Bush: Library Institute Is Not Going To Be A ‘George Bush Is A Wonderful Person Center’
Bush: Library Institute Is Not Going To Be A ‘George Bush Is A Wonderful Person Center’
Yesterday, President Bush sat down with the Dallas Morning News for a 75-minute exit interview in which the paper described Bush as “sounding both wistful and a bit relieved that soon, the burdens will fall to the next president.” According to the Morning News, Bush said he is “eager for a more carefree life in Dallas.”
As part of that carefree life, Bush will be focused on his presidential library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, which will be accompanied by a think tank, or “Freedom Institute,” that will be independent of academic governance from SMU. Despite that lack of oversight, Bush assured the Morning News that the institute “won’t be used to promote a whitewashed perspective on his presidency”:
“This is not going to be a ‘George Bush is a Wonderful Person Center,’ or the ‘Center for Republican Party Campaign Tactics,’” Bush said. “It’s going to be a place of debate, thought, writing, lecturing.” [...]
But at the institute, “it shouldn’t be debate about me. It ought to be debate about big ideas” – immigration policy, or how to save Social Security, a challenge that has eluded presidents of both parties for years.
The institute may not celebrate Bush “the person,” but it will “celebrate” Bush “the president” and “sponsor research and programs designed to promote” his vision. One professor and expert on presidential libraries has explained why academics should be “concerned“:
[T]he model agreed to at SMU was ‘totally different” from the approaches at other universities with presidential libraries. [...] Clearly this goes against the idea of dispassionate inquiry, of looking at things on the basis of fact and merit. If it’s ideological, that’s opposed to the mission of a university.”
A number of SMU professors are also concerned. Methodist ministers launched a PR campaign highlighting the partisanship of the institute and even tried (but ultimately failed) to get SMU to reject housing the library because of it.
Nevertheless, the library is scheduled to be completed by 2013 and Bush’s library foundation has only raised $3 million of the $300 million needed for completion. Bush claimed he is “not concerned about the pace of fund-raising.” Indeed, he has declined to make donors’ names public, arguing that “once you’re an ex-president, I can’t imagine what kind of policies you would influence that would pay somebody off for a gift.”
(ThinkProgress has been keeping a close eye on developments with the Bush library, and we will continue to do so. Read our related posts here.)
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62 Responses to “Bush: Library Institute Is Not Going To Be A ‘George Bush Is A Wonderful Person Center’”
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“This is not going to be a ‘George Bush is a Wonderful Person Center,’ "
That's why the library is located in the real world....
January 9th, 2009 at 10:27 amBush said. “It’s going to be a place of debate, thought..."
- - Oh, so it'll be nothing like the last 8 years in the Oval Office.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:32 amI wonder if the library can add a section on "the conviction and incarceration of a war criminal"?
January 9th, 2009 at 10:35 amIt's a timeline for how to take the world's only superpower to a third world nation in eight years.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:36 amIt will simply be a waste of time, space and energy.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:36 amHerr Chimpinator, "I can’t imagine what kind of policies you would influence that would pay somebody off for a gift.”
However, their donation might be payback for favors already granted...dooshbag!
3 million out of 300 million needed? Priceless! George, you managed to f@ck the economy so bad that even all the ultra-rich that you helped make ultra-richer are guarding their assets and don't see the upside in donating to your shrine to yourself.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:38 amGimme a break! I expect the George W Bush Library & Exxon gas station to be as historically accurate as the Creation Museum.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:43 amwhich will be accompanied by a think tank
Why in the world would he be starting one now? 8 years ago was the time for that...
Not that I actually expect it to be a legitimate think tank. It's attached to a religious institution, after all.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:46 amBush Library
The cost of this memorial to a leader not renowned for his love of literature has been estimated at $500m (£257m) - three times the sum spent on his predecessor Bill Clinton's presidential library.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/nov/29/usa.georgebush
$500 million seems to be the common estimate at the time the GQ Bush Library story came up in 2006, now it's down to $300 Million?
January 9th, 2009 at 10:46 amGee, would that reduction be a result of Bush's policies?
The institute may not celebrate Bush “the person,” but it will “celebrate” Bush “the president” and “sponsor research and programs designed to promote” his vision.
