George W. Bush Blasts Obama’s ‘Strategic Blunder’ in Iraq, Says He’d be Popular if He ‘Owned NBC News’
“You think the Middle East is chaotic now? Imagine what it looks like for our grandchildren. That’s how Americans should view the deal,” former president says about Iran deal
Jordan Chariton | April 27, 2015 @ 6:49 AM
Last Updated: April 27, 2015 @ 6:51 AM
Former President Bush’s no-criticism media policy against his successor has been lauded by media figures and politicians on both sides of the political aisle — but behind close doors, he apparently doesn’t possess as much deference.
Bloomberg reports that during a closed-door speech addressing Jewish Republican donors at a Las Vegas hotel over the weekend, Bush slammed Obama on Iran, Isis and Iraq.
The former president criticized Obama’s negotiations with Iran, saying it’s not realistic to lift sanctions, and then if Iran acts badly, to just put them back into effect. Bush panned the Iran deal as bad for America’s future.
“You think the Middle East is chaotic now? Imagine what it looks like for our grandchildren. That’s how Americans should view the deal,” he said.
Bush then delved into the area of Iraq, which his legacy is obviously most tied to for the decade America spent at war in Iraq. Quoting Senator Lindsey Graham, Bush called Obama’s decision to withdraw troops from Iraq at the end of 2011 a “strategic blunder.”
He also took on Obama’s handling of ISIS, claiming the president has talked the talk on depleting and defeating the terrorist group, but has no strategy to do so.
Bush also took a jab at the media, citing the fact that Russian President is so popular because he controls the country’s media: “Hell, I’d be popular, too, if I owned NBC news,” he said.
Political media will surely jump on Bush’s comments against Obama Monday, as the industry has been deprived of any type of conflict story between the two men throughout Obama’s seven years as president.
To date, Bush had made clear his unwavering principle that it’s bad for the presidency for one president to openly criticize a sitting president. His vice president, Dick Cheney, however, has openly criticized President Obama and his cabinet officials since the early days of his presidency.
'Game Change' Sequel: Who Should Play Obama, Romney and Everyone Else in 'Double Down' (Photos)
Could Jeff Garlin inhabit Chris Christie as well as Julianne Moore did Sarah Palin? We think he could.
Garlin is just one of our dream castings as HBO develops "Double Down," a sequel to the election drama "Game Change." Both are based on the books by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
Just-released excerpts from "Double Down: Game Change 2012" feature inside dirt on the race between President Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney. So it's time to speculate on who should be the next Romney, Obama, Paul Ryan and more. Cast your own votes in the comments.
CHRIS NOTH as MITT ROMNEY
Noth has the jawline for it, and he already plays a politician on "The Good Wife." George Clooney would be a good choice too, if he weren't so distractingly George Clooney.
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO as BARACK OBAMA
The former "Breaking Bad" Chicken Man is a master of voices, and we're sure he could manage Obama's can-do staccato in his sleep. He and the president also share the same confident bearing.
JAKE GYLLENHAALl as PAUL RYAN
Wait, you say: Gyllenhaal is a bigger star than Noth. Wouldn't it be a problem if Paul Ryan were more charismatic than the man at the top of the ticket? Yes. Indeed it was.
CHARLIE SHEEN as MARCO RUBIO
Sheen, like Rubio, is famous for his mighty thirst. You may say Sheen lacks the gravitas to play a senator -- but only if you didn't see him as the president in "Machete Kills." The book "Double Down" says Romney's vice presidential search team dubbed Rubio "pescado" – Spanish for fish. And that was before they knew how much he loves water.
"Double Down" says Obama's team pondered replacing Joe Biden with Clinton, so she could pop up in the movie. NBC, meanwhile, has scotched plans for a Clinton miniseries starring Lane, so an HBO cameo would let us see what we missed. And Lane has a prior relationship with the network: She starred in its 2011 film "Cinema Verite."
Christie and Garlin are the same age, 51, and Garlin has a relationship with HBO thanks to "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Additionally, "Double Down" reports tha Romney's team dubbed the New Jersey governor "pufferfish." We know Garlin can take a joke.
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Jeff Garlin as Chris Christie, and TheWrap’s other picks
Could Jeff Garlin inhabit Chris Christie as well as Julianne Moore did Sarah Palin? We think he could.
Garlin is just one of our dream castings as HBO develops "Double Down," a sequel to the election drama "Game Change." Both are based on the books by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
Just-released excerpts from "Double Down: Game Change 2012" feature inside dirt on the race between President Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney. So it's time to speculate on who should be the next Romney, Obama, Paul Ryan and more. Cast your own votes in the comments.