WH: Obama called Bush "as a courtesy" right before his Iraq speech

[sabra]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/27/obama-calls-bush-2/

(CNN) – President Barack Obama called former President Bush on this morning to tell him about his plan to withdraw troops from Iraq, the White House said Friday.

Obama called the former president “as a courtesy” right before his speech at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Obama also called Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki from Air Force One to brief him on his plan to withdraw most troops from that country by the end of August 2010. The preident also “sought and received” an agreement from the prime minister that he would receive Christopher Hill as the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

On Friday, Obama released his plan to end combat operation in Iraq by August 31, 2010.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Classy, as always.

[Beetwasher]

2. Obama Is Redefining The Word "Classy" To A Level That Will

Make it unattainable for anyone other than Superhumans. I mean, damn, this guy is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. There is absolutely no reason for him to do this except that he has a level of class and sophistication beyond normal human bounds.

[Egnever]

10. It really is astounding

Always willing to keep putting his hand out no matter how many times it is bitten by his detractors. I have never seen such patience in a human being in my lifetime.

[comrade snarky]

15. Not to take anything away from Obama

He is the classiest, calmest person I've ever seen get into high office, but a big part of it is confidence in his own ability to turn an attack around on the attacker.

It's a lot easier to reach out when you know that your opponent will not only slap your hand away but also smack themselves in the face on the follow through and fall down in a quivering, angry heap.

His political jujitsu is strong.

[Cha]

11. You are

so right about that, Beetwasher:bounce:

[Phx_Dem]

3. So classy and always respectful. n/a

[firedupdem]

4. A class act no matter how ignorantly others treat him. n/t

[Jennicut]

5. I doubt Bush would have done the same if the situtation were reversed

But then Obama would not have started such an inane war to begin with.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Respect, not for Bush, but for those who followed Bush's orders and paid the price

It's the right way to go. :patriot:

[Ilsa]

7. I wonder what Bush was thinking, waiting for the phone call.

I suspect someone calls Bush at home or his office, and announces that President Obama will be on the line shortly. I wonder what Bush was thinking for the very brief minute that passed before they were actually talking. I wonder if he was worried about Obama telling him that he's turning the JD loose on his mal-administration.

[Egnever]

8. God this man is classy

How did we do so well ?

He inspires me to try to be a better person almost every day. What an awesome departure from the buffoon we had for the last 8 years.

[Uzybone]

9. Pure class

Obama makes me feel like a mean bastard sometimes.

[Mrs. Overall]

12. So, I wonder if Bush changed the channel from Nick Jr. to MSNBC to watch the speech?

[Robb]

13. What did he call him?

(rimshot)

...Just because no one else said it. OT: class act.

[MichiganVote]

14. Was he sober?