WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former President George W. Bush "seemed to feel considerable unease" with John McCain as the Republican presidential nominee, according to ex-speechwriter Matt Latimer in his tell-all memoir on his days in the White House.
In Latimer's new book, "Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor," set to hit bookstores on September 22, he reveals Bush's reactions to the economic collapse, the presidential campaign, and other memorable events. GQ published an excerpt from the memoir in its October issue.
Latimer said Bush liked Mitt Romney best and that he was "clearly not impressed with the McCain operation." Latimer said the former president wanted to appear with McCain at a campaign event in Phoenix, but after he was told the then-Republican nominee couldn't get enough people to show up, he called it a "cruel hoax."
"'He couldn't get 500 people? I could get that many people to turn out in Crawford.' He shook his head. 'This is a five-spiral crash, boys.'"
Bush presumed Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee, according to Latimer, and was extremely critical of Barack Obama. Latimer said Bush was "ticked off" after one of Obama's speeches and he said the future president wasn't "remotely qualified" for the challenges of the job.
"(Bush) came in one day to rehearse a speech, fuming. 'This is a dangerous world,' he said for no apparent reason, 'and this cat isn't remotely qualified to handle it. This guy has no clue, I promise you,'" Latimer said.
Latimer also made the controversial assertion that after Sarah Palin was tapped as McCain's running mate, Bush reportedly asked whether she was "the governor of Guam" and said that she was "not even remotely prepared." A former Bush and Palin aide has challenged the accuracy of the charge.
From CNN Politics
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Bush was right about the Big-O. As well as Mcain. Palin maybe, maybe not.
Gee,I wonder if"W' has enough brain cells left to understand that his adminstration probably played a very large part in McCain not being able to draw more than a handfull of supporters.Look in the mirror.
Speaking of unqualified for the job,the buffoon was in way over his head from the git-go and that fact became painfully obvious as his tenure wore on.Lastly,his quote"This is a dangerous world"is very true
and he and his henchmen made it even more so.
If there's one thing to which George W. should not be speaking, it's qualifications.
Bush's question as to whether or not Palin was "governor of Guam" is either a sarcastic show of disrespect for a fellow Republican or confirmation that he himself is clueless as is evident from his trademark blank stare.
So far, he's right. Obama is doing an absolutely terrible job. Don't believe me? Just watch and wait.
Bush is saying someone has "no clue". This is the guy that let Cheney take over his presidency and he think Obama has no clue?
Hey George. When Clinton told you about a likely terrorist plot to fly planes into buildings, and then you did nothing. What do you think most educated americans thought? yea, you guessed it...you were an incapable moron.
Second question, when you didn't find Bin laden, didn't win either of two wars, and didn't find WMD's, what do you think people with sound judgement thought? Yea, you guessed it "This guy is an absolute retard that gets everything wrong".
Hey, but "Mission Accomplished" right, Georgey?
George Bush should have been impeached but Nancy Pelosi couldn't do it. I would say this takes gall to judge others when his own Presidency turned out to be one of the worst in history.
heh... I guess the feeling is mutual...
I think President Obama had way more "clue" than President Bush did, at the same time in his presidency.
I can't help but think Bush regrets saying that now.
Ha, and let's not forget what Joe Biden said of Obama during the campaign "The Presidency does not lend itself to on the job training."
I'd be concerned if Bush thought otherwise. He had an incredibly consistent record of making the wrong choice.
Bush said, "and this cat (Obama) isn't remotely qualified to handle it. This guy has no clue, I promise you"....WOW! Really Bush? And your "vast" experience and "unrivaled intellect" got us where? In the worst shape this country had been in in over 50 years. Now this, "cat" (Obama) has to come along and clean up your garbage. You couldn't even control your own cabinet! Rumsfeld and Cheney mopped up the floor with you. Obama has done more in 6 months to put this country on the right track than you did in 8 years....Dust off your own cowboy hat first before you start criticizing other peoples'.
Are you serious??? G.W .says somebody else is not qualified. Really after eveything he did to this country. You all are really trying to get my blood pressure up this morning. Bush is the reason . President Obama has all this junk on his plate.
43 was actually talking about himself.
As earlier suspected this is a book of comedy.
Bush is correct about Obama being clueless. Obama has overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate, the the undying devotion of a slobbering news media, and all he can do is get the country deeper in to debt.
And the Shrub thought he was qualified? Eight years and he still wasn't qualified for the job! Look at the mess he left when we put him out to pasture! Thank goodness this dweeb couldn't run for president yet again!
Everybody has that one guy, known as an idiot, yet the idiot actually thinks he's knows everything. We just put a national face on that guy, and it the prodigal dim son himself George W Bush.
Ummmm, here is a man who did the job for 8 years and still has no clue... Is this a case of "the pot calling the kettle black?" Pun intended!
Bush isn't as dumb as you make him out to be. We all knew Obama has no clue and wasn't ready to run this country. Too bad the media threw Hillary under the bus in favor of Obama!! Now, I expect the media to quit sugar coating the disaster Obama is making and report the TRUTH. Hillary should run in 2012........willing to bet she would win.
What can the worse president this country ever say about our new president.
This man is the one who is completely clueless. Not to mention all the people who have died because of his lies. He should be in prison.
As an Independent and former Obama supporter, I agree with Bush.
Do you think that Bush has a clue how all these remarks sound??? How ironic these remarks are? Do you think he even realizes that these are all things that have been said about him??
If true, Bush should be the last person on this planet making such a statement. For God's sake, Bush was not exactly known for being the brightest bulb in the White House! The man mangled the English language and spoke as if English was his fifth language. Bush could not read a book to Obama in Laura's library.
wait a minute.... Bush said someone else wasn't remotely qualified??
I don't know if that's final proof of his idiocy or just ironic.