Trump’s Inauguration: Bushes Boycott, Too? [Updated]

George H.W. & Barbara hospitalized & fifty Dem Reps boycott The Donald’s big day. January 20 appears to be the day of reckoning for the GOP and the Democratic establishment–not to mention the media elites.

When the author first read that 41 was hospitalized, he wondered whether it was a convenient way for all of the Bushes including W. and the visibly vanquished JEB! to not attend the inauguration of the “hated” Donald J. Trump. After all, the heads of the GOP establishment might covet cover for their absence from the Trump inauguration. When Bush’s wife and W. and Jeb’s mother Barbara was also hospitalized, all of the Bushes had an assuredly colorable cause to not show up for the big event. In all fairness, they probably did all feel truly ill that this upstart who did not fully appreciate–nay, scorned what they had contributed to the GOP–had assumed the mantle of the Presidency.

Interestingly, Trump’s Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton are scheduled to be in attendance: Of course, they have not yet completely ceded their party to President Obama and his followers. However, reportedly, over fifty Democratic U.S. Representatives have decided to boycott POETUS’s inauguration to send out a clear message that Trump should not be embraced as the new President.

As to the mainstream media, it appears rather transparent that Trump is not their candidate of choice. CNN and Buzzfeed seem to make it abundantly clear that they are more than happy to report on the “garbage document,” as Bob Woodward deemed it, than celebrate the next President’s induction.

Perchance, the author is wrong: But, there seems to be a confluence of the coastal powers-that-be that is not quite ready to recognize that the American people have the ultimate say. Flyover country has spoken: But, the GOP, Democratic, and media Establishment elites appear decidedly deaf to their voice. After January 20 noon, they will not be.

[Update: President George W. Bush confirms that he and Laura will be at President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration–and will be standing in for his dad George Bush the Elder and his mom Barbara. Link: https://www.facebook.com/georgewbush/photos/a.123745001001234.7885.114546728587728/1395740907134964/?type=3&theater%5D

Bush’s Bizarre Blunders

Grapes of Wrath? American people: no thanks! To the casual listener, former President George W. Bush’s presidential dedication may have seemed like a rare moment of national unity and bipartisanship. And, it almost was.

Whilom Democratic Presidents Carter and Clinton, Bush’s GOP dad 41, and the current President Barack Obama took to the podium to proclaim the virtues of W, a fellow member in the “most exclusive club in the world.” But, strangely, after all of the accolades that seemed to draw the country together as one, the U.S. Army performed the “Grapes of Wrath,” a song celebrating that most un-Civil War between the States. To make matters even worse for an oblivious 43, he expressed his appreciation to almost everyone, including the President (and former Presidents), other elected officials, his longtime political supporters, and even the library landscapers: But, he forgot to thank the American people who made his two-term Presidency possible.

Perhaps, President Bush’s presidential library dedication was actually apt. He was the patrician Bushes’ Texas son who made them proud as a well-intended, good-natured scion, who weathered 9-11 and kept the nation safe thereafter. But, sometimes, he could be quite clueless.

Reeling, O’Reilly?

Three George W. Bush terms: The No Spin Zone? Not necessarily: at least, if meant literally. During his O’Reilly Factor discussion with lib Columbia U prof Marc Lamont Hill (about whether terrorism will bring down the Obama presidency), O’Reilly opined that President Barack Obama would lose his presidency if the United States was struck again and if there was “blood in the street.” Reeling a whit, perhaps, O’Reilly elaborated, “Look, Bush was elected twice because of his response to 9-11. That’s why.” (Perhaps, catching himself, he added, “That’s why he was re-elected.”)

Obviously, 9-11 occurred during President Bush’s first term. To the real relief of many Republicans, Bush was re-elected in no small part because of his response to the attack on American soil. To the great joy of many Democrats, he was not elected to yet another term a la FDR.

Misspoken patriot or addled pinhead? You make the call.

*O’Reilly Factor (01/06/10) – @8:19 p.m. ET

Kilmeade Disparages Hispanics?

On the same day that Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade praised Geraldo Rivera’s The Great Progression: How Hispanics Will Lead America to a New Era of Prosperity, he seemed to disparage Hispanic emergency room patients generally as  “people seemingly without citizenship.” Before lauding Geraldo’s book, Kilmeade presided over a segment entitled, “Health Care Overhaul: Coverage for Illegals–Will Undocumented Benefit Under Reform?” During his interview of Phil Kent of Americans for Immigration Control, footage of people illegally entering the U.S. from Mexico ran and the effect of “cracking down on illegals” on Hispanic voters was discussed.

Toward the conclusion of the colloquy, Kilmeade lamented the fact that “people with citizenship, with insurance, wait while illegals get treated and that’s happening now and will happen under any revamp.” As he ended the segment, he said, “It’s just amazing! I know two or three personal stories of people just going to the emergency room (one broken finger, one twisted knee) and then just leaving because they can’t get waited on because of the long line of people seemingly without citizenship who are there that have to be treated ahead of them. And, they are the ones who are actually paying.” [Italics added for emphasis.]

Ironically, approximately two hours later on the show after an interview with Geraldo, Brian extolled Geraldo’s book as “excellent.” Immediately prior thereto, Geraldo had said that the motif of his book was how Republicans had turned off Hipanics, who naturally would have been Republicans, by “emphasizing the worst aspects of the immigration debate. In making his point, Geraldo explained how George W. Bush had proved to be the exception in his success with Latinos in the 2004 presidential campaign (winning 44% of their vote): He declared, “Because he [Bush] was a former border-state governor, he understood that you have to talk nice about people. You don’t disparage them with slanderous generalizations and stereotypes.”

Geraldo’s lesson learned? Hopefully, so.

F&FW: The Tony Snow Show

Another media giant has fallen. Tony Snow, co-creator of Fox News Sunday, host of his eponymous radio show, and presidential speech writer (Bush 41) and press secretary (Bush 43) died early this morning of colon cancer at the age of 53. He is remembered as a man of good will toward all, including his political foes, who cherished God, his country, and his family above all else. Among the luminaries feting Tony today on Fox & Friends Saturday were President George H.W. Bush, former First Lady Barbara Bush, Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, NPR commentator and FNC contributor Juan Williams, and Roll Call executive editor and Beltway Boys co-anchor Mort Kondracke.

President George W. Bush also weighed in. Fox News’ Washington bureau correspondent Julie Kirtz read his eulogizing statement which said, “Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jill and their children….The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father and America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character….All of us here at the White House will miss Tony as well as the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith and Laura and I join people across our country praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.”

Today F&F’s A-Team did not step in as it had when Pope Benedict XVI visited the U.S. and when NBC’s Meet the Press legend Tim Russert died. However, F&F’s B-Team stepped up to the plate today: Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris acquitted themselves well and maintained a sober and respectful atmosphere. Even tragedy-averse Courtney Friel seemed subdued and did her best to dignify Tony’s death.

F&FW, a job well done: Tony deserved it.