If he had any idea how utterly hilarious and ironical this is to those of us who live in reality, and actually do think, he really wouldn't open his mouth ever again...
January 9th, 2009 at 10:48 amBush’s library foundation has only raised $3 million of the $300 million needed for completion.
Ouch...
January 9th, 2009 at 10:49 amBushL "I can’t imagine what kind of policies you would influence that would pay somebody off for a gift.”
Right, because ex-presidents never have any contact ever again with any members of the next administration that may have been retained from the last, nir any contact with any Senators or Committee Chairs that stay in power after the President has left.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:50 amCParis Says: Gimme a break! I expect the George W Bush Library & Exxon gas station to be as historically accurate as the Creation Museum.
LOL - thanks for the laugh!
January 9th, 2009 at 10:51 amRather than a library (containing only one book - My Pet Goat) I think a more fitting tribute to Chimpy's main accomplishment should be a monument. The design would be simple but the message long-lasting. Chimpy could have it erected at the entrance to the formerly whites-only development he will crawl away to in 13 days. The monument would be an oil derrick and from it would be hung the names of each of the 4,200 + American kids who died for his lies in Iraqnam. Accross the top of the derrick would be a banner that read "Mission Accomplished." That sums up perfectly the Chimp and his abomination, and it doesn't disrespect books in any way shape or form as his library would.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:55 am“This is not going to be a ‘George Bush is a Wonderful Person Center,’ or the ‘Center for Republican Party Campaign Tactics,’” Bush said. “It’s going to be a place of debate, thought, writing, lecturing.”
Now, if Bush WAS a wonderful person and president and the Republican Campaign Tactics WERE above board, THEN this library could be all of the above. Since the first two have been debunked, they will try for the third.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:58 amStill, you've got to admit the "George Bush Is a Wonderful Person Center" is a really funny idea.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:58 amBush argued-- “once you’re an ex-president, I can’t imagine what kind of policies you would influence that would pay somebody off for a gift.”
So he's admitting that as a seated president, he knows & has known very well how to make policies to pay off gifts.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:59 amTwo 'wings' are planned.
One for the coloring books he finished.
And one wih the coloring books that were too difficult...
January 9th, 2009 at 11:01 amdasm Says:
Bush argued– “once you’re an ex-president, I can’t imagine what kind of policies you would influence that would pay somebody off for a gift.”
So he’s admitting that as a seated president, he knows & has known very well how to make policies to pay off gifts.
Two possibilities here:
January 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am1. There is the known unknown and the unknown unknown
2. It isn't, and never has been, his job or skill to "imagine" anything. Bush had Cheney and others for that.
The REAL reason The Murder-in-Chief is "not concerned about the pace of fund-raising" is because he is swimming in blood-soaked money. All you need to do is look at who "bought" the vacant house next door to his.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:06 amBush’s library foundation has only raised $3 million of the $300 million needed for completion.
Hence the fire-sale of leases and the storm of regulation reversals.
Quid pro quo...
January 9th, 2009 at 11:06 amI'm down wit it...as long as there is A) a My Pet Goat room B) a sculpture garden filled with cruciform bronze men with dayglo orange ponchos covering the electrodes attached to their testicles.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:17 amIt is really too bad he isn't from California. There is a real nice place there that could be refurbished with that $300 million with adequate accommodations for all his books and his cronies.
Has a nice view of the bay too.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:26 amAnyone want to contribute to my new venture:
The Bush Administration Truth Library
Just as you come in the door, you'll be greeted by and endless loop of George holding "My Pet Goat" upside down followed by the video of the seven(!!!) minutes that Bush sat in a little second grade chair while planes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
In the "Articulation Room" you will relive famous moments of Bushisms: "Putting Food on your Family" "Spreading the Love of Doctors for their patients" "Fish and People co-exisiting" and other favorites.
In the "Memory Hole" room, you'll see emails disappear before your very eyes and in the "Constitution Room" you'll see a giant shredder.
The quiet and solemnity of the library will unfortunately be shattered from time to time with screams of people being tortured in the basement along with an occasional dog barking and growling.
In the basement, there will be a hands-on exhibit where you can have fun water-boarding your friends and family!!!
