When Leadership Counts
Well, somebody‘s excited about the Bush Library’s easy money!Â
Silence Is Golden 
Despite becoming actually more unpopular since leaving office, George W. Bush is quietly on his way to building the Bush Presidential Library ‘n Reputation Restorer in Dallas.
He has reportedly raised one hundred million dollars towards the library/rehab center at Southern Methodist University.
Time reports that the cash is rolling in despite the economy’s current enjoyment of the fruits of the Bush era. The ex-president went from beloved by 31% of the populace down to 26%Â according to the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll [the numbers are buried on page 9 of the pdf at the bottom of the linked page]
Meanwhile, Southern Methodist University’s attorney is under a gag order in the wake of jury pool tainting allegations.
SMU is being sued over land once considered as part of the Bush Presidential Library,with former condo owners suing the University claiming information about the looming Library was withheld.
The judge in the case had ordered the former president to testify in the case, and is concerned with remarks by SMU attorney Mark Lanier who called those suing the university “terrorists,” and complained that they had rejected a $2 million offer to go away.
“the more press there is about this, the harder it’s going to be to pick jurors for a trial,” Judge Martin Hoffman said before ordering Lanier not to publicly discuss mediation-related matters.“
This in the wake of SMU hiring a prominent local Democratic lawyer, in the predominantly Democrat-leaning Dallas.
Hiring Deciders 
Southern Methodist University faces trial this fall over a lawsuit challenging the University’s George W. Bush Library land acquisition. The former president has been ordered to testify on his knowledge of SMU’s dealings, but is appealing.
In preparation for the case SMU has hired a prominent Democratic lawyer whose law firm funded the campaign of the judge hearing the case. Her late husband devised Democratic party building plans benefiting the judge’s election as well.
Run Silent, Drill deep 
Bush meanwhile is harming any defense that he’s too busy to be deposed in the SMU lawsuit. He recently found the time to travel to West Texas to accept his coveted membership in Midland’s Petroleum Museum Hall of Fame, commemorating his various failed oil patch schemes prior to becoming president.
Dallas Delights  
 Vanity Fair explores the fascinating life of recent retiree George W. Bush. His road to Calgary, the grim details of his dog-walking.
Best part?
We travel once more to foggy Central Europe, where a callow young president met grizzled veteran Vaclav Havel, passions swelled, and a vision of the Bush Presidential Center took form.
“He loves Vaclav Havel,†says former White House press secretary Dana Perino. “He told him, ‘When we’re up and running, I’d like to have you come write a book there.“
The reality principal is introduced by former bushlibraryblog [on hiatus since 2007, and still ahead of Bush’s library blog!] empresario Benjamin Johnson.
“Vaclav Havel is not going to come to the fucking Bush center!†scoffs Benjamin Johnson.“
