Criticisms of his rise, however, now seem like the carping of sore losers. Bush showed he could win big by beating popular Democrat Ann Richards (who derided him as "Shrub" -- the little Bush) for the governor's seat in 1994, then winning re-election last year.
The Bush bandwagon Phillips, Andrew. Maclean's112. 28 (Jul 12, 1999): 22.
While Richards baited Bush by calling him "Shrub," "Junior," even "some jerk," he kept his cool, and toppled the incumbent with 54 percent of the vote. To this day, Bush points to that race as evidence of how he is often underestimated.
This Bush a `late bloomer' Growth: He followed in his father's and grandfather's steps, but success came at a slower pace.; Election 2000 Republican Convention: [FINAL Edition] Baer, Susan. The Baltimore Sun [Baltimore, Md] 03 Aug 2000: 1A.
The psychoanalysts can speculate about the extent of the psychological baggage carried by a son of Bush, who has over time earned the less-than-flattering nickname "Shrub."
HAS ANYBODY SEEN POPPY?: [THIRD EDITION] VENNOCHI, JOAN. Boston Globe [Boston, Mass] 17 Oct 2000: A.19.
It is hard to take seriously a president whose nickname is either "Dubya" or "shrub," depending on the commentator.
Dubya's nickname could be worse Grimes, David. Journal Record [Oklahoma City, Okla] 01 Feb 2001: 1.
Bush could easily have lived up to his home-state nickname, Shrub-and in the early hours of 9-11, he did. But rehabilitation is the master narrative of Bush's presidency.
Bush's basket Goldstein, Richard. The Village Voice [New York] 21 May 2003: 48.
Saskatchewan's plan to get the United States to reopen borders to Canadian beef took a hit yesterday when it was revealed that an internal government document flippantly referred to U.S. President George W. Bush as "Shrub." "Re: Petition to President Shrub," is the title of the memo, dated Tuesday, and sent to NDP members by party researcher Ted Bowen.
Memo calls Bush 'Shrub': [Ontario Edition] Toronto Star [Toronto, Ont] 31 July 2003: A13.
Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley summed up the point of that appearance in an interview with UPI: "It was Cheney telling the world, Don't worry about Shrub, I know what's going on.' "
THE EVIL GENIUS IN THE CORNER Series: Dick: The Man Who is President: [ALL Edition] Nichols, John. Madison Capital Times [Madison, Wis] 15 Sep 2004: 1A.
Ol' "Shrub," as he was derisively known, presided over the GOP takeover of every statewide office. It was a drubbing so thorough that Republicans even jumped into the absolute last Democratic ditch -- the Travis County courthouse.
Critics have a history of 'misunderestimating' George W. Bush Arnold Garcia Jr., EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Austin American Statesman [Austin, Tex] 31 Oct 2004: E3.
Andie Zeliger and Jaime Yeargans always intended to come back to Montreal one day. [..] Now a human resources officer at Concordia University, she spent a decade in Florida and California before heading home with her American-born husband and son. "Between Governor Arnold and 'the Shrub,' things were getting more right wing than I could stand."
In search of intellectual refuge: [Final Edition] Curran, Peggy. The Gazette [Montreal, Que] 25 Jan 2005: A8.
Jarding and Saunders answer with a resounding "yeah" in a book that is being released around the country today. "Foxes in the Henhouse: How the Republicans Stole the South and the Heartland and What the Democrats Must Do to Run 'Em Out " (Touchstone, $24) declares hunting season on Republicans. [..] President George W. Bush, in one of the kinder passages, is described as a "draft-dodging, wimpy shrub, Alfred E. Neuman look alike."
Bubba does Washington: [VP - The Virginian-Pilot Edition] Fiske, Warren. Virginian - Pilot [Norfolk, Va] 28 Mar 2006: E1.
At the meeting with Chretien in Genoa, the president, according to onlookers, came across as ideological. He stuck to a memorized mantra. He stated, in the framework of operating from a mandate, that he was elected by the American people. No one around the table, as they muffled their coughs, had the nerve to suggest, "Hey George, wait a minute. You lost the popular vote and - but for some help from your brother Jeb in Florida - you may well have lost the electoral vote as well. Your mandate is about the size of your nickname - Shrub."
Odd man out: Bush is increasingly at odds with world opinion, including Canada's: [Final Edition] Martin, Lawrence. The Gazette [Montreal, Que] 26 July 2001: B3.
The previous record for gubernatorially sanctioned killings was 152 by Perrys predecessor, Shrub, who once insisted all life is sacred. I guess it depends on your definition of every life and all life.
Gov. Goodhair throws hat in ring Laird, John. Columbian [Vancouver, Wash] 14 Aug 2011: C.8.
