Althouse: Dalai Lama: "I love George Bush... the younger one... as a human being."

April 27, 2012

Dalai Lama: "I love George Bush... the younger one... as a human being."

"As a person: very nice person. I love him."

49 comments:

Anonymous said...: Well...maybe Bush will gain full consciousness on his deathbed. At least he's got that going for him.; 4/27/12, 2:32 PM
Nonapod said...: Even though I wasn't thrilled with every last thing he ever did as a President (medicare expansion), George Bush always seemed like a pretty nice guy personally. Obama seems like a cold, imperious jerk.; 4/27/12, 2:35 PM
rehajm said...: uh oh- somebody's not getting invited to the cocktail parties anymore!; 4/27/12, 2:37 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Bush let him use through the White House's front door right? While Obama had him using the servants's exit.

Btw, is the Dalai an even bigger grifter than the average Dem pol?; 4/27/12, 2:40 PM
sonicfrog said...: Well... The Dalai Lama has gone too far this time! Let the Chinese keep that damned region!

Signed: Barack Obama.

PS. Vote for me, because it's George Bush's fault.; 4/27/12, 2:40 PM
traditionalguy said...: I saw that interview. The Lama guy was very personable. And he did not levitate during the interview.

He says that he sees people as either arrogant to their hurt or as hard working and humble. He has that about right.

As the gravity law is unbreakable in the universe, the law that says he who is proud will fall and he who humbles himself will be raised up, also is unbreakable in the universe.; 4/27/12, 2:41 PM
Patrick said...: I ordered a pizza from the D.L. I asked him to make me one with everything.

That gets me every time.

It doesn't surprise me he loves George W. Bush is a decent man, who did what he did because he thought it was the right thing to do. He was kind to people who were terrible to him, and he maintained good humor. Lots of mistakes as President, but he is a good guy.; 4/27/12, 2:41 PM
Mr. Forward said...: By the way, Iraq is selling more oil than Iran. Strategery.; 4/27/12, 2:42 PM
Chuck66 said...: I spoke out against Bush 43 spending...what was it? $35 BILLION on aids in Africa work. But word out there is that it did do good. This wasn't just welfare to African dictators, but went to actual programs that made sense.

Ask Bono.; 4/27/12, 2:42 PM
Anonymous said...: Why does anyone listen to this jerk? The Dalai Lama is a self proclaimed Marxist, the most evil philosophy of modern times.; 4/27/12, 2:44 PM
Chuck66 said...: Bush and Governor Walker have one trait in common....they both seem to have the attitude of "well, I know I am right, so I don't need to go out and try to sell my ideas. I just do the right thing, and if people don't understand what I am doing and hate me for it, fine. I don't do this to be popular".; 4/27/12, 2:45 PM
Chuck66 said...: Ken, have you read the book "Stuff White People Like"? That kind of explains the DL's popularity amongst the white western chattering class.; 4/27/12, 2:46 PM
kjbe said...: “Love is the absence of judgment.”
-Dalai Lama XIV

He loves us all.; 4/27/12, 2:52 PM
yashu said...: And Matt Damon-- leftier-than-thou Matt Damon-- "would kiss George W Bush on the mouth" for what W's done for AIDS sufferers in Africa.

(And by the way, Matt isn't too happy with Obama.)

I know Bono and Bob Geldof have praised W for this in the past too-- though surprise surprise, that didn't get much publicity.

Strange new respect for Chimpy Bushitler. AIDS medicine for no oil! Wait, what?; 4/27/12, 2:53 PM
chickelit said...: Best part is how he knocks a pylon out from under Piers.

What a loathsome journalist that guy is.; 4/27/12, 2:53 PM
traditionalguy said...: When asked about the Chinese he said that they were a very intelligent and hard working people. Then he said the Cultural Revolution that a power mad Marxist named Mao put them through in the 1960s has forever changed their attitude towards Communists.

It looks like Obama will forever change our attitude towards Eco-Communists.; 4/27/12, 2:54 PM
Anonymous said...: Kit,

“Love is the absence of judgment.”
-Dalai Lama XIV

This really isn't a ringing endorsement of having humanity. In fact, non-judgement is very dangerous and inhuman. Acting as if Mao Zedong is morally equivalent to W is a moral failing (since no one is to be judged) that should let anyone know that the Dalai Lama is a piece of shit.; 4/27/12, 3:00 PM
Harsh Pencil said...: TCB-n-a-Flash said...
"Well...maybe Bush will gain full consciousness on his deathbed. At least he's got that going for him."

Which is nice.; 4/27/12, 3:06 PM
bagoh20 said...: "“Love is the absence of judgment.”

