Kay Coles James for RPV chairman: A visionary for the future of the party

The announcement by Pat Mullins last week that he will step down as State Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) on January 31, 2015, has begun the usual flurry of telephone calls and email messages that range from “Who will run for RPV Chairman?” to outright requests for support for one candidate or another.

Before the RPV State Central Committee rushes to promote from within, Virginia Republicans should step back and ... (continue reading here)

President George W. Bush surprises Gillespie’s ‘G-Force’ phone conference

“Thanks for the chance to speak with the mighty G-Force!”

With those words, President George W. Bush joined in as the special guest on an Ed Gillespie campaign phone conference Tuesday night, one week before Election Day 2014. In characteristic GWB style, he was funny.... (continue reading here)

13th anniversary of 9/11 remembered at LynnRMitchell.com

At LynnRMitchell.com, we have dedicated this day to the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorism attacks. From guest posts to a timeline of the tragic events of that day, it is a continuation of an annual remembrance that affected millions of people. Posts will continue into the night. Here are links to posts published at this time:

Guest posts: 
- Vonda Lacey, local military mom and friend: A military mom reflects on the anniversary of 9/11
- Donald Williams, a friend who worked in President George W. Bush's administration: 9/11: Never forget American under attack, those who perished, and the heroes of that day
- Patricia Kennedy Birdsall, Texas friend and volunteer: 'Never again' begins with you

 More posts:
- 8:30 p.m. President Bush addresses the nation
- 9/11 remembered at University of Virginia
- President George W. Bush and the bullhorn speech
- GWB and 9/11: America is not weak
- 9/11: Thank you, NYPD
- President George W. Bush's emotional 9/11 National Cathedral speech
- 10:28 a.m. World Trade Center South Tower collapses
- 10:06 a.m. United Flight 93goes down
- 9:45 a.m. White House evacuated
- 9:37 a.m. The Pentagon is hit
- 8:45 a.m. America is under attack as World Trade Center is hit

George W. and Clinton joke with each other at Monday announcement

There’s insight with this video snippet that suggests why the Clintons and Bush family have become closer over the years. Watching Bill and W yuck it up is not only entertaining but also shows....

Click here for video and to continue reading.

Weekend Bush fest

The support workers are lining up ... there's a growing eagerness to work another great campaign ... there's a need to pull Republicans together again. Jeb has the backing and it's growing.

Jenna's interview of her dad, President George W. Bush

Friday I posted on my Facebook page:

Fantastic interview today by Jenna Bush Hager of her dad W as they looked at the portraits he has painted of world leaders, and his memories of each. The president's mentor in politics and painting is Winston Churchill. I love the interaction between father and daughter -- these two kindred spirits. His favorite and most admired person is his dad Bush #41 ... a son admiring his father whom he considers a gentle soul. They were joined live by his mom Barbara Bush looking at W's portrait of Bush #41 who joked, "That's my husband?"

She had gotten up early -- "This is it? I got up at 4:30 for this?" she joked to granddaughter Jenna. "Love you," Jenna said. "Love you, too," Mrs. Bush told Jenna. I very much admire this family....

See Jeanna's interview here.

See more about Jenna Bush Hager here.

Bush 43 talks with daughter Jenna on Friday's 'Today' Show, unveils portraits of world leaders

On NBC's "Today Show" Friday, NBC correspondent Jenna Bush Hager will talk with her mom and dad, former First Lady Laura Bush and President George W. Bush, as her dad unveils 24 portraits of world leaders that will make up his first-ever art exhibit.  "The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy," will be on display at the Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas.

The former president, who has turned into quite a talented painter since leaving the White House, said he hopes it is realized he painted the portraits in "the spirit of friendship and that I admire them as leaders and was willing to give it a shot in terms of getting people to see how I felt about them."

His 2013 cardinal Christmas decoration hung on our tree this past holiday season. The former president has completed self-portraits, landscapes, pictures of animals, and even a portrait of Jay Leno that he presented to the comedian when he left "The Tonight Show."

Thirty-two-year-old Jenna has been with the "Today Show" since 2009, recently as part of the 2014 Winter Olympic coverage in Sochi, Russia, and afterward as a fill-in for Kathy Lee on NBC's "Kathie Lee and Hoda." She is married to Henry Hager, son of Virginia former Lieutenant Governor John Hager and his wife, Maggie. Jenna and Henry has one daughter, Mila, who will be a year old on April 13.

