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January 21, 2009

Woodward: 10 Things for Obama to learn from Bush

Posted: 09:19 AM ET

By Bob Woodward of the Washington Post – Woodward will be our guest tonight – what do you want to hear from him?  Let us know!

There's actually a lot that President Barack Obama can learn from the troubled presidency of George W. Bush.

Over the past eight years, I have interviewed President Bush for nearly 11 hours, spent hundreds of hours with his administration's key players and reviewed thousands of pages of documents and notes. That produced four books, totaling 1,727 pages, that amount to a very long case study in presidential decision-making, and there are plenty of morals to the story.

Presidents live in the unfinished business of their predecessors, and Bush casts a giant shadow on the Obama presidency with two incomplete wars and a monumental financial and economic crisis. Here are 10 lessons that Obama and his team should take away from the Bush experience.

(Read Woodward's 10 lessons HERE)

Filed under: Bob Woodward • Larry King Live


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Troy   January 21st, 2009 9:41 am ET

my only wish is that larry will invite george bush to his sitcom and answer a lot of question from the callers..It's pay back time! they deserve an answer of what happened to america and also dick chaney "the brain of everything".


Vincent Nizzardi   January 21st, 2009 1:36 pm ET

ILarry-Baby, If there is anything the new president must learn from Mr. Bush, and previous Presidents, is that the American people want
"Lobbying, and earmarks programs banned from Government".
Lobbying is basically legal bribery, and must stop Immediately.
We do not need outside companies telling our Government , what projects, improvements, etc., are needed, throughout our nation, when each state already has a Goveror, and Mayor , as well as a vast host of State, and city employees in every area, whose job it is to oversee, and make recamendations up the chain of command, for these and other physical needs of each state.

As far as "earmarks", each request for an earmark should be placed on President Obama's website for all the American people to see, and judge on it's merit. Congress will know by our outcries, what should and should not be enacted into law. There should be a 90 day flushing out period from the time the earmark is introduced, and it is approved / disapproved.No more of this slipping earmarks into bills at the last minute............Thats over, we won't stand for it anymore

Finally, if President Obama does want to bring the change to Washington he has suggested, we must, Must !! see this crap dealt with right now !


DEREK   January 21st, 2009 3:47 pm ET

Mr Larry King – How can Rush Limbaugh say in one group words that he loves America and in another group of words hope that the leader of America fails? Freedom of speech is clearly one of our great rights...but for Rush to say that he hopes our President fails is the same as saying he hopes our country fails and with that said i consider him a trader and he should be considered an enemy of the United States of America. His actions and words remind me of the Islamic extremist groups who teach, preach and hope that our country fails – No matter who the President is. His radio station breeds hatred. How do we promote peace around the world when we have people like him?


Eric Harding   January 21st, 2009 4:11 pm ET

"Well" considering his plans I think he should,

"1." Learn how to lie in order to get Trillions.
"2." Never claim victory until the war is over.
"3." Sorry Larry but there is no three. I got a migraine just coming up with 1 & 2.


Rozie IN   January 21st, 2009 4:30 pm ET

NO SMOKING! Is what he can learn from Bush. Nothing after that.

Wonderful Inaugural speech . A President that can speak, think, and say something to people intelligent and standing on his feet! Thank God!


hugh ~ california   January 21st, 2009 4:30 pm ET

Unless our new Commander-in-Chief wants to screw it up, I don't think President Obama (I like writing his new title) can learn anything from former President Bush (I like writing this even more).


Joe G. (From Illinois)   January 21st, 2009 4:40 pm ET

God’s almighty prerogative is all..


joanne from Sudbury ontario canada   January 21st, 2009 6:05 pm ET

As Canadian looking in I would suggest to just let Barack Obama alone and not interfere in his administration. This Man Woodward obviously did not learn much from Bush except a lot of garbage to fill his pages so he is the last person to give any advice or ask any questions of your new President. I am already impressed with Obama's executive decisions he put forth this morning. Barack Obama just needs the respect and trust of the American people to get the United States back on track as far as I am concerned he has already earned respect from the rest of the world.


Maxine   January 21st, 2009 6:38 pm ET

To cover all the errors that Bush made on Larry King LIve, it would a month, not just one hour.


Rob   January 21st, 2009 9:04 pm ET

Obama used the Koran tonight in the White House when he was sworn in for real. Addidtionaly the reason for swearing in at this time was Astrological yesterday at noon was not good for some reason.


Rob   January 21st, 2009 9:05 pm ET

Is it true they did not use the Bible tonight when Obama swore in again? Did he use the Koran????


