Bush, in farewell address, says he acted in nation's best interest

And still WMDs have not been found; Bin Ladin is still at large, the economy is in the worst shape since the 1930s and Israel are being given a nod and a wink to continue slaughtering hundreds in the Gaza Strip with all the consequences that will emanate from it. What ever happened to the phrase: The Buck Stops Here?

“You just fade out,” Bush told reporters from Texas newspapers last week. “That’s fine with me. The faster the fade, the better.”

Republicans fade out, respectful of the noble custom for the office.

Democrats Carter and Clinton play president for life, and endorse the same in places like Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.

And bush STILL used his farewell speech to try and shore up some 'why me?' pity and to defend the undefensible crap he pulled while in office.

What an utterly sad excuse for a human being. Good riddance to possibly the worst president in US history! Welcome to the man who has the potential to do a lot of good.

Good luck, Obama! Go to hell, bush.

Goodbye and Good Riddance!!

As for your legacy Bush. Well... you can be proud of the damage and alienation you have caused in our international relationships. You can stand by the massive national debt your idiotic war in Iraq has raised. You can bathe in the blood of all those people who have died as a direct result of your orders or compliance with murderous states. And you can feel a deep sense of Texan pride in the wasteland our economy has become on your watch.

Until now I believe that Buchanan was the worst president in US history. His presidency helped assure the resulting American Civil War. But at least that disaster resulted in the unification and improvement of the US as a single unified nation, and led to the liberation of the slaves.

Sadly the post script for your, now worst in history, presidency, will be the suffering of most of the world in a global economic depression while we watch all the environmental damage your pro-business policies have delivered. All while watching your buddies in Israel slaughter thousands and shell UN sites. Not to mention your complete failure to in any way win the so-called war on terror, despite your abuses of the Geneva convention and torture standards.

I have only one regret at your leaving office. That you will retire to the role of former president and not end up is an 8x4 prison cell where you really belong for your crimes, you incompetent and criminal fascist. Goodbye and Good Riddance!

Very well written tkoind2. It is moving and full of compassions. Why does Bush want to write the book about his presidential term? He can not judge by himself. Others have already judged his performance.

Bush will never mentioned as one of the greats alongside Abraham Lincoln or Grover Cleveland.

Next Tuesday when george bush leaves office will be one of the greatest days in modern American history, when the most destructive president in U.S. history leaves and Americans finally get past their biggest brain fart in their lifetimes.

I. Cannot. Wait.

Americans have made their verdict in the November 4 elections when they elected Obama by the biggest winning margin in decades, in a massive rebuttal of bush's failed war, foreign, homeland, social, economic and environmental policies.

The's really nothing left to say in defence of bush.

Come next Tuesday, I'll probably be in tears, just sooo happy that the bush freakshow has been consigned to the trash heap of history.

Obama's transition team are going to have to spend months disinfecting the White House! :-)

smiinjapan - "Go to hell, bush."

Exactly, exactly.

I think most Americans will be thinking exactly that come next Tuesday as they continue watching their economy crumbling around them and it dawns on them that yet another $350 billion of their money has vanished into thin air in the first portion of hte bailout that bush and co. ensured was given away with no strings attached, no checks, no conditions.

All Republicans hope that future historians would be l!ars.

Personally, I always liked what President George W Bush evoked from America's enemies, and from enemies of the American way who are citizens of countries fortunate enough to be US allies.

After watching bush's farewell speech yesterday..sure, he's entitled to his opinion, but if someone like bush screws you over, is it all okay as long as their heart was in the right place?

I can forgive failed good intentions, but when it comes to self-serving delusion and blind stupidity, bush is in a league of his own.

"Americans finally get past their biggest brain fart in their lifetimes"

That won't be for another 4 years.

Bush declared the United States will “never tire, never falter and never fail.”

Dumb quote that seems to be better suited for a Hollywood movie.

Heh, no Sarge, the brain fart has been the last 8 years. :-)

Flipping nora, he must be the worst president in living memeory, if not history. He has caused thousands of deaths worldwide. Destroyed Iraq, and been in charge of the worst economic downturn since the depression.

