Mazurland Blog: George W. Bush--A Class Act

Every President gets made fun of. The National Lampoon once had a REAL ad that said "Tired of the same old shit? Buy a Richard Nixon toilet seat!!" And even as far back as Andrew Jackson, American Presidents were the targets of political humor.

George W Bush got more than his share--lucky for Nixon there was no U-Tube back then.

But take ye a gander at this contrast comparison below, and I think it will speak volumes.

January 2009
1. Outgoing President George W. Bush quietly boards his helicopter and
leaves for Texas, commenting only: "Today is not about me. Today is a
historical day for our nation and people."

January 2001
1. Outgoing President Bill Clinton schedules two separate radio addresses to
the nation, and organizes a public farewell speech/ rally in downtown
Washington D.C. scheduled to directly conflict with incoming President
Bush's inauguration ceremony.

January 2009
2. President Bush leaves office without issuing a single Presidential
pardon, only granting a commutation of sentence to two former border patrol
agents convicted of shooting a convicted drug smuggler. He does not grant
any type of clemency to Scooter Libby or any other former political aide,
ally, or business partner.

January 2001
2. President Clinton issues 140 pardons and several commutations of sentence
on his final day in office. Included in these are: billionaire financier,
convicted tax evader, and leading Democratic campaign contributor Marc Rich;
Whitewater scandal figure Susan McDougal; Congressional Post Office Scandal
figure and former Democratic Congressman Dan Rostenkowski; convicted bank
fraud, sexual assault and child porn perpetrator and former Democratic
Congressman Melvin Reynolds; and convicted drug felon Roger Clinton, the
President's half-brother.

January 2009
3. The Bush daughters leave gift baskets in the White House bedrooms for the
Obama daughters, containing flowers, candy, stuffed animals, DVD's and CD's,
and heartfelt notes of encouragement and advice for the young girls on how
to prepare for their new lives in the White House.

January 2001
3. Clinton and Gore staffers rip computer wires and electrical outlets from
the White House walls, stuff piles of notebook papers into the White House
toilets, systematically remove the letter "W" from every computer key-pad in
the entire White House, and damage several thousand dollars worth of
furniture in the White House master bedroom.

Headlines from January 2004
"Republicans spending $42 million on inauguration while troops Die in
unarmored Humvees"
"Bush extravagance exceeds any reason during tough economic times"
"Fat cats get their $42 million inauguration party, Ordinary Americans get
the shaft"

Headlines From January 2009
"Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $170 million"
"Obama Spends $170 million on inauguration; America Needs A Big Party"
"Everyman Obama shows America how to celebrate"
"Citibank executives contribute $8 million to Obama Inauguration"

--And we're still dealing with the Clintons!!!