# I'm gobsmacked...I feel sorry for George Bush! (pit due to political aspect) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 17, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771 "2009-05-17T19:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/61 "2009-05-18T18:30:01Z")
My sympathy meter (never exactly of industrial strength anyway) doesn’t even register for ole GW. Sorry but I’m militantly unsympathetic towards the man. I will say that I agree with DtC’s earlier comment…the one good thing I can say about GW is that after leaving office and up until now he has not opened his mouth and has seemingly totally retired from public life and public comment. He’s had nothing bad to say about Obama or anything else…which I find more than mildly surprising though welcome. He was a horrible president…perhaps he’ll at least be an adaquate ex-president and maintain this stance. If so then perhaps he hasn’t been a total loss at least. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/62 "2009-05-18T19:11:58Z")
I’m not a bit surprised he’s been completely out of the public eye since he left office - the man so clearly just wanted to leave and get it over with for the last half of 2008. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/63 "2009-05-18T19:30:23Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > My sympathy meter (never exactly of industrial strength anyway) doesn’t even register for ole GW. Sorry but I’m militantly unsympathetic towards the man. If I met him on the street, I would thank him for what he’s done to the Republican party, Reaganism, and the conservative movement in general, but I think that’s about it for Bush’s _positive_ accomplishments. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/64 "2009-05-18T19:37:44Z")
Feel pity _for_ Bush? It’d be funny to contemplate if, in reality, it wasn’t so sad. Hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis and over 4,000 American soldiers gone, all for naught, prevent me from even considering such a sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/65 "2009-05-18T20:04:32Z")
I think it’s just because he’s not so much evil as he’s just stupid and incompetant. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/66 "2009-05-18T20:08:15Z")
> [@old joke](#): > > An old rancher is talking about politics with a young man from the city. He compares a politician to a “post turtle”. The young man doesn’t understand and asks him what a post turtle is. > > The old man says, “When you’re driving down a country road and you see a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a post turtle. You know he didn’t get up there by himself. He doesn’t belong there; he can’t get anything done while he’s up there; and you just want to help the poor, dumb thing down.” I don’t think Bush was evil, even though he let evil dominate his actions. He was just a figurehead, an ordinary, selfish, immature guy who got used, often without even knowing it. I don’t think he’s any worse than the average guy, but unfortunately he’s not any better, either. He may, btw, actually have quite a lot to say, but nobody wanting to hear it. Pity? I pity _us_. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/67 "2009-05-18T20:12:31Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I think it’s just because he’s not so much evil as he’s just stupid and incompetant. I’d love to see him try that line of defense at Le Hague. Or mid-town Baghdad for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/68 "2009-05-18T20:13:46Z")
[QUOTE=RedFury] I’d love to see him try that line of defense at Le Hague. [/QUOTE] Ah…I must have missed the headlines. When did they start proceedings? How’s that working out so far? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/69 "2009-05-18T20:14:57Z")
With time and solitude, I think the extent of how badly he screwed up is finally sinking in. He has discovered that unlike Clinton and Carter (and even his dad) no one wants his advice, no one wants to hear him speak. No pity or sympathy. He may or may not deserve jail, but he’s getting punishment. For him hell isn’t other people, hell is reflection. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/70 "2009-05-18T20:19:48Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Ah…I must have missed the headlines. When did they start proceedings? How’s that working out so far? If a man can’t even dream of justice, you’ve already taken aways his freedom. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/71 "2009-05-18T20:21:14Z")
Oh, you are free to dream all you like Red. Heck, I’ll join you…I’d LOVE to see Bush et al dragged off to trial. But the reality is…ain’t gonna happen. As long as you keep that rather firmly in mind then dream all you like… -XT ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/72 "2009-05-18T20:27:19Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > For him hell isn’t other people, hell is reflection. He’s never been reflective before. Why would he start now? He has his ranch (where he spent a quarter of his time anyway), his brush, his wife, and his dog. That’s all he’s ever shown evidence of _wanting_. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/73 "2009-05-18T21:51:02Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > Perhaps he thought the good citizens of Crawford would welcome him with rose petals at his feet and all would be jubilation thereafter. And, miraculously, democracy would spread throughout the whole of Texas. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/74 "2009-05-19T01:51:00Z")
Feel sorry for W? Read [THIS](http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2005/nov/11/final-salute/) article and then try to feel sorry for that incompetent, evil, little fucker. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/75 "2009-05-19T13:43:44Z")
Bush was the patsy for the Republican party and a very effective patsy he was. I still see Jerry Lewis (from the movie _The Patsy_) whenever I see him. I can feel sorry for him in the sense that he is just now finding out what he has been all this time. It must be painful to find out you’ve been played so well. He really thought he was in charge! Here in the STMB we often carry on about how awful Bush was and the rest of the party is rarely (relatively) mentioned. Cheney must have a good laugh each night as he lowers his bulk into the restorative vat of virgin blood. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/76 "2009-05-19T14:38:08Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Pity? I pity _us_. Why should you guys be allowed to pity yourselves? You chose him, the second time after you knew that he had dragged you into a long war at tremendous cost. Why should you have the luxury of self-pity? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/77 "2009-05-19T14:53:28Z")
> [@chacoguy420](#): > > Feel sorry for W? Read [THIS](http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2005/nov/11/final-salute/) article and then try to feel sorry for that incompetent, evil, little fucker. I don’t know what more to say at the moment, but thank you for linking to that incredibly touching article. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/78 "2009-05-19T14:53:47Z")
> [@chacoguy420](#): > > Feel sorry for W? Read [THIS](http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2005/nov/11/final-salute/) article and then try to feel sorry for that incompetent, evil, little fucker. Christ Jesus. I’m shaken to the core. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/79 "2009-05-19T14:56:59Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I don’t think Bush was evil, even though he let evil dominate his actions. He was just a figurehead, an ordinary, selfish, immature guy who got used, often without even knowing it. I don’t think he’s any worse than the average guy, but unfortunately he’s not any better, either. > > He may, btw, actually have quite a lot to say, but nobody wanting to hear it. > Pity? I pity _us_. Without even knowing it? Oh pleae. That was one of his favorite excuses. Nobody knew. Nobody could have known. The sonofabitch didn’t care and didn’t want to know. he was the shoot from the hip guy. He did’t have to think or know or anything else. He only listened to those who said what he wanted to hear. Everyone else was … what’s the word… traitors. free speech zones, loyalty oaths, blah blah blah. To hell with him. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771/80 "2009-05-19T15:20:53Z")
I agree. All that made him, as I said, “an ordinary, selfish, immature guy.” > [@Northern Piper](#): > > Why should you guys be allowed to pity yourselves? Where did I say who “us” is? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gobsmacked-i-feel-sorry-for-george-bush-pit-due-to-political-aspect/496771.md?page=5)