If that's waht he calls in the nations best interest, what would happen if the pillock wasn't trying?

The bloke is a laughing stock worldwide and made Americans hated worldwide with his idiotic policies.

Sarge. You and I have had some knock down drag out debates over brother Bush and his reign of idiocy. And I have to give you points for loyalty and devotion to your choosen guy no matter how far he sunk. But such fidelity is better suited to a marriage or friendship and not in support of a president that very clearly knows he made a mess of things and is hoping to sweep some of that mess under a rug with a self pity laden last speech.

President Elect Obama is a leader, intelligent, inspiring and unifying in nature. His term on the heels of Bush will be hard, but I promise you it will be remembered i history as the administration who inherited a disaster from Bush. And, with our support and courage, will live on to be known as the administration that put America back in her rightful place as a nation respected among nations.

There's something adolescent about these efforts to spin his record as he fades from the scene. On the one hand, GWB professes to be confidently indifferent to how history will judge him while, at the same time, he's out granting interviews to everyone in sight trying to put his tenure in the best possible light.

Sort of like the exchange "I don't ever want to see you again!" only to have it pointed out, "Then why did you come after me?"

Q How should we use former Presidents? How do you want to be used, in what capacity, as you leave this office?

THE PRESIDENT: It's an interesting question. One thing I don't want to do is stay on the stage. The spotlight needs to shift to President-elect Obama and it needs to stay on President-elect Obama because he's the President. Therefore, I won't try to get it to shift to me.

Mighty big of him.

One more note. I seriously and truly believe George W. Bush should be indicted for war crimes, for lying to congress, for corruption and for breech of the trusts sworn to as President of the US. He should spend the rest of his years as a convicted war criminal. And some time in a tiny jail cell to think about his legacy.

Just wish some members of congress had the guts to call him before an inquiry and work to gain an indictment.

RegVarney at 11:07 AM JST - 16th January "Flipping nora, he must be the worst president in living memeory, if not history. He has caused thousands of deaths worldwide."

More perished under Clinton - look it up.

Good or bad, atleast we have the right to choose. Do not forget it.. There are many around the world that do not and many around the world we have given the chance also to choose.

Look at stinking China and its 1.3 billion little puppy followers..

Item of note:

After his last press conference, bush failed to call on Helen Thomas, the longest serving, and arguably, most respected journalist in the White House press corps' history, when she raised her hand to ask him a question.

"Classy" AND cowardly.

Taka

sarge: "That won't be for another 4 years."

It'll be a lot longer than 4 years before the effects of all the terrible and disastrous policies GWB has unleashed upon the world are taken care of. Obama will do his best, but that will never change the fact that bush is/was one of the worst presidents -- if not THE worst -- in US history. Again, adios muchacho, and PLEASE let the door hit you on the way out... preferably in the face.

Kinda sad really.

It was pretty interesting these past years to watch normally intelligent human beings reduced to frothing, irrational, vindictive, hatefilled people just at the mere mention of the 'B' word.

Those folks will never admit this but they really are going to miss the guy. They really are :).

I know I sure will miss the posts and the creative insults hurled at him over the years in any article that had the 'B' word in it.

I give him credit for allowing folks to show their creative talents in how many ways they could be-little him, his family, his dog, his ranch, his friends, his education, his religion, his....what the heck thrown in whatever you want, cause if you aren't hating Bush, your just not trying hard enough to set a good example for others to follow.

Bush causes acne by the way.

After 8 years of bush, Sarge STILL can't see the president for the total, abject failure he is. :-)

I think Rosa Brooks made some good observations in her LA Times column today:

Psychological research strongly (if depressingly) suggests that it's far easier to build social and political solidarity on negative emotions (fear, anger, disgust) than on positive ones (hope, generosity, love). What binds groups together, as often as not, is a collective sense of opposition to some force perceived as threatening to the group, whether external or internal (and regardless of whether the perceived threat is "real"). It's easier to be against things than to be for things, to stir up anti-communist venom than pro-capitalist passion, to whip up anti-Semitism or anti-Islamic feeling than a collective pride in religious tolerance.

