Topic: George W. Bush

Presidents Look Like Doofuses in Rain

Associated Press

In honor of Thursday's meteorological meme at the White House — President Obama looking slightly ridiculous under an umbrella — here are some of the best photos of presidents who, despite the claims of conspiracy theorists, still haven't gotten the Pentagon to invent a weather machine.

By J.K. Trotter

Apr 26, 2013

George W. Bush's Life Is an Apple Commercial

Long portrayed as technologically aloof, the end of the comeback week gives us a portrait of Bush fully in thrall to consumer technology, leveraging the iPad not to check and respond to email but to express himself in art. Yes, he learned how to paint on an app.

Comments | 1,565 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Apr 26, 2013

Yes, Jon Stewart Is Ready to Make Fun of George W. Bush Again

On last night's Daily Show, he got so excited that George W. Bush is back in the news that he had to breathe into a paper bag. Then he moved on to the new presidential library, also known as "the Hard Rock Café of catastrophic policy decisions."

Comments | 3,321 Views

By Philip Bump

Apr 25, 2013

There Are Far Fewer Presidents Alive Today Than There Were in the 1830s

The opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library brought together all of the living presidents in his honor. Which prompted us to wonder: At what point were the most presidents alive at once?

Comments | 1,563 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 25, 2013

People Sure Do Feel Sorry for George W. Bush

Here's the curious thing about the defenses of Bush during his legacy tour: rather than saying he did a good job as president, his allies are emphasizing that he had a really hard job.

Comments | 3,321 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 25, 2013

Five Presidents Gather to Open the George W. Bush Library

In a moment that's become almost as big a presidential milestone as the inauguration itself, today George W. Bush celebrates the opening of his presidential library and museum, which is opening the floodgates for historical judgements on his eight years in office.

Comments | 1,367 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 23, 2013

The Campaign to Love George W. Bush Has Arrived

George W. Bush always claimed that he would be vindicated by history. Even he might be surprised at how quickly history worked its magic. 

Comments | 6,219 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 14, 2013

George W. Bush, Amateur Pet Painter, Is Now a Grandfather

Jenna Bush Hager gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Sunday. When the young Margaret Laura "Mila" Hager goes home from the hospital she'll sleep under a portrait of a cat painted by her (in)famous grandfather.

Comments | 5,246 Views

George W. Bush Underwent Back Surgery, Spent January Recuperating

As it turns out, George H.W. Bush isn't the only former president named Bush with medical problems. Two sources close to the Bush family say that George W. Bush quietly underwent back surgery several months ago to deal with a nagging disc problem.

Comments | 370 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 29, 2013

The GOP Has Tried (and Failed at) Minority Outreach Many Times Before

The push and pull between the Republican Party's members who are more and less enlightened on matters of race has been going on for a long time. And in just the last decade, the GOP has seen plenty of two-steps-forward-three-steps-back moments when it's tried to minority outreach programs.

Comments | 1,230 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 21, 2013

Maybe George W. Bush Is the Dog in His Dog Paintings

After careful study of Bush's work, we are forced to consider the theory that Bush is the dogs.

Comments | 10,658 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 19, 2013

The Invasion of Iraq, in 7 GIFs the World Has Never Seen

Crusty old reporters like to complain that the Internet, Twitter, memes, GIFs, and whatever are ruining journalism and America. But when you look back at, say, the invasion of Iraq, it's hard not to think the country could have benefitted from a little mass mockery to puncture the madness.  

Comments | 2,242 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 19, 2013

Team Iraqi Freedom: Where Are They Now?

The Iraq War did not go as planned — not for Iraq, not for the United States, and not for the careers of the people who told us it'd be such a great idea to go. Let's catch up with the folks who brought us there a decade ago today.

Comments | 3,449 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 18, 2013

Karl Rove's History of Bad Advice Is Haunting the GOP

As the Republican party continues to re-evaluate itself this week, Rove's role is looking increasingly dangerous when you compare his predictions to the facts on gay marriage, the Iraq war, the 2012 election, and more.

Comments | 2,242 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 11, 2013

Joe Lieberman Completes His Career Transition to Conservative Wonk

If you are easily surprised, you will be surprised to learn that former senator Joe Lieberman (D-I-Conn.) has taken a position with a conservative think tank in Washington.

Comments | 1,552 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Feb 11, 2013

The State of Our Union Is Always Strong

We already know how President Obama will describe the state of our union in his State of the Union address Tuesday: strong. Here's how the traditional line became a cliché. 

