W appears as guest of Jay Leno and jokes, 'You're about to head out to pasture'

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/u-ke6wKzPwM" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />It was vintage George W. Bush Tuesday night as the former president and first lady appeared with Jay Leno on NBC's "Tonight Show." The opening exchange went something like this:<br /><blockquote><b>Jay Leno:</b> "I know you've tried to stay out of the spotlight for the past few years so I was actually pleasantly surprised you accepted our invitation."<br /><br /><b>President George W. Bush:</b> "Only because of you. (laughter) I mean you're about to head out to pasture (laughter) ... just wanted to see what you looked like before you got to the gate." (laughter)</blockquote>Talking about a variety of subjects during the twenty-minute interview, W and Leno joked back and forth before being joined by Mrs. Bush to discuss the humanitarian work the Bushes do around the world and at home.<br /><br />The former president emphasized his belief in laying low after leaving office:<br /><blockquote><b>Leno:</b> "I know you've avoided talking policy for the last six or seven years. Explain why." <br /><br /><b>W:</b> "I don't think it's good for the country to have a former president criticize his successor."</blockquote>W didn't show up empty-handed and presented Jay with a caricature painting of Leno as they talked about the president's hobby of painting since leaving office.<br /><br />The classy Bush family values would go far in today's toxic political atmosphere. He is missed. To see the entire 20-minute interview, check out the links:<br /><br />President George W. Bush with Jay Leno on NBC's "Tonight Show":<br /> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ke6wKzPwM" target="_blank">Part 1</a><br /> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMJv4e3TAq0" target="_blank">Part 2</a><br /> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j40U0euplzk" target="_blank">Part 3</a><br /> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwNehNnZRLE" target="_blank">Part 4</a> <br /><br />For archives of the Bush Administration and the humanitarian work the president is still doing, check out these links:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/george-w-bush-institute%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">George W. Bush Institute</a><br /><a href="http://www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/" target="_blank">George W. Bush Presidential Library</a><br /><a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">George W. Bush Center</a>

George W. Bush George W. Bush Center George W. Bush Institute George W. Bush Presidential Library humanitarian work Jay Leno Laura Bush NBC Tonight Show W appears as guest of Jay Leno and jokes, 'You're about to head out to pasture'

It was vintage George W. Bush Tuesday night as the former president and first lady appeared with Jay Leno on NBC's "Tonight Show." The opening exchange went something like this:Jay Leno: "I know you've tried to stay out of the spotlight for the past …

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George W. Bush carries on humanitarian work in Africa