That's not to say humans are never motivated by "positive" emotions or can't hold negative and positive emotions simultaneously. We can feel genuine delight and hope at the prospect of a more generous, brave and pluralistic nation at the same time we feel anger at Bush. But often the positive emotions seem to be less powerful drivers of political behavior.

So what will we do, in a post-Bush world? Will Obama's optimistic vision be enough to keep us all together, when Bush, our convenient (if deserving) scapegoat, is gone? Or will we flail around in search of a new threat to unite against? (The economic crisis may be Obama's best friend here.)*

Bush broke many of his initial campaign promises, but he ended up keeping his promise to be "a uniter, not a divider," though hardly in the way he intended: He leaves behind a united nation, brought together at last by a heartfelt desire to see him gone.

Sailwind, I could say similar - it's been absolutely incredible to watch people who were once ordinary Americans become frothing-at-the-mouth supporters of torture, people who now don't bat an eyelid when hundreds - no - thousands of innocent Iraqis have died for nothing, and who think nothing about waiving responsibility for their actions all the while they beat out angry, brave-sounding posts from behind their keyboards while doing absolutely nothing to back up their words with actions.

You, I wil admit, are one of the very few Americans on this site who actually has put his money where his mouth is, and I congratulate you on that.

George W. Bush:

“You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.”

Something his predecessor was never known for. And it's good he brought that up. Being president isn't about being popular, that's for American Idol contestants. It's about making tough decisions. Like his decisions or not, it was his job to make them, not the armchair presidents.

Betzee:

There's something adolescent about these efforts to spin his record as he fades from the scene.

I always figured it was the "everything Bush does is wrong" crowd that was adolescent. "Go to hell, Bush." for example.

Mighty big of him.

Actually, that tends to be the rule for Republican ex-presidents. It's the Democrat ex-presidents who don't have the dignity to respect the presidents who follow them.

Taka313:

After his last press conference, bush failed to call on Helen Thomas, the longest serving, and arguably, most respected journalist in the White House press corps' history, when she raised her hand to ask him a question.

Oh please. Thomas is not respected, and she's not a journalist. She's a columnist, and an agenda-driven partisan hack at that. If I were president, I would have never taken a question from her, ever.

And SS3, Bush never screwed me over, except for signing every spending increase congress sent his way. But hey, if presidential primaries weren't started in blue states with open primaries, maybe we could get a staunch conservative for a change, instead of all these moderates.

Its about time Bush stood up for himself. The administration's biggest mistake was not challenging the lies and bullcrap from the deep cesspool of ideological driven hatred.

Its too bad the Democrats chose the low road and failed to meet Bush halfway. If they had, both the war in Iraq and Afghanstan had a better chance of succeeding and the economy would not have been driven into the dirt. Two areas where Democrats needed the appearance of failure in order to regain power. Filthy ideologues.

Actually, that tends to be the rule for Republican ex-presidents. It's the Democrat ex-presidents who don't have the dignity to respect the presidents who follow them.

Really? I remember Nixon had a second public life after his presidency ended. GHWB as well. Reagan, of course, was too old to do much globe trotting. GWB, incidentally, has expressed interest in doing the type of work his father has done with Bill Clinton, natural disaster relief, for example.

I also remember Bill Clinton expressing satisfaction in his farewell address that he was leaving America on the track to be debt free by 2009. Didn't quite work out that way....

Just wish some members of congress had the guts to call him before an inquiry and work to gain an indictment

Then congress would have to plead the 5th because they dont want to self incriminate themselves. They where not duked into anything, they went with the knowledge down the path they choose.

Im all for them all going to jail, including Bush and the congress that wasted my tax money year after year. (then who would be president when Biden , McCain, Obama, Clinton, Bush, and all the rest are in Jail?_)

Nixon and G.H.W. Bush did what, tours? Drop by for a spot of tea?

Did they barter deals with North Korea? Shamelessly promote themselves for the Nobel? Make statements to the press regarding their dissatisfaction with the decisions made by their successors? "Observe" and approve the stolen elections of Leftist tyrants? Make dirty deals to get their wives senate seats in states they weren't from?

See, there's a difference between being a contributor -as Bush may do- and being a meddler. Clinton has done a bit of both, while Carter can't stop meddling.