Opening session of 2014 Green Valley Book Fair

I stopped by the Green Valley Book Fair earlier this week and this was my first stop. Always. LOL. Downstairs to the political section to see what was new.

There were lots of books about past presidents including my favorite. These books? I already have them all. In fact, I've bought extras throughout the years to give as gifts to volunteers who helped at GOP headquarters and working campaigns.

The book fair is open this run until April 13. See the entire 2014 schedule here.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
March 30, 2014

Larry Sabato: Jeb at top of GOP presidential field

It's no secret that I'm a Jeb Bush supporter but someone else has been paying attention to this under-the-radar possible presidential candidate.

University of Virginia's political guru Larry Sabato's latest Crystal Ball has Jeb at the top of the field of contenders:

In our first ranking of the very large and very unsettled 2016 Republican presidential field back in April of last year, we decided to not even include the name of one of the brightest stars in the GOP universe: Jeb Bush. We just didn’t think, at the time, that the former Florida governor and brother and son of presidents was all that interested in running.

But during 2013 and into this new year, we’ve gotten the sense, like many others, that things might be changing. So much so that we now consider Bush the leader of the field if he decides to run.

The bold emphasis is Sabato's. In the Crystal Ball's latest, 2016 Republican Presidential Update: A New Familiar Name at the Top, he admits that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was the preferred presidential candidate until his recent troubles with Bridgegate and falling popularity numbers. There's also a widespread distrust of politicians like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz so, for those and all kinds of other reasons, Sabato writes:

And that leads us to another reason to take a potential Bush candidacy seriously: The establishment loves him.

In recent months, we’ve noticed an unmistakable and widespread desire among some of the Republicans we talk to, particularly ones who would be classified as members of the establishment on and off Capitol Hill, for a third Bush nominee in less than three decades. In one conversation, we mentioned several other potential candidates on our list, but the chatter kept coming back to Jeb. He was the only candidate with whom these party leaders appeared to be comfortable.

Jeb is known as a strong leader who was very popular during his time as governor of Florida. His connections reach to pockets nationwide for fundraising, and his campaigning ability encompasses the Bush family and beyond, not to mention the mentoring of two former United States presidents -- his father George H.W. and brother George W.

In 1998 and 1999, the name George W. Bush kept drifting to the surface of presidential nominee talk. Few took it seriously. It feels like a similar scenario this go round. And while Sabato has seen it all with candidates rising to the top only to sink again, one constant remains: Jeb Bush:

The implications of a Bush candidacy would be wide-reaching, and -- to be clear -- we don’t know if he’s running. He probably doesn’t know himself. The reason we’re putting him first now is that if he were to run, we’d see him as a modest favorite over the other potential candidates in the field, and he might be the one Republican whose entry could keep other candidates out. For instance, Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) are close, and many observers doubt that they would run against one another in a presidential contest. (Bush’s son, George P., just appeared at two Palm Beach fundraisers for Rubio; the younger Bush is running for land commissioner, a statewide elected office in Texas.) That said, stranger things have happened in politics than a hypothetical Bush vs. Rubio matchup in a GOP primary field: Political alliances are often written in pencil, not pen.

While I cannot imagine Jeb and Marco Rubio running against each other for the nomination, I can imagine Jeb as the presidential nominee with Rubio as his vice president.

Much has been made of Barbara Bush, Jeb's mom, who, when asked about Jeb running, famously responded that there had been enough Bushes in the White House. What got lost in the hurry to push out that quote was the rest of her sentiment: that surely there were other families out there with sons and daughters willing to run for president whose last names weren't Bush. But she also came back recently to say she thought Jeb was definitely qualified and would make a terrific president. And smiled firmly as she added, "Be sure you say that I said that." I noted it on my Facebook page at the time.

For an interesting read, check out the rest of Sabato's top field of Republican contenders. Sitting right there on top is Jeb Bush, the one to keep an eye on as 2014 unfolds.

Update: Jennifer Rubin at the Washington Post has been keeping up with Jeb and again wrote on Wednesday about his possible candidacy:

The most compelling argument for Jeb Bush goes like this: The country and his party need him. Eight years of President Obama will leave us internationally weakened, politically gridlocked, economically listless and stewing in partisan juices. From the Republicans’ perspective, four more years of Democratic rule, especially from Hillary Clinton, whose fingerprints are all over Obamacare and a series of foreign policy debacles, would push the country to a breaking point. Moreover, both to beat Hillary Clinton and to clean up the mess, the party and country need a grown up, a proven performer and a qualified chief executive. Choosing an ideologically extreme and/or under-qualified senator or an untested and unknown governor is fraught with peril. So, therefore, Jeb Bush becomes the most logical choice.

