I think Obama, if he's wise, will often ask for their opinions on things. He may not use it, but atleast he will be able to get other Presidents' opinions. He will have 2 repubs and 2 dems to talk to. No one else on earth could give such advice. As for dealing with al queda, he will get advice from Bill and W. No matter what you side you're on, both men can give invaluable insight to Obama. They've seen the intelligence that no one else can see. I hope Obama felt humbled and really, truly appreciated who he is about to become.

I think I am going to throw up. A group of power mad, greedy men out to improve their pockets at the expense of the American slaves. These men swear to uphold the Constitution and only uphold their coffers and egos.

Hey II

I can't believe you didn't see the 3 funerals of 3 very different men that were all over the television news in December 2006 - President Gerald Ford, Saddam Hussein and James Brown!

Lizathome: I so agree with everything you wrote. It's so nice to know that there are other people like me who 'get it' very refreshing reading what you wrote. You made my day

ABCNews is the ONLY news service reporting the big Prez luncheon correctly. Everyone else is calling it a lunch with Barack Obama & FOUR ex-Presidents.... WHAT? Can the others count? There's THREE former Presidents, the CURRENT President and the President-elect. And Obama is NOT a President and CANNOT be addressed as such, he is the President-ELECT. Only after he has taken the oath of office will he be President Obama.

Witnessing on television three ex-presidents, one soon to be ex-president and the president elect standing shoulder to shoulder together and smiling is an image that is going to be etched in our memories for a very long time. It reaffirmed why America even though it may not be the largest democracy is still the greatest democracy in the world. I cannot imagine any other nation on earth with leaders from a span of 32 years in the white house coming together across party lines with such grace and goodwill towards each other. American democracy has has been enduring for over 2 centuries and the civility by which the peaceful and orderly transition of power takes place is heart warming. We Americans may not be going through the best of times and in fact we as a nation are probably going through the worst of times but that does not change the fact that we are lucky in many ways to live in America in the first decade of this century. Imagine the people in Zimbabwe who cannot dump a wretched dictator who has deprived the people of their freedom and brought misery only to hope that elections would change the leadership of their country, shattered. Imagine the ex-president of South Africa who one day recently was unceremoniously removed from power before his term ended. Imagine being a Palestinian in Gaza and misery is just a long dark, scary, bloody tunnel with no light and no end in sight. Imagine living in Israel surrounded by enemies who want to see it disappear. Imagine living in countries where the leaders will kill each other and the only way leadership changes is by a military coup. There are crooks and swindlers in America who have made off with millions and billions, the deficit is reaching astronomical proportions, the greed of a few is ruining the lives of many and the mismanagement of wall street and government and the lack of oversight is troubling, but the fundamental ideals of America should resurface with the new president. The unity showed by the presidents coming together is a sign of the Times that United States will stand up to the challenges and find its path to recovery from the current economic mess.

JoAnn - where have you been living these last 8 years?!?! MR OBAMA is the president - elect. That's not even an official TITLE! PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH has been PRESIDENT for 8 years, and most times the uneducated press calls him MR BUSH.

Where were you when HE WAS BEING DISRESPECTED?!?!? Folks who complain about non issues need to put their heads back in the sand!

This was indeed a gracious, nifty thing that President Bush extended this invitation to the P-elect and three past Presidents. I apparently made a couple of rude people angry in Dallas on the WFAA Web site today by not going out of my way to mention that I understood that this was originally Obama's idea and remembered when I first heard that reported (on NPR), so let me make sure that fact is unmistakably clear here. Obama was indeed the source of the original idea. But Bush didn't have to execute on it, and I'm terribly glad he did. This was an important unifying gesture for our country, and it was a heartening sight to see elected officials treat each other with a great deal more respect and courtesy than opposing factions do here.

I still want to know what was eaten. Chicken? Salmon? Beef? Texas-style food? I'm guessing probably not broccoli.

Hmmm....the two Democrat Presidents wore red ties, the two Republican Presidents wore blue ties....and the Democrat President-Elect Obama--- wore a....BLUE TIE too....is he a closet Republican? Or is he just not in to Power Red?

