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I always liked the guy and even voted for him twice. He was the President when I was in the service and he was very decent.

The concept of a Republican president saying "we can't afford this. I'll raise taxes in order to pay for it" seems like something you'd read in a fairy tale.

I'm tempted to say here was the last good republican president.

Bubble181 said:

I'm tempted to say here was the last competent republican president.

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FTFY

—Patrick

Like all presidents he did have his bad side. This one is particularly galling.

He didn't think atheists were real citizens.

The real issue with Bush 41 was that he loved the idea of being President, but not the actual governance thing.

Not gonna celebrate his life or death but his track record when it came to the AIDS crisis was abhorrent (better than Regan though).

I was curious, so I looked around on WP and a few other sources to answer a question.

With GHWB's death, there are now only four former living presidents and the current office "holder". During my 51+ years on this planet, there was a 564-day stretch where there were no former living Presidents. The irony about this period is that it began with the death of the person who was President when I was born (Lyndon Johnson, January 22, 1973), and ended when Nixon climbed the stairs into the helicopter on August 9, 1974.

It makes me think Nixon was truly alone during the end times of Watergate. Not that it obviates him from his actions, but having someone to talk to who had similar experiences might have helped.

Of course, the only two former presidents immediately beforehand were both Democrats, whom he probably wouldn't have listened to, so there's that.

Dave said:

Like all presidents he did have his bad side. This one is particularly galling.

He didn't think atheists were real citizens.

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This is re-capitulated from a conversation that was said to have happened, not a direct quote, and later on he said it was not the case.

Not gonna make a political joke. Wouldn't be prudent. Not at this juncture.

Bashing on him was the thing to do when you were a teenager in the 2000s, feels weird that he's gone.

Yoshimickster said:

Bashing on him was the thing to do when you were a teenager in the 2000s, feels weird that he's gone.

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Wrong George Bush (I will dance on that one's grave).

blotsfan said:

Wrong George Bush (I will dance on that one's grave).

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ZOOP-my bad (freaking mild dyslexia). And awesome.

I learned today he and Bill Clinton became friends apparently.

I completely believe that headline.

My primary exposure to him was that Simpsons episode where he moved in across the street.

I don’t want to speak I’ll of the dead, but if we’re looking to acknowledge his flaws there’s also the numerous groping allegations.

I was too young to really know much about Bush I when I was a kid. I was at the age when you knew who was president but not old enough to follow the news or understand policy. I’ve learned some of it since then, and he seems to be a decent (if not good) president overall. I will say there were definitely some good things he did, both in office and after, and for that he should be celebrated.