Moderator: Back on topic please.

President Elect Obama is a leader, intelligent, inspiring and unifying in nature. His term on the heels of Bush will be hard, but I promise you it will be remembered i history as the administration who inherited a disaster from Bush. And, with our support and courage, will live on to be known as the administration that put America back in her rightful place as a nation respected among nations.

tknoid2, let me give you a little news flash. As far as Obama being a leader we have seen that this is not going to be as easy as you think. All during the campaign trail, one of his promises was that if elected, he will give each business that hires a new worker a $3000 tax credit. Well, even with a Democratic Senate, he could not get that passed. So his promise of repealing "Don't Ask/Don't tell" and letting an openly gay bishop offer the first prayer starting his inagural gala, nor his picking a man to be the Treasuer of the US but who hasn't paid his taxes on his hired worker (who fell into illegal status while working for him) tell me that Obama is probably not going to be any different than "W".

I could go on and on, but I guess I will take the high road. I did not vote for him, but I accept him as my new President. Will I congratulate him when he does well, yes. Will I criticize him when I think he screws up, yes. But I will not bring the "ODS" (Obama De-rangement Syndrome) to the front like many anti-Bush people have been with "W".

I leave with this: on MSNBC, when Rachel Maddow was making her comments on his speech, you could see under the President "Goodbye and Good Riddance." Now ask yourself, when Fox News puts up a similar comment disrespecting the next President, I am sure we will see a flurry of hate comments on how the Republicans are racist, and conservatives just don't get it.

I put my money with Bush. At least I know what I am getting with him, rather I like it or not. With Obama, I had better learn to read the polls to see which way he will approach a problem.

Bush said he acted in nation best interest. The nation is broke with huge debts. Army of homeless and unemployments are sky rocketting. Many elderly lost their life time saving in the credit crunch. Government is bailing out the failed banks. US became socialist nation. US has lost the international standing. Prisoners torture from Guatanamo ruined the good image of US as champion of human rights. I can conclude as he acted in nation worst interest. Bush presidential term can be described as "doom of the journey".

VOR: "The administration's biggest mistake was not challenging the lies and bullcrap from the deep cesspool of ideological driven hatred."

Obama's admin. won't make the same mistake at all, so don't worry. In fact, they were elected because people were sick of all Bush's 'bullcrap from the deep cesspool of ideological driven hatred', and the Dem's are currently looking into investigating bush and co. to finally GET the truth about all the lies they used to pull the wool over your eyes. I'm glad you've finally got it straight, VOR; the bush admin. has been riddled with lies and scandal from the get go.

Whitehawk: "Did they barter deals with North Korea? Shamelessly promote themselves for the Nobel? Make statements to the press regarding their dissatisfaction with the decisions made by their successors?"

Okay... so... you say that the Nobel Prize and dialogue with countries is negative, but illegally invading a country and getting the dummy prize for one of the worst president's in history is a positive. What world do you live in, my friend?

Nippon5: "Then congress would have to plead the 5th because they dont want to self incriminate themselves. They where not duked into anything, they went with the knowledge down the path they choose."

Not true. They were indeed DUPED (not duked) into illegally invading Iraq, for example, when bush and co. intentionally provided false intelligence on WMDs, etc. On other things, though, indeed they were not necessarily duped.

"Im all for them all going to jail, including Bush and the congress that wasted my tax money year after year."

Good, as is most of the world. I would recommend giving the others you mention in the statement (ie. Biden, etc.) a chance to be corrupt, though, before arresting them on corruption.

i'm hoping for the best from Mr. Obama despite some deep reservations about his lack of experience, socialistic tendencies, naivete and his crop of crooked friends. If he acts in the best interest of the United States as Mr. Bush did, he has a good chance at succeeding in spite of himself.

if the democrats feel invincible enough in their new found power to indict an outgoing president well let them. there is a big difference in building a case in the court of law then tearing a man down with lies in the public arena. democrats are stupid, but not that stupid.

