Laura Bush gets it.

[nativetexan]

You know, I often wonder what direction Bush would have taken this country if 9/11 would not have happened. This interview with Laura Bush shows that she is an amazing lady un-jaded by those who intend to tear down the Bush legacy further. The one of many things I will give GW credit for is that he is unwavering in his ideals and morals.

First Lady: Shoe 'Assault' Shows Freedom in Iraq

First lady Laura Bush said she was offended by the recent "assault" on her husband, who had two shoes thrown at him during a recent visit to Iraq. At the same time, however, she said the assault shows that Iraqis feel a lot freer than they did before.

"I know that if Saddam Hussein had been there the man wouldn't have been released, and probably would've been executed," she said of the Iraqi journalist, who was arrested following the Dec. 14 incident and has been in custody since.

Laura Bush noted that President Bush is a "natural athlete" as demonstrated by his ability to dodge the shoes.

Bush, who appeared in an interview taped for "FOX News Sunday," said she never thought she would personally have the power to spotlight her favorite issues until after Sept. 11, 2001, when she began discussing the plight of women in Afghanistan.

The first lady said she understood about her influence after her first address on women in Afghanistan when she was walking by a perfume counter in a department store.

"They ... had a real feeling for the women of Afghanistan. The idea of a government that would forbid half of their population from being educated was so shocking," the first lady said.

Bush said she worries about the return to the "days of the burqa," which at least at this point is a choice for women in Afghanistan rather than a requirement. But she said many choose the option of donning the full body covering because they are afraid of removing it.

"That is a worry. And I met with a group of women parliamentarians from Afghanistan last January or so and they said they were afraid this was their only chance and if they can't work it out" they will go back to deep oppression of women.

"Afghanistan and Iraq both have the opportunity to seize the moment if they want to ...

It's very very important for the people of these countries to stand up and take the opportunities to build their countries," she said.

The first lady also lamented the reporting on Hurricane Katrina, which she described as "not factual." Bush said the Coast Guard did a fantastic job pulling people off their roofs, and that a lot of people got the misimpression that 10,000 New Orleans residents died in the aftermath of the 2005 storm that flooded the city. An estimated 1,800 people died in the storm and the flood.

Mrs. Bush said that her husband's "inner core and his belief in freedom, and not just freedom from terrorism, but freedom from disease and freedom from illiteracy" is the untold story of her husband's presidency.

Asked if she wanted to get anything off her chest, she said no, but then responded, "Do I think the press is fair? No I do not, but I think you are Chris," she told "FOX News Sunday" host Chris Wallace.

[stevebeilgard]

i saw that interview and agree she did a good job. the media trashed bush and the entire 8 years, but bush held up well. the first lady was just that, a lady. i'm not sure what we're in for in the next 4 years, but the bush's will be hard to duplicate. i hate the "big spending liberal republican" president, and i doubt if i'll like the "big spending more liberal democrat" president. but i will wait a year or 2 to pass judgement.

the 2 questions we'll be asked in 3 years are 1) are you better off today than you were 3 years ago, and 2) has the united states remained secure (have we been attacked). those 2 questions will ultimately define just how well bush did and how well obama did. we'll just wait and see. and as for mrs. obama's interview done in 3 years by msnbc, her tough questions will revolve around "how is the food at the white house".

[wtnhunt]

Have not seen the interview, but agree with the first lady Laura Bush.

Really think it is a shame that this country has been put in the position it has by the liberal media. Sad so many people just dont get it.