GOP Rep: Bush "Should Stay Home" During Republican Convention

Even with the GOP convention nearly two months away, some in the Republican party are already worrying about how to handle the presence of President Bush, who is scheduled to speak on the opening night of the event, the New York Times reports:

This year, of course, Mr. McCain is trying to escape from Mr. Bush's shadow. Most Republicans say Mr. Bush should play whatever role Mr. McCain wants him to. Some, like Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California, simply wish Mr. Bush would keep out of it, though few would say so openly.

"I don't think there are a lot of people who want to see him at the convention," said Mr. Rohrabacher, who is especially irked with Mr. Bush for his stance on immigration. He said the president "should stay home from the Republican convention, and everybody would be better off."

Comments

[maxdenn]

I may not have a lot. I'm not rich. I have no power. I'm just a working stiff trying to make ends meet. But I'm not George W. Bush or anyone like him. And I'm happy. And as far as I know, nobody dislikes me.

[emmav70]

What's up with the picture, huffpo ?

Are we supposed to feel sorry for him or something ?

[RobertaInCT]

If that's the case, it's not working..............

[ThunderclapNewman]

I think they wanted him to look alone, if not abandoned.

I laugh every day at how the G*O*P is running from him as fast as their stubby little legs will carry them.

[Jinxykb]

Maybe. For about 2 seconds until one remembers all of the stupid crap he's done, then it's over. Very clever.

[Kalima]

What an absolute waste of a nice location shot. Can we retouch the thing?

[AMJordan]

I wouldn't re-touch it with a ten-foot Polaroid.

[Nochnoi]

Sure... Photoshop

[CindyInIndy]

Let's have a contest to TITLE the photo!

[robodweeb]

One is the loneliest number you can ever do

29% can be as bad as one, it's the loneliest number since the number one.

(Nilsson)

[MsDoc]

"Me and My Shadooooow... all alone and feeeeelin' blue"

[oneeyedodin]

Mommy...nobody likes me anymore.

[kellygrrrl]

Caption This:

I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me.

[dolphy]

I'm...Mr. Blue, oh.ohh.oh.

[Boboday555]

I do kind of feel bad for the Texas loser.
His owners in Big Oil and Halliburton played him like a cocaine addicted fiddle.
They ordered the little cocaine addict to give them WARTIME TAX CUT after WARTIME TAX CUT and like the illiterate puppy he is, he did.
Sure he did nothing about bin Laden, still hasn't found the anthrax attackers, forgot a bout New Orleans in the wake of Katrina, he's destroyed the economy, people are losing their homes at Great Depression rates, the dollar is practically worthless, America's good name in now in the mud, al Qeada is growing in strength again in Afghanistan, he prostituted the Justice Department, he fixed the 2004 election, BUT his un-American owners don't care because AWOL Bush has made them richer than ever.
On second thought, i don't feel bad for the Texas Cocaine Addicted Coward!

[yellowdogminnesotan]

I'm a Minnesotan who lives in Saint Paul; Ground zero for the RNC. I say "Bring Him On" we'll welcome him with style.

[CindyInIndy]

Welcome to Spinnesota!

[scooperss]

They should HAVE to have him there and they all should have to be there too to listen to a 1 hour speech from him.

[ThunderclapNewman]

If he only speaks for ten minutes, it will seem like an hour.

[MsDoc]

See...now that's your own fault. Me, I'm using that time to make popcorn and maybe clean the oven.

[youknowwhat]

It should be made mandatory that anybody who voted for Bush should have to listen to him speak at the convention. His pitiful credentials were out there before you voted for him, you should have known better.

[pie8ter]

Let the republicans allow this war criminal to speak without the teleprompter. I cringe whenever this moron speaks on his own with his first grade English language. People in other countries are laughing their a*s*s off saying they speak better English than Bush. If I own a company, I won't even let this idiot to handle my trash collection.

[maxdenn]

Guys like George Bush never realize that they are the source of their troubles. It's always someone else's fault. Mr. Bush is pathetic. He's a sad-sack.

[MissingAmerica]

Bush will do what he wants; after all, he IS the Decider. As he remains in office, he remains delusional. He will think his miserable little face will wish to be seen. Personally, the only time I can stand to see him is by accident. You know those little e-mails that make their rounds where the car is driving peacefully down the road and all of a sudden this scary face jumps up and knocks you out of your chair? I would rather see those! At least they're not real!

