Juan Williams Laments Transformation of Bush’s Washington: It Was a ‘Kinder, Gentler America, Versus American Carnage’

As America mourns the passing of President George H.W. Bush, it also mourns the passing of a political era that appears to have gone extinct.

Fox News analyst Juan Williams underscored that seismic shift during a panel discussion with the outlet Sunday, noting that Bush was part of an environment marked by negotiation and compromise as opposed to impenetrable conflict.

“We live in a polarized political age today — so divided,” he told host Chris Wallace. “The way I think about it is sort of optimism versus pessimism. Morning in America, a kinder, gentler America versus American carnage as a message coming from the leader to the American people.”

Williams praised Bush as a “someone who crossed the aisle,” adding that he followed his predecessors policy of avoiding speaking ill of his fellow Republicans. That, to Williams, stood in stark contrast to Trump, who he said “has a polarizing relationship with Democrats, clearly fractured, but also attacks other Republicans who don’t agree or embrace him.”

GOP strategist Karl Rove also expressed disappointment at Washington’s devolution, remembering the former president’s bipartisan friendships and interaction with those who held differing views.

“He was of that greatest generation and there was a humility and respect and a decency about him that sometimes is not seen frequently in Washington today.”

Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, however, took a more optimistic view, drawing from her own experiences in Washington.

“We are very polarized. One thing that’s true, though is that — and I can speak on the floor of the house of representatives — there isn’t venom all the time and I’ve found that you can go sit down next to anybody from any party, they’ve got an interesting story and there are good people there for right reasons.”

Watch the clip above via Fox News.

[Featured image via screengrab]