Former chief executive Bush, who characterized West’s infamous 2005 “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” comment as the worst moment of his presidency in his recent autobiography Decision Points, told Today‘s Matt Lauer on Wednesday that he’d “absolutely” forgiven West for the comment.

During an interview with Lauer, Bush was shown a videotape of West’s outburst, which was made during the Concert for Hurricane relief following the devastating damage done to New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. After viewing the footage, Bush noted,

“I appreciate that. It wasn’t just Kanye West who was talking like that during Katrina. I cited him as an example. I cited others as well. I appreciate that.”

More importantly, Bush noted that he harbors no ill feelings toward the 808s & Heartbreak rapper:

“I’m not a hater. I didn’t hate Kanye West. I was talking about an environment in which people were saying things that hurt. Nobody wants to be called racist if, in your heart, you believe in equality of race.”

West, meanwhile, recently noted that he can sympathize with Bush following the flap over his now-infamous interruption of Taylor Swift‘s acceptance speech during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. During an interview with a Houston radio station, West reflected,

“I definitely can understand the way he feels, to be accused of being a racist in any way, because the same thing happened to me, where I got accused of being a racist. For both situations, it was basically a lack of compassion that America felt in that situation.”

Maybe the pair could cement the reconciliation with a musical collaboration? An update on an ’80s classic, perhaps?

“Have you heard the first line of Runaway? [Ed. note: The first line of the song reads 'I sent this girl a picture of my d***.'] I only rap reality. I went to the Internet. They had the link, I went to it. Man, you cannot imagine how disappointed I was that I got cut off.”

Two pictures circulated of the “cut off” rapper, one showing him from the chest up wearing a gold chain, and another from the waist down showing his exposed genitals. As a result, many news outlets only ran the upper body picture. 

The shortchanged star went on to call out the media for their fear of him:

“The media is scared, they scared of me. They scared of a black man with this taste level but this connection with Pusha, Jeezy, Ross… So what they do in order to take that power away, they try to turn me into a demon, and it’s happened so many times throughout history. They knocked the nose off the Sphinx. They tried to tell you aliens built the pyramids… People need to understand, I’m not above the people—I’m of the people. I love the people.”

What do you think about Kanye’s confession? Tell us in the comments section.

During a phone interview for a Houston radio station, West revealed that the Taylor Swift incident changed his perspective and helped him grow into a different person who can more easily sympathize with how Bush was attacked by the American public.

“I definitely can understand the way he feels, to be accused of being a racist in any way, because the same thing happened to me, where I got accused of being a racist. For both situations, it was basically a lack of compassion that America felt in that situation. With him, it was a lack of compassion of him not rushing, him not taking the time to rush down to New Orleans. For me, it was a lack of compassion of cutting someone off in their moment. But nonetheless, I think we’re all quick to pull a race card in America. And now I’m more open, and the poetic justice that I feel, to have went through the same thing that he went [through] — and now I really more connect with him on just a humanitarian level.”

Bush was thoroughly “disgusted” by Kanye’s comment labeling him as a racist, saying, “I didn’t appreciate it then. I don’t appreciate it now. It’s one thing to say, ‘I don’t appreciate the way he’s handled his business.’ It’s another thing to say, ‘This man’s a racist.’ I resent it, it’s not true.”

Listen to Kanye’s radio interview here:

What do you think about Kanye’s kind words to George W. Bush? Tell us in the comments section. 

President George W. Bush got face to face with noted lefty Barbara Streisand Sunday night, and the two swapped kisses in front of a crowd that included Bush’s wife Laura.

Streisand, 66—long considered to be the ringleader of Hollywood’s liberal cabal—was being feted for her contributions to American culture at the 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors, held at Washington, D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The honorees also included actor Morgan Freeman, along with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of the Who.

On hand to offer America’s congratulations, the nation’s 62-year-old Chief Executive fearlessly approached Streisand. Rather than pulling a Dick Cheney and shooting her in the face, Bush planted a smooch on her cheek—and Streisand responded in kind.

Check out the video below:

“Art transcends politics this weekend,” Streisand noted afterward.

Babs nonetheless quibbled that it would have been “lovely” if she had been given the award by president-elect Barack Obama instead.

Despite their ideological differences, Streisand and Bush do have at least one bit of common ground: Streisand’s stepson, Josh Brolin, portrayed the prez in this year’s Oliver Stone biopic W.

So really, they’re practically family.

Which kind of makes the whole kissing thing even creepier. Especially given how off-putting Streisand’s family can be already.