Bush declined to critique the Obama administration in Tuesday's speech, saying the new president has enough critics and that he "deserves my silence." Former Vice President Dick Cheney has said that Obama's decisions threatened America's safety.
It's interesting to see Cheney still playing the hatchetman and fearmonger while Bush takes a much more supportive tone toward the new administration. Not sure what explains it, but I think it may be a combination of a few things:
1) There is a certain tight fraternity among ex-Presidents, and they generally take the high road and try not to directly criticize each other (at least early on). Bush is following in this classy example. And by all accounts he was very friendly and helpful to the incoming Obama administration during the transition.
2) Bush knows how ridiculous it would look for him to be criticizing the new guy after his 8 year reign of incompetence, and just months after he dumped 90% of the world's problems on the guy's lap.
3) He can play the statesman, letting Cheney look like an ass for pre-emptively blaming Obama for any future terrorist attacks.
4) He really just doesn't care that much. He was never a policy wonk, he set Presidential vacation records, and may truly just not be interested in debating economic and foreign policy any more. The last few months in office he looked like a guy who just couldn't wait until it was over. Which, coincidentally, was the look 80% of America also had.
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