Damon   January 21st, 2009 9:06 pm ET

Did Obama use the Koran today at the White House???? Thagts what is being reported on Fox News


Denise   January 21st, 2009 9:10 pm ET

Larry,
Can you please tell these people that Obama did not use the Koran today instead of the Bible...it was the Torah.


sharon   January 21st, 2009 9:11 pm ET

Why should President Obama have to learn anything at all from a President who had a 22% favorable rating when leaving office.


Nam(South Korea,Busan)   January 21st, 2009 9:17 pm ET

1. Homeland security.
2. African HIV aid.
3. Tax cut.


Clarence, Albuquerque   January 21st, 2009 9:20 pm ET

I liked the 10 suggestions of Bob Woodward and may start using them at my staff meetings. More or less.


Chevoka Rowe   January 21st, 2009 9:45 pm ET

Mr. Larry King, I was watching your show on wed. night. I feel that people are not giving our President the respect that he has earn. By call Him Mr. President, just as you have to all the other President. Please give The President his respect !

MR.PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Thank You, Ms. Rowe


Nancy Pak   January 21st, 2009 9:46 pm ET

1. Deficit spending to improve the economy.
2. Strengthen Social Security, Medicare and medicaid.
3. Get back to the basics of research and development.
4. Wind down the war and deal with hman rights violations.


Sean Hawkins   January 21st, 2009 9:49 pm ET

Obama needs to stick to everything and make his own list please don't even think about President Bush list .President Obama is smart and he will put his on list together and it will be great!!!


Joan, Michigan   January 21st, 2009 9:51 pm ET

I do do not think that you can excuse a person for not paying his taxes on the basis that they are too difficult or whatever. Bob Woodward may like to use that as an excuse, but the fact remains that we all figure out how to pay our taxes or the IRS fines us. A person who is highly qualified should know everything there is to know about paying taxes. I can't imagine having someone in a high office who missed paying his taxes.

I also think we should get more qualified musicians to sing at our inaugurations. Why do we not make our military bands and chorus more visible?


lydia   January 21st, 2009 9:55 pm ET

i would like to see obama talk all the millions aways from the thiefs in washington that have broke the law, if we break the law they dont pay us.


Linda Graves   January 21st, 2009 10:15 pm ET

With this inauguration being the most attended I was disappointed with the selection of talent that was chosen to speak on yesterday especially the invocation and the benediction. At those two most sacred moments of the day there was a true lack of spiritually.


REYNALDO BLANCO   January 22nd, 2009 12:59 am ET

WHY GIVING 700 BILLON DOLLARS TO 3 FAILING COMPANIES.? IT'S OUR MONEY, OUR TAXES...! WHY NOT DIVIDE THIS AMOUNT BETWEEN ALL 350 MILLONS AMERICANS? THAT WILL BE 2.5 MILLONS DOLLARS TO EACH ONE OF US. THEN WE ALL WILL BE MILLONAIRS!!! AND CAN GO AND BUY 3 CARS! ONE FORD, ONE CRYSLER AND OND GMC. WE ALL HAVE MORE THAN ONE CAR AT HOME, ANYWAYS!!!! THIS WILL MAKE ALL OF US HAPPY..AND PROSPEROUS!!! Renaldo Blanco
103 E. Main Street, Leola, PA 17540
717-656-3313
Just call me !!! and let spread my idea of economic recovery.


Elias Nicolias   January 22nd, 2009 1:08 am ET

1. Finish off the week.
2. TAKE A 2 WEEK VACATION!


Frank   January 22nd, 2009 6:03 am ET

Leave President Bush alone. It is in the past!! You're not perfect either!! It is easy to blame others, but try to imagine yourself in their position!! Could you do better?


Arrest Bush/Cheney et al   January 22nd, 2009 10:56 am ET

ARREST the basta*ds!


D.M. Taylor   January 22nd, 2009 2:46 pm ET

I think he has already learn from Bush-don't let the presidency go to your head stay with the principles of government and for the people.


W M Thomas N   January 23rd, 2009 8:25 am ET

One important thing Mr Obama should learn from Mr Bush :
NOT to make comments like being "disappointed" that were no WMD found in Irak. "Disappointed" ??? Isn't this the equivalent to being "disappointed" to should have been sacrificing 10 000, 20 000 [?] American lives in Irak?
W M Th N, Jakarta, Indonesia.-


mike   March 3rd, 2009 10:10 pm ET

How come the right wing panelist's' always get more air time than the left wing panelists? Is CNN leaning toward the right?


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