I never liked Bush from the beginning, but no one can deny, when the Iraq war started there were some pretty dirty stuff uncovered by those to be our allies that were suppose to be upholding sanctions against Iraq at that time. One big reason some of them did not want nothing to do with the war. They were caught red handed in their secrete dealings with Saddam Hussien. Chinese made missiles and all that crap, Oil deals. So how was sanctions and the UN going to deal with Sadam Hussien.

I may not have liked Bush abut he and his cronies did expose some of the dirt that existed among our so called friends and allies that all voted on the sanctions against Iraq and under the table did not stay committed to the pressure on the regime in Iraq to force changes.

As I said, right or wrong , everyone has their opinion. Mine is I never liked Bush and do not like all the lives lost in the war, civilian and troops, but....there lies the dark side that was also uncovered and exposed by those that did not support resolutions they voted for in suppressing Sadam Hussien's regime to bring him to his knees. All at the same time the people of Iraq were in despair while Hussien was living a lavish life in his many palaces.

THere are arguments on both sides. I do hope Obama, the guy I voted for does not come in as a push over and does not stand for firmness against rogue regimes that are killing their own people like they are nothing but dogs. That is something we do not need as an America that is suppose to be the leader for rights and democracy.

Along with many more issues, I think he and Cheney were very well stashed in the pockets of the large corporations and hope he goes to hell for it , but at the same time I will wait to see if obama has the b-lls to stop the flow of manufacturing over seas and the support of China becoming the next communist super power to take our place., which Carter has already advised him to keep on doing in their meeting.

We have some really screwed up politicians and policies. Let us hope Obama takes on the problems that have brought us where we are, head on.

VOR

"Democrats are stupid, not but that stupid". No one has been stupid enough as Mr George Walker Bush. He said " Bring em on". He was a draft cheater and AWOL. He admitted in press conference his most stupid action was declaring "mission accomplished". He, cheney and counless republicans Who has never fought for the nation. They are chicken hawks who want to promote the business for their cronies for awarding military contracts. They are corrupted the misused the public money.

Democrat's Clition lied did stupid thing. However no one died. Bush lied and did horrible thing and millions died. Economy and reputaion of nation ruined. Remember US enjoyed the peace and prosperity during the 1990s. It was in Democrats watch. Republicans has track record for ruining economy and making moutain of debts. Daddy Bush and Bush junior are economically stupid and created the huge morgage for future generations.

Basically he does not have enough WISDOM to fight the most difficult war ( religious war, or politically correct :war on terror). Let's hope that the next US president will be able to show us the right way.

He didn't mention his greatest success as president; the looting and pillaging of America for the enrichment of his family, friends and business partners. They did very very well in this respect.

As someone observed with respect to the evident self-pity in GWB's televised farewell to the American people: "Look, seppuku by dishonored politicians is not really an American tradition so whaddya expect?"

About what he delivered, frankly.

george bush is scum. Glad to see his last days waining down.

Only place I ever want to see him is on trial and in jail. < :-)

"He didn't mention his greatest success as president; the looting and pillaging of America for the enrichment of his family, friends and business partners. They did very very well in this respect."

They did?

Exactly how well did they do?

Did they make the kind of cash Franklin Raines did? Democrats saw fit to allow Franklin Raines to pay himself 90 million dollars in salary and bonuses for overseeing things at Fannie Mae, whose implosion was the single biggest factor in the economic meltdown we are loking at.

Serious spin and self-dilusion going on here. Don't let the door hit you on the way out George.

George Bush started really stupid Iraq war and thousands of soldiers died there for nothing as almost same as Vietnam. I wonder how they teach kids about it.

good riddance!

I cant believe people actually believe that information that Bush used was for his eyes only. I guess you can find someone to buy swampland everyday. And duped was what I meant I'm glad you where able to figure it out hope you didnt strain your brain too hard. They didnt get tricked to go down the path of the war. To be duped would mean they didnt have the knowledge Bush did and that didn't happen. Wanna buy a senate seat? How about I get ya a good goverment contract? Maybe some are not corrupt but then again I still haven't seen any flying pigs. No politician is clean.

Nippon5: "Maybe some are not corrupt but then again I still haven't seen any flying pigs"

You will see flying pigs; the day bush is honoured as a great president in the history books... hahaha!

