George H.W. Bush: No advice for Obama

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush said Sunday he would like to see another of his sons, Jeb, become president.

Jeb Bush, a former governor of Florida, is contemplating a run for U.S. Senate, but the elder Bush said during an interview from his Texas home aired on Fox News Sunday he'd like to see a third Bush in the White House, even as another son, George W., is about to leave the presidency with record-low approval ratings.

"I'd like to see him run," Bush said of Jeb. "I'd like to see him be president some day.

"I mean, right now is probably a bad time because we've had enough Bushes in there."

The former president said he has no plans to offer President-elect Barack Obama advice when he meets him this week. Bush said he will let Obama know he can always give him a call if he wants to talk. President George W. Bush, is to be host at a lunch for Obama and the three former presidents, his father, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

Asked about Obama's popularity, Bush said the honeymoon will not last. His own popularity soared in 1991 after the Gulf War, a year before the voters denied him a second term.

"He's facing such enormous problems that I don't know how long it'll last," Bush said. "But I think he's a good, strong guy and I think he can take it."