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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Bush knows Obama -- now

Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 12:47 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC's Chris Donovan
An interesting tidbit now that Obama is the nominee and in light of Bush's congratulations today for Obama:

”Jan Schakowsky told me about a recent visit she had made to the White House with a congressional delegation. On her way out, she said, President Bush noticed her ‘Obama’ button. ‘He jumped back, almost literally,’ she said. ‘And I knew what he was thinking. So I reassured him it was Obama, with a 'b.' And I explained who he was. The President said, 'Well, I don't know him.' So I just said, 'You will.' " (New Yorker, 5/31/2004)

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Bush has been a great president. Not because he did popular things (see Clinton for details),  but because he did things that were necessary. Low-brow liberals, who can't seem think their way out of a paper bag, can't get beyond Obama's simpleton message of Hope and Change and figure out what is Necessary and Right.
i LOVE it! i reminds me off all those naysayers who said there was "no way" Americans would vote for a black man whose middle name was Hussein, and whose last name rhymes with our greatest enemy!

but, um, YES WE DID!
How prophetic?.

Just like Pharoah did'nt know the child that was picked up out of the Nile, and brought into his palace, would be his undoing, as he Delivered the people.

While it is not surpising that Bush - can't spell or read.  It is surpising that such a thing is mentioned .  Any slight reference to OSAMA is not call for...come on guys stay focused.

Let's go Democrats -

Thank You and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Bush doesn't remember meeting him and telling him that he would get the largest push back from within his own party?  Obama even spoke to him about their families and having daughters. There simply aren't words to describe Bush's lack of . . . yeah.
Wow!  LOL!  Ya Damn right!  Obama might be his jailer when him and Cheney are tried on war crimes.  Oh yes 'You Will.'
Sad for all Democrats that Bush at least had the decency to congratulate Obama on his win when our own HRC doesn't have the class to do it.  
Jan Schakowsky is a wonderful representative for my home district (Illinois 9th). She has been one of Obama's most vocal supporters since 2004. I have a funny feeling that she may also be gearing up to replace him in the Senate. Keep an eye out for her.
How suave of you Jan! Nice Work!

Oh I wish was that lucky to be able to tell that to Bush or Cheney!
"Osama?" "Where is he from?" "But he's Muslim!" I have received these comments even from people with Masters Degrees... it is code for.. I don't want to know him.. My head is in the sand... We will not have him for President.  If I close my eyes I won't have to acknowledge what is happening. Pity that our leader shares these ignorant attitudes.  Obama Grandmama
*cough*

Yeah, right. Another media darling grandmother tale.
Yep, he will.

And he does know Obama, just as Obama writes about in his book. They have met and talked on several occasions and he even gave Obama a bit of advice about Washington.

http://www.politivine.com
LoL, Obama, with a B, is the guy we're electing to clean up the mess you made to this country over the last 8 years!

Also, even though they already know this since the laughed Hillary off when she made the offer for more debates, but Obama should do like one forum a month with McCain, if that.  Don't let McCain try to free load off of Obama's movement.  He worked VERY HARD organizing this movement, so if Maverick McCain wants to contrast himself with Obama, then he needs to rely on his "30 years" of experience and people knowing him to do it.  

We'll see which one is more effective in November when McCain is all but blacked out on television because he gives horrible speeches and his policies are no different than Bush's.
President Bush would have wiped the floor with Obama if he was running for a third term.
I LOVE THAT!!!!!!!

and that was before the 2004 convention, too...
And know him, you do now, Mr. lame-duck President.
Classic... I think we as Americans can be proud of what we have done. Even if he's not the President we have already changed our standing with the rest of the world. You can be republican or democrat, but you have to at least acknowledge the man and give him his dues. Something the Extremist right wing talk shows have yet to do this morning on the radio.. You would think they would at least congratulate him... Nope.
Jan Schakowsky is an Obama supporter.  That is so typical.  She is obviously one of those misogynists.  She hates women.  She wants them to stay barefoot and pregnant.  She thinks the government should be run only by men.  She would never support a lowly woman for any elected office.

Oh, wait, she is a congresswoman.

Never mind.

Obama/Sebelius in 2008.  Integrity matters and the Clintons have none.
Bush not pay attention to the real world?  Who knew?  Of course, two months ago nobody had told him $4.00 gas was a possibility.  Bush/McCain:  their thumb on the nation (and the other up their...).

http://infogiant.wordpress.com/
Im a christian, and there is a saying, "be careful what you pray for, you just might get it", I am afraid that oratory, charisma and wild promises that we have heard from so many politicians before are blinding our judgement and memories.  So if you are praying for Obama with your vote, you might get something you really dont want.
I'm not entirely convinced President Bush can tell the difference between Obama and Osama even now.
As usual, Bush is a DORK with a capital D.  He knew Obama was same man since 2002 at Dem convention so to say he was just "acting" stupid - well DA, Bush is indeed Stupid but not about Barack Obama.

And Cheny with his very racist and white statement - what do you folks expect from this white house and administration.
That is why McCain cannot win he and all those OLD folks in house and senate - their time has come.  It is time for us Americans to arrive in this 21 century and yes, that includes severe CHANGE, but CHANGE for the better.  Just think, Senator Byrd of all people in the senate has been there a LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGG time, a former KKK, all that and Senator Byrd, God Love him, has endorsed Senator Obama - not if this great Senator Byrd is not a poster for real American CHANGE and FUTURE - you are all dummies.

