# George H.W. Bush to vote for Hillary **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 20, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412 "2016-09-20T04:06:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/21 "2016-09-20T12:04:10Z")
IMO he could similarly not have taken it further without beforehand encouraging rebellion on the part of Iraq’s Shiite and Kurdish populations, counting on support from the U.S., only to be hung out to dry by Bush, who claimed everyone knew from the beginning that the U.S. wasn’t going to overthrow Hussein. But that was a dishonest bit of verbal misdirection because the rebels never expected the U.S. to overthrow Hussein in the first place but to assist them in doing so. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/22 "2016-09-20T12:07:39Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > IMO he could similarly not have taken it further without beforehand encouraging rebellion on the part of Iraq’s Shiite and Kurdish populations, counting on support from the U.S., only to be hung out to dry by Bush, who claimed everyone knew from the beginning that the U.S. wasn’t going to overthrow Hussein. But that was a dishonest bit of verbal misdirection because the rebels never expected the U.S. to overthrow Hussein in the first place but to assist them in doing so. Perhaps, but that’s a much, much lesser mistake, IMO, then getting into the immensely stupid Bush II war in Iraq, and then failing to withdraw as soon as it was clear that it was a huge mess. Trump disputes the second part of that – he says we should have stayed in Iraq, which would have just compounded our huge mistake and resulted in more dead Americans (some of whom undoubtedly would have been my friends) for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/23 "2016-09-20T12:17:14Z")
Amazing. [The Clinton’s friends](http://www.salon.com/2015/07/24/we_get_it_bill_clinton_and_george_w_bush_youre_friends/) intend to vote for Mrs Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/24 "2016-09-20T12:20:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Perhaps, but that’s a much, much lesser mistake, IMO, then getting into the immensely stupid Bush II war in Iraq, and then failing to withdraw as soon as it was clear that it was a huge mess. > > Trump disputes the second part of that – he says we should have stayed in Iraq, which would have just compounded our huge mistake and resulted in more dead Americans (some of whom undoubtedly would have been my friends) for nothing. Well, not exactly for nothing. There’d be a lot fewer babies with their heads sawn off and a lot fewer girls and women living as sex slaves and a lot fewer men slaughtered for not being the right religion and the area overall would be a lot more stable if we’d stayed there. In short, all the people tortured and murdered by ISIS wouldn’t have died had we stayed there, not to mention ISIS itself wouldn’t exist. I tend to think whichever course results in the fewest deaths is best, even if the fewer deaths happen to be American ones. I’ve always found it particularly tribal and onerous to take the position that any country should allow many foreign people to die in order that a few of their own not risk or sacrifice their lives trying to save them. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/25 "2016-09-20T12:33:15Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Well, not exactly for nothing. There’d be a lot fewer babies with their heads sawn off and a lot fewer girls and women living as sex slaves and a lot fewer men slaughtered for not being the right religion and the area overall would be a lot more stable if we’d stayed there. In short, all the people tortured and murdered by ISIS wouldn’t have died had we stayed there, not to mention ISIS itself wouldn’t exist. I don’t think this is true at all – it was not stable at all while we were there, even after the surge – there were still deaths by the score each week, for years on end. Us being there made it _worse_, not better. > [@](#): > > I tend to think whichever course results in the fewest deaths is best, even if the fewer deaths happen to be American ones. I’ve always found it particularly tribal and onerous to take the position that any country should allow many foreign people to die in order that a few of their own not risk or sacrifice their lives trying to save them. Then I take it you’re in favor of a massive increase in taking in Syrian refugees, since any slight risk of deaths that might cause would be dwarfed by their deaths if they have nowhere to go? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/26 "2016-09-20T12:51:07Z")
No, because while it didn’t occur to me that it might become necessary to say so, what I was speaking of was putting soldier boots on the ground. There’s a difference between putting trained combat ready troops to work to defeat a murderous regime and willingly and wantonly allowing innocent and unsuspecting men, women and children to be exposed to random terrorist violence in service to humanitarian motives. I’d also quibble with the notion that the Syrian refugees you mention will all die if they can’t enter the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/27 "2016-09-20T12:53:10Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > No, because while it didn’t occur to me that it might become necessary to say so, what I was speaking of was putting soldier boots on the ground. There’s a difference between putting trained combat ready troops to work to defeat a murderous regime and willingly and wantonly allowing innocent and unsuspecting men, women and children to be exposed to random terrorist violence in service to humanitarian motives. It wouldn’t be willing and wanton considering how seriously we vet incoming refugees. > [@](#): > > I’d also quibble with the notion that the Syrian refugees you mention will all die if they can’t enter the U.S. I’m not saying they’ll all die, just a lot more will die then the small likelihood of any terrorist violence they might cause if they were brought in would kill. But I’ll change it to a hypothetical – suppose that we could estimate that if we allow in 1 million Syrian refugees, 100 of those refugees who get past the vetting will be terrorists, 10 of whom will be able to successfully cause violence (the rest are caught while plotting) that kills 50 Americans total. And suppose we could estimate that if we don’t let in those 1 million Syrian refugees, 50,000 of them will die. Would you be in favor of letting those 1 million in? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/28 "2016-09-20T13:48:30Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Part of me wondered if something like this might happen. Yeah, it doesn’t surprise me. Especially given the [well-known friendship between the two families](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/05/george-h-w-bush-on-bonding-with-bill-clinton/). But even without that, it’s no wonder that Bush would prefer _sane, competent, and running as a Democrat_ to _dangerous, unqualified, and running as a Republican_. