Former President Bush. FORMER President Bush. As someone who basically came of age in the Bush era, always feeling the need to apologize for our foreign policy when abroad, or acting especially respectful to leave a good impression of Americans, I'm still in disbelief that we have a new president. Bush has been president since a month before I turned 14 to today, a month before I turn 23. Former President Bush. I still can't believe it. Today is definitely a new era, both for the nation, and for myself.