The Disconnected President

"So the first thing is I'm heading home. I came from Texas with a set of values, and I'm going to go home with the same set of values. In order to be making consistent decisions in this complex world, you can't be shifting your principles in order to be the popular guy. (Applause.) I guess I'll go home and mow the lawn. (Laughter.)"

Then he offered some advice to his would-be successors: "I think it's going to be very important, as you pay attention to the presidential race, to try to come up with not only who you agree with, obviously, but whether that person knows how to delegate; knows how to set up a structure so that good information can make it into the Oval Office in a way that enables good decision-making. The temptation, of course, is to walk in the Oval Office and say, oh, man, you're looking beautiful. And the President doesn't need somebody -- because generally he's not looking beautiful. The President needs somebody to walk in and say, here's what I think.

"So when you think about good, solid advisors -- at least in my case -- think about somebody like Condoleezza Rice, or Hank Paulson who used to run Goldman Sachs, or Bob Gates. These are strong, capable people. And my job is to make sure that the environment is such that they can walk in and say, Mr. President, here's what I'm thinking, here's my advice. And their job, by the way, once the President makes up his mind, is say, 'Yes, sir, Mr. President.' (Laughter.)"

Blogger Duncan Black ( Atrios) writes: "Watching Bush speak you realize he's a really dumb person who thinks everyone in the room is even dumber than he is."

Waxing Eloquent

The president and the first lady sat down this morning for a six-minute live interview with "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts. The interview was held on the National Mall as part of a series the show is doing on "7 Wonders of America." Here's the White House transcript.

Roberts: "You know, America considers this their front lawn; this is your backyard. You see it all the time. Does it still amaze you, sir?"

Bush: "It does. It's a beautiful place. In the spring, the flowers are fantastic. In the fall, the -- it's just such a -- kind of a place that's so fresh. In the winter, of course, it's got a lot of snow. (Laughter.) Summer is real hot. . . . "

Roberts: "Well, this time next year there will be somebody else that will be occupying this beautiful house right here. And it was in November you talked to my colleague, Charlie Gibson, and you felt that Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee."

Bush: "Yes."

Roberts: "Do you still feel that way?"

Bush: "Then I reminded everybody I predicted the Detroit Tigers to win the American League pennant last year, too. (Laughter.) So I'm not a very good political forecaster. We'll let the Democrats decide. I predict John McCain will be living up there."

Gone By in a Flash

Speaking of interviews, Newsweek's Jon Meacham recently sat down with the first lady and daughter Jenna.