"The party needs a grown up." That about sums it up right there.

Valentine's Day: Henry Hager surprises wife Jenna who is working with Today Show in Russia for Winter Olympics

Imagine being on assignment halfway around the world on the most romantic day of the year. Now imagine an on-air Valentine's Day surprise that brings tears to a young wife's eyes.

That was what happened this morning on the Today Show, in Sochi, Russia, to cover the Winter Olympics, when Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and her fellow female hosts were surprised by their significant others in America.

Standing in an NBC studio in the States, each gentleman held a bouquet of red roses and expressed love and appreciation for their wives. Included was Henry Hager, Jenna's husband and son of Virginia's former Lieutenant Governor John and Maggie Hager, whose wife has been in Russia the past week. The surprise brought tears to Jenna's eyes, maybe because not only has she been away from her husband but also her five-month-old daughter Mila.

This will be a Valentine's Day to remember for the young Hager family....

Baking Wednesday ... Laura Bush's Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies

Laura Bush's Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies

What's not to love about former First Lady Laura Bush's Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies? These big yummy cookies are chocked full of goodie ingredients that make them perfect for an occasional indulgence.

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Mrs. Bush's cookies beat out Tipper Gore's gingersnap cookie recipe when readers voted for their favorite in a contest in Family Circle magazine.

During the years while President George W. Bush was in the White House, I often baked these and carried them to our local GOP headquarters to share with volunteers. Today I doubled the batch and made two pans of bar cookies to share with neighbors plus drop cookies for home. A word of warning: doubling the recipe makes a big batch of dough so be prepared to have a large container (I used a deep dutch oven pan), long-handled big spoon, and plenty of arm power to dig and stir to adequately mix all the ingredients.

The good thing with these cookies is you can add or omit according to what is in your baking cabinet. Today I left out the coconut because there was none here and not worth a trip to the store. I stirred in two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, two cups of dark chocolate chips, and three cups of butterscotch chips. Instead of pecans (because I didn't have any), I used three cups of sliced almonds that were left over from Christmas. Delicious!

Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies
Laura Bush

Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter (room temperature)
1  1/2 cups granulated sugar
1  1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 cups pecans, chopped
2 cups sweetened flake coconut

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in bowl.
3. In mixer bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about one minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, about two minutes.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add vanilla.
5. Stir in flour mixture until combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and pecans.
6. For each cookie, drop one tablespoon dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them three inches apart.
7. Bake in 350-degree oven approximately 12 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove cookies from rack to cool.

Yield: 8 dozen cookies

Note: For larger cookies, increase baking time to 15 minutes.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

NY Times Jill Abramson: 'This is the most secretive White House I've ever dealt with'

Jill Abramson, executive editor of the New York Times, noted in an interview that the Obama White House was the most secretive she had ever dealt with:

"I would say it is the most secretive White House that I have ever been involved in covering, and that includes — I spent 22 years of my career in Washington and covered presidents from President Reagan on up through now, and I was Washington bureau chief of the Times during George W. Bush's first term," Abramson told Al Jazeera America in an interview that will air on Sunday.

"I dealt directly with the Bush White House when they had concerns that stories we were about to run put the national security under threat. But, you know, they were not pursuing criminal leak investigations," she continued. "The Obama administration has had seven criminal leak investigations. That is more than twice the number of any previous administration in our history. It's on a scale never seen before. This is the most secretive White House that, at least as a journalist, I have ever dealt with."

The comments were made to Al Jazeera America in an interview that will air Sunday.

Politico noted:

James Risen, a Times reporter, is currently fighting to avoid having to testify against a former CIA official accused of being his source. According to Robert Gates's new memoir, Obama hadn't been in office more than a month before saying he wanted a criminal investigation into disclosures on Iran policy that had been published the Times.

In the wake of the revelations about the Justice Department's monitoring of Fox News reporter James Rosen, whom the DOJ labeled a “co-conspirator," the Times editorial board wrote that "the Obama administration has moved beyond protecting government secrets to threatening fundamental freedoms of the press to gather news."

The far-reaching interview touched on the Iraq War, the Snowden debacle, and the future of print newspapers as well as secrecy of the Obama White House.

