On Facebook, George W Bush Attracts 62,000 Fans

KOMPAS.com - He did not receive quite so much support during his time in the White House. But it seems that when it comes to George W Bush, absence makes the heart grow fonder for thousands of Americans.

In just one day of launching a presence on the social networking site, nearly 62,000 users have become fans, writing tribute messages on his wall declaring how much the ex-U.S. premier is missed.

Comments range from the common, ‘God bless you Mr Bush’ and, ‘You are a great man we miss you very much’ to the defensive, ‘I hope someone is monitoring and deleting the negative comments. He doesn't need or deserve to see them’, and, ‘Some people may call him a war criminal, and sure he may be by "definition" but this man is a HERO. A HERO’.

Then there’s the more succinct: ‘I miss him like I miss smallpox.’

Mr Bush, who has kept a low profile since leaving the white House in 2009, has posted two comments so far, written in the third person, indicating someone else is updating the site.

The first says: ‘Since leaving office, President Bush has remained active.

'He has visited 20 states and 8 countries; given over 65 speeches; launched the George W. Bush Presidential Center; participated in 4 policy conferences through The Bush Institute; finished the first draft of his memoir, “Decision Points”; and partnered with President Clinton to establish the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

'More on his activities in future posts...’

The second post is a plug for his wife Laura’s memoirs, Spoken From The Heart, mentioning that it’s been on the New York Times’ Bestseller List for three consecutive weeks.

He also cites his mother’s and wife’s pages in his top five favourites – and has the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund in his causes.

Although the site was set up about two weeks ago, it only went public on Wednesday – attracting 27,000 fans by mid-afternoon.

However, although there are plenty of users praising the former premier and bemoaning the current president Barack Obama, a vocal minority on the site have been posting their dislike for Mr Bush.

‘What is a War Criminal doing with an internets connection?’ writes one ‘fan’.

Another says: ‘millions of victimes because of you ..u r the most nasty one. hate u.’

'Your all idiots... He started a war, Killed thousands... made millions of dollars for him and daddy,' says another, referring to Mr Bush's father, George Bush.

A spokesman for the former president has confirmed the site is real.

Mr Bush was also given a new Twitter identity – with the first post on @George_WBush stating: ‘I'm now on Twitter & Facebook. Stay Tuned for updates!’

Although whether this is genuine is yet to be confirmed.

It comes as Mr Bush today admitted the U.S. had used a harsh interrogation procedure on the self-professed mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers.

Mr Bush acknowledged waterboarding – a simulated drowning technique that the Obama administration considers torture – was used on Khalid Sheik Mohammed and said he would ‘do it again to save lives’, according to The Huffington Post.