CBS News reports that, today in a radio interview, former President George H.W. Bush shared his opinion about the current tone of discourse in the country:

"I don't like it. The cables (TV) have a lot to do with it."

Mr. Bush said the volume of criticism aimed at him when he was president was not as "day in and day out." The Republican elder statesman said, "It's not just the right." He complained, "there are plenty of people on the left."

While he said he does not believe in personal name-calling, he singled out MSNBC personalities Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow calling them "sick puppies."

TVNewser has responses from MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow to the former president's remarks. Olbermann tells us, "Since Rachel and I are indeed both under the weather, we appreciate President Bush's kind concern." Maddow added, "Grrr... cough cough... grrrrrr."

Update: After the jump, video of Olbermann and Maddow delivering a much more thorough response on "The Rachel Maddow Show."