Well, then I mostly love people I haven't met.; 4/27/12, 3:07 PM
edutcher said...: Well, this is the sort of thing you get from a guy who resists Communism.

PS Did you know his mother was The Last of the Red Hot Lamas?

Thank you, I'm here all week.; 4/27/12, 3:13 PM
el polacko said...: even a moronic, greeting-card-platitude-spouting stopped clock 'lama' is right once a day: bush is a nice guy.; 4/27/12, 3:16 PM
Curious George said...: Like Bush, big hitter da Lama. Long.; 4/27/12, 3:28 PM
Amartel said...: Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking.; 4/27/12, 3:44 PM
Robert Cook said...: "George Bush always seemed like a pretty nice guy personally. Obama seems like a cold, imperious jerk."

Hmmm...Obama does seem cold, but Bush certainly never seemed like a nice guy personally. He always exuded an "Eddie Haskell snide asshold" vibe.

Of course, one shouldn't judge a President by his temperament or likability, but by his actions. In this regard, both Bush and Obama are terrible presidents, mass murderers.

“Love is the absence of judgment.”

Much snark in response to that, but this is also what Jesus said.

("Judge not that you be not judged," and "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," and "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye," and, of course, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.")

The point, of course, is that we must love others unconditionally, irrespective of how likable or unlikable various individuals may be, simply because they are our fellow creatures.; 4/27/12, 3:45 PM
Original Mike said...: I've always thought the personal hatred of George W. Bush, who clearly IS a very nice person, reflected very poorly on the BushHilter types.; 4/27/12, 3:46 PM
Michael Haz said...: "Big hitter, the Lama." - Carl Spackler; 4/27/12, 3:49 PM
Robert Cook said...: "...George W. Bush, who clearly IS a very nice person...."

How do you know? Do you know him personally? He may be a nice guy or he may be an asshole. He always radiated "asshole" to me; he reminded me of some of the jock/BMOC assholes that used to be popular in school...nice to those they liked or who could do them favors, but bullies and creeps to those they considered their inferiors. (I don't suggest all jocks were or are this way, but the guys who were this way tended to be jocks.)

Anecdotes by people who knew him in life tend to support my perception of him, but I can't claim I know "clearly" that he is an asshole; I can only assert this is the vibe he gives off.; 4/27/12, 3:57 PM
chickelit said...: Robert Cook: The point, of course, is that we must love others unconditionally, irrespective of how likable or unlikable various individuals may be, simply because they are our fellow creatures.

Which of course is a different matter than loving what everyone else does.; 4/27/12, 3:59 PM
Original Mike said...: I think it's pretty damn obvious, Robert.

And I've got the Dalai Lama to testify to my judgement in this matter. Whatta you got?; 4/27/12, 4:07 PM
Peter said...: I became a Precinct Chairman, kind of by accident during GWB's first run for Governor. As a Precinct Chair I had to go to the Senatorial District Convention. That was when I still smoked and so when a string of folks running for offices where my precinct couldn't vote I stepped out with a couple others and we were outside smokin' and jokin' when GWB stepped out. He stood there talking with us for some forty-five minutes with his aide and a Texas Ranger looking at their watches and worrying about the next place they had to be.

I never understood why he couldn't hardly talk on the TV, in a small group, and there were never more than six or seven of us, and down to three, he was relaxed, well spoken and poised. I became a GWB fan then. I didn't agree with everything he did but I know that he is strongly rooted in what he thinks is right. And he was a damned good governor.; 4/27/12, 4:07 PM
pm317 said...: After having watched Obama for four years now, I have come to believe that W is a nicer person in real life.; 4/27/12, 4:14 PM
ndspinelli said...: AJ Lynch, Great point! like all Dems, Obama polls everything he does. The polls said, servant entrance for the man of peace. Dictators get State Dinners. Very nuanced don't you see.; 4/27/12, 4:31 PM
Ralph L said...: Judging from the headline size, the News and Record thinks the Edwards trial is the biggest thing to happen in Greensboro since the Klan murders 30 years ago. And no one cares that he might be being railroaded. The Bush haters at least believe he's guilty of crimes.; 4/27/12, 4:38 PM
chickelit said...: Robert Cook wrote: I can only assert this is the vibe he gives off.

Perhaps this vibe resonates with your wavelength somehow.; 4/27/12, 4:42 PM
Ralph L said...: W seems like the type that rags on his friends (Turdblossom) but treats strangers much better. Cook sees the SNL caricature, not the families of the dead he tried to comfort.; 4/27/12, 4:49 PM
Matt said...: The obvious point being missed here is that the Dalai Lama loves him as a human being; Not as a politician. It's a backhanded compliment.