Jennifer Rubin: 'Don't forget about Jeb'

Jennifer Rubin's Tuesday column in the Washington Post provided good insight into former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and the opportunity for him to run for president in 2016.

Jeb, younger brother of former President George W. Bush and son of former President George H.W. Bush, has always been on my short list of candidates for 2016. His chances appear to have increased with the unfortunate circumstances of two of the other forerunners: Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell.

Don't get me wrong ... I'm not writing Chris Christie out just because of his "Bridgegate" issue. Come on, people -- if Hillary can bungle Bengazi the way she did and still be a serious contender for 2016, a little tied-up traffic can't be enough to knock Christie out of the running. But some conservatives can't get beyond the fact that Christie was, in their opinion, a little too snuggly with the President of the United States. I say the man had a huge disaster on his hands in Hurricane Sandy's tragic damage to New Jersey, and was being courteous to the man who offered help.

What is it with conservatives who think everyone needs to be snippy and nasty to those they politically disagree with? Sorry, I prefer to take a page out of the playbook of George W when it comes to civility.

Back to the list. Sadly, our own Governor Bob McDonnell is now pretty wounded by his own Giftgate issues that surfaced while in the Executive Mansion.

Which brings us back to George W's brother, Jeb. No matter what his mom said about not needing any more Bushes in the White House -- Barbara often makes off-the-cuff comments like that -- if he's the man for the job, it doesn't matter that he's a Bush.

There are many who disagree and I respect that. They think the baton should be passed on to "new blood." I say it needs to go to the person best qualified who can lead this country during the current turbulent times and, though I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, if Jeb wants the job then I certainly think he's qualified with his background and common sense Bush family knowledge.

Jennifer Rubin shoots down most of the reasons people would have against Jeb. Give her column a read ... it could open the door to back this very-electable Bush brother/son.

A farewell evening with Lt. Gov. Bill and Jean Ann Bolling

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and his wife, Jean Ann.

Hilton Hotel, Richmond, Virginia

January 9, 2014

Angela Kelly-Wiecek, Hanover County supervisor who holds the Chickahominy District seat that Bill Bolling once represented, talked with Jean Ann Bolling before Thursday's dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Richmond's Short Pump area. The room filled with invited guests who laughed and remembered campaigns and events over the years.

Bill Bolling thanked his wife, his family, his staff, and his many friends who have been there throughout the years. Then he launched into a story about Kristi Way during the 2005 campaign: "We were heading to a fundraiser at Kurt Michael's home...." Ah, yes ... very well remember that fundraiser in Fishersville.

Fellow blogger Brian Schoeneman drove from NoVa to join the 100 guests. He was seated at the lieutenant governor's table along with Linwood Cobb, Kurt Michael, Judi Lynch, and me ... excellent dinner conversationalist on a variety of subjects.

That's not chicken. LOL.

The conversation was entertaining and interesting all night at our table. The Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Judi Lynch, Dr. Kurt Michael....

Always an entertaining speaker, the LG had everyone in the room in stitches telling stories about campaigns, staff members, and events ... and thanked them for their help throughout the years. His Bloggers Days, the pewter Christmas ornaments, remarks at the Republican Advance, handing out his Patrick Henry awards, speaking at numerous events in Commonwealth throughout the years including SWAC Breakfast, and many other contributions will make him remembered as one of the most active lieutenant governors in Virginia history.

Saying this isn't the end, he concluded his remarks with, "Let the games begin!"

Returning to the podium before dessert, the LG was tossing tee shirts to waiting hands at tables causing laughter and cheers.

That shirt went to the outstretched hands of Judi Lynch seated at table number one. Go, Judi!

When he announced there were only two Bolling golf hats left, there was a race by Lynn Martin and Trixie Averill to the table in the back of the room to retrieve the caps, a sight that cracked up the room.

Ibbie Hedrick (seated at table) was with the George W. Bush administration before joining up with the Bill Bolling office as deputy chief of staff and spokeswoman. She worked alongside Denise Burch who was director of constituent services and scheduling, and chief of staff Randy Marcus.

I love food photos.

Staffers, volunteers, friends, colleagues.

The evening provided an opportunity for everyone to break bread together. Thank you to Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Bolling for the hospitality and fellowship. One chapter closes ... another opens.

