George W. Bush's swipes at Obama
The former president publicly criticizes his successor for the first time
Conservatives can stop "grinding their teeth," said Gawker. Former President George W. Bush, who has been doing "the gentlemanly ex-president thing" and refraining from criticizing his successor, finally took some swipes at President Obama during a speech in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. According to a story in The Washington Times, Bush "fired a salvo" against Obama by defending Bush administration interrogation policies, and saying that businesses, not government, would lead the economy out of hard times.
"Finally," said Gateway Pundit, "after being pummeled for months," George W. Bush is blasting President Obama's "socialist economic policies, overspending, and weak national security decisions." It's hard to argue with Bush's points—Obama is quadrupling the budget deficit in his first year in office—but don't be surprised if "President Thin Skin" reacts with a fresh attempt to blame all his problems on Bush.
George W. Bush wasn't exactly starting a rhetorical war, said Matthew Moran in Digital Journal. The former president mainly just defended himself on issues for which the contrast with Obama is most stark—namely interrogation tactics and the war on terror. Bush made a point of repeating that he was "not going to criticize" his successor directly, and most of his "jabs" at Obama were pretty soft.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The cost-benefit analysis of hosting the Olympics
In Depth Hosting an Olympic Games may not be as economically beneficial as you would think
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Bachelor divorce
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 25, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published