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBqtra2un3iwzBg5ctWeAPoOH0hCYD91eInC9kohk9L2eXaxtrCehzkS1PoC4MEXLAxTNmudAxke_mXW7Ed1M62AHuGo1FJc4yAjxF7F04LUBJXLLk9WZyY8hyphenhyphenG58YLFeTqLwT8Hx4Euj/s570/George+W.+Bush+33+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBqtra2un3iwzBg5ctWeAPoOH0hCYD91eInC9kohk9L2eXaxtrCehzkS1PoC4MEXLAxTNmudAxke_mXW7Ed1M62AHuGo1FJc4yAjxF7F04LUBJXLLk9WZyY8hyphenhyphenG58YLFeTqLwT8Hx4Euj/s640/George+W.+Bush+33+Africa.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmdbAArQL4PgP0QJsWH11CcfA8bQrIJi3bJX0IyO2poeFuMdYZtAIjLo6OGwLchMjBRDtpTC29Bgh2T5McvNy1pAPHLANTq8Rehd8wTs9aLS_Z8wE6u4hzf1neQff5p7KXd5q7chC2nvD/s720/George+W.+Bush+20+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmdbAArQL4PgP0QJsWH11CcfA8bQrIJi3bJX0IyO2poeFuMdYZtAIjLo6OGwLchMjBRDtpTC29Bgh2T5McvNy1pAPHLANTq8Rehd8wTs9aLS_Z8wE6u4hzf1neQff5p7KXd5q7chC2nvD/s400/George+W.+Bush+20+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After a week of renovating, President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush opened the Mosi-Oa-Tunya clinic, a cervical cancer facility in Livingstone, Zambia. <a href="http://www.swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/wapost-obama-yet-to-leave-lasting.html">The trip demonstrates their continued commitment</a> to the people of Africa through the work of the global health initiative at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBushCenter?fref=ts">George W. Bush Institute</a>. June 30-July 1, 2013 </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-vvODqLSQGgUmSMTZA9ILgndtw2pV3usUIx920eBDgmGqssXsnwssmeP0P9R4UzFdPBOrdgcKKHycLrsACCH-Krcgfm5IRxeelqWD0HOBehrCbvNX8rou_3SY9-vqMnTxrPg0VHhlfQy/s640/George+W.+Bush+21+Afrida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-vvODqLSQGgUmSMTZA9ILgndtw2pV3usUIx920eBDgmGqssXsnwssmeP0P9R4UzFdPBOrdgcKKHycLrsACCH-Krcgfm5IRxeelqWD0HOBehrCbvNX8rou_3SY9-vqMnTxrPg0VHhlfQy/s400/George+W.+Bush+21+Afrida.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">GWB has spent his time traveling the country and the world on behalf of human freedom, global health, education, economic freedom, and <a href="http://newbusinessethiopia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=653:former-us-president-to-visit-ethiopia-tanzania-zambia-&catid=27:health&Itemid=52">AIDs research in Africa</a>, something <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/15/georgebush.usa">he began while President</a>. In 2008, he received the <a href="http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2008-11-13-voa5-66795107.html"><span lang="X-NONE">Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Award</span></a> for his work in Africa, and in December 2011 he and Mrs. Bush traveled to <a href="http://www.bushcenter.com/africa-trip">Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Zambia</a> in their continued commitment to the people. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5govGzE1CqkoKqKpPc-h8ydtEDv3V-Dh8NdCk0cO1DJRV5Qv8ZkEk0T-IKZ6Gut9ERKaqgXvRS4xJD411Ms7dulVu8r2HB5PLf7UHA29UECS5xkOTt5OVapOH8tlxKgA0IAkUNs55qdU3/s960/George+W.+Bush+22+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5govGzE1CqkoKqKpPc-h8ydtEDv3V-Dh8NdCk0cO1DJRV5Qv8ZkEk0T-IKZ6Gut9ERKaqgXvRS4xJD411Ms7dulVu8r2HB5PLf7UHA29UECS5xkOTt5OVapOH8tlxKgA0IAkUNs55qdU3/s400/George+W.+Bush+22+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not many are aware of <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2011/07/19/bono-praises-george-w-bush-saving-millions-africa-prendergast-credits">Bush’s humanitarian work</a> in other parts of the world. In the summer of 2011, Bono of the rock group U-2 praised Bush for his fight against AIDs in Africa, a stand that has saved over five million lives during the past eight years. