Former President George W. Bush Is A Class Act.

In Fort Worth, Bush stays quiet on Obama's policies

FORT WORTH -- Some people are criticizing President Barack Obama's handling of the economy, but George W. Bush will not be one of them, the former president said Tuesday.

One day after Obama announced a $50 billion plan to create jobs by rebuilding roads, railways and runways, Bush told an audience at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel that he doesn't believe that the federal government can "grow itself" out of the economic mess and should focus on stimulating entrepreneurship and small-business growth.

But he avoided directly attacking Obama's policies.

"I don't think it's befitting the office of the presidency to go out and be criticizing my successor," he said. "I didn't like it when some of my predecessors -- a predecessor -- criticized me."

Bush, who lives in Dallas, came to Fort Worth to speak to about 700 people at a fundraiser for scholarships for the Tarrant County College Foundation. He offered homespun humor on his adjustment to private life and recounted memorable moments from his time in the Oval Office.

"Remember the guy who threw the shoe?" Bush asked, referring to an incident in Iraq in 2008. "It was the weirdest moment of my presidency. It was like Ted Williams, who said he could see the stitches on the baseball. It was coming at me in slow motion."

Before Bush spoke, pianist Van Cliburn played the national anthem.

Bush, the former owner of the Texas Rangers, recalled when Cliburn performed the anthem on Opening Day in 1994.

"The old boy hasn't lost it!" Bush declared. "Unbelievable."

Since leaving office, Bush said, he is more appreciative of simple things like walking his dog, Barney, in his Dallas neighborhood. For almost a decade, the only places Barney had ever walked were the South Lawn, Camp David and the Bush ranch in Crawford.

On their first Dallas walk, Barney relieved himself on a neighbor's lawn, Bush said.

"There I was, former President George W. Bush, with a plastic bag in my hand, picking up that which I had been dodging for eight solid years," he said, drawing laughter.

Bush reminded the audience that he has written a book, which will be published in November. He joked that the achievement will probably surprise some people.

"Most of them didn't think I could read a book, much less write a book," he said.

The event raised money for the TCC foundation, a nonprofit that accepts and manages gifts from individuals, companies, trusts and foundations. Executive Director Joe McIntosh called having a former president address the group a "historic opportunity."

Bush said community colleges such as TCC offer adjustable curricula that bolster the American work force.

"During my time in public service, I became enamored with the community college system in Texas," he said. "I think they are important, they're useful, they're necessary, they're affordable.

"You're very smart to support ... Tarrant County College."


Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/07/2451221/in-fort-worth-bush-stays-quiet.html#ixzz0ywkGD0BU