Bush: ‘Ought To Be No Politicization’ on Haiti

Good idea if Bush would just stay lost, somewhere.

if bush is lost, maybe he will find jimmy carter

The comments here are sad–and go to the heart of what the former president is saying. This is about helping people in desperate need, not about scoring political points.
There is a time for politics and a time for human decency–and the involvement of Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton is noble and shows the best of both men.

To Tom:
If we are discussing the island of Haiti/Dominican Republic, then it is RUSH LIMBUAGH that uses it for his sexual playground. Just last year he was busted leaving the DR with a bottle of viagra (non-prescribed, in typical drug addict fashion.)

GW is CORRECT regardless of what people say here. They need the help; it is our responsibility to help where we can.
May God help us help them….

Nonsense . . . these wormy politicians will politicize everything and anything. Remember, these politicos are people without moral compasses.

What is Clinton doing with the Criminal Bush? Oh, I guess the Carlyle group can make money off of this disaster.
They must be seeing reconstruction dollars for Haliburton and KBR.
Bush should be in jail, not on TV.

Let’s face it. A politician can do NOTHING publicly without it being construde as “being done for political reason only” by someone. You can only hope they are following their conscience and doing what they feel is right. Of coarse, unless you know them intimately, we will never really know.

Regardless of what you may think about Bush, he’s right here. The obvious point of having Dubya and Clinton coordinate things is the same as when Dubya has his father and Clinton do the same in the past: it’s a demonstration that anyone’s support for helping these people is not going to be used to promote one party or the other.
Jerks like Limbaugh will use it to try to keep stoking the hatred he needs to generate in order to stay on the air, but the fact is, as Bush said, that desperate people need help and those that help need public support from those who can help.

On one hand, I tend to agree with Bush on the “no politicization” remark.
On the other hand, I’d rather throw up than watch him so I’ll take a pass today’s show.

Hell has definitely frozen over: twice in one day I have nodded my head in agreement with something said by GW Bush. The other was when, at yesterday’s joint press conference he said, “A lot of you want to send blankets and water. Just send your cash.”

Jan, I felt the same way about Clinton but I’ve grown up. These former Presidents are doing a terrific thing in working together to help the Haitian people. Obviously these two men are acting like grown ups. It would be nice if the American people could find the same maturity and stop with the childish finger pointing and name calling.
We all want a better country, lets work together to make it that way.

How odd that I just watched the Aristede DVD, where the U.S. twice funded the overthrow of democratically elected J. Aristede (who was elected by 73% margin). TWICE! Now, Dubya wants to feel compassion? What happened to the last 8 years??

Bush is an Idiot. Let’s build Haiti back up on the backs of America’s already struggling economy. I have no problem with helping them out but if your asking to rebuild their country, all I can say is move over Iraq. We can’t even secure all these other counties we’ve invaded.
Haiti has no jails and the prison collapsed. So since half the country is a crime zone perhaps the US shouldn’t over extend it’s forces?
All our politicians are out of touch with reality and putting Bush in charge of anything is like a slap in the face to the American people. What about our homeless, what about rebuilding our slums and taking care of the 911 rescue workers and our needy. Politicians can talk as much as they want about rebuilding Haiti but that’s just another fiasco waiting to happen. When will people realize we got more money going out than we have coming in?

I think both of the presidents look better as former presidents. They both display a wisdom that is missing in Obama. Hopefully, when Obama is replaced in 2012, he too will be able to reflect wisely on his misplaced priorities in efforts to push through an unethical and flawed health care overhaul, to repay unions, and other self-serving agenda matters.
He should have been working on the economy, jobs, and listening to the American taxpayers, not ignoring those who had elected him because he promised transparency in government.
Again, hopefully we’ll give someone else an opportunity to fulfill campaign promises in 2012; this administration has been a failure.

How has President Obama politicized this at all? Because he spoke about it. If you think that go crawl back in your hole. President Bush asked for aid after the Indonesia tsunami was that politicizing a natural disaster. I’m tired of you moron Limbuagh supporters. If you keep drinking his kool-aid of hate you’ll turn into the next Timothy McVeigh because he would love to have that happen to another Democratic president.

Amazing that Mr. Tapper asks a question about the Limbaugh comments and so many of you jump on the bandwagon to defend Obama. Bush wasn’t saying he thinks Obama is making a political issue of it, he was responding to a question.
As was already said, Obama is doing the same thing Bush did in asking his father and Clinton to get together in a relief effort so it didn’t look like a political grandstand to promote one party or the other. Let him and Clinton go out and do what they can to help Haiti and quit grinding your axes for a change.

