Bush Keeps 'Em Laughing in First Overseas Trip After Presidency

Bush Keeps 'Em Laughing in First Overseas Trip After Presidency
Former President Bush spoke in China for the Boao Forum, an annual conference where executives hobnob with global leaders at a resort on the country's southern tropical island province of Hainan.

Former President George W. Bush cracked jokes about how he scoops up after his dog on neighborhood walks and then turned to more serious subjects like terrorism and the financial crisis Saturday during his first overseas trip since leaving office.

Bush -- in China for the Boao Forum -- also shared some of his most unusual moments with leaders, including the time he listened to former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sing "Hound Dog" while visiting Graceland mansion, home to the late Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee.

The stories drew laughter and applause from the audience in a huge banquet hall at the forum, an annual conference where executives hobnob with global leaders at a resort on China's southern tropical island province of Hainan. Security was tight and there were no protests.

Bush said after he left the White House and moved into his new home in Dallas, Texas, he decided to take his Scottish terrier Barney for a walk. To be a good neighbor, he said he carried a plastic bag so he could clean up his dog's droppings. The task seemed ironic to him, he said.

"I was picking up what I had been dodging for eight years," Bush said.

The former president said after he left the presidency in January, he plopped down on the couch and said, "Free at last."

But his wife, Laura, piped in: "You're free to do the dishes," he said.

After a few other jokes, Bush shifted to more serious topics. Although this was his first trip overseas since leaving office, it was his second speech in a foreign country. Last month, Bush spoke in Calgary, Canada.

On Saturday, he said he would not criticize Barack Obama and wished his successor all the best.

"He was not my first choice, but now that this election was made, it speaks volumes about the United States of America," Bush said.

He recalled that when the financial crisis began hitting America, he accused Wall Street of getting drunk and giving the country a hangover. Bush said he hoped a more sober economic order would emerge from the global slump.

"Maybe the next time around, there won't be enough booze," he said.

The crisis gives the world an opportunity to modernize financial systems, craft smarter regulations for complex financial instruments, create better banking standards and enact more efficient warning systems, Bush said.

"Our economy has been hit hard, but we have the resources and resilience to recover," he added.

Bush also urged global leaders to continue the struggle against terrorism and to support the young democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But he said the economic center of the world was shifting to Asia, which accounts for 55 percent of the global economy. China will continue to be of high importance to the U.S., he said.

"It's just mind boggling how this country has changed," he added.

During past visits to China, Bush urged Chinese leaders to expand religious freedom in the country. He mentioned the issue again Saturday in a low-key, oblique way.

"People who are allowed to worship freely in society," he said, "are people who are going to be peaceful citizens."



It will take the American people another 10 years before they catch up to President Bush and realize that he was one of the best Presidents this Nation ever produced. Once Presidential always Presidential. Though the American Leftists would never acknowledge but the reaction from the world leaders to Bush speaks volumes – they simply respect the man because contrary to Leftist propaganda machine world leaders recognize a leader who was no non-sense leader. Bush is a patriot who was feared by his enemies and respected by Allies (even when they disliked him for taking his job serious in preserving, protecting and defending America. Though Bush had much to say about the Leftist America which for the past eight years did nothing but tried to undermine his efforts at every corner; yet for the sake of his Nation he preferred to put America before politics; and he kept his concentration on doing the best he could for America instead of playing cat and mouse with the Communist Party of the United Stated a.k.a the Democratic Party. Thank you President Bush for caring for your Nation more than caring for Politics.
Bush was a president of integrity. He is a man who respected, and still does, the office of president. He honored our country, our military, and our citizens. He never apologized for who we were as a nation. I admire him still as he holds his tongue from damaging the “respect” others have for our sitting president. His restraint shows great character that others in office would do well to follow. Thank you Mr. President, George W. Bush.
I know it's a saturday night......I suppose you all have nothing better to do than to criticize former President Bush. So far, I've not seen one logical comment that actually had to do with this article. Bottom line......Bush has shown that he is a man of class.......and humbly tell things as they are! He's Not in office now.........Obama has his duties to do.........Plenty of Criticism there to go after!

YOU ARE REALLY REALLY MISSED !!