As a thank you to Bill Bolling, I printed the "Man in the Arena" remarks by Theodore Roosevelt on card stock with a watermark in the background of a photo I took of the Virginia State Capitol at the 2011 Bill Bolling Bloggers Day, framed it, and passed it along at dinner with my appreciation for his service as "the man in the arena" the past 22 years. Thank you, Bill and Jean Ann Bolling....

See also Day at the Capitol with Lt. Governor Bill Bolling ... the portrait unveiling

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
January 10, 2014

Va Republicans invade Homestead this weekend to reflect, lick wounds

 The Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, Va. December 2013

It's Christmas in Virginia's western mountains and, as it has for centuries, The Homestead Resort is decked out for the season. This weekend it has braced itself for an invasion of Republicans from throughout the Commonwealth. Vehicles pulling under the portico to unload laptops and overnight bags sport candidate bumper stickers and specialty "G" series license plates.

It's the celebration of the 30th annual Donald Huffman Republican Advance. After the thumping Republicans took in November, the big celebration for the big anniversary is overshadowed by a party that seems to have lost its way in four short years.

In 2009 the atmosphere at the Advance was jubilant as we met in Williamsburg and celebrated sweeping the top three spots for the first time in 12 years, and the fact that we had found our footing in new media and other areas after the 2008 loss to Barack Obama and the Democrats. Bob McDonnell had swept into office as governor in an historic landslide by running on "Bob's for Jobs," helping to boost the GOP spirit after some crucial losses between 2005 and 2008. By winning the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general positions, Republicans were poised to take the leadership reins in the state and ride the wave of popularity after Obama's disappointing first year in office.

Before the 2009 election, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling had taken one for the team and avoided an internal blood bath that the Republican Party of Virginia didn't need. He stepped aside so McDonnell could run unopposed for governor and, instead, sought re-election as lieutenant governor while temporarily setting his goal for governor on the shelf. With an ambitious Ken Cuccinelli winning the attorney general spot, some nervous politicos asked the "Cooch" if he planned to run for governor in 2013 and his answer over and over was "no." It seemed the good blood in the Republican Party would continue beyond 2009.

But something happened between 2009 and 2013. Cuccinelli, who had said in an AG debate at The Homestead in 2008 that he would run for two terms as attorney general to avoid challenging Bolling -- but later tried to explain it away by basically saying it depended on what the meaning of "is," is -- announced one day before the 2011 Advance that he was running for governor.

A shock went through the Virginia GOP or, at least, a shock went through part of the GOP. The Cuccinelli supporters were enthusiastic at this announcement that came as a total surprise to not only Governor McDonnell but also to Lieutenant Governor Bolling who was in Florida at the time attending a national lieutenant governors meeting.

I was sitting in the Great Hall of The Homestead two years ago today when the Bolling family arrived. It was barely 24 hours after they had heard of the challenge from the GOP attorney general -- reportedly not from the mouth of the AG but through the news. As they walked past on the way to their room with serious looks on their faces, we watched as the Cuccinelli supporters stood at the front door of the Homestead's Great Hall in Cuccinelli t-shirts and tried to sticker everyone with Cuccinelli lapels.

The message was clear: it had been planned and calculated for the best shock value. Mission accomplished. Not only had Bill Bolling been slammed upside the head but so had thousands of long-time Republican volunteers who were being out-muscled and removed from the GOP rolls.

Six months later the majority of the eleven congressional districts saw a turnover of leadership and, a few months later, the newly-minted Cuccinelli state central committee voted to overturn the already-voted-on primary for 2013 and changed it to a closed convention. That's how we got what happened in Richmond in May. Meanwhile, local committees throughout the state saw a turnover as Cuccinelli supporters won key leadership positions and purged long-time volunteers.

The final results of it all came last  month when Republicans lost the top three spots to the Democrats leaving many Republicans in disbelief. Historically in Virginia the gubernatorial office goes to Republicans when Democrats own the White House, and vice versa. Many touted Democrat Terry McAuliffe as a poor candidate. The GOP win was supposed to be a sure thing. What had happened? A short four years earlier we had swept all three offices on a deliriously happy election night in downtown Richmond. This year the candidates weren't even together on election night. With Cuccinelli at the helm, both E.W. Jackson and Mark Obenshain went down (Democrat Mark Herring won the AG race with 165 votes so a recount will take place later this month).

And so we all gather at The Homestead, not to celebrate victory but to lick our wounds. And try to figure out where we go from here. And how to heal the civil war raging within the party.

