So in a talk before a local business group, former President George W. Bush finally responded to all the mud thrown at him the previous five months. In the speech, Bush defended his policies regarding enhanced interrogation and rejected the idea of government-run health care. And to top it off, he said the new White House dog sucks.

Well, that dog part isn`t true, but it doesn`t matter. Because I already know how this is going to be played by the media - a group who takes any criticism toward Obama as a personal insult. After all, Obama isn`t just the man. He`s their man. I`m sure right now, Chris Matthews is taking an extra dose of meds to control the "thrill."

But let`s be clear. Bush has every right to talk about this stuff, since his beliefs are broader than any current political strategy. So if he`s asked about them, why not answer? After all - love him or hate him - his words reflect a philosophy that most people know to be true. That it`s people, not the government, who create wealth. And that "therapy isn't going to cause terrorists to change their mind."

And lastly, Bush didn`t start this war of words. He should have every right to take aim at the new administration`s policies – if only because for the past five months or so, Obama has been blaming Bush for everything from global warming to his lousy bowling.

But in the end, Mr. Bush still remained diplomatic, and that`s because he really wants Obama to succeed. Because Obama is his president too. Even if he can`t bowl.