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3QqlEqaJkAkM-Elx6-_8_cg5tDcgzpxel5vEPVjluoGVSbtJBWDzZNtOh-vaMUIELssYQH4ZfwCtJZF3gepufxDgAnMZkppF17UidXBUEYfKrMxqeNYts8dYe7LO05WaB4VbViOXKyYJ/s960/George+W.+Bush+23+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3QqlEqaJkAkM-Elx6-_8_cg5tDcgzpxel5vEPVjluoGVSbtJBWDzZNtOh-vaMUIELssYQH4ZfwCtJZF3gepufxDgAnMZkppF17UidXBUEYfKrMxqeNYts8dYe7LO05WaB4VbViOXKyYJ/s400/George+W.+Bush+23+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In addition, human rights activist John Prendegast noted that it was during Bush’s administration and with the help of America’s influence that South Sudan was able to successfully obtain peace with the north. Democratic consultant and Fox News contributor Bob Beckel, co-host on Fox News Channel’s “The Five,” <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2012/02/democrat-bob-beckel-picks-george-w-bush.html">praised Bush’s African work</a> and picked him as one of his two all-time favorite presidents.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps2o5pq3Sk2GEb7D8XBGAUXxPOFMjq3TqyCZLaJ229kZ4RDYiQ6pwaa9VuzHQ3tlHsm1ZUhyphenhyphenHG-iTkbXG7rJqf13jf9Tg7fBmowfw5A1CIXxTdDvMKpp-0U8QvFTndIobvQUH9l6URGBF/s960/George+W.+Bush+24+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgps2o5pq3Sk2GEb7D8XBGAUXxPOFMjq3TqyCZLaJ229kZ4RDYiQ6pwaa9VuzHQ3tlHsm1ZUhyphenhyphenHG-iTkbXG7rJqf13jf9Tg7fBmowfw5A1CIXxTdDvMKpp-0U8QvFTndIobvQUH9l6URGBF/s400/George+W.+Bush+24+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The President's tee shirt in this photo is a reminder that on the home front, most of the time he has spent with America’s military members is unknown to the public as he greets solders at airports when they return home from service overseas, reaches out to individual families, and works with injured military veterans and the <a href="http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/">Wounded Warrior Project</a> including the <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/military-service-initiative/w100k%E2%80%8E">W 100K mountain bike ride</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtBoJC3jJoWAj-fB-SSBZRobWr92-pmpN2L1K9SIzA6hyphenhyphenad4gL6Bkdxc19aydtq2t1Kkun3p-clDQzeB2qdKNPwllCiVnHkTE55auS8Qyl6RGOCFwoRMDuA9xbEz_m-0iSjafefuK1Zhf/s960/George+W.+Bush+25+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtBoJC3jJoWAj-fB-SSBZRobWr92-pmpN2L1K9SIzA6hyphenhyphenad4gL6Bkdxc19aydtq2t1Kkun3p-clDQzeB2qdKNPwllCiVnHkTE55auS8Qyl6RGOCFwoRMDuA9xbEz_m-0iSjafefuK1Zhf/s400/George+W.+Bush+25+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38skE0MMda-OwczQ72xXvryt0sZ9Xhg22ICRjdL610yKSDXecsLDQRrH8JxSVkRICqYuKk97Gr3rzRHECNEz0JQXx3JtvBsL-3Xx6rzS-oED4DbSoFIfdfqXQXgnD1aCI4Kxx0H8F-uRE/s960/George+W.+Bush+26+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38skE0MMda-OwczQ72xXvryt0sZ9Xhg22ICRjdL610yKSDXecsLDQRrH8JxSVkRICqYuKk97Gr3rzRHECNEz0JQXx3JtvBsL-3Xx6rzS-oED4DbSoFIfdfqXQXgnD1aCI4Kxx0H8F-uRE/s400/George+W.+Bush+26+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexZCO7QEjAtH9dvaWzK0aw9oxMRU7e4caBDPpF3oog5mYezkEmHjqUARjhla2S2wieKjyXzxLCVnTVsziD8EyitU7oFLFiUnmd0Wouqd-IMjz1ULZY7pSoC49U2hanzUDD6VVi00R8EhJ/s960/George+W.+Bush+27+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexZCO7QEjAtH9dvaWzK0aw9oxMRU7e4caBDPpF3oog5mYezkEmHjqUARjhla2S2wieKjyXzxLCVnTVsziD8EyitU7oFLFiUnmd0Wouqd-IMjz1ULZY7pSoC49U2hanzUDD6VVi00R8EhJ/s400/George+W.