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/29 "2016-09-20T13:53:44Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Can confirm, its on reddit. And now [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/19/politics/george-hw-bush-voting-hillary-clinton/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/30 "2016-09-20T13:58:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m not saying they’ll all die, just a lot more will die then the small likelihood of any terrorist violence they might cause if they were brought in would kill. > > But I’ll change it to a hypothetical – suppose that we could estimate that if we allow in 1 million Syrian refugees, 100 of those refugees who get past the vetting will be terrorists, 10 of whom will be able to successfully cause violence (the rest are caught while plotting) that kills 50 Americans total. And suppose we could estimate that if we don’t let in those 1 million Syrian refugees, 50,000 of them will die. Would you be in favor of letting those 1 million in? At what point do white liberals start accepting and respecting that the Syrians and the other people from that region choose to live the way they do? If there is conflict, it is because the people want it. They embrace it. As such they should accept the consequences. Start treating these people as your equal not like stray dogs. The same goes for all of the other people who want to come to the United States. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/31 "2016-09-20T14:02:11Z")
Now that’s provocative! ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/32 "2016-09-20T14:12:02Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > At what point do white liberals start accepting and respecting that the Syrians and the other people from that region choose to live the way they do? If there is conflict, it is because the people want it. They embrace it. As such they should accept the consequences. Start treating these people as your equal not like stray dogs. The same goes for all of the other people who want to come to the United States. Even the ones trying to get the hell out of there? ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/33 "2016-09-20T14:12:39Z")
I can see this backfiring if true, nothing smacks more (rightly or wrongly) of ‘establishment interests’ than a demonstration like this. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/34 "2016-09-20T14:12:49Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > At what point do white liberals start accepting and respecting that the Syrians and the other people from that region choose to live the way they do? If there is conflict, it is because the people want it. They embrace it. As such they should accept the consequences. Start treating these people as your equal not like stray dogs. The same goes for all of the other people who want to come to the United States. They (the refugees) want to leave a war-torn region and come somewhere peaceful and safe. That’s their belief, which I accept and respect. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/35 "2016-09-20T14:21:31Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > At what point do white liberals start accepting and respecting that the Syrians and the other people from that region choose to live the way they do? If there is conflict, it is because the people want it. They embrace it. As such they should accept the consequences. This is like saying that people in California “want” earthquakes, people in Nebraska “want” tornados, and people in Florida “want” hurricanes. What the vast majority of people really **want** is to live peaceful lives, work, raise their families and not have to deal with massive death and destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters. Sadly, there’s always someone or something who ruins things for everyone else. > [@](#): > > Start treating these people as your equal not like stray dogs. The same goes for all of the other people who want to come to the United States. So your view is that saving stray dogs from a horrible death is desirable but saving people from a horrible death is not, and that **we** are somehow treating these people badly by not sending them back to a warzone. Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/36 "2016-09-20T14:32:02Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Bush, pere is not a stupid man, and I would expect him to have the sense to vote for someone who isn’t going to crap all over the country for six months, then probably resign after whining that no one will play with him right, and fils will probably listen to him. I agree. I may not have agreed with his political position, but he came to his position… Logically? Honestly? Intelligently? In good faith? I’m not sure of the correct term or phrase. I guess I could say that his positions were defensible. That is, like some conservative posters here, he could hold his own in a Great Debate. He had the intelligence and experience to understand global politics, and how to govern a country. Scandals? Underhanded actions? Unprogressive? Yes. But he wasn’t a buffoon. Not a bad president, for a conservative. > [@Sputnikkk](#): > > Actually, Bush voting for Clinton doesn’t make voting for Clinton sit well with me. Makes me a little sick that I might be voting for the same candidate as a Bush voter. > [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > I can see this backfiring if true, nothing smacks more (rightly or wrongly) of ‘establishment interests’ than a demonstration like this. My far-far-Left friends would say this proves that Clinton is in the pocket of Big Business. They’re voting for Jill Stein even if it means Trump wins. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/37 "2016-09-20T14:51:13Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Well, not exactly for nothing. There’d be a lot fewer babies with their heads sawn off and a lot fewer girls and women living as sex slaves and a lot fewer men slaughtered for not being the right religion and the area overall would be a lot more stable if we’d stayed there. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/38 "2016-09-20T16:21:00Z")
Two or three extra votes in Texas and Massachusetts are not going to sway the election. But if one or more of the Bush family appeared in televised ads supporting Hillary? That would be a major game-changer! Any chance that will happen? > [@](#): > > My far-far-Left friends would say this proves that Clinton is in the pocket of Big Business. They’re voting for Jill Stein even if it means Trump wins. :eek: At some point, some of us just want to throw our hands up in despair and give up, letting Stupidity prevail in a once-great country. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/39 "2016-09-20T16:31:49Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > They’re voting for Jill Stein even if it means Trump wins. Call it the [Putin-Trump-Stein](http://intersectionproject.eu/article/russia-world/rt-election) ticket. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412/40 "2016-09-20T16:35:09Z")
No way that’s going to happen! That would be _crazy_! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bush-to-vote-for-hillary/766412.md?page=3)