For George W. Bush, life after the presidency suits him just fine. He says he doesn’t miss Washington, D.C., and doesn’t miss being president. However, “it was inconvenient to stop at the stoplights coming in today,” he quipped while addressing delegates at Hart Energy’s DUG East conference in Pittsburgh recently.
Bush recounted tales—dashed with a snappy sense of humor—from his eight years in the Oval Office. While he can easily live without the pressure-packed days in the White House, he said that he does miss being commander in chief.
“This is a remarkable country that produces men and women who volunteer in the face of danger. Being able to salute those men and women was a huge honor. I miss that aspect of the presidency, and I really think it’s important for our country to strongly support our vets. I remember when the Vietnam era vets came home and were treated poorly by the country. The mood has changed significantly now. Whether or not you agree with the decision to put the soldiers in combat like I had to do, the country is unified in making sure the vets are well supported and well received, and I’m very grateful for that,” he said.
The decision to send troops into combat should be seriously weighed, he said, adding that all options should be exhausted. “But once you’re in it, you should offer your support.”Delivering one of several one-liners, Bush said, “If you really want to understand the decision-making process of war, buy my book. It’s a little bit of a shock to people that I can write, much less read.”
Regarding the economy, Bush said he thinks the country is underperforming. “I think the reason why is because there’s not enough focus on private-sector growth. I think the goal of the country ought to be [growing] the private sector. That ought to be the laser focus of any administration. And therefore, once it’s a goal, an issue like the Keystone [XL] Pipeline is a no-brainer. If the Keystone pipeline creates 20,000 private-sector jobs, build the damn thing.”
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