It’s great to see two former President’s sitting together on a common cause. Why can’t our political system work like that? Instead we have Pelosi and her goons hell bent on ramming legislation through with no input from the other side.

Couple points: Haiti needs massive and immediate aid and relief. The American people and the military will get it done as they always do. We don’t need to be told or reminded by any politician, whether ex or currently sitting. Long term reconstruction is a totally different issue and we better think that one through a little more carefully. We’re broke. We’re bankrupt. We’re out of money. It looks like Haiti took the previous billions the American people gave them and built palaces and golf courses with it and left their people in abject poverty and squalor. I don’t think we want to do that again and what existing programs are we going to cut to pay for it??
Am I the only one who separates what Limbaugh says from what an elected official says?? It’s two completely different things folks. I hold an elected official to a totally different and much higher standard. They are elected to keep the public trust.
As for politicization of Haiti, everything a politician says or does is for political purposes, whether veiled or overt. Clinton just within the last day, while stumping for Coakley said a vote for Coakley is a vote for Haiti. Like if you vote for Brown, Brown will let them starve and die?? That’s politicization if you ask me. Bush was crucified for Katrina and he blundered biggest when he complimented Brownie for doing a good job. What most people have conveniently forgotten is who was initially responsible for the security and evacuation of New Orleans? How about Nagin and Blanco? They failed miserably.
God bless our military for once again taking care of a nasty job and getting it done when governments have failed their people.

In our history, America has benefited and in many cases saved virtually every country on the globe. When does it end ?
Posted by: Ron | Jan 17, 2010 12:50:15 PM
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We are the most wealthy, free and blessed nation on earth. I’m embarrassed when my fellow Americans even ask the question you asked.

What many of the posters here don’t seem to understand, and what Tapper omitted in his effort to gin up a non-story, is that Bush and Clinton are in charge of PRIVATE fund raising and organizing to help stabilize and rebuild Haiti. It has nothing to do with the official US government help. Our state department, our ambassador and a US General are in charge of those efforts. Clinton and Bush are not going to be spending government money. They are going to use their global contacts and their political power to raise billions in DONATIONS to help Haiti. If you can’t or don’t want to donate, fine.
As for our government’s help, this country always has money in its budget for humanitarian aid, including disasters like this. We have the best military in the world, and we are the wealthiest and most blessed nation on earth. We help people in times of crisis. It’s what we do – it’s who we are.

It’s great to see President Bush work with others. Shame on anyone who excuses. These people are suffering and have nothing. How horrific. It could have been us. I agree that evry penny should be accounted for and used to rebuild Haiti. With almost 80 million people retiring in next several years, this country will need people to pay taxes to cover the immense gap we’ll experince. Helping Haiti could also benefit us in the future when we will need many to care for our elderly. If almost 80 million will retire, that leaves another 200 million americans to foot the bill and people need to start thining about the future. Out of the 200 million almost half won’t be of working age, and how can a million people do all that will be needed. Just think about it. In the future we will need outsiders to help us, not just in paying taxes, but to care for the elderly.

So far any money sent to Bush would create more jobs for US people to interpret what is needed where instead of sending water, food and shelter and clothing directly to where it is needed.

Re: “I don’t see a lot of the idiot dictators (Chavez) getting involved very much…”
That’s because cable TV doesn’t show it. It’s not because they aren’t involved. Do you really think American TV is going to show Venezuela or Cuba, or any Latin American country in a positive light? Get a clue.

Bush seems to thrive on crises just as the vultures thrive on the dead. 911 was Bush’s opportunity to divert American resources to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. He comes out of his hiding like a sly opportunist as soon as the earth quake in Haiti took place to extort “cash”. Yes that is all he said don’t send what they need just send “cash”. If telling he truth and talking against phony people shedding crocodile tears is politicization then so be it. I for one will not send a single penny in the direction of the Bush Foundation and have sent an email to the Clinton Foundation that none of my contribution to it should be sent to the Bush Foundation. I cannot and will not forget the Bush blunders and give him an opportunity for redemption. His role in the Haiti disaster does not change history or his place in it.

Do you notice how they are saying that Wyclef Jean’s charity cannot be trusted, but they want us to donate money to Bush?! Give me a break.

It does not matter “who” or “what” failed in the past, it is “who” or “what” succeeds in the future. Get your heads out of your butt, and move forward.

ez dc… bush did what was best for the country..bo has an alternative agenda, he has done NOTHING to improve the lives of ALL Americans (only those groups that supported him, unions, teachers, construction workers, stimulus $$ going predominately to dem dominated areas). nothing for the 50% of America that support the rest of you the unappreciated american taxpayer. it any wonder most of us are are REPUBLICANS?? the truth is quite literally black and whiet for you to see, if you would only open your jaded partisan eyes.

