George Bush blasts Palin as 'unqualified' for President... and McCain as being 'less of a man' for putting her on GOP ticket



Sarah Palin's as-yet-undeclared bid for the presidency has just received a stinging blow from none other than George W Bush.

Bush has told friends that Palin, the darling of the Tea Party and a rising Republican star, is not qualified to be President, according to reports.

The former President has also attacked John McCain as being 'less of a man' for putting Palin on the GOP ticket in 2008.

No holds barred: An image from Oprah Winfrey's interview with former President George Bush, set to be aired on Tuesday

'Unqualified': Bush has slammed Sarah Palin, shown here during the presidential campaign in 2008

But Bush is holding off criticising his successor, Barack Obama - publicly at least.

The New York Daily News claimed a Republican source has said Bush is telling friends that Palin is not qualified for his old job.

And the source told the newspaper: 'Naming Palin makes Bush think less of McCain as a man'.

The source continued: 'He thinks McCain ran a lousy campaign with an unqualified running mate and destroyed any chance of winning by picking Palin.'

Enjoying life: Bush is also set to appear in an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer to be aired next week

Bush also slammed John McCain, showing here during this week's mid-term elections in Arizona, as 'less of a man' for putting Palin on the presidential ticket

In public, however, Bush - whose memoir, Decision Points, is to be released on Tuesday - is far more cagey over Palin's chances.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey set to be screened next week, when asked about Palin in 2012 he says: 'I am not a political pundit. I’m really not.



'And secondly, a lot is gonna happen between now and the nominating process. I have no clue.'

The former President also appears to be picking his words carefully when it comes to Obama.

His stock answer when questioned about his successor is: 'I want my President to succeed because if my President succeeds my country succeeds, and I want my country to succeed.'

And in the Oprah interview to be screened next week, he says: 'I want to treat my successor the way I’d like to have been treated.



'I don’t think it’s good for a former President to be out there opining on every darned issue. He’s got a plenty tough job.'

The Daily News claimed, however, that despite Bush's efforts to steer clear of criticising Obama in public, he believes his successor has failed - particularly with regards to Pakistan.

'He thinks the policy is adrift,' the Daily News quoted another source as saying.



In next week's interview Bush is also to tell Oprah: 'I'm through with politics'.



Instead he is playing golf, making lucrative speeches - up to $100,000 a speech - and eating out with friends.

He has no regrets, friends said.