President George W. Bush is a class act. He is very patriotic and loves this country and God. Didn't Ms. McFadden say there is a place to vote for the worst President and the best on this site? In case I miss it, Carter was the worst and the "W" has been the best. He at least has integrity and love of country. As far as why the country is in the shape it's in...look to the Congress. The President has little control. Christ will sort all this out!

C'mon people!!!

It does not matter who came up with the idea or who execute on it!!!

Point is that Democrat and Republican (former, current and elected)Presidents can come together for a common good!!!

The United States of America!!!

My Ratings of these presidents

Worst
1: George Bush or George W. Bush
2: George W. Bush or George Bush
You can sort out which of the two needs
to be listed as the worst and second worst
3: Jimmy Carter Absolutely was worst until we suffered with the Bush's now
he is rated as 3rd worst

Best
1: Best Bill Clinton

Not yet Presidents - I didnt vote for the new guy to be B.O.

I still think Hillary would be even better than Bill.

We will all have to wait and see.

I'm counting the days.I can't wait! Until the worst president of the united states is out of office ( His dad sr. G. Bush beenig the 2nd worst .) And I did'nt even vote for Obama. And I still Can't wait ! And I sure hope that any advice given By the Bushes would be consider a joke.

I didn't think that mattered, either, SisterDearest, but apparently my readers on our local Dallas news site felt I'd been remiss in not directly mentioning both details. I suppose I do think it's significant that the lame duck President issued the round-up, brought the photographers in for the historic photo-op, and fed everyone. I wish we had similar hope for a meeting of the diplomatic minds regarding Israel, Gaza, and now Lebanon. . . .

JoAnn - where have you been living these last 8 years?!?! MR OBAMA is the president - elect. That's not even an official TITLE! PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH has been PRESIDENT for 8 years, and most times the uneducated press calls him MR BUSH.

Where were you when HE WAS BEING DISRESPECTED?!?!? Folks who complain about non issues need to put their heads back in the sand!

Posted by: NPage | Jan 8, 2009 12:04:46 AM

________________________________________
I used to say the same thing regarding Bill Clinton. The press used to regulalrly refer to him as Mr. Clinton and I saw that as a bit disrespectful.

Whether the press likes the man or not, he should be addressed by his title and at least shown that bit of respect.

lizathome God Bless you for having the guts to speak up about Bush. So Many people think he is whats wrong with the country when in a time like this he is what we needed. The house is at fault with this crisis. Bush warned them. They didn't listen. He kept us safe. Watch Obama use the same things Bush did to keep us safe. Those tools everyone complained about. Obama is going to be able to use them if he needs too. The great thing is he may not have to because of the things Bush did. Iraq will be a free country and it will spread around that part of the world. Bush will be judged kindly by history. I hope Obama is a great potus. He has the tools to keep us safe. proof being Bush has done so. Obama will be tested and he should have a strong response to let them know just because the cowboy is gone doesn't mean America is weakened at all. It will be up to Obama to show the enemy that America is strong. God bless this man because he is soon to be the leader of the free world.

TV is stating 90 minute meeting. With or without the 30 minutes he spent with Bush that still puts this in the "little more than photo op" category. Nothing of real substance or value was said or done.

Imo, I think it is good that Obama initiated this lunch with GW and the 3 other surviving Presidents. However, I noticed that at least for the photo op, he is standing in between the two Bush's, I don't really want to think of Obama "palling around with the Bushs'" least he end of in the same mental state of denial that they seem to suffer from. Both Bushes rode in on the coattails of Reagan, having no sustenance of their own, both totally unable to identify with middle class America. I understand Obama's quest to reach out to the other side, I find it admirable and worthy enough to be called "change". I did vote for Obama and look forward to his Presidency.

power lunch with some of the worst presidents ever in modern american history. fellowship? wonder what you are thinking obama? other than your coming elaborate inauguration, you are not impressive to date. you have selected former clinton people for your administration including hillary, you have picked emanuel, richardson, panetta, gupta. richardson's major donor that is at the root of the richardson scandal in NM also donated to your campaign. not impressed so far, not by any stretch of the imagination.

Well according to everything I see on ABC and CBS evening news every night it appears that half of the cabinet Obama has chosen has been from that of President Clinton. I would that think that would be a good thing for the economy by brining that experience to the table.