How refreshing to see Bush and Clinton working together. Give it up people on the Bush bashing. Get past the bandwagon of the past and we truly see a dedicated individual of former office that deserves our respect to these great 50 states as he has served with our best interests. For once, can a liberal be a realist?

Look…history is history and truth is truth. Like it or not the facts are that Bush is a traitor to America not by one failure but by many. Bin Laden…Bush did NOT get him. Failure. Irag…HA.. the joke was on our poor soldiers that are now dead in their graves and mutilated in hospitals..and then there’s KATRINA…. Bush is a traitor. He stole our rights, killed innocents and left my nation in a shambles. Do NOT talk to me about how you think Bush was a good officer. He was a traitor and a failure. It is STILL my right to say this and probaly the ONLY reason I still have that right is because Bush could only have two terms in office. Period and THANK GOD!
Thems the facts jack….deal with it!
Period!

Limbaugh is a disgraceful jackass.
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True and valid words. Such an idiot! I actually went to his website hoping to fire off a scathing email, but surprise!, no such capability. Maybe if I joined his club or whatever, but that is NOT going to happen.
Almost poured bleach into my monitor to remove any contaminants!!

so all you better than everyone else libs are spewing the usual bush hatred at this time of crisis in Haiti?? way to be mature, come together and focus on taking care of these unfortunates. you guys are all blithering hypocrites!! thanks for the entertainment, whattabunchamaroons.
Posted by: realman1963
++++++++++++English please…

That country is sitting on a fault line and will collapse when the next earthquake happens. If other countries want to rebuild Haiti let them waste money.
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Watchdoggie,
Do you think the entire coastline and much of the interior of California should be evacuated and abandoned? They haven’t cleared away and rebuilt from that last significant quake. Who knows when the next really BIG one hits the entire Pacific coastline! Let’s just force everyone on the entire Pacific coastline to relocate to Utah or Arizona.
Do you think the entire American coastline from Texas to Florida should be evacuated and abandoned? Look how many times hurricanes have devastated large portions of that area. Why don’t we force all of American citizens living on the Gulf of Mexico to move 2-3 hundred miles to the north?
Stop and think of all the times we Americans have helped different parts of the US to recover from major disasters. Can’t you spare a little compassion for non-Americans who are suffering so hidiously?

Lots of moonbats here. The party of hate. Go dems, just pretend you care about Haiti. It;s obvious you don’t

Good for Bush. I am not a fan of his, either. Isn’t it interesting how former Presidents tend to lose the partisan rhetoric once they leave office? A positive thing, but also distressing when we consider the contrast between that and what occurs while IN office…so much emphasis on party and hype and division. I respect Bush for his statement, and that’s saying a lot coming from me! BTW, what’s with the “dry drunk” nonsence PamAla? Your AA is showing…the myth of the “dry drunk”, otherwise known as someone who QUIT drinking due to problems with it and is now SOBER. No such thing as a “dry drunk”, only a former drunk who isn’t any more. An AA marketing tool to keep people addicted to their “help” for life…never really cured, only awaiting the next relapse. BS.

Oh yeah, I may just send my contributing through the American Red Cross. YOu are right,gjkotw01, I caught that comment,too.I am talking about what BUSH said about “just send cash”. Smile and have a great day!

PamAla, I was definitely not a Bush fan but I do think he was trying his best to do right as he saw it. Reasonable minds can and should disagree, that’s what makes America great. Bush was not a traitor under any definition of that word. When all you do is spew hate nobody listens to you. Get a clue. Peace All

Does anyone but me think Rush Limbaugh is the white Al Sharpton? He is always rushing in to pass judgement on others without ever offering any postive ideas of his own, just arm-chair criticism.
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Robert, I try to ignore Limbaugh as much as possible. I loathe all these talking-head celebrities who think they speak for everyone.
But I have to agree with you here. I think you have described him and Sharpton quite accurately indeed.

The dirty secret that the liberal networks and cable news shows dont talk about is that Obamas response to this tragedyt has been a failure and a disgrace. Much worse than Katrina but a democratic president can get away with it.

You’re doing a heck of a job Bomi!!!

Rush Limbaugh did NOT tell people to not contribute to Haitian relief. Go back and read the transcript of his show. He is being taken out of context. He said that we should contribute directly to private charities, like the Red Cross. He said the US Government already collects tax dollars for relief efforts. The best way to get funds directly to people in need is through private charities.