God Bless and Keep Senator Byrd and Senator Kennedy at this trying time in their lives.  WE NEED YOU TRUE AMERICANS.
Jerry, we'll see. Since McCain is running for Bush's third term, we'll see if Bush wins this November.
Jerry --

Seriously.  No, seriously.  

Last I looked, Senator Obama is the one holding the mop, and President Bush is the one whose approval rating is on the floor.
Bush beating Obama?  Thanks for my chuckle of the day.  Let's see Bush's approval rating is what 28%?

Yeah, that'll work.
Hey Jerry, I don't know if you have noticed, but Governor Bush (I call him that because that is the last elected office he held legally) has something like a 28% approval rating.  Now how can you say that he would wipe the floor with Obama if the only ones who support him are the hardcore republican base?
Donna, that comment is scary.  Obama is not the second-coming of Christ, despite what you Obama supporters and his campaign (see practically all of his campaign materials) would want people to believe.  Obama is nothing more than a political opportunist who has the media in his pocket and a lot of people who are more than happy (and lazy enough) to allow the media and the pundits to force his candidacy down their throats.  It's sickening.  As a woman, I am furious at the negative coverage the media has given to Hillary throughout this primary campaign, and I'm even more furious at a country who chuckles at the sexist comments.  I have been called many names by Obama supporters just because I was supporting Hillary, and the one at the top of the list was "racist" as if there could be no other reason for me to choose not to support Obama.  It will continue throughout the general election, and I will become even more infuriated.  The media should be ashamed of themselves, and Obama supporters, let me make one thing clear to you: Obama CAN'T win without Hillary supporters.  So, you should probably tone down your rhetoric if you want Obama to have any chance whatsoever to win the Presidency.  I can tell you that I am suspicious of a candidate who is all about "hope" and "change" when his supporters spew out hateful venom towards those who have contrary opinions.  
Shut up! Wax on Wax off! Where have you been the past 7 years! He has done nothing but get us in a heep of crap! And when he leaves it will just be worse.. We were better off with a democrat from the start. Hi Wax on Wax off this is Earth... Welcome to the present date
Someone said "Bush did good things"? Well, I suppose he sent his mom a birthday card at some point. My first thought is: If only Bush had only lied about having sex with someone. Instead, he worked with and continued to protect Karl Rove - who influenced much Bush did and said and no one American ever voted for the bum. He lied, had Bush lie for him, and ruined peoples lives. A fundamental problem with George Bush is that he's still the little boy so endearing to some people. He's the little boy who got away with so many errors in his life because people liked his American boy charm. No need to write a list of what he did bad for the country. What we know would fill pages and pages. Having watched the deterioration of the office of the presidency over 8 years I shudder to think of how much we don't know about him and the disaster he has left us. It is only for his vile stature at this point that John McCain is a candidate. McCain seems the decent fellow that can repair the damage. But, what do we see? McCain on stage with Karl Rove at the NRA convention. He has already jumped into the political bed of Karl Rove, the lier, the destroyer of lives, the man who has no moral fiber and no civic ethic that he would not bend and break to get what he wants. That is John McCain's stage partner.
We need a third bush term of lies, war and endless deficits

Vote Mccain 08
Jerry from Corpus Christi--

You are so wrong.  Have you paid any attention to Bush's extremely low approval rating?  

A young, relatively unknown senator like Obama has now become the Democratic nominee--in large part because of his "Change" message. Obama is the only one (of the candidates) who read the intelligence report and spoke out against the Iraqi "war".  He is the only one who rightly put down the pandering idea of the gas tax holiday (first proposed by McCain, then supported by Hillary, neither of whom have pursued it since over 200 economic experts denounced it). These two points--the economy and the war--are the issues that Obama will stand on to win our votes.

McCain may not be Bush, but he is like an unwelcome cousin of his.

--a forty-something, white, hardworking mama for Obama
We need to waterboard bush and find out just when he knew about obama
jerry, jerry, jerry - certainly you mean "President Cheney" or "President Rove," not President Bush.  Bush couldn't wipe the floor with his own a$$. Can he even spell 'floor'?
Wax On Wax Off, plunging this country into a war based on false pretenses that has cost billions of dollars and over 4000 American lives was neither NECESSARY nor RIGHT. I don't know what bubble you're living in to even make such a statement....


these GOP diehards blow me away...
Bush could've declared war on the UK, and they would've stood by him. And they call Obama supporters mindless followers!? LOL

A third of the country is still lost in a delusion called Republicanism, so it's no surprise that their leaders are so "funny."  Except, the jokes on us...as they laugh their way to the bank!
the stooge who thinks Bush was great, has definitely been living in some secluded, wooded straw hut that sets next to a cesspool she/he relies on for drinking water.
It just goes to show you how out of touch Mr. Bush is. He didn't know the price gas either. It is not a shocker. It is just more of the same. I can't wait until January, 2009 when Bush is forced, by the voters and the Constitution, to turn the White House over to President Barack Obama.
president bush has been such a great President that we are in a RECISSION, LOOSING HOMES, JOBS, PENSIONS, CAN'T BUY GAS, CAN'T AFFORD COLLEGE TUTION, SOME SOLDIERS ARE HOMELESS, JOBLESS, JOBS GOING OVER SEAS......................

WITH A PRESIDENT LIKE THIS WELL..............


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