George W. Bush didn't once mention Donald Trump's name, but in a surprising address at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas Thursday, his rebuke of the president's policies, demeanor and direction for America came over loud and clear.
The 43rd president -- who has remained silent since he left office in 2008 -- aimed directly at the "governing class," defending globalization and defining America's role in the world and for its leaders to embrace the nonpartisan mission of moving all countries closer to democracy.
If nothing else, it was a clarification of the difference between warring factions within the Republican Party.
"Discontent deepened and sharpened partisan conflicts" in recent years, he observed. "Bigotry seems emboldened. Our politics seem more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication."
In fact, one of the most powerful messages on the day white supremacist Richard Spencer is to speak on the University of Florida campus came when he emphatically said, "Bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed."
Trump earlier this year faced backlash after comments he made in the wake of the violent clashes in Charlottesville, Va. Not until last month did the current president sign a resolution condemning white supremacists.
Bush made a point of saying public confidence in the country's institutions has declined in recent decades, and warned against "a new era of cyber threats," specifically fingering Russia's attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election, something President Trump has not done.
"Ultimately, this assault won't succeed, but foreign aggressions including cyber attacks, disinformation, and financial influence should never be downplayed or tolerated," he said.
Bush said there are signs the intensity of support for democracy itself has "waned. Especially among the young, who never experienced the galvanizing moral clarity of the Cold War or never focused on the ruin of entire nations by socialist central planning.
"Some have called this Democratic de-consolidation. Merely, it seems to be a combination of weariness, frayed tempers and forgetfulness," he said.
"Our governing class has often been paralyzed in the face of obvious and pressing needs. The American dream of upward mobility seems out of reach for some who feel left behind in a changing economy."
Bush also warned in his speech that democracies face "new and serious threats" today. Economic, political and national security challenges "proliferate," he said.
"And they're made worse by the tendency to turn inward," he said. "The health of the Democratic spirit itself is at issue and the renewal of that spirit is the urgent task at hand."
Later he said, "We cannot wish globalization away," urging society to "adapt" to economic and social and change.
Much of the content for this story was provided by MSN News. Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
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