Accepting donations now.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:29 ambust Bush...
January 9th, 2009 at 11:33 amI'd be happy to contribute to a fund for his TOMBSTONE.
Otherwise, Chimpy can just go Cheney himself. Repeatedly.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:33 amHow can big ideas come from a small, closed mind? And who says that a big idea is a good idea? You might call invading Iraq a big idea but it was based on distortion and outright lies. It clearly was not a good idea.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:40 amOne more thing... I had been thinking about a separate wing of my Library venture @ 24 - The No Child Left Behind Education Wing.
But I don't think that I would be able to find the funding for it.
;)
January 9th, 2009 at 11:42 amWill the library have an honorary Larry Craig bathroom stall with a memorial Jeff Gannon donation hole?
-GSD
January 9th, 2009 at 11:46 amGeorge Bush & library & Rosie O'Donnell at a Chippendale's show, some things just don't make any sense.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:49 amHey, LibertyLover--I'm down wid' your plan for the Truth Library, except for one thing: most of the United States "sat in a [whatever] chair" as the planes hit--NOBODY knew for sure what was happening in those first 7 minutes. Give him a break on that one.
Better we should have endless loops of his IGNORING every warning about Hurricane Katrina (and doing so for DAYS, not minutes), along with loops of "No Child Left Behind," "Mission Accomplished," and "shock and awe."
Chould we add an "Enrichment Room"? It could showcase his pre-Presidential/Presidential accumulation of criminal [also criminally negligent, criminally stupid, criminally smug, criminally paranoid, criminally selfish] campaigners, cowards, advisers, cronies, bubbas, good ol' boys, Pharisees, deaf ears, blind eyes, warmongers, hypocrites, sleazebags, plutocrats, all-round liars, self-proclaimed oligarchs, Constitution-defilers, and "compassionate conservatives."
January 9th, 2009 at 11:57 amWhat a delusional loser.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:59 amSome potential bad news for the Chimp:
"The new Congress has acted quickly to preserve certain Bush administration records, asking a federal judge to force documents pertaining to U.S. attorney firings to stay at the White House. Should the White House turn the documents over to the National Archives, they could take longer to retrieve for the ongoing investigation into the firings. Subpoenas have been issued for the documents." (Associated Press)
January 9th, 2009 at 11:59 amLibertyLover, our minds connected: we share opinions about "No Child Left Behind." My background is teaching: public school, junior college, college, university; I've taught and supervised student teachers and teaching assistants. I ranted to anyone who would listen about the absurdity of that "plan." Education, YES. That placebo? NO!
January 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pmIf it WERE going to be a "GBWPC," it could be housed in a PortaPotty. [Let me admit: I wouldn't have his job for ANY money. At least he tried!]
January 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pmI want the gift shop concession at the George W Bush Library & Exxon Gas Station.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:07 pmWe'll have a lovely collection of cowboy hats (sorry, no cattle), the Children's Bible w/pictures and no big words, extra large codpieces to stuff in your flightsuit, football/briefcase with secret compartment for booze and pretzels, blow-up doll/wife with dazed expression.
I think we'll do lots of business with GOPers anxious to appeal to the repub base as they cobble together their presidential campaigns.
telestai2
Excellent additions, my friend. However, I cannot give Bush a pass on sitting in the 2nd graders chair. While the rest of us may have been sitting and watching what was going on, or standing in my kitchen, in my case, none of the rest of us was supposedly in charge of the country at that moment and none of us had someone whisper in our ear: "Mr. President, the country is under attack." and then continue to sit there.
I would like to think that any leader worth his salt would have cut his little visit to the classroom short with promise to return and exited the room to find out what the f WAS going on...
check it out Here
January 9th, 2009 at 12:13 pmBush has seemed pretty "carefree" throughout his presidency, despite the supposed heavy burdens of office. No crisis, up to and including the Israeli attack on Gaza, has been serious enough to interrupt his many vacations (one exception: Terry Schiavo).
January 9th, 2009 at 12:14 pmWho were the fools that gave the 3million? The Saudis? The Bin Ladens?
What a waste, just put up an out house and a sign, "Bush, Worst President Ever"
January 9th, 2009 at 12:20 pmA more carefree life??? This bozo is the most vacationingest president ever. How many more days until Jan 20??