His farewell speech was the most pathetic speech I've seen of a man finishing his career. Here he had an excellent chance to own up to mistakes and act human and apologize, but instead he threw out the 'why me?' crap at the same time as he pretended not to care about being popular.

I'm sorry, but it's not a 'tough choice' to go to war (unless you volunteer yourself, perhaps, which we all know bush and other war supporters here would NEVER do, sailwind aside), that is the easy route. The 'tough choice' would have been to press for dialogue and viable solutions, much like it is tough and time-consuming to deal with NKorea and Iran.

Bush always said he would never quit even if only his wife and Barney supported him. Well, now it is only them and a very few select other lapdogs, and probably even Barney will eventually give up on the man. Either way, he is a disgusting excuse for a human being, bottom line, and with exception to the aforementioned lapdogs and the rich who benefitted from bush, pretty much all the world will be cheering a few days from now when the Dark Ages of the bush admin. are over and Obama steps up to take the reigns.

Good luck Obama; good riddance to the shrub.

Bush and co. used more propaganda to sell crap than any president since WWII, and now he asks why all of these things happened on his watch... hahaha.

Is it the original Barney still? Going to war is a very tough choice, going into the service knowing you can die in war is very difficult( I know first hand as I joined and fought in war). I dont think Bush will be remembered for much other then the War and the economical problems, no matter what else he may have done.

Im prepared for a very rocky ride with Obama. It very hard for a person to do well when everyone puts the bar way to high for the guy. Hopefully he does more good then harm. Ive watched most of my stock value go down 50 % since November of last year. After it attained a high value in 2007. I dont blame just Bush for my stocks decline, I blame everyone of the politicians in Washington, the CEOs of the companies, and the banks for loaning money they shouldnt have. 2 years ago when the stock was at its highest I praised those same people. Hind site is so 20/20 isnt it.

"Being president isn't about being popular, that's for American Idol contestants. It's about making tough decisions."

Thus spoken by a die-hard Bush supporter, presumably still unsure as to what a 25% approval rating means...

The President is unpopular because of his decisions. It's not that hard to work out whitehawk.

Bush made tough decisions. Tough decisins made by a soft pliable brain. Thw man was and is a fool and a reflection on the people who elected him once (not twice). GWB says history will judge him.....about the only thinhg he has got right.

Sushi: "total, abject failure"

Is this the total abject failure who, for most of his presidency, saw continuous job growth due to his tax cuts, and whose policies have prevented further terrorist attacks on our country and liberated two countries from awful tyrannies?

Checking...

Yeah, he is!

Taka313 - So Bush failed to call on a certain jornalist during his last press conference. Is that your best shot? That is seriously lame, compared to most of the other shots others have taken here, ha ha ha!

Well, I have waited eight LONG years for this speech. And yes, my friends, each and every day of those eight years was FILLED with hours of thinking about bush, who is the worst president in the history of not just America but the whole world and will never ever be even considered average or even below average so don't even THINK about coming here to be one of his supporters.Yes, said supporters are indeed few, as they should be, because I am so persuasive! Ha ha ha. Well, anyway, as speeches go it was one of the worst that could be. President Obama will soon take office and peace will rein and the carte blanching of Israel by America will end. Like Ghandi and me, Obama knows war never solves ANYTHING. So you can bet on it, unless you are a remaining bush supporter, in which case, I'm sorry to inform you one last time, logic never was your cup of tea.Goodbye shrub, get out of my head.

Madverts: "The President is unpopular because of his decisions. It's not that hard to work out whitehawk."

I said this exact same thing a few days ago, and yet here we are repeating it again and again because bush's very few remaining supporters just don't want to hear it. He's not unpopular because he made tough decisions -- the man who just landed the airplane on the Hudson river had to make a tough call and he's a hero around the world! -- he's hated because his decisions were awful. How 'tough' they were (which is debatable) has nothing to do with it.

"I have waited eight LONG years for this speech"

Heh, you're gonna wait four LONGER years for The Most Merciful's speech.

"the worst president"

Not even close.

"Goodbye shrub, get out of my head"

Heh, Bush really has had your knickers in a twist!

sarge: any chance you can come up with something original?