I can’t believe what I am reading here. So much hatred is always coming from the liberal side…and always stating ‘facts’ that of course are not facts at all. Read up on the true history of the last eight years. I can’t stand when uneducated people write ridiculous comments. Their hatred gets in the way of the truth. Bush was a really good presdient, not great…In eight years he kept us safe, reacted appropriately to the nuts who try to take away our freedoms. His heart and soul were always in the right place. His biggest problem was trying to appease the dems and started spending like crazy…becoming fiscally liberal. Now Obama is in office and it makes Bush look like a penny pincher!! And we’re back to not feeling safe again. We need a true conservative to get us all back on track!

I find it very interesting how everyone believes that this is the first time in history that a current president (this one isn’t even American) and former presidents have come together for a cause. Read up on your history people. This has been going on for years. Reagan did it, George W Bush did it, and not the messiah has followed. This was a horrific event, and we need to forget the politics for a moment, and help the innocent individuals that were hit by this devastation. There will always be time for listening to the messiah spew more false statements. Did you notice anything by my posting? I sounded like a democrat that gets their digs in, and yet denies that they did so. Help the Haiti people, and move on towards a better world.

Bush delt with what he was dealed. Did he think that we would be attacked?
Posted by: Locutusofborg
dude, Bush was handed a security doc saying that we would be attacked

Robert,
Your 8:50 PM post proves that it is possible for people to disagree without being disagreeable. I wish more were capable of it. Thanks.

“I like Obama, but enough already. I gotta say he is trying. He cannot do it alone.”
He has a majority in both Houses of Congress! That he can’t walk anything through Congress speaks to either how badly he is leading or how badly the Democrats as a whole lead. That’s just plain simple truth. The Democratic Party is the “Do Nothing” Party. They can spend money on useless, stupid waste but work together for the good of the country? If you can’t vote Republican, believe me, I understand, vote one of the Independent Parties. In fact, everyone vote Independent, the two party system is dead.

Tim – Plenty of Dems are frustrated with what their party is doing right now (e.g. – this health plan they are sending to Obama is NOT the health plan he asked for). But to your point on spending, the Dems don’t hold the market on that one – look at all the spending the Republicans did under W. They weren’t trying to appease the Dems (as an earlier poster laughably claimed) they were taking care of their own special interests (like ALL politicians). Back to the point of this story though – EVERYONE should donate to help Haiti, just be sure it is through an established charity so you know your money will go there to help.

As Americans, we should be looking out for our own kind first. There are plenty of people struggling here in the US thanks to Obama. Who does he think he is giving our hard-earned money to Haiti? I feel bad for them, but they were already in a bad situation before the earthquake. We need a President who will put America first. Bush was ok, but is clearly more interested in his legacy now. Rush is the only one who will speak the truth.

For once, W. is right. If he had taken care of problems close to home when he was in office, rather than inventing problems far away, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in.

I hope folks realize that this situation will get worse before it get better. Katrina is proof of that. American’s must realize that a natural disaster of this magnitude does not get fixed overnight. Unless you have been there during the event you can’t imagine the task at hand. I was on the ground in new orleans and no other federal government could have done it better. I hope folks now know that the local government of new orleans did everything they could to mess things up during Katrina.

It is ALWAYS good to see Republicans and Democrats working together for a common goal. But then you have Rush Limbaugh…who is NEVER satisfied with harmony and good works,namely because he is such an arrogant rabble-rouser he feels angry when he can’t be the center of attention.When the DR.s in Hawaii hospitalized him for heart trouble,the Xrays showed that,like the Grinch, his heart is,at least two-sizes too small..

We needs the best and the brightest. Bush may be a decent man. I think it’s pretty obvious based on the results , that he is neither. You gave them 8 years to put us in this mess. How about giving our current President 2 years to straighten out this mess. And we have a moral obligation to help Haiti. If you still believe we went into Iraq to set the people free from an oppressive dictator than you should have no hesitation to help people dig out from an Earthquake.

Citibank owned the Haitian Treasury & central bank 1910-1947.
You’d think Haiti would be loaded. After all, it made a lot of people rich…
The story begins in 1910, when a U.S. State Department-National City Bank of New York (now called Citibank) consortium bought the Banque National d’Haïti–Haiti’s only commercial bank and its national treasury–in effect transferring Haiti’s debts to the Americans.(1)
Five years later, President Woodrow Wilson ordered troops to occupy the country in order to keep tabs on “our” investment.
From 1915 to 1934, the U.S. Marines imposed harsh military occupation, murdered Haitians patriots and diverted 40 percent of Haiti’s gross domestic product to U.S. bankers.(2) Haitians were banned from government jobs. Ambitious Haitians were shunted into the puppet military, setting the stage for a half-century of U.S.-backed military dictatorship.
The U.S. kept control of Haiti’s finances until 1947…
national city men, & today the gates & the rockefeller foundations = “closely linked”.