Beginning to Miss George Bush? Here’s Why.

I just started reading former President Bush’s new book, “Decision Points”, and I find it very interesting and well written. Rather than proceeding to give us his life story and a day to day description of White House meetings, as Clinton did in his book, “My Life”, Bush focuses on a dozen key decisions he made during his presidency, the facts leading up to each crisis, and his rationale that led to each decision. I find it much more enjoyable than Clinton’s rather tedious book.

Early in the book, Bush describes his various ventures, including his childhood, education, and the ten year period after he left college and was trying to find his way, which I found fascinating. Although born to privilege, he never really was dependent on his parents and was determined to make it on his own.

George Bush was truly an entrepreneur and once he became a Governor and then President, he was trained and well prepared for those responsible positions. Notwithstanding the erroneous judgment of most Europeans and liberal elitists who characterize him as an intellectual buffoon, Bush is street smart, has a great work ethic, and an excellent educational background in economics. In fact, he elected to return to school after a period to go to Harvard for an MBA. What I also found was that he has an excellent grasp of history and a real understanding of the American psyche.

Reading this book makes it abundantly clear what we are missing in the White House today. We have a President who is ill-prepared for the job, with no early life exposure to the values and principles of our system and absolutely no connection with the majority of the American people. He is a man who can write two autobiographies before the age of 50, and received a Nobel Peace Prize, without really accomplishing anything other than getting elected and becoming the first “half black” President of the United States.

Nowhere has this been more apparent than his recent trip to Asia (which cost us $3 billion) where he was treated like the leader of a second-rate power, scolded by our Allies and China for his economic policies, embarrassed by South Korea for losing a trade deal that he could have acted upon two years ago, and gaining none of the U.S. initiatives at the G-20 Summit.

They may love Obama in Europe and Asia but their leaders treat him like an underling. It’s hard to negotiate when the other side thinks you’re in over your head and don’t have the support of your constituency.

I’m beginning to miss George Bush.