By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
BENTON HARBOR - A relaxed former president addressed a record number attending
at The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Thursday evening at Lake Michigan
College.
George W. Bush reassured those nearing retirement, “;;It's not so bad to be retired.”
Departing from the original decision to only accept questions previously submitted, Bush
opened up the floor to the audience in both rooms which were filled to a capacity of about
2,500.
The questions ranged from the serious, remembering Sept. 11, 2001, to those which allowed
him to bring a laugh to the crowd when he told how he missed not having to stop for traffic
lights. “;;I was one of the most pampered people in America,” he said.
His first question to the auxiliary seats, where he spoke before heading to the Upton Room,
was why funding went to AIDS in Africa. This allowed him to ease into a theme he
continued throughout the talk on the “;;ideological struggle “;;which exits in the world today.
Those who are hopeless are the ones who are recruited by nations and in turn become
suicide bombers, he said.
The firm commitment to fund drugs for those with AIDS is working, he said.
The tone became lighter when he was asked what he enjoyed most about being president. “;;I
enjoyed being Commander-in-Chief,” he said. He was “;;inspired by the courage, sacrifice
and nobility of those who wear the uniform.”
He reassured soldiers, “;;I never based decisions” which could cost their lives “;;on Gallup
Polls or politics.”
Religion and his faith was the topic of another question from the audience, which brought a
huge round of applause when the speaker told of her appreciation of his values.
been “;;deeply affected by prayer.”
With his experiences of life in his 62 years, he has come to believe the old line, “;;the good
Lord will never give you what you can't handle.”
He praised his wife, Laura and his daughters and his extended family for their support and
brought another laugh when he said Laura would say of him, “;;He's a hell of a guy.”
Back to the war, he commented, “;;I'm feeling pretty secure these days about my decisions.”
Knowing the behind the scenes following 9-11, which influenced his choices, he said he is
writing a book which will “;;remind people what life was like in the beginning of my
administration. To put people in my place.”
He described how he paused when he first heard about the second plane hitting the Word
Trade Center, after seeing the first plane hit on television in the security room before reading
with students in a classroom in Florida and how he felt he needed to keep a sense of calm.
added, referring to finding out what the lawyers considered legal interrogation tools.
what I saw.”
When North Korea became the topic, Bush told the audience, “;;I have no intention of
criticizing the President (Obama). I didn't like it and I will not criticize my successor.”
When dealing with “;;strong arm tyrants,” Bush said you need to get other nations involved
and make sure the aggressor knows there will be consequences for its actions.
He expressed his belief that those coming over illegally form Mexico to do work Americans
chose not to should be given a permit, but not automatic citizen status.
Mixing more humor with the weighter issues, when asked what advice to give a C college
student, he quipped, “;;You, too, can be president.”
Moving into the Upton Room, which was shown on video to the other auditorium, Bush
referred to U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, “;;He's a good guy.”
Since his father and mother and even his brother Jeb had been former speakers to the club,
Bush added he “;;appreciated they finally were getting to me.”
He told of his love for his father, who for his 85th birthday June 12 will again be jumping
out of an airplane. He won't be jumping out of any airplanes, Bush added.
His dad “;;never sacrificed the priority of family … values weren't comprised.”
This inspired him who saw he didn't have to compromise, either. After helping at age 18 in
his campaign, “;;I liked it.”
Of his mother, Barbara, he added, “;;She's a tough old bird.”
president than the president … the same agony. The end of a presidency is a great relief.”
Talking of life now, he told of a man at the hardware store who said he looked a lot like
George W. Bush. When Bush said he has been told that, the employee added, “;;It must
make you mad.”
His home was purchased by Laura, “;;sight unseen.” He took his dog Barney for his first
walk in the neighborhood to apologize for the disruption their arrival brought to them.
The picture he drew for the crowd of the “;;former president with a plastic bag on his hand
picking up what I had been dodging for eight years” was priceless.
Of the economy, he said it goes in cycles. “;;The verdict is out. It may take a while for
history to be written.”
A 10-year-old asked him why he ran for president, to which he answered that will be the
first chapter of his book, adding he “;;wanted to be Willie Mays.”
His ending remarks wished for peace for future generations.
will be traveling, following his appearance in southwestern Michigan, to Canada as he joins
other former presidents, becoming “;;the newest member of the ex-president's club.”