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George and Barbara Bush Appear Confused About Who This Grover Norquist Fellow Is

Old people are great. Sure, their driving endangers the rest of us and they make funny noises but their endearing wit and wisdom is something that we should all appreciate. Yes, even "GET OFF MY LAWN" has a sliver of charm to it.

George and Barbara Bush have gotten to the age where you might look at them like those rich grandparents you never had but SURE AS HELL DESERVED. Anyway, Bushes 41 sat down with Parade Magazine and answered a bunch of questions about what it's like to be old people that used to live in the White House plus some other stuff, including the politics of taxes. And these days, the politics of taxes cannot be discussed without bringing up that axe-wielding Viking tax assassin, Grover Glenn Norquist.

GGN is fond of using Bush 41 as Exhibit A to illustrate what happens to a Republican politician who signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and then dismisses it as a bunch of meaningless words on paper that have a finite life like a mortgage agreement or a marriage license. As you may or may not be aware, during the 1988 Presidential campaign, GHWB promised "no new taxes" and signed the TPP. A pledge that he broke. Norquist will go to his grave arguing that this was the nail in the coffin of Bush 41's presidency; however, many people have given the former president credit for compromise during tough economic conditions. 

It was a tough loss for the Bushes and while you'd think with the passage of time, they'd simply forget about the whole thing. But it appears they're just getting confused as they get older:

PARADE: During your presidency you gave in on your “no new taxes” pledge. You’ve been vindicated in many respects for that decision. I wonder how you view the “no new tax” pledge from Grover Norquist that seems to be requisite for GOP political candidates.
GB: The rigidity of those pledges is something I don’t like. The circumstances change and you can’t be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist. It’s—who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?
BB: I think he ought to go back to Alaska.

Aw, shucks. Even their senility is cute.

[Parade via TPM]