What a great observation.

Richard Milhous Nixon never forgot a slight, used federal law enforcement powers against his political enemies and infuriated the Republican Party's conservative base with policies ranging from wage and price controls to detente with communists to Supreme Court appointments.

Soon-to-be-ex-President Bush, on the other hand, has taken at least as much personal abuse, yet his graciousness seldom fails. While the 37th president acidly told the press, "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore," the 43rd told the reporters at his final presidential press conference Monday that they were "just people trying to do the best they possibly can."

That's charitable in the extreme: Every step of the way, the establishment press has been eager to see this president fail.

And unlike Nixon, who so disappointed his supporters on the right that he was challenged for the GOP nomination in 1972, Bush stuck to the conservative principles on many if not most issues, including income and investment tax cuts, the invasion of two terror states and the appointment of Supreme Court justices.

Ultimately, George is a happy man because how he feels about himself is about how he measured up to his own values. I saw the Brit Hume interview with W. and H.W. Bush and remarked the father's comment about the son's presidency.

"You can make a tough decision and stay with it," he told his son before turning to Hume in the White House Diplomatic Room. "And he's been tested unlike any other president with 9/11. So he passed the test."

Its a rare thing to become President, and you get one shot to do it right, to make the big decision for the right reason, regardless of the political consequences. If you falter and waffle, you might still be popular, but for the rest of your life you'll be haunted by your failure. As Herbert Walker said, his son passed the test.

Its interesting to look at Jimmy Carter, nearly thirty years after leaving office, and realize that he's not a man comfortable in his own skin, even at his advanced age. Bill Clinton is also still looking for something he'll never find, which suggests to me that neither man passed their test and got the Zen calm that comes from realizing that you're the man you always wanted to be.

No matter how many people tell you how great you are, you know in your heart that you had a chance to be great but couldn't hack it. On the other hand, no matter how many people call you an idiot, a criminal or a fool--having stepped up when your name was called is something no one can ever take away from you.

George W. Bush--a class act.

To add my admiration to Mick's appreciation of George W. Bush, Kipling's lines are apt:

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
.........
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

There is just something so authentically "Bush" about the former President catching a Baylor women's basketball game with Laura, sans cravate. I think its a great sign that George is going to settle into his post-presidential period every comfortably.

I always found it disorienting to read left-wing personal criticism of Bush. You can't be in the media day after day for eight years and not reveal your personality. There is no question Bush made some bad judgments--who hasn't, but the essential character of the man is, as I've said before, exemplary. You can learn a lot about living a happy life by watching the Bush Presidents.

I am less pleased with Mr. Obama. I find myself a little surprised to be "saddened" by his reflexive dishonesty, but that's less a personal knock than it is a recognition that he comes from a part of the American culture that rewards and even celebrates the skillful liar. On the other hand, I think its fantastic that he's the husband of one wife and the father of two very cute little girls. It shows me that his heart is in the right place. God forbid that he do anything to destroy that virtue. On a personal basis, I think someone can be wrong, even dead wrong, and still come around to being a truly good and admirable man if he has demonstrated he understands and practices the real commitment required for family life.

The media has gotten a fair share of criticism for their sappy front covers of the Barack and Michelle or the family portraits. I say--keep it up. The country might not be getting a badly needed stimulus package, but at least they should get a role model of a good family life.

David Harsanyi, a columnist with the remaining paper in Denver, can't understand why anyone would want to read the Bush presidential biography.

Is it conceivable that a politician could write a candid or fascinating book? The answer, I submit, is hell, no. Politicians are inherently risk-averse, obsessed with message control, legacy building and revisionism.

A guy who invaded two countries is "risk-averse"? A guy who wins the 2004 election and announced he's going to take on the social security fiasco? Where the hell has Harsanyi been for the last eight years?

I am stunned at the cluelessness of his remarks, and yet, it all makes such perfect sense, doesn't it? Journalists are the classic example of group-think.

The reason to expect a different kind of book from Bush is specifically because of guys like Harsanyi. Democrats can get away with nonsense, lies and omissions because the crap they write is what their audience needs to maintain their own delusions of moral superiority, I mean how embarrassing is it to be a feminist and find out that "your guy" is making 22 year old interns in the Oval Office? Much easier to make excuses for him than acknowledge your pollyannaism.

A Bush book is quite obviously going to get a much different reception. The same dynamic that allows people to be credulous about "My Life" is going to work against Bush--who is after all--THE DEVIL!!!! The only way a Bush book succeeds is extreme candor backed by rock solid evidence. His critics will scream and yell anyways, but their impotence in refuting his claims will drive controversy and book sales.

Undoubtedly, any book editor willing to extend a contract to Mr. Bush has already understood these facts, but then again, they have real jobs where making money means they get to keep their jobs, maybe get a bonus.

Journalists are such putzes.

Yesterday President George W. Bush unexpectedly turned up at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to welcome home US Army troops. "The photos are priceless."

In 2003 Bush made a surprise appearance at a Thanksgiving Dinner in Baghdad, where he helped serve dinner to the troops:

This extract from a message home by a US Army captain describes the scene:

Bremer then said that we should probably get someone more senior to read the
speech. Then, from behind the camouflage netting, the President of the
United States came around. The mess hall actually erupted with hollering.
Troops bounded to their feet with shocked smiles and just began cheering
with all their hearts. The building actually shook. It was just unreal. I
was absolutely stunned. Not only for the obvious, but also because I was
only two tables away from the podium. There he stood, less than thirty feet
away from me! The cheering went on and on and on.

Soldiers were hollering, cheering, and a lot of them were crying. There was
not a dry eye at my table. When he stepped up to the cheering, I could
clearly see tears running down! his cheeks. It was the most surreal moment
I’ve had in years. Not since my wedding and Aaron being born. Here was this
man, our President, came all the way around the world, spending 17 hours on
an airplane and landing in the most dangerous airport in the world, where a
plane was shot out of the sky not six days before.

Just to spend two hours with his troops. Only to get on a plane and spend
another 17 hours flying back. It was a great moment, and I will never forget
it. He delivered his speech, which we all loved, when he looked right at me
and held his eyes on me. Then he stepped down and was just mobbed by the
soldiers.