Discussion » Questions » Current Events and News » What do you remember about President George HW Bush, who died Friday evening at 94?
Stu Spelling Bee

What do you remember about President George HW Bush, who died Friday evening at 94?

Did you know that he flew 58 missions in a US Navy torpedo bomber in the Pacific theater during WWII? On one mission, his plane was in flames from being hit by anti-aircraft fire, but he still managed to drop the bombs over the target, and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service. Like Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and George W. Bush, he served in the military before launching his political career.

Posted - December 1, 2018
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Responses


  • 5835
    "Read My Lips" Bush? Also called "No Second Term" Bush?
      December 1, 2018 3:00 AM MST
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  • 13277
    That would be him. However, many people prefer to speak a bit more kindly of the recently departed.
      December 1, 2018 5:16 AM MST
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  • 5835
    Well, the question was "What do you remember?" I don't owe him anything just because he's dead. 

    I also remember the day somebody challenged his Texas address because it was only a P.O. box and that didn't qualify him to call himself a Texan. So he showed up at a news conference wearing cowboy boots. There doesn't seem to be a video of that, but here is a picture of the boots: https://www.texancultures.com/object-boots/
      December 6, 2018 10:07 AM MST
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  • 5391
    He was an actual war hero, but IMO, a really lousy President. I remember Bush Sr slandered then-political rival Ronald Reagan’s economic policies as “Voodoo Economics” before flipflopping to join Reagan on the ticket as VP, and then riding his coattails into the WH. 

    I remember HW as having a poor domestic record, sold out his “Read my lips” promise, and called Clinton and Gore, “Waffle man and Ozone” before they soundly defeated him in ‘92. He got the lowest amount of voter support ever for an incumbent (edit: Republican) President (I looked that one up).
    Word is, he liked to grab ladies’ behinds. This post was edited by Don Barzini at December 3, 2018 3:42 PM MST
      December 1, 2018 7:16 AM MST
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  • 13277
    Look it up again. Jimmy Carter actually got about 4 million fewer popular votes and 119 fewer electoral votes in 1980. But if it were possible, quite a few folks today would happily take Bush or Carter over President Trump.
      December 1, 2018 8:28 AM MST
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  • 5391
    Yep. Civility wasn’t the exception in those times.  This post was edited by Don Barzini at December 3, 2018 3:43 PM MST
      December 1, 2018 8:39 AM MST
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  • 19937
    I would take Kermit the Frog over Trump.  
      December 1, 2018 10:26 AM MST
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  • 13277
    Reading some of what's being said and written by those who knew him, I get the impression that he was a very decent, kind, friendly, and generous person. A lot of things get said, and sometimes misquoted and blown out of proportion, in the heat of politics. But if you look, for example, at his 1992 campaign against Bill Clinton, his grace in defeat and ability to subsequently befriend Clinton speaks volumes to me about the kind of person he was, and I believe it says a lot more than anything he said on the campaign trail.
      December 1, 2018 1:33 PM MST
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  • 19937
    I believe he was a very decent man, a good husband and father and had the welfare of this country at heart while he was president.  He came from a different era of politics - a time when there was civility and collegiality among politicians.  A time when it was what was best for the country - not for themselves and even when there was disagreement, compromise was made in a back room or over dinner.  That doesn't seem to apply any longer.  More's the pity.
      December 1, 2018 2:29 PM MST
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  • 10026
    The best answer in Merlin's mind.
      December 3, 2018 4:01 PM MST
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  • 10052
    YES! Kermit for President!! :)
      December 1, 2018 6:40 PM MST
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  • 19937
    And Miss Piggy for Vice President!
      December 1, 2018 10:34 PM MST
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  • 10026
    Quite the jump Spunky!  I thought we were talking about Bush Sr.
    Now that you mention it, I would too!
    Big Giggles!
      December 3, 2018 4:05 PM MST
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  • 19937
    I knew he was a decorated naval pilot, that he was married to Barbara for 71 years, raised two less than intellectually gifted sons and was a president with an unglorified record.  
      December 1, 2018 10:28 AM MST
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  • 5391
    71 years. Geez. That’s remarkable. 
      December 1, 2018 10:58 AM MST
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  • 19937
    For some people, it's a lifetime.  My parents were married 69 years when my dad passed away.
      December 1, 2018 11:14 AM MST
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  • 13277
    They got married in 1945, so actually 73 years. Amazing.
      December 1, 2018 3:28 PM MST
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  • 5391
    It truly is. 
      December 2, 2018 5:56 AM MST
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  • 19937
    Just found that out today.  I was reading from an article that said 71 years.  My mistake.
      December 2, 2018 12:43 PM MST
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  • 10026
    Now Stu, being the perfectionist you are, I know it is hard not to be in the exact records... But the feeling and respect she is sharing is admirable as well.  We get the point.  
    I think she has brought forth many admirable qualities he had.  
    She served in the military while he was in charge (even as a Vice President.) 
    You know me.  I'm never one to argue with fact but this is a women who has stood strong to uphold our leader.  How long he was married isn't as important.  The fact that she and he did the best they could for our country is.  :) :) This post was edited by Merlin at December 3, 2018 3:54 PM MST
      December 3, 2018 3:49 PM MST
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  • 19937
    I found out today they were actually married 73 years. 
      December 2, 2018 11:23 AM MST
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  • 13277
    See above. I said that yesterday! LOL.
      December 2, 2018 12:04 PM MST
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  • 19937
    Didn't see it yesterday.
      December 2, 2018 12:44 PM MST
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  • 13277
    The majority of people are "less than intellectually gifted." That's why the term exists in the first place. If high intellect were common, then those of us blessed with it wouldn't be called gifted. Raising "less than intellectually gifted" children is no crime and nothing to be ashamed of.
      December 1, 2018 1:39 PM MST
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