FT: Bush in 2008 "probably won’t even vote for McCain...I’d have endorsed Obama if they’d asked"

[sabra]

http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2010/11/bush-i-probably-wont-even-vote-for-mccain/

George W. Bush’s bombastic return to the world stage has reminded me of my favourite Bush anecdote, which for various reasons we couldn’t publish at the time. Some of the witnesses still dine out on it.

The venue was the Oval Office. A group of British dignitaries, including Gordon Brown, were paying a visit. It was at the height of the 2008 presidential election campaign, not long after Bush publicly endorsed John McCain as his successor.

Naturally the election came up in conversation. Trying to be even-handed and polite, the Brits said something diplomatic about McCain’s campaign, expecting Bush to express some warm words of support for the Republican candidate.

Not a chance. “I probably won’t even vote for the guy,” Bush told the group, according to two people present.“I had to endorse him. But I’d have endorsed Obama if they’d asked me.”

Endorse Obama? Cue dumbfounded look from British officials, followed by some awkward remarks about the Washington weather. Even Gordon Brown’s poker face gave way to a flash of astonishment.

[kenny blankenship]

1. They have political parties over there. It means something.

[nc4bo]

2. Wasn't he drinking/drugging extra heavily at the time?

Bastard.

[NYC Liberal]

3. He was pissed at McCain for

not wanting him to have anything to do with the campaign, and Bush being the vindictive asshole that he is, he would have endorsed Obama as a way to stick it to McCain

Sounds about right.

[pinto]

6. Sounds right to me, as well. Whether the anecdote is factual or not.

:hi:

[SugarShack]

11. sound bout right to me! "meet the new boss, same as the old boss"

[notesdev]

4. Evidence for my theory continues to mount

the theory being that McCain's sorry electoral performance was as much due to people in his own party hating his guts as anything else.

[AspenRose]

14. My republican husband didn't vote in 08, in large part because he hated McCain

One of the few things we have in common, politically. We both can't stand McCain.

[Andy823]

5. Not hard to understand

He had screwed things up so bad he, and the whole republican party, knew they didn't want to have to be the party in charge of cleaning up his mess! Let McCain run, lose and then let Obama and the democrats go at cleaning things up while the republican party goes on attack and blames it all on Obama, and does nothing to help fix the mess! Yep, they had it planned all along, and damned if it didn't work!

[digitaln3rd]

8. "Endorse" Obama?

So that the 80% of people that dislike him go and vote for McCain, thus letting the person he *really* wanted to win in the White House!

He doesn't have to admit to endorsing McCain and the Republican gets in the White House. ;)

[wtmusic]

7. Christ on a pogo stick, that's the last thing he would have wanted. nt

[WinkyDink]

9. So THERE, Kanye!

You thought he had a larger point?

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Made me look twice!!!

[disillusioned73]

12. Title of op a bit decieving, although taken in context...

it just confirms how much of a "puppet" this guy really was.

[lumpy]

13. Bushes forked tongue doesn't always behave, he can't

prevent it from moving from one side of the mouth to the other.