"Naming Palin makes Bush think less of McCain as a man," a Republican official familiar with Bush's thinking told the Daily News.
"He thinks McCain ran a lousy campaign with an unqualified running mate and destroyed any chance of winning by picking Palin."
As he prepares for the Tuesday launch of his memoir, "Decision Points," Bush scrupulously gives his successor a public pass - a statesmanlike stance urged by his father,
President George H. W. Bush.
"I want my President to succeed because if my President succeeds my country succeeds, and I want my country to succeed," Bush typically says when asked about Obama.
"He won't call Obama by name but he won't trash him," a confidant noted, referring to Bush's comments in post-presidency speaking appearances, which have netted him millions, often at $100,000 or more a pop.
Still, he thinks Obama has failed as a President - a judgment supported by this week's robust Republican gains.
Several Bush friends, associates and longtime political allies said President 43 is worried about Obama's
Afghanistan policy.
He supports the troop surge and more muscular drone strikes against terrorist targets, but also believes Obama has made a mess of relations with
Pakistan.
"He thinks the policy is adrift," one insider reported.
Predictably, Bush also believes his tax cuts shouldn't be allowed to expire, including those for the wealthiest of Americans Obama wants to deep-six.
For the most part, Bush lets others worry about the politics these days while he focuses on building his presidential library and his lucrative speech business.
tdefrank@nydailynews.com
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