Former Aide: Bush Feels "Joyful" And "Free"

On a panel this morning here at Atlantic's HQ, former Bush administration communications counselor Karen Hughes praised President Barack Obama's inauguration speech, but she was uncomfortable, she said, with a few nasty jabs that Obama seemed to sneak in.

...

Hughes insisted she was speaking for herself -- "he didn't say a word," she said of the former president. Asked what Bush did say, Hughes said he said he felt "joyful" and "free."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[kstuff]

"At Last" is a song both parties can dance too.

[TnPatriot]

We will all miss him! You just don't know it yet!

[Cookie100]

Free! Not for long. The United Nations is considering his war crime trial as we speak, prison and a long term

[LovingHope]

After the shoe scare, I'm sure he's glad to be going home. So I guess you didn't like your job. I wish you would have walked away in 2000.

[senorlou]

Forgive me, but I can't stop hating this man. I really wish I could get over it, but how - HOW can this man be feeling "joyful" after his own nation flipped him off at the airport, booed him at the inauguration, and after the horrible damage he's inflicted on us, and the entire human race? Joyful? This man is feeling joyful and free? How joyful and free will he feel when he's on trial for war crimes and rotting at the dock in the Hague? I'd sure feel joyful about that. Is there a way to stop hating this man? Does anybody know?

[ColoradoCool]

I know exactly how you feel.

I think I'd be able to get a little peace if by some miracle he peeked out of the delusional, alternate reality he lives in long enough take responsibility for the mess he's made and apologize to us.

That's not going to happen so I think the only relief I can perhaps look forward to is seeing the you-know-what brought up before a judge and charged with war crimes.

I really think that what drives us all so crazy is the fact that he seems to live in such blissful denial of the reality that the rest of us have to wake up to every day. He's just oblivious. It's maddening. How can I have any compassion to a man that is that narcissistic?

[thepoliticalcat]

I'd like to fix the "free" part. He can feel as joyful as he wants serving a lengthy sentence for w a r c rim e s and c rim e s against hum an it y.

[NotMcCain]

If we'd only known that he hated the job as much as we hated having him in it, he could have just left long ago. No problem.

[BabsfromKansas]

BUSH'S FIRST DAY IN OFFICE:

"After an exhausting Saturday capped by a night of inaugural ball-hopping, Mr. Bush woke early, had coffee with his parents and spent most of the day getting accustomed to his surroundings.

At moments, the 132-room mansion appeared somewhat unfamiliar to him despite his father's four-year tenure there. The new president listened carefully as a White House guide took him and supporters he had met on the campaign trail on a tour of the public rooms. Later he greeted some of the 2,200 people who had obtained tickets to the traditional first-day open house, a chance to see the Executive Mansion under new management­."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E6D6133CF931A15752C0A9679C8B63

[senorlou]

I got through the first page and then gagged. I can't relive that again. Ever.

[BabsfromKansas]

I feel "joyful" and "free" for the first time in 8 years!

[quiltlady4851]

I'm sure all the victims of Katrina feel "free and joyful" too!

[JRsNana]

It's funny - I feel exactly the same way today. Joyful and free.

[nefertiti]

we are joyful at his departure too . it has been 8 BLOODY LONG Years .

[Wilson201]

Let's hope he does not remain free for long.

[justoverit333]

Ole Jeb Bush was seriously considering running
for the Senate but I have a sneaking feeling that
after running a poll, nobody wanted to deal with
another Bush. He can thank his doltish brother
for that.

[SailFree]

He deserves his rest and free time and pleasant activities.

He did a remarkable job of keeping us free of terrorist attacks since 9/11.

He did a quite decent job with the economy for 6 years, until the Democratic Congress came in 2006.

He started a democracy in the heart of the Middle East breeding ground of terrorists.

There was much good accomplished.

[kareemachan]

Whatever.

[johnie2xs]

D-e-l-u-s-i-o-n-a-l !!!

[nefertiti]

LOL

[MathIsTruth]

He deserves prosecution and jail.

He did a tragically poor job of preventing our country from terrorist attacks, and worked to increase their likelihood ever since 9/11.

He ravaged the economy and employed policies that triggered its collapse.

He created a breeding ground for terrorists in Iraq.

There was much good accomplished when Obama relieved him of duty yesterday.

[luluLA]

I am so sick of hearing "He did a remarkable job of keeping us free of terrorist attacks SINCE 9/11."

FACT: 9/11 HAPPENED ON BUSH"S WATCH!!!!!!

Repub's ALWAYS say "SINCE", they WILL NEVER be able to just say: "Bush kept us safe as President".
They HAVE to say "since", because otherwise there is NOTHING to praise him for.

NOTHING!

[luluLA]

"He did a remarkable job of keeping us free of terrorist attacks since 9/11."

WTF?

9/11 HAPPENED ON BUSH'S WATCH!

[justoverit333]

He feels joyful and free because he doesn't
have to lose sleep over the absolute mess
he has left behind. Not his problem. He
never made it his problem anyway. What
a bunch of losers.

[nefertiti]

it is true . Now Obama is stuck with all Bushes mess at home and abroad .

[GwenElle]

As affirmation of just how Joyful and Free I feel to Be Free of He, I'm not even going to bother to read the article.

I will simply say . . . if Bush is joyful, then he is not only incompetent, but also unconscionable. Given the state of the nation, given the millions of Americans who are suffering because of the economic crisis, and given the thousands of American casualties and untold number of innocent Iraqis who have died as a result of his failed presidency, he has no right to proclaim joy.

I joyously look forward to HuffPost becoming a Bush-Free zone (and as quickly as possible please).