From James Fellows:
“[Since leaving office former President George W. Bush has] behaved in a way that brings honor to him, his family, his office, and his country. By all reports he did what he could to smooth the transition to his successor, including dealing with the house-is-burning-down world financial crisis. Since leaving office he has — like most of his predecessors in their first years out of power — maintained a dignified distance from public controversies and let the new team have its chance. He has acted as if aware that there are national interests larger than his own possible interests in score-settling or reputational-repair.”
“The former vice president, Dick Cheney, has brought dishonor to himself, his office, and his country. I am not aware of a case of a former President or Vice President behaving as despicably as Cheney has done in the ten months since leaving power… (Aaron Burr might win the title, for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel, but Burr was a sitting Vice President at the time.)”
God damn it. He is right. And not about Dick Cheney (although he is and we all know Dick Cheney is a dishonorable disgrace and always has been). Mr. Bush has been gratefully gone from the public scene. It is what it is expected. Former Presidents are supposed to fade away to whatever projects they wish to spend their post Presidency on and let their successor have the spotlight. Carter did it for Reagan. Reagan did it for Bush. Bush did it for Clinton. Clinton did it for Bush. And now Bush is doing it for Obama. We have come to the point in our national politic where doing something expected is now honorable, for it is so unexpected.
This is not to say former Presidents must remain quiet as to their opinions. Former President Bush the elder let his opinions known later in the Clinton years during impeachment. As did former President Clinton during Bush’s second term. But, at the outset, the junior Bush has ceded the stage and he does deserve credit for that.