I have to give this much to George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

[no_hypocrisy]

They were political rivals in 1992 but became friends. It wasn't necessary. It wasn't boosting the popularity of either. And it didn't make sense.

But they somehow found a way not only to talk to each other post-election and post-WH, but they liked and respected each other.

I like the willingness of both of them to transcend politics and the past.

[bearsfootball516]

1. Pretty much all previous presidents have gotten along extremely well.

The Obamas are very close to George Bush. I think there’s a mutual understanding and respect typically between presidents, that even if they didn’t agree with policy decisions made, the only people who truly understand what happens in the Oval Office are those who have been there.

[empedocles]

2. A big thing they have in comon is 'unfairly' being beat up upon

[Honeycombe8]

19. Yes. It's a small club. Only a few other people in the world understand what yu went thru.

The good and the bad. They all share that experience. They all also know some big secrets that almost no one else knows.

Trump will not be a active member of the group. He doesn't play well with others.

(They also don't much care for Jimmy Carter.)

[Hortensis]

22. Plus, by nature they're all high-functioning people who get along

very well with most people with a wide range of beliefs. They're not just able to separate out and respect what they believe is worthy of respect, it's an important part of being competent and developing understanding.

Hillary consulting Kissinger, a man guilty of crimes against humanity whose evaluations of subjects of the moment and the past are still sought out by people of conscience who must make big decisions.

[Squinch]

3. Not a lot of people share their experience. Same with Michelle and W.

[JI7]

4. Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter had a similar Relationship. they worked together for good causes

as former presidents they could have influence working together. but they also ended up developing a good friendship through it .

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Absolutely! President Carter reached out to the only living presidents at the time

And Ford took him up on it, was very helpful when it came to dealing with Congress and later worked with the Carter Center. They became lifelong friends and Ford asked Carter to deliver his eulogy. Former opponents can become friends, HW Bush and Clinton, Carter and Ford. It is a very exclusive club and it has served then well to reach out.

[Aristus]

36. It didn't hurt that Ford was very nearly as decent a person as Carter.

We won't see his like again from the GOP...

[Rhiannon12866]

37. That's very true - Ford always tried to do the right thing

Though he sure was placed in a tough position. I learned from President Carter's autobiography ("A Full Life: Reflections at 90&quot how close the two became - and their families - and how Ford helped the new president navigate Congress and eventually got on board with The Carter Center. And how the former opponents became lifelong friends.

[oberliner]

5. George W Bush and Michelle Obama also seem to have become friends

[groundloop]

6. Somehow I can't picture Tiny becoming friends with just about anyone

He'll just stick to his mobster buddies (if he's not in prison).

[oberliner]

7. I also can't imagine him making it into his 90s

[Dennis Donovan]

9. If he does, the only satisfaction I'd get out of it would be...

...if it was all in an orange jumpsuit, with pink Depends (hat-tip to his old pal Arpaio).

[Harker]

16. I can.

Out of spite.

[watoos]

8. With friends like Trump, who needs enemies?

[sarge43]

10. Empathy is necessary for real friendship.

Moron has none.

[mucifer]

12. They ALL hate him. The Carters, the Bushes and the Obamas.

[Auggie]

13. Michelle goes and stays high. Barak too. Classic examples of statemanship and civility.

Is Michelle's friendship with W really sincere? We'll never know. But that's the way it probably should stay in this instance.

[DFW]

11. I liked HW well enough as a person

I just didn't ever see him as becoming president. The kindly corner druggist, maybe. I like Clinton, too, but never met him before he became president, and so can't make the same comment.

HW was wise not to invade Iraq after liberating Kuwait.

On the other hand, he gave us Dan Quayle as VP and Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court, so his judgment was far from impeccable. Plus he hated broccoli, which by itself should have disqualified him for re-election.

[crazycatlady]

15. I was 8 when he was elected

And I also remember using his hatred of broccoli as an excuse not to eat it.

[DFW]

23. I always liked broccoli

I had quite a long chat with him when I was 16 (1968). It was an alumni interview. He was still a Congressman from Houston, and I was applying to enter his school as a one-year senior. He seemed nice enough a guy (we did not discuss broccoli), but if you had told me then that he would head the CIA within 10 years and become president within 20, I would have called you crazy.

[rusty quoin]

27. Funny...I'm making broccoli cheese soup as I type.

And I don’t need to watch the news today...voodoo economics. He knew the score and fuck the rest of us. Nice guy. Paul Ryan seems nice too.

[DFW]

31. Born into privilege, had no clue what it meant not to always have had it.

I met the type at his school. They thought it was a great school. I hated it.

[TNNurse]

14. I was never a big fan of GHW Bush

But I did not think he was going to destroy us all and promote the decline on the planet for personal gain.

Trump has certainly affected our tolerance for things in the past.

I can sincerely say that GHW Bush openly showed his love, respect and admiration for his wife. Trump is incapable of any of that.

[extvbroadcaster]

17. I was no fan either

My mother actually met GHW Bush when he was at a campaign stop and told him to his face that she would not vote for him. I was never a fan either. But Trump changes everything. All former Presidents, even Nixon, look better. Trump is such a piece of human sewage that the guy down at the corner bar would be a better President. So you have to hand it to GHW Bush. He is looking better all the time.

[True Dough]

18. This is telling

RIP

[Hermit-The-Prog]

34. he put country before himself

[True Dough]

35. Right

And there's absolutely no way ANYONE could say that about the wretch who serves as President today.

[thegoose]

20. There is a Presidents' Club

No one else can understand what they've experienced. I doubt the Dumpster will be allowed in. I sure hope not.

[Little Star]

24. They were all duly elected...

tRump was installed with the help of Putin.

[thegoose]

29. Good point!

🍄= NOPE

[DFW]

32. Trump gets automatic membership

But he only gets honorary membership recognition. Two out of the other three left in the club actually even won their own elections and did their best to carry out the job they were elected to do.

[McCamy Taylor]

25. Bush Sr. cared about national security which is more than I can say about Trump.

[KentuckyWoman]

26. The very fact you can appreciate GHWB's decorum

really says how far down we've dug past the bottom of the barrel POTUS wise. This one is SO bad that even GHWB looks decent.

That's just a pitiful commentary on the present reality.

[PDittie]

38. +1,000,000

[The Liberal Lion]

28. There is a certain admiration I gained for HW when I learned about his vote for the Fair Housing Act

of '68 and how he defended his vote to his constituents. As the account is told, upon explaining his vote to his constituents, who themselves were vehemently opposed, he changed many hearts and minds on the subject of fair housing and the rights of ALL Americans. Yes, HW had a political record of both highs and lows, but what could be said about him is that in many cases he put country above party and politics. Rest In Peace HW.

[UniteFightBack]

33. When people click they click. nt