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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Sort of ironic, that's what half of the nation said about Bush.
President Bush saying somebody has no clue is about the funniest line I've heard in quite awhile. But perhaps he meant that Obama really had no clue how uncooperative the Republicans would be towards him. Now THAT I can agree with.
Interesting how the most incompentent president in recent (and probably all) of history thinks that someone else "has no clue". Obama's just trying to get us through all of the messes that Bush left behind with his incredible compentence-two wars, a recession that almost was a depression, etc.
"Wasn't 'remotely qualified"? Well Georgie, if that ain't "the pot callin' the kettle black". Which is the precurser to the overall GOP (southern white old people's party) obsession with Obama being black. How fitting.
Um, honestly, I think Obama is doing just fine, thank you. Not perfect, but good enough. I don't expect him to rush us off into another unjustified war, or condone torture.
Frankly, just think the opposite of what Bush says and it's probably correct.
Personally, I'm looking forward to his "reactions" to the economic collapse HE caused. And I haven't heard anyone say "this cat" referring to another human since I was in third grade in the 50s. This book should have been released on 9/11 - the anniversary of another disaster. What a freakshow! He needs to just go away so Obama - the man he considers clueless - can clean up the mess he left behind.
And George W Bush certainly knows about being pathetically unprepared and having no clue!
The idiot approached the job like he was Washington's social chair. That's all he was good for.
Well bush didn't know a darn thing either. All he did was fill the seat cheney ran the country.
Its evident he (bush) didnt have a clue... 2 wars and a collapsed economy ....... and was allowed to do it by his party he even fooled them left them all holding the bag, however, our President Obama have saved the day, go figure, guess education, intelligence apathy, morals, tolerance, civility, command of the english language rules again.
obama has no clue, mr. president? that makes 2 of you.
Bush is apparently "well qualified" considering the state he left the US in after an unpaid for Iraq-war-4-oil and a collapsed economy!!!!
kudos to GW Bush for ruining the USA!!!
No. Obama wasn't qualified to be president on the first day in office. Unfortunately, being president of the United States is not a job you practice or learn to do. Based on the ideas and plans you present to the voters, they elect you to put those plans into operation. The voyers of the United States obviously liked Obamas plans better than McCains plans. Being a fickle bunch, we want solutions to work too quickly, hencg the dropoff in confidence in Obama. Give him a chance, folks.
On the other hand, Bush, based on the mess his and Cheney's policies got us into, he ended up being even less qualified at the end of his terms than he was at the start. He wouldn't have gotten into these messes (economy, wars in Middle East) if he were.
Well if that's not the pot calling the kettle black – then I don't know what is!
Bush....I seem to remember a guy masquerading as president by that name...
Who cares what this imbecile has to say? He is going to go down as one of the worst presidents in history. Bush saying this nonsense about Obama is like Bernard Madoff writing a book on business ethics. For the record, multiple times, Bush seemed like he had no clue (e.g. Katrina, Iraq, etc...) After 9/11, he first told the country to go shop instead of comforting them and then he manipulated the collective fear of this country to lauch us into two unwinnable wars.
Let me get this straight. George, quack job, who was in office when our country was attacked, who couldn't run a baseball team, who presented inaccurate information to get us into a war, who led us into one of the worse economic crisis' this country has seen in 70 years is suddenly the authority of who's qualified and who's not qualified to be president? That's a good one!
GOP was too busy thinking about defeating Hillary. they were obsessed. Obama comes along and throws them a left cross and knocks the GOP off balance.
GOP should be thanking Obama. Didn't they want "anybody but Hillary"?
bush thought obama "wasn't qualfied for the challenges of the job" LOL
When it comes to cluelessness, George W. Bush is an expert.
If President GWB had got any clue this country would be better off today.All the problem solving was left to VP cheney who didnt have a clue either.They left office, With this country in so much mess that one wonders how they show there faces in public ever again
Obamo may not have a clue but at least he is trying to do something
for the people and the country
What did Bush and Cheney did? away from there stupid war they did nothing Has anyone see one peice of legislation that benifit the people for the eight years they were in charge? Maybe the wealthy folks seen one. I know I didnt!!!! Good Ridiance
Oh wow. Those are some very candid statements. And I like seeing that side of President Bush.
Dumb and Dumber ahahahahaaa ok
Bush saying someone has no clue?
Irony 1,000,001: GOP 0
For the first time I think GWB was right.
Typicall of the unintelligent GW Bush to say Sarah Palin was "the governor of Guam"! I would say Sarah Palin is from Russia since she can see it from her porch!!!!