Bush 41 Defends Son Angrily at Abu Dhabi Conference

I feel badly for former President George H.W. Bush. As a parent, it certainly would not be easy to hear the kind of criticism that he heard about his son George W. at a leadership conference in Abu Dhabi. [ [Raw Story] I would imagine it would only be natural for Bush 41 to defend hisson, but the way in which he defended his son likely was not convincing to those global business leaders who voiced their concerns. Insulting current and future global business partners, calling them "nuts" over their real concerns that could have been addressed with reason isn't good for business or politics, plain and simple.

What happens when reasoning cannot work because there is no way of rationalizing what has happened? Is that why the elder Bush got so upset - because there was nothing else for him to have done or said? Why did Bush 41 decide to walk away from capitalism-in-globalization as if it was a sinful and greedy concept when he said to one audience member concerned that globalization was front-loaded to serve American interests:

"To suggest that everything we do is because we're hungry for money, I think that's crazy. I think you need to go back to school."

If I didn't know better, I'd say that Bush 41 seems ashamed to admit he's a staunch capitalist. What sense do we make of capitalism when we're not looking out for Numero Uno? Let's face it, his son's administration is far - about as far as you can get - from being identified as any bleeding heart socialists.

Bush 41 further insulated what most people already view as his son's secretive, non-transparent administration when he refused to answer questions because reporters were present.

Bush said the presence of reporters in the audience prevented him from revealing his advice, or, for that matter, what policies the bipartisan Baker Commission ought to urge the president to follow in Iraq.

"I have strong opinions on a lot of these things. But the reason I can't voice them is, if I did what you ask me to do — tell you what advice I give my son — that would then be flashed all over the world,"

Bush said. "If it happened to deviate one iota, one little inch, from what the president's doing or thinks he ought to be doing, it would be terrible. It'd bring great anxiety not only to him but to his supporters."