January 9th, 2009 at 12:21 pmSouthern Methodist University. Home of the Whopper. Home of the junk and corrupt tailings left behind by the biggest f'n blockhead to ever sit in the Oval Office. I'm sure they're going to put Junior's rug someplace very special. I hope they find the brain cell that he misplaced when they are moving it. It might have gotten swept under there along with everything else. Go Mustangs. Let George and Karl come in and ride you hard. Oh wait. Already happened.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:30 pmBush said. “It’s going to be a place of debate, thought, writing, lecturing.” […]
Oh, good, a laugh for a day of depressing economic news!
That was funny!
January 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pmI'm going to offer prizes for everyone who can sneak in a copy of "My Pet Goat" and place it upside down in the library somewhere....
January 9th, 2009 at 12:39 pmWhat it's going to be is a neocon/wingnut hack factory like the Heritage Foundation, except paid for by our tax dollars. It pretty much is set up to spin for their agenda beyond Bush's term.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:42 pmDespite that lack of oversight, Bush assured the Morning News that the institute “won’t be used to promote a whitewashed perspective on his presidency”
Suggested headline:
Bush Whitewashes Institute
January 9th, 2009 at 1:15 pmThe library could probably pay its way if they sold shoes, each one accompanied by a certificate that it had been thrown at Bush.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:17 pmSMU really blew it on this whole thing.
They should be faulted for not sticking to the tenets of rigor in academics -- makes them look like a faith-first religious "university." Oh wait...
January 9th, 2009 at 1:30 pmI would rather think the fact that bush is worth a library as one huge cartoon in satire without any substance except in twisted immagination. There is nothing but misery for the majority people where bush was involved.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:11 pmOh, crap. Does that mean I won't be able to buy a genuine autographed codpiece from the gift shop?
January 9th, 2009 at 2:47 pmRather than wasting money on a library for a chimp; can't we just name a rest stop bathroom on some Texas interstate for him?
January 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pmroscoe, I've already proposed the G.W. Memorial Urinal...
January 9th, 2009 at 3:19 pmGood idea and fitting.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:21 pmWouldn'tcha just love standing there wizzing on his face, embedded with a place for the cake in his mouth...
January 9th, 2009 at 3:29 pmIt cannot be a "George Bush is a wonderful person library." For obvious reasons. Why all outgoing President think they rate or deserve a library is beyond me. The final ego boosting act. The final clean up of a lot of misdeeds and historically irrelevant decisions. It is like saying forget all the inconsequential and dumb things I did. Just remember this.
You would think that Bush would want to get out of town, lay low and try to live down his presidency. They never learn.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:35 pmWho's smarter the bronze bust of a Chimp or the bozo holding it?
January 9th, 2009 at 4:01 pmThe bust looks a lot more like Jeb.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:02 pm“This is not going to be a ‘George Bush is a Wonderful Person Center"
That's why we have Fox News.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:30 pmRUCerious Says: roscoe, I’ve already proposed the G.W. Memorial Urinal…Wouldn’tcha just love standing there wizzing on his face, embedded with a place for the cake in his mouth…
Don't discriminate - you gotta come up with something for us ladies!
January 9th, 2009 at 8:40 pmCParis Says:
Don’t discriminate - you gotta come up with something for us ladies!
Alriiight, but don't claim you weren't warned...
NEW! Richard B. Cheney memorial ultra maxi pads! For when your "secure undisclosed location" is pipelining a heavy flow of evidence!
January 10th, 2009 at 12:40 amCParis, you're right, let us not discriminate. In the future, all female restrooms stalls should be equipped with tampon disposal boxes with George W Bush images emblazoned on them.
That way you can remember what bloody hell he has wrought on our country.
January 10th, 2009 at 3:02 pm“It’s going to be a place of debate, thought, writing, lecturing.”
A very abbreviated list of subjects George W. Bush is a miserable failure in.
January 10th, 2009 at 9:04 pmElBruce,
You almost make me wish that I still needed such things. . . I laughed so hard at the "maxipad" idea that I had to wipe spittle off of my monitor!
January 11th, 2009 at 1:31 am