"So Bush failed to call on a certain jornalist during his last press conference. Is that your best shot? That is seriously lame, compared to most of the other shots others have taken here, ha ha ha!"

Still beats the drivel you cut and paste all the time, by a LONG shot.

Anyway, sarge, I know it really really hurts that about 6.7 billion of the world's population dislike bush, or at the very least are happy that a better man is taking his place, but try and see the bright side, won't you?: one of the worst president's in US history is leaving in less than a week, and a much smarter, charismatic, and more eloquent person is taking office to make your country great again. I know you don't like to hear it, but it's a matter of fact that bush is one of the worst president's in history -- that is not an opinion. Look at the approval ratings in either the US or the rest of the world, and look at bush's track record.

Smith: "bush is one of the worst president's in US history - that is not an opinion"

Yeah, it is.

"one of the worst"

You mean he's not THE worst? Who could be worse? Ha ha ha!

How did the president fare on his effort to address the AIDS pandemic? Quite well. It appears that the number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment has quadrupled in the past five years meeting the goal of two million that Bush set at the start of his administration.

...and 95% of people disagreed.

He tried to take credit for the US not getting attacked since 9-11, but how can he take credit for something that didn't happen?

Price of "extravagant" Bush inauguration: $50 million. Obama's: $200 million. I wonder how much for those antebellum dresses?

Hey, YangYong, your English is really good. Nice and lucid. Thanks for the contribution to the discussion.

Alphawolf, how can the police take credit for falling crime?

Many Americans moved on, Bush said, “but I never did.”

Nah, you just let the sonofabitch who inspired the 9/11 atrocities get away free as a bird. But then, that's why we US troops voted your sorry ass out.

^^But then, that's why we US troops voted your sorry ass out.^^

A recent (Dec 08) poll found 60 percent of active duty US military 'uncertain' or pessimistic' about the Commander-in-Chief they have as of Jan 21 2009.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/12/military_poll_main_122908/

alphawolf - Do you really believe that if the U.S. government under Bush's leadership had not taken the actions it did since 9/11, that the U.S. would not have suffered more horrific terrorist attacks?

Dude: "that's why we US troops voted your sorry ass out"

Um, Bush was re-elected. He wasn't voted out.

Whitehawk,

The previous 8 presidents had no problem calling on Helen. As for the partisan thing...yeah, that's why Nixon hand picked her to go to China with him.

bush avoided her because she demands accountability and that is kryptonite to him and all neo-cons.

Taka

Thank you for your service, Mr. President. You weren't the greatest president we've ever had, but you certainly weren't the worst. You took what I believe were unpopular but necessary decisions after the horrific 9/11 attacks to protect the country and provide the means for some kind of decent governments to take hold in the festering Middle East, giving hope to people who had only despair.

I can only hope your successor doesn't screw up too badly.

"accountability"

Obama said he wants to bring a sense of accountability to Washington.

Of course he can't bring actual accountability to Washington, just a sense of it. Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

Maybe Pres. Bush knows the enemy better than they think.

Helen Thomas, recent (13 Jan 09) interview at "Democracy Now":

AMY GOODMAN: Helen Thomas, what would you have asked President Bush if you got a chance yesterday? Did you expect that he would call on you?

HELEN THOMAS: No, but I wish that he had, because I would have—I mean, I would have asked a news question. I would not have gone into the nostalgia, though I’m not criticizing it, because I do think the reporters had to wrap up to find out what he really thought about himself and his legacy. But I would have asked why—why do you continue to support the killing in Gaza? And that’s what we’re doing. I mean, you can’t remain neutral. I remember the rabbi who spoke at the Martin Luther King march on Washington. Heschel had a cameo appearance, and he said, “The greatest sin of all in the Nazi era was silence.” When you remain silent to the suffering and the incredible aggression against a people, then you are culpable.

Any partisan hack who'd liken Germany under the totalitarian Nazis to a democratic America which twice made Bush president and which helped liberate 25 million in Iraq, should be ignored.

Helen Thomas: "I would have asked ( Bush ) why - why do you continue to support the killing in Gaza?"