Comments | 2,266 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Feb 8, 2013

Bush's Art Forces Liberals to Contemplate Bush's Soul

The Washington Free Beacon gives a glowing review to George W. Bush's hacked-and-leaked self-portraits, declaring, "Greatest Living President is Also Fantastic Painter."  Sadly, it appears to be a joke.

Comments | 13,741 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Feb 8, 2013

How Can a President's Email Get Hacked?

The morning after Bush family emails burst online, revealing self portraits by George W. Bush and about his father's health, the Secret Service opened an investigation into the apparent infiltration of the private, post-presidency accounts for Bushes 41 and 43, raising questions about personal-tech security all the way up to Obama.

Comments | 20,002 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Feb 1, 2013

George W. Bush's 'First Dog' Is Dead

Despite a habit for biting people of note, and regardless of anyone's political beliefs, it can be agreed that Barney was one cute pup.

Comments | 2,011 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 31, 2013

Karl Rove Is Projecting

Karl Rove warns that Democrats not to over-interpret the 2012 election results in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Thursday, arguing that the supposed "permanent Democratic majority" could be gone in an election or two if they overreach. Rove, of all people, should know.

Comments | 1,031 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 21, 2013

How Michelle Obama's Dress Measures Up to All the First Ladies' Gowns

The First Lady wore a bright red gown made of chiffon and velvet and designed by Jason Wu to the inaugural balls Monday. Red, surprisingly, has not been a very popular color among first ladies' inaugural gowns, despite its popularity in campaign signs.

Comments | 34,987 Views

By David Wagner

Jan 21, 2013

A Guide to the Inauguration's No-Shows

George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, even Oprah Winfrey — the famous people who didn't attend Barack Obama's second inauguration say as much about the ceremony as those who did turn up. 

Comments | 9,139 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Nov 21, 2012

A Visual History of Presidents Petting Turkeys

The annual presidential pardoning of a turkey is a slightly morbid tradition that doesn't make much sense, but that doesn't mean it's without value. It gives us the opportunity to watch the highly stylized and ceremonial Office of the President interact with nature in the form of a hideous, uncooperative fat bird.

Comments | 9,828 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Oct 15, 2012

George W. Bush Whiles Away the Time Painting Pictures of Dogs

Being a retired Leader of the Free World is a lot like being a retired anything else, at least for George W. Bush, who spends his days painting portraits of dogs.

Comments | 29,792 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Oct 1, 2012

From Gaffes to GIFs: The Great Shift in Presidential Debate Strategy

The candidates, campaigns, and pundits have dropped any pretense that the first presidential debate will be anything more than a reality show in which President Obama and Mitt Romney are competing to see who can avoid looking stupid -- not saying something stupid -- on TV.

Comments | 13,772 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 28, 2012

Even George W. Bush Is More Popular Than Mitt Romney

Here's one more way to measure Mitt Romney's unpopularity: He's less popular than George W. Bush, the last Republican president who's so unpopular he didn't speak at the Republican National Convention and gave his endorsement of Romney while leaping into an elevator.

Comments | 8,120 Views

By Richard Lawson

Sep 28, 2012

The Smart Set

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz Are Not Dating

Today in celebrity gossip: A rumored power couple is not actually coupling, Ryan Lochte has a very fashionable dinner, and Prince Harry is no longer seeking revenge. 

Comments | 5,368 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 26, 2012

Every Election Is a Fight for White Guys

Politico's Lois Romano wrote today that the 2012 presidential election has become a "battle for white men," because, "after decades of taking a back seat" to women and minorty voter. Now, exactly when were white guys being so ignored?

Comments | 3,018 Views

By John Hudson

Sep 11, 2012

It's a Bad Day for Dick Cheney to Talk About Presidential Intelligence Briefings

Dick Cheney picked the wrong day to criticize Barack Obama for not paying close enough attention to presidential daily briefings.

Comments | 14,450 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Sep 11, 2012

Bush Knew More About Bin Laden's Plans Than We Realized

Now, 11 years later, new details of the attack on the World Trade Center continue to emerge from the government's vault of classified documents and the journalists who've gained access.

Comments | 57,317 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 10, 2012

Ad Watch

Political Ad Season Has Really Begun

Today in Ad Watch: Planned Parenthood makes its biggest ad buy ever, Mitt Romney buys ads in Wisconsin, Sen. Bob Casey is endorsed by a man on a motorcycle, and Tommy Thompson is tied to George W. Bush.

Comments | 690 Views

By John Hudson

Aug 30, 2012

The Government Won't Bring Charges in CIA Detainee Deaths

Nothing to see here: The Justice Department closed its investigation into the deaths of CIA detainees overseas and will not bring any charges, Attorney General Eric Holder announced today.