But the visions of previous wins dance in my head -- the years when George W. Bush was president and we won with his example of an inclusive party that reached out to all. The Republican Party is at a crossroads. We can either adjust with the changing times ... or become irrelevant.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
December 5, 2013

Dana Perino reveals lesson in forgiveness learned from President George W. Bush

Politics is full of betrayers. There's always those who will turn but, until it happens, we never know which ones it will be. Dana Perino shares in this video clip a long-held secret about how President George W. Bush urged her to forgive a colleague who had betrayed the president.

She also reveals that President Bush said to her he knew she would not do the same. Those who are loyal are a rare few.  A lesson learned early on was that if you have one friend in politics, you're rich.

Dana's revelation about GWB is yet another example of why I admire the Bush family and their leadership style....

Jennifer Rubin: 'What about Jeb?'

He's known as the other Bush brother, the one who originally was expected to run for president before his older brother found himself in the right place at the right time. Both governors with the experience from that executive position, Jeb's name has been tossed around for a while as someone to run for president.

However, general sentiment seemed to be that the country had soured on the Bush name. Father George H.W. as president 41, and brother George W. as president 43. Would America really want a Bush president 46?

With the passing of time and circumstances, the time may be right, and the Washington Post's opinion writer Jennifer Rubin agrees. In her post earlier this week -- "What about Jeb?" -- she made a notable argument in Jeb's favor:

George W. Bush has bounced back in popularity, and if the Dems can run a Clinton there is no reason the GOP can’t run a Bush. Besides, experienced leadership may be in style after we survive the next three years. And to boot, GOP governors are looking like the party’s saviors these days. Moreover, the passage of time has allowed certain issue to fade and others to resolve themselves (e.g. the Bush tax cuts). Jeb Bush understandably can say “times have changed” if he chooses not to adopt a position his brother took sixteen years ago. (Yes, it’ll be 16 years between 43′s presidential run and when Republicans again start trudging through Iowa and New Hampshire.)
...
I have no idea if he will run. But I am more convinced that he could and should. He’s got a lot to tell the GOP voters.

Run, Jeb, run. He may find he has more supporters than he realizes.

George W. Bush Christmas ornaments for sale at Bush Library

2013 George W. Bush Library Commemorative Christmas Ornament

Exclusively designed 2013 commemorative Christmas ornament available as a three dimensional metal ornament reminiscent of the White House Historical Association ornaments. Framed art is an untitled work painted by President George W. Bush. Available in a red box with a silver foil imprint of the ornament on the front.

Photo from George W. Bush Presidential Center

George W. Bush: 'On this solemn anniversary, Laura and I join our fellow citizens in honoring our 35th President'

From Dallas, former President George W. Bush commented on the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy:

"Today we remember a dark episode in our Nation's history, and we remember the leader whose life was cut short 50 years ago. John F. Kennedy dedicated himself to public service, and his example moved Americans to do more for our country. He believed in the greatness of the United States and the righteousness of liberty, and he defended them. On this solemn anniversary, Laura and I join our fellow citizens in honoring our 35th President."

W appears as guest of Jay Leno and jokes, 'You're about to head out to pasture'

It was vintage George W. Bush Tuesday night as the former president and first lady appeared with Jay Leno on NBC's "Tonight Show." The opening exchange went something like this:

Jay Leno: "I know you've tried to stay out of the spotlight for the past few years so I was actually pleasantly surprised you accepted our invitation."

President George W. Bush: "Only because of you. (laughter) I mean you're about to head out to pasture (laughter) ... just wanted to see what you looked like before you got to the gate." (laughter)

Talking about a variety of subjects during the twenty-minute interview, W and Leno joked back and forth before being joined by Mrs. Bush to discuss the humanitarian work the Bushes do around the world and at home.

The former president emphasized his belief in laying low after leaving office:

Leno: "I know you've avoided talking policy for the last six or seven years. Explain why."

W: "I don't think it's good for the country to have a former president criticize his successor."

W didn't show up empty-handed and presented Jay with a caricature painting of Leno as they talked about the president's hobby of painting since leaving office.

The classy Bush family values would go far in today's toxic political atmosphere. He is missed. To see the entire 20-minute interview, check out the links:

President George W. Bush with Jay Leno on NBC's "Tonight Show":
 - Part 1
 - Part 2
 - Part 3
 - Part 4

For archives of the Bush Administration and the humanitarian work the president is still doing, check out these links:

George W. Bush Institute
George W. Bush Presidential Library
George W. Bush Center