Obama says he's kept in touch with Bush
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/05/23/art.bush.gi.jpg caption="President Obama says he values the confidence of his predecessors."]
(CNN) – Despite their opposing political views, President Obama says he’s kept in touch with former President Bush since moving into the White House.
Asked by CSPAN if he’s had any conversation with Bush since the inauguration, Obama replied, “I have.”
“I think that although I've only been president four months, I think a general policy of keeping confidence with your predecessors is important,” Obama said in an interview aired Saturday.
Just this week, Obama slammed the Bush administration for taking America “off course” in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack. In a speech on national security Thursday, he said his administration has been forced to deal with “a mess” that was left for them.
Obama told CSPAN that after 9/11, the government “cut too many corners and made some decisions that were contrary to who we are as a people.”
“I think there were adjustments that were made even within the Bush administration to try to deal with some of those mistakes. There are still consequences, though, to some of those earlier poor decisions, and I think Guantanamo was one of them. And it's a messy situation. It's not easy,” he said.
While Bush has largely stayed out of the fray, former Vice President Dick Cheney has been a vocal critic of some of Obama’s policies. Following Obama’s address, Cheney also gave a speech on national security. Cheney stood up for the Bush administration's security record, arguing that Obama has weakened the country's ability to combat al Qaeda and other extremists.
Bush, however, did not watch the dueling speeches. A source close to Bush said the former president was traveling at the time, enroute to New Mexico where he was the keynote speaker at a fund raising dinner for a scholarship program for students at Artesia High School.
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Even as a Democrat, I am getting tired of hearing about everything that was inherited. That only goes so far with me. He is president now and needs to take responsibility for things from here on out! Bush inherited things, Clinton inherited things, etc.. Get over it and fix it!!!
Obama probably told Bush he left him with a headache with this Gitmo problem. And Obama is someone who impresses as not liking headaches – he'd rather get by on his speeches.
Why would he keep in touch with past presidents of a different party. I don't believe Obama is really keeping in contact with Bush.
Jim Hall: Learn how to spell "advice" and then we'll talk.
Simmy........I have found in 70 years of living that only racist called others racist. If you weren't one, you couldn't possibly recognize one. Make your point, name calling does nothing to further dialog, which is what is needed. Based on your post, it appears if anyone does not totally agree with you then they are wrong. Can you never just agree to disagree? Want to have conversation that opens up possibilities of others seeing your point more clearly? Perhaps open eyes? Perhaps even open your eyes? Don't you think.....or do you not think?
I think someone should tell Dick Cheney he is no longer vice-president. He doesn't seem to get it. What is his problem? Is he going through his second childhood or what? Why does the media give him so much attention and time. Don't you know people would rather he stay out of the picture. He's done his damage. His daughter should get a life.!!!!
When grown ups join to discuss, call me. You young people are tedious at best. Chicago thug politics at it's finest. Over seventy years, observing for at least fifty in my Windy city..........Ole Al Capone would be proud...and jealous. Fasten your seat belts, you are going to be made to watch. Going to be a rough ride. Circumstances do not make a man's character, circumstance's reveal a man's character. Hind sight is always "right", and memories are fleeting. Does anyone on this post actually remember how they felt, what they thought when 9/11 played out? Anyone change their minds since?
I'm sick and tired of hearing about all the messes he's been left. He had all the answers to these messes when he was campaigning. Now it's time to implement those ideas and answers, and all we get is feet dragging and flimsy exuses about the mess he was left. Get over it and get down to business. OR, is it possible that Obama is finding out that being President and all the responsibilities to all Americans is quite a bit different than just taking pot shots at your predecessor as a candidate.
Is talking means getting advise from Bush?
You guys need to get a grip.
You partisan extremist politicians are the only one that think political adversaries are ennemies.
Did you see him come back and diabolize chenney aftr his critics? or insult chenny?
He probably call bush to tell chenny to shut the hell up.
As for Obama contacting Bush, that is normal for every president. It might be one of the few "normal" things that the assistant community organizer has done so far. Maybe if he gets pointers from Bush, the country will have a slight chance of surviving the next 3.75 years without disintegrating.
I think we all know what the real issue is regardless of what party all of you think you belong to. People in the US are dingalings. People, when are we all going to learn that our leaders make no sense, barely have any right to tell us what to do, and screw us over and over.
Paula, Old news on birth certificate. You don't Think that FBI/CIA and the other jerks have not seen these items?? Not all Bushwacker was made public. BTW, Things have changed, today any personal information on VIP's can hurt their security. Get off it, Obama is president and there is nothing you can do until 2012. Good luck, Republitards are a joke.
Will the last republican to leave, please turn out the lights.
@ all the grammar police that have time to sift through cnn.com for all their grammar errors should get a life!
no surprise here. he really can talk out both sides of his mouth.
Maybe Obama just wanted to tell Bush he found his 'weed patch' that he planted up at Camp David.
The claim by the Bush administraion that our national security is in jeopardy if the Guantanamo camp is dismantled is a falacy that can only be compared to the chamberlization and the killing of the Jews by the infamous Nazi goverment when they characterized their action as a prevention and the extermination of the Jewish expansionism. Afterall the Jews like the majority of these Guantanamo prisoners who have nothing to do with the war has thr right to freedom under the Geneva humanright act.
Barry needs to talk to Bush because he has no idea what he is doing. He is way over his head!