If Bush had called on her and if she had asked such a ridiculous and insulting question, Bush would have been within his rights to throw both his shoes at her.

That Bush buffoon, ruined America financially, and killed thousands of people. He done the worst job of any President ever. Benny Hill could have done a better job even if he was permanenrly pissed out of his head.

Good to see ya go, here are some parting gifts;

No impeachment

No Book deal

Now dont let the door hit ya on the way out......Go already darn you!

Now what has our outgoing dear leader left us with?

Worst job growth of any President in the last 60 years

The value of the dollar is in the tank

Oil prices going through the roof

Two front war

In debt to our eyeballs

Loss of global respect due to bad mistakes

Unemployment on the rise

United States in a Recession

National debt nearly doubling since you took office

AHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

You know something Mr Bush, you were the worst President ever!

Darn it man do you know how hard it is to be called the worst President ever?

Hell President Carter was better than you.

Please leave and dont look back, just get out!

Man he really was the worst ever!

You gotta almost feel sorry for the guy. ("Almost" is the operative word.) If he couldn't even rustle up much of a TV audience this week, imagine how little interest anyone will have in what he has to say after next week?

Most tuned him out to learn more about the hero of the Hudson River plane crash. And who could blame 'em? GWB once again emphasized that when people "live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror" Gee, that hardly jives with what's been going on in Gaza, where Hamas has kinda gotten a lot of coverage lately.

Obama will enjoy a lot of good will from the public simply by exhibiting common sense which will be such a welcome return to reality.

Truly the worst Prez ever and a war criminal to boot. Good Riddance.

Bush and Cheney's lies lately, trying to rewrite history would have been laughable if they hadn't been so disgusting. War criminal trials in the Hague are in order since it's apparent that no one in the USA had the courage to impeach these murderers. What atravesty of Justice for the world these greedy men have been.

i remember this same sort of vitriol was directed at Ronald Regan during his tenure and history has proven kind to him. The Internet has emboldened partisan animosity and has given way to mob rule. Bush took the high road during his presidency and let the chattering class chatter; unfortunately to the detriment of the USA and to the world as a whole.

How fun it is to watch the last desperate defense of bush crumble; the man had one last chance to do something good for his country, and failed even THAT -- and it should have been the easiest thing in the world given that it was a farewell speech. It's really quite simple. You say, "Thank you for allowing me the honour of being ___. I realize I made quite a few mistakes, but I did what I believed was best. I apologize for areas where it lacked, and I sincerely hope my successor can clean up the mess." etc. Not so tough. Instead, what do we get, "I was not a bad president. I made some tough choices, but I stand behind them, even if only my wife and Barney support me. I don't care about popularity, because I couldn't get it. Why did so many bad things happen to ME!"

It's supposed to be ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. Both failed to do a single thing but make the country a nightmare, and its standing in the world a joke. And instead of trying to make amends and doing something good on his way out the door, he asks his country one last time to do for him, saying in all arrogance, "You cannot deny I made it safer". This guy is the polar opposite of anything good; he is absolutely horrible, and an evil man to boot. Perhaps it was just his raging stupidity that allowed him to make so many awful choices (which led to less than a 25% favourable rating... what rank is that in the history of US presidents, anyway?); perhaps it was his lack of loyalty to his own causes. Either way, he was a bomb that blew your country to bits economically, politically, and in terms of war, etc.

...and then realised it's bad, bad, BAD to continue with the lies.

Wow. So...wanting peace is now a "radical" concept that no one should question the president about with our JT neo-cons. If that is the trend throughout neo-conia, it's no wonder you are being swept into obscurity in America.

Taka

Taka, that was wicked... thanks for the post. I was also unaware that the US has a higher rate of unemployment than Belarus.

wuzzademcrat: Talk about making ALL the wrong connections. Read: http://murrayrothbard.com/Ten_Great_Economic_Myths.html

wuzzademocrat: You miss the point; an arrogant Republican was discussing unemployment and made the snide remark, "I mean, it's not like this is Belarus!". He doesn't go on to discuss illegal immigrants, etc. he was simply making an ignorant statement of a third world country from the POV of a supposedly first-world one, and made himself an utter ass.

What's more, