Unpopular and out-of-sight, President Bush not in demand for GOP

[marmar]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton is busy on the campaign trail, helping candidates in races from Florida to Washington state. His successor, George W. Bush? Holed up in Texas.

Bush left office deeply unpopular and sour on domestic politics. After leaving Washington and returning to Texas, he has kept a low profile, working on his memoir and appearing only occasionally at paid speeches. Aides say he has no plans to be a figure in this year's elections, which could see major gains for the GOP.

Republicans, who paid electoral costs in 2006 and 2008 for Bush's unpopularity, are hardly clamoring for the 43rd president to join them on the campaign trail. After all, an Associated Press-GfK poll last month found 55 percent of all Americans have an unfavorable opinion of Bush and 51 percent blame him for the economic crisis that began on his watch.

While he enjoys popularity with base conservatives, Bush is not necessarily an in-demand figure for candidates trying to fault President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats for the economic mess. Republicans across the nation are trying to lay the blame for 15 million out-of-work Americans at Democrats' feet. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-whither-bush,0,1917030.story

[Dulcinea]

1. He was apparently in Atlanta this past week.

He gave a speech at the National Association of Convenience Stores. Has he actually ever set foot in a convenience store?

[marmar]

2. The beer section, perhaps.

nt

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. "... which could see major gains for the GOP"

Journalism is dead.