Also the Dalai Lama loves just about everybody. It's the core of his philosophy / religion. I respect that. We need more love.; 4/27/12, 5:48 PM
KCFleming said...: My daughter was at the CNN interview and got to meet and shake hands with HHDL. He was very kind and patient.; 4/27/12, 6:10 PM
Paul said...: TCB-n-a-Flash said...

"Well...maybe Bush will gain full consciousness on his deathbed. At least he's got that going for him."

And Obama? Consciousness? At least for others he has no consciousness. He is a true sociopath. His whole world revolves around himself, hence Michelle going all those vacations herself.; 4/27/12, 6:27 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Good people are good people, No matter how hard the gross leftwing machine tries to distort reality with their bullshit.; 4/27/12, 6:38 PM
garage mahal said...: Next to the current crop of Randroid Republicans Bush does seem almost compassionate in comparison.; 4/27/12, 6:42 PM
Blue@9 said...: The obvious point being missed here is that the Dalai Lama loves him as a human being; Not as a politician. It's a backhanded compliment.

Also the Dalai Lama loves just about everybody. It's the core of his philosophy / religion.

Pfft. People on lefty websites have been working themselves into a froth to explain how the Dalai Lama (impeccable credentials) could possibly love Bush (Hitler). They all spout the same thing you did, which is that the Dalai Lama loves everybody, so this is nothing special.

But that's bullshit. He called out Bush when asked a specific question. Here's the exchange:

Morgan asked his honored guest, “Which people that you’ve ever met have really impressed you?”

“I think Nelson Mandela,” responded the Dalai Lama. "Of course as individual, individual person, I love President Bush."

"Which one?" asked Morgan.

"The younger one," said the Dalai Lama

Morgan incredulously responded, “Really?”

“Really,” he clarified. "As a human being. Not as a president of America. Sometimes his policy may not be very, very successful. But as a person, as a human being, very nice person. I love him."

That's the opposite of a backhanded compliment. He's being diplomatic about his political differences with Bush, but he makes it emphatic that likes Bush despite those differences: "[V]ery nice person. I love him."

I have no clue if Bush is a nice guy or not--I've never met him--but it comports with what I've heard about his personality.

What's really amusing is just how crippling is Bush-Derangement and how the sufferers must go to incredible lengths so as not to admit that Bush is not Hitler.; 4/27/12, 6:43 PM
Mary Beth said...: Morgan must not have done his research before the interview. The Dalai Lama said the same thing in 2009.; 4/27/12, 7:07 PM
Matt said...: Blue@9

Thanks for clarifying. However the interview you cite says exactly what I said; which is that he loves him as a person not as a politician.

Yes, it is not a cynical backhanded compliment I'll grant you that. But when you say you love someone despite their politics there is an element of it being a backhanded compliment.

Especially if you make it a point to distinguish that love.

"As a human being. Not as a president of America. Sometimes his policy may not be very, very successful….
He did not need to add that part. But the reason the Dalai Lama said this, in my opinion, is because he probably does love him [which is fine] but he wants those who respect him to know that he is not betraying them or betraying his core principles.; 4/27/12, 8:21 PM
madAsHell said...: I love me some young bush too....but that window is closed!!; 4/27/12, 10:04 PM
wyo sis said...: If you care what the Dali Lama thinks it's clear he likes (loves) George W. If you don't care what the Dali Lama thinks, it's clear he like's (loves) George W. Now you can either care about (like) the Dali Lama more or less depending on how you feel about George W. Has anything changed? For me it's a confirmation of what I already think about George W and makes me like the Dali Lama more.; 4/27/12, 10:10 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: It's a backhanded compliment.

You're accusing the Dalai Lama of giving backhanded compliments?

Politics not being among the most important things of life, when most people talk about liking someone apart from politics, they don't mean it in a backhanded way.; 4/27/12, 10:23 PM
Ryan Costa said...: I love how Morgan is not even able to comprehend how the Dalai Lama could love Bush.; 4/28/12, 6:49 AM
Shanna said...: When I was in Washington, President Bush's office made a point to get people invited to the christmas receptions that hadn't gotten a chance to go to the white house with any regularity (especially lower level employees). It was a very thoughtful gesture on his part and I always though well of him for it.

(At the receptions, he stood by his christmas tree with Laura for a very long time so everyone could get a picture and was very nice.); 4/28/12, 8:57 AM
harrogate said...: "I love how Morgan is not even able to comprehend how the Dalai Lama could love Bush."

I know, right? Clearly Morgan didn't listen when Bush said to "watch this drive."; 4/28/12, 8:59 AM