+Bush+27+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw40XhYgpbjcmh_sagZtj6BSUg_1oykBVF4bPRwElRL9uJX3SiR_ZN2736zt8q9HfWwEzB1jVDvrLcUkdHO4OCjeSQdi-3uga8pHsPYQH9hGIOw6u4C6rNhdaGQDPua6p3dN7BqrRworw/s960/George+W.+Bush+28+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw40XhYgpbjcmh_sagZtj6BSUg_1oykBVF4bPRwElRL9uJX3SiR_ZN2736zt8q9HfWwEzB1jVDvrLcUkdHO4OCjeSQdi-3uga8pHsPYQH9hGIOw6u4C6rNhdaGQDPua6p3dN7BqrRworw/s400/George+W.+Bush+28+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMSGk2KxnPMBVPmvwL830OIw3a9IHehHxmjsxhhmYMmltcLuXeHBkASB6_-Y9SLlnfgCjpgeJ3bVBvDaLzsIQfOjwDhU3n9BWroAvNLcv1BDMIoyHt9ZypCYZ9PAyzKXmiWJdIK4SzIAX/s960/George+W.+Bush+29+Africa+Laura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMSGk2KxnPMBVPmvwL830OIw3a9IHehHxmjsxhhmYMmltcLuXeHBkASB6_-Y9SLlnfgCjpgeJ3bVBvDaLzsIQfOjwDhU3n9BWroAvNLcv1BDMIoyHt9ZypCYZ9PAyzKXmiWJdIK4SzIAX/s400/George+W.+Bush+29+Africa+Laura.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOrBMoluByQjvhzXleYJ9QCHDa4S-9O0MmWxywlDF6gA1HvqBSkrsLQHdPQGzslnddzBNZrZK8iHd2YhQDSn0ycPX40o09Ba0W9PQG33aN8eDIY3_ScPuIazcdM9Xl01g97m6gzz1DbGS/s960/George+W.+Bush+30+Africa+Laura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOrBMoluByQjvhzXleYJ9QCHDa4S-9O0MmWxywlDF6gA1HvqBSkrsLQHdPQGzslnddzBNZrZK8iHd2YhQDSn0ycPX40o09Ba0W9PQG33aN8eDIY3_ScPuIazcdM9Xl01g97m6gzz1DbGS/s400/George+W.+Bush+30+Africa+Laura.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6CNF_qj5f9E3pcUwr5W234HwD_zaltjxodqmGLU4eVGdK_KjWuMdMmOUw9YLJioMKN5ZTmvWK8vQusvPLDwJq7z3TeF-pP-nQoX76vSzi_MltMcwK6ZJICBvq0-EJJq-LNhmcHN_cE0/s960/George+W.+Bush+31+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6CNF_qj5f9E3pcUwr5W234HwD_zaltjxodqmGLU4eVGdK_KjWuMdMmOUw9YLJioMKN5ZTmvWK8vQusvPLDwJq7z3TeF-pP-nQoX76vSzi_MltMcwK6ZJICBvq0-EJJq-LNhmcHN_cE0/s400/George+W.+Bush+31+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFMeYl-ASUQvWBiBB3A5DXH_RLhG3wYFTCC-4-YrDqNpPwVDbzeo528dqiGcClIyaEgHO56KVgzyqoWAD0UcRciKqMNelI03Y_q97NNvcf1xQJ33kyoQVlpATTn5I35VuK4TtkSWfWycw/s960/George+W.+Bush+32+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFMeYl-ASUQvWBiBB3A5DXH_RLhG3wYFTCC-4-YrDqNpPwVDbzeo528dqiGcClIyaEgHO56KVgzyqoWAD0UcRciKqMNelI03Y_q97NNvcf1xQJ33kyoQVlpATTn5I35VuK4TtkSWfWycw/s400/George+W.+Bush+32+Africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">More about George and Laura Bush's work in Africa can be seen <a href="http://www.swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/wapost-obama-yet-to-leave-lasting.html">here</a> and <a href="http://bearingdrift.com/2012/04/03/george-w-bush-not-endorsing-in-presidential-primary-is-no-mystery/">here.</a></div><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><i>Cross-posted at <a href="http://www.politicalpineapple.com/">Va Political Pineapple</a></i> </span></span><br /><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Photos by Paul Morse</span></span><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">For the <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/">George W. Bush Presidential Center</a></span></span>

Africa AIDS Relief George W. Bush George W. Bush Institute global health initiative humanitarian mission Laura Bush Tanzania Zambia George W. Bush carries on humanitarian work in Africa

After a week of renovating, President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush opened the Mosi-Oa-Tunya clinic, a cervical cancer facility in Livingstone, Zambia. The trip demonstrates their continued commitment to the people of Africa through the work of the…

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