Comments | 5,101 Views

By Eric Randall

Jul 20, 2012

George W. Bush Gives Romney a Break and Passes on the RNC

Former President George W. Bush, for the second election in a row, won't be attending the Republican National Convention, a move that makes sense if you imagine that he probably wanted to attend about as much as the Romney campaign wanted to have him there.

Comments | 2,073 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 13, 2012

Proof Romney Won't Pick Condoleezza Rice for VP

Mitt Romney's allies leaked the idea that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was near the top on the candidate's list of potential running mates to The Drudge Report Thursday evening, making a lot of people laugh in the process.

Comments | 3,359 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 6, 2012

Presidents in Short Shorts: There's No Right Way for Candidates to Vacation

The most important rule of presidential vacations is this: Never let people take pictures of you on vacation.

Comments | 9,521 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jun 28, 2012

'Dora the Explorer' Gets Remixed; Clinton and Bush Get a Bad Lip Read

Every day The Atlantic Wire highlights the video clips that truly earn your five minutes (or less) of attention

Comments | 1,207 Views

By Eric Randall

Jun 25, 2012

Maurice Sendak Fantasized About Blowing Up George W. Bush

We loved Maurice Sendak's work, so it wasn't without a little cringing that we read this excerpt from his soon-to-be-published interview with Gary Groth in The Comics Journal in which he fantasized about killing George W. Bush.

Comments | 2,069 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jun 18, 2012

Obama Campaign Takes the Romney-Kerry Comparisons Way Too Literally

The Obama campaign hopes to turn Mitt Romney into the John Kerry of 2012 by November. In the meantime, it's turning John Kerry into Mitt Romney, asking the senator to stand in for Romney during President Obama's debate prep.

Comments | 446 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jun 14, 2012

'Game of Thrones' Showrunners Were Thrifty, Not Anti-Bush

With a speedy apology following a half-day blog uproar, you can bet that the folks running HBO's of Game of Thrones totally regret impaling the 43rd president's head on a spike. Or at least, regret saying it was him on a DVD commentary track.

Comments | 3,217 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

May 21, 2012

Cartoon

The Real Value of a Bush Endorsement

Cartoonist Tom Toles on Mitt Romney's latest backer.

Comments | 422 Views

By Eric Randall

May 15, 2012

George W. Bush Can Haz Cat?

It's the second biggest George W. Bush endorsement of the day: The former president is now a cat person.

Comments | 1,897 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

May 15, 2012

George W. Bush's Elevator Pitch: 'I'm for Mitt Romney'

Mitt Romney received an endorsement from the other former President Bush — even if it was hastily delivered from behind the doors of a closing elevator.

Comments | 4,371 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 30, 2012

That's Dan Rather's Story and He's Still Sticking to It

Dan Rather's new book (and accompanying media tour) is the perfect opportunity to lay it all out on the table and come clean about any and all regrets that he's had in his long career. But Rather regrets nothing.

Comments | 917 Views

By John Hudson

Apr 30, 2012

Ex-CIA Interrogator: Obama's War on Terror Is Less Ethical Than Bush's

The former head of the CIA's Clandestine Service Jose Rodriguez says President Obama is waging the nation's war against radical Islam in a far more brutal manner than his predecessor President George W. Bush.

Comments | 8,474 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 27, 2012

Osama bin Laden Is Still Most Wanted: As a Talking Point

Who was classier when bragging about taking out bad guys: George Bush or Barack Obama?

Comments | 1,615 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 23, 2012

Obama Expands Executive Power for Good, Not Evil

Although Sen. Obama campaigned against George W. Bush's expansion of executive power in 2008, President Obama has studied Bush for ways to do just that as he battles House Republicans to pass economic legislation, The New York Times' Charlie Savage reports.

Comments | 2,322 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 19, 2012

Romney Honors His Dad's Legacy By Being His Total Opposite

While Mitt Romney promised Thursday that "I'm not going to apologize for my dad's success" even as his campaign has worked to erase it from memory, portraying Romney's childhood as middle class despite little indulgences like a cook, a maid, and a laundress.

Comments | 1,232 Views

By John Hudson

Apr 16, 2012

Dan Rather Will Not Go Away Quietly

Dan Rather still thinks he will be vindicated for his infamous story on President George W. Bush's Air National Guard Service but after reading a new epic re-investigation into the matter by Texas Monthly, it's difficult to see how that will ever happen.

Comments | 3,793 Views

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