[robodweeb]

Were those 15 Columbian hostages held long enough in captivity to qualify them to be president?

[CuriousPerson]

They weren't shot down.

[CuriousPerson]

They weren't s h o t down.

[RobertaInCT]

:)

[zendem1]

Wonder how much they'll pay Rudy to give a speech about 9/11? They need 9/11..

[ThunderclapNewman]

They cling to 9/11---it's all they've got.

[Kalima]

I'll bet that Rudy has it tattooed on his chest.

[Boboday555]

That the GOP uses 9/11 as a source of pride boggles the mind.
They didn't prevent 9/11 in spite of President Clinton's detailed warning:
"Osama bin Laden determiend to attack within the United States."
The warning went on to detail bin Suckhole's desire to use our own passenger jets as guided missles to strike at our citizens.
Nope, they let that one slip by resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths.
AND here we are 7 years leater and Osama bin Chimpanzee is still free as a bird making videos.
So, why are they proud of 9/11 again?'
Couple that with their inability to either stop the anthrax attacks or find those responsible and you have the GOP gang that couldn't shoot straight..
So again, why do these un-American neo-cons use 9/11 as a campaing issue?
Oh, that's right, the neo-con's base is made up of idiotic children!
How could I forget?

[theMightyT]

Imagine what his speech will be...

"9/11 9/11 9/11 I think I am most qualified, but hey McCain's a good second choice! 9/11 9/11 9/11"

[Troubledwawa]

I think he will speak.

It's not lke the Republicans have the cojones to stand up to him, or his followers.

[breatheslowly]

Of course he'll speak. Geez- the Dem's won't even stand up to him.

[tchristin]

This is so much like the shamed Nixon at the end. The only thing missing are the hands up with the V sign. Sad. Very sad. But then he could not have ended up this way on his own. Over half the country of voters chose to vote for him in two different elections. He had nothing in his background that would have indicated he was going to be a great President. I am hopeful we won't be fooled again. Vote for Obama... please.

[robodweeb]

Remember the outrage when Zel Miller was denegrating the military service of John Kerry?

Me either.

[riverhouse]

I don't see how the gop can avoid having the prez and the nominee on the podium together when the balloons are falling and the confetti flying. Won't that make a grand photo for us?

[filo]

Especially if they hug and kiss as in the " I can't quit you Georgie ! " picture. That's my all time fav.

[pie8ter]

Probably gop (intentionally used lower case letters) will bring Bush out while the balloons and confetti are falling down. Then they will get him out quickly before the confetti and balloon finished falling.

[mindlessmissy]

I heard His Brother Jeb is running in 4 years ...

[ThunderclapNewman]

Only if he changes his last name and causes a case of mass amnesia in the public.

[Troubledwawa]

It's basically over for that entire family.

[AMJordan]

That's odd, everything I've read says that Jeb has absolutely no interest in running for President.

[jsinclair]

Democrats need to criticize McSame=Bush more.

"Bush's war, economy, oil prices, health care, are bad. McCain supports and will continue them."

Over and over and over and over.

Rove 101, Lesson 1: "Republicans will repeat their message--with the help of their friends in the press--to successfully convince the public that lies are truth."

Rove 101, Lesson 2: "Stay. On. Message!!!!"

Really, Democrats, we need to be vigilant against Lesson 1--and learn how to DO Lesson 2!!!!

[Troubledwawa]

Mark Shields had an interesting comment on the News Hour last night:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec08/spiraq_07-04.html

"MARK SHIELDS: Just one thing. I think this election is going to be about Barack Obama. Voters have already made up their mind about the Republicans and their record. I mean, 80 percent think the country is headed in the wrong direction, and George Bush, few of them -- 1 of 4 voters think he's doing a good job.

So the question is, it's like 1980 with Ronald Reagan. The question is -- and to some degree, Bill Clinton in 1992. They've made their judgment on the party that's in power: They don't want them to continue.

But the question is, are they going to feel safe? And are his prescriptions for improving the nation considered wise and helpful to voters? I think that's what he has to resolve, and I think that's the concern that his campaign has to have."