Bush the elder outchats the talkative McCain
John McCain usually is the one who dallies with reporters -- brushing off his press secretary to take as many as three questions after her habitual “We’re out of time.” But at the 4-acre compound of George H.W. Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine, McCain Monday found the former president outdoing him at his own game.
McCain probably had hoped for a camera-ready send-off after a news conference at the oceanfront retreat, where reporters strained to hear over the waves breaking against the rocky shore. But as McCain turned to leave, Bush began shaking hands with reporters and seemed keen to talk about his current adventures: how one of his guests exceeded 70 mph on the cigarette boat this weekend, how another boat "ran afoul of the rocks" and his plans for another parachute jump (his last) on his 85th birthday next year.
McCain reappeared at his elbow with a tight grin, trying to steer him away. Bush obliged by walking McCain halfway down the driveway, but then turned back, insisting that the reporters take a look around the complex. So McCain gave up and left -- leaving for his third fundraiser of the morning, while his press corps took the tour.
Bush’s young assistant, Jim Appleby, took reporters past the tennis courts, the smaller house where the former president stayed as child and the large wood-shingle main house where they now summer. Former First Lady Barbara Bush, who is recovering from knee surgery, waved through the window.
When the first group returned from the tour, Bush was still talking with reporters. "Anybody steal any ash trays?" he teased.
He then pointed out the private gym -– "the president works out there all the time when he’s here" -– and seemed disappointed that the tour didn’t include the ocean side of the house, where he and Barbara watch the tide come in. "We’re so darn lucky," he said.
The elder Bush largely steered away from questions about his son’s presidency. But he did seem slightly wistful when a reporter asked whether he’d miss having the keys to the White House after his son leaves office.
"I hadn’t looked at it that way," he said, thinking for a moment. "I expect I won’t have, no matter who wins," an automatic invitation to sleep in the Queen’s bedroom on the second floor of the White House.
-- Maeve Reston
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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I dont like either of these two obama or McCain. This is a little off subject, but I just saw the Video
of McCain on the Conan Show, He fell asleep on the Conan show. LOL thats hallarious. Wow! Thats all I can say Wow. The news should run this video more. If anyone want to see the video you can go to http://www.mccanes.com its under the videos. LOL Halarious. Today Ive seen a video of McCain taking a nap on the Conan Obrien show, and a Video of Obama making a three pointer. This race is a carnival. lol. Go see the video. www.mccanes.com
Posted by: mike | July 21, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Awe....the press core getting bored of McSame??
Who cares. McCain will say anything anyways. The press knows this.
Posted by: ApostasyUSA | July 21, 2008 at 07:15 PM
LOL, nice comment thanks for the link, it wasnt easy to find but that is pretty funny. . Ive never seen that site before pretty funny. McCanes, I love the cain logo. ha.
Surprise Bush 1 2 3 all like the media. Chatty little Kathys.
Posted by: jane | July 21, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Bush the elder is more in sync in his policies and thinking with Obama. And I think Bush the elder was a very good President.
Posted by: Paul Stewart | July 21, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Hilarious. Alas, proof that the media isn't conspiring against McCain. He is just to boring to listen to. The media is following Obama because they want to catch him in a gaffe. It isn't really about a love affair.
They totally passed up a chance to highlight McCain's gaffe. "blah blah violence blah blah real problem is the violence on the Iraq-Pakistan border."
Really....so is McCain in that group of Americans that can't find Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan on a map? the border between Iraq and Pakistan is IRAN. But maybe he was just foreshadowing.
Posted by: Janet | July 22, 2008 at 12:38 AM
I must have fallen into a coma as it must be 2009 because I just read this statement made by the Obama people re a speech Obama will make in Berlin. So it is President Obama is it? How arrogant can a candidate get, not much more than Barack Hussein Obama. Here's the quote:
“It is not going to be a political speech,” said a senior foreign policy adviser, who spoke to reporters on background. “When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally.
“But he is not president of the United States,” a reporter reminded the adviser
Posted by: Emily Wortham | July 22, 2008 at 08:36 AM