but the people I work for said they've met him before when he was Governor and a couple years later when he was president, they met him again and he remembered their first and last names. I respect that about him, but I don't respect the rest of his character.

There was a survey of the White House staff a few years ago. Some of the staff had been there 40 or 50 years. They were asked who was the best to work for and who was the worst.

They said George and Barbara were the best (the most friendly, gracious, and down-to-earth). They said Hillary was the worst.

I know someone who was a Sec Svc agent when W was POTUS. They were on Jenna Bush's detail quite a bit and said she was a wild child while at UTexas. Always trying to give agents the slip, partying a lot, etc.

The only other "Presidential" story I have involves Clinton. My mom has a friend who DJs a lot of 40 & 50 year class reunions and such b/c he specializes in 50's/ 60's music. Does a lot of stuff in Memphis, Little Rock, and Hot Springs and had a show on Sirius XM (maybe still does). He did Bill Clinton's class reunion about 20 years when he was in office. Had to go thru major security checks, and they even put a SS agent to sit with all of his equipment all day. Hillary didn't attend and Bill would dance with a woman for a while, they'd disappear, and then come back a little while later. Then he'd find another lady and same thing. In the past few weeks, Clinton's class just had another reunion and I believe he was there. Not sure if Hillary was or not.

I'd love to drink a beer with George Strait. He's one of my 2 or 3 all time favorite entertainers. Glad I got to see him 3 or 4 times in concert.

(10-21-2014 09:09 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I've met him several times, had dinner with him on a couple of occasions, both when he was running the Rangers. Also have met George and Barbara on many occasions, used to go to the same church (St. Martin's, Houston). They are all incredibly nice people, whether you agree with their politics or not--and I agree sometimes, not others. I saw GHWB move much closer to the religious right over the course of his political career. That's not who he really was when I first met him, and I like the older better than the newer version. The really sad thing for the republicans, IMO, is that GHWB and Jack Kemp for some reason simply couldn't get along. That's really surprising, because I found them both to be very nice people on many occasions. And I think some sort of melding of the old GHWB philosophy with Kemp's would have been the way for the party to go. But Bush and Kemp probably met for the first time about the time that Bush was getting pushed hard toward the religious right, and that is probably the main reason why that didn't happen.

Think I've mentioned it before on here, so sorry if I'm repeating, but back in the late 1990s there was a George Strait concert at Rice Stadium, and because I give money to the athletic program I was given the chance to buy 4 VIP tickets. I gave 2 to my secretary and her BFF, and took the woman I was dating at the time with the other 2. We were having dinner on the club level of the press box when I heard, "May we join you," and it was GHWB and Barbara. We had a delightful dinner and conversation, then they left. I was thinking I had really impressed my date, so I asked what she thought, and she said, "I think if I'd been president I could find a better barber." At some point my secretary called on my cell and said, "Hey these are great tickets. Guess where I am?" I didn't know so I asked her to tell me. "Cindy and I are backstage having a beer with George Strait." "Well, we just got through having dinner with George and Barbara Bush." Never did decide who had the better experience.

My great grandma and grandpa were friends of Senior and Reagan, didnt find that out till this year. Pretty cool pictures of them together.

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