Fox and Bush, pictured in 2006, appeared to enjoy a warm relationship.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The two leaders shared a border for six years, but former Mexico President Vicente Fox gives a tough assessment on President Bush in a new book out next month, according to U.S. News and World Report.
In "Revolution of Hope," set to hit book stores October 4, Fox calls Bush "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life," and is sharply critical of the president's Iraq policy and his immigration stance, according to the magazine.
Though he describes warm relations with Bush, Fox in the book also calls the president's Spanish skills "grade-school" level and says, "I can't honestly say that I had ever seen George W. Bush getting to the White House."
In addition to Bush, Fox also sounds off on his "close but rocky relationships" with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuela President Hugo Chávez, according to the books Publisher, Penguin.
Fox served as Mexico's president from 2000-2006.
The autobiography is co-written by Robert Allyn, a Texas-based political consultant who has advised both Fox and Bush.
– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
From CNN Politics
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So, George Bush's Spanish language skills are no better than his English language skills and he thinks he is King of America. Tell us something we don't already know, Vicente.
Isn't Fox coming to the party a little late?
And this is what someone who was on good terms with Bush says about him.
Nothing he says here though is surprising at all, sadly.
Why should Bush's spanish skills matter with regard to...well...anything? That's what translators are for. Next thing you know, since we border Canada, our Presidents will be criticized for not being able to speak excellent French...
former Mexico President Vicente Fox calls Bush 'cockiest guy I've ever met'
"Fox news" but yet truth. How ironic.
RJ, AZ : September 17, 2007 10:30 am
That's it ignore the gist of the story and make a feeble attempt at supporting your dictator guy. WAKE UP! IMPEACH!
Oh God, I apologize in advance for the comments our "beloved" former president Vicente Fox does about any important political figure. I am definitely not a partidary of Bush, but if there was somebody cocky and with "grade-school" spanish skills, that was unfortunately our President.
Fox is probably one of the most ineffective presidents my country has ever had. Along with his power-hungry wife, he paraded through the presidency as it were a medal in his curriculum. I think he has no place to criticize others, when in fact, most should be criticizing him.
Vicente Fox is a putz who never kept his word on any proposal he agreed to.
I am by no means a fan of George W. Bush and look forward to the day he leaves office. However, citing President Bush's "grade-school level" Spanish language skills as part of a broader professional critique is petulant and unnecessary (and more closely resembles a personal snipe). We know President Bush is not the best English linguist; does anybody expect his Spanish to be any better? He's not required to speak or have knowledge of any second languages, yet as governor of Texas and later POTUS, he learned and used Spanish, to an extent. Who cares if it was rudimentary or limited? He made the effort, and he shouldn't be lambasted for trying to speak another language. Why not focus on more prescient issues such as, oh, I don't know, the war, the economy, healthcare, education...
Who cares what the former President of Mexico thinks. This is a man who led a country that beleives it has a right to send all of its poor north so America can take care of them. This is a man with no sense of responsibiity and very littel pride. What President of any country would crack a smile when his people were living in poverty? Fox is a failed leader of a failed nation.
Don't worry up here in Canada we know that Bush has difficulty with language, we just automatically translate gibberish to English in our heads , even though four year olds in kindergarten can speak both French and English! Oh well, only 15 more months, hope you guys can hold on that long!
It'll sure be great when our president has the ability to build at least one solid, mutually respectful, relationship with another country's leader. This cowboy sure can't.
I think most Americans will agree with Mr Fox. Bush is indeed the worst President of my time.
Bush is "cocky," or in other words, arrogant? This is news? Anyone other than Fred Barnes could see that without this report.
And Fox was the crookiest guy.
One incompetent world leader criticizing another... what have politics become?
Coming from someone who lived under the Bush (non)governship of Texas....his(Fox) comments are a surprise? Most people who live or lived in Texas while Bush jr. was governor of Texas could have told you that...and SURPRISE!! not everyone in Texas loves W!!!
I think there's something being lost in translation.
Maybe Vicente is mistaking the word "cocky" for the spanish word "coqueto" which means flirt. So maybe he's really trying to say George is the biggest flirt he's ever met. Bush does like to rub German women's shoulders and walk hand-in-hand with Arab men and pat people's butt on stage, you know.
Ah, the pot calling the kettle black. They were made for each other.
Let's see...
Senior Fox believes that he has the right to export Mexico's poverty stricken citizens to America. When America rebukes, Fox calls it's neighbor to the north bigoted and anti-Mexican.
Now, who is the cocky one?
Yep. Sounds about right.
I don't like Bush, never did, and have criticized him, along with most of the GOP presidential candidates in this ticker. However, the U.S. President does not have to speak Spanish. That's a dumb hit.
However, the cockiness remark is something we are familiar with in Bush, no surprise there.
You'd be cocky too if your dad bought you the White House.
Wow, Bush's Spanish skills are grade school level? Well. gee, i America that should matter?
Fox didn't like Bush's immigration policies? Gee, maybe because if it were not for the illegals propping up the mexican economy by sending home billions of dollars as a result of their criminal activity by being employed as illegals his country would collapse.
Time to place the Army on the border and let's see what Fox says about Mexico having a an economy lower than Cuba.