Bush: I Didn't Compromise My Soul To Be Popular

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush knows he's unpopular. But here's what matters, he says: "I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy." In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News Channel, Bush also praised the national security team assembled by President-elect Barack Obama, offered hope to U.S. automakers seeking government assistance and said the people of Illinois will have to sort out allegations that Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought kickbacks in choosing a successor for Obama's Senate seat.

Bush said presidents fail when they make decisions based on opinion polls.

"Look, everybody likes to be popular," said Bush.

"What do you expect? We've got a major economic problem and I'm the president during the major economic problem. I mean, do people approve of the economy? No. I don't approve of the economy. ... I've been a wartime president. I've dealt with two economic recessions now. I've had, hell, a lot of serious challenges. What matters to me is I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy."

An Associated Press-GFK poll last week showed just 28 percent of the public approving of the job Bush is doing, about where he has been all fall. Among Republicans, 54 percent approve, a low figure from members of a president's own political party.

Bush said he didn't think he would be viewed as the 21st century's Herbert Hoover, who was president during the Great Depression. He said he worked to keep the economy from collapsing.

"I'm a free market guy," Bush said. "But I'm not going to let this economy crater in order to preserve the free market system. So we made a lot of very strong moves and it's been painful for a lot of people, particularly because, you know, this _ the excesses of the past have caused a lot of folks to hurt when it comes to, like, their 401(k)'s or, you know, their jobs."

He said his administration is continuing to look at options for helping the Big Three automakers and that it needs to get done "relatively soon." He said a "disorganized bankruptcy" of one or more of the automakers could cause great harm to the economy "beyond that which we're now witnessing."

"That concerns me," he said. "And the other point is that I _ I'm not interested in _ in really putting good money after bad."

On other subjects:

_ Bush called Obama's national security team "solid," especially praising his own Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will continue in the post in Obama's administration.

"I think the incoming administration's going to have to fully analyze the risks and the tools and _ come to their own conclusion," he said. "But one thing's for certain. I'm confident that President-elect Obama knows that one of his most solemn duties is to protect the American people."

_ Bush avoided discussing Blagojevich.

"They're going to have to sort it through in Illinois," Bush said. "Obviously anytime anybody allegedly betrays the public trust there's got to be great concern because, you know, democracy really is, you know, really rests on the trust of the people. It's a system of people and by people and for people. And, therefore, the public trust is important."

Comments

[Topsailsman]

Ultimately, a leader is popular because he makes good decisions that improve the lives of his followers.

So when Bush says he didn't do things to be popular, what he is really saying is that he didn't make good decisions that improved the lives of his followers.

Mr. soon to be a bad memory, you've had eight years to do something, anything, right. You didn't. You are unpopular because you are a failure. Period.

[Sam 32]

Sure, Bush has had his problems, but so did Clinton, Bush 41, and the rest of them. You hard-core liberals need to lay off the Kool-Aid.

[Buddy McCue]

No Kool-aid required to recognize that Bush created problems, as opposed to simply having them. I think that most people see this.

It's hardly a fringe opinion.

[Bub]

As if you hard-core 18% don't dabble in kool-aid of your own.

[SoCalGal2008]

Ok let me get this right, you are saying Bush is like Clinton, hmmm, were you high then too? I mean, jeez, when Clinton left office, economy was prosperous, unemployment rates were low and TODAY...ha­ve you picked up a paper, or even listening to "Fixed News" you still can't be this dillusional? ... Oh I see, you must have your compass upside down!

[CVignone]

Can george bush be prosecuted in the World Court for war crimes? Certainly the Iraq invasion was illegal and so many people have died as a result.
This individual is simply going to fade off into the sunset on January 20th AND we have to pay this
ignoramus $150,000 p/year for the remainder of his worthless life?...Hm­mm. sounds like the bailout
money he is shoveling out to his cronies on wall street, banking sector and AIG? please must we
talk about that????

[Bub]

Hoover (from his grave): "I'm no Bush"

Grant (from his grave): "I'm no Bush"

Harding (from his grave): "I'm no Bush"

Buchanan (from his grave): "I'm no Bush"

G.H.W. Bush (the elder): "I'm no ... uh, oh ..."

Nixon (from his grave): "Heck-of-a job Georgie"

[apogee2perogee]

Reagan (from his grave) a Bush...uh, shrub, ....uh, who?

[RonRico]

It appears Mr. Bush's compunction to be pro-active and preemptive is misplaced. If he would have applied his doctrine to Intelligence gathering, scientific studies and warnings, and on the economy; we would be in a different place right now. We might/could have avoided 9/11, the disaster that was Katrina, and the depression­/recession­. Instead, we're in several untenable conflicts that have managed to degrade our standing in the world, we have been drained of our economic resources, and our economy is in disarray to the point of calamity.

It appears Mr. Bush is not compromising on only the things he chooses.

[LeftRoss]

"I'm no Herbert Hoover"
Bush should be so lucky to be Herbert Hoover!

[pryormd]

I would advise him to start dinking again. His comments would be much more tolerable if we could simply pass it off as the alcohol talking.

[Karlp]

The only thing more reprehensible than violating universal morals and laws is brazenly abusing your position of leadership to exact your ends. When a leader accepts that he is a law unto himself, he becomes a dictator cold to the good will of his people. Bush has spilled the blood of innocents. And over these eight bloody years, America and the world has watched with embarrassment and disgust. Yes, Mr. Bush, as you like to say, history will show. Well, today your history is being written.

[goddess1871]

He's no Herbert Hoover? Well, he is right about that. He's WORSE.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Hoover never had a Katrina. Or torture. Or a War of Choice. Or spied on innocent Americans.

[flexo]

Interesting. Since democracy is supposed to be, you know, by the people for the people and all of that, don't you think if 72% of the people think you're doing a crap job - maybe you should adjust your policies? Just a thought.

[Puzes]

What soul?

[pattithepolitico]

bush may not have compromised his soul (which i'm sure he doesn't have) but he certainly compromised this entire country!!!

[kennybean]

Right. Your administration kept warning you you were wrong about pretty much everything, but your stuck to your guns! You win! Too bad about everyone else in the country ...

[learnsomething]

He compromised his soul to be an effing warmonger though.

He compromised his soul to pad the coffers of the rich.

[GibsonSG]

In order to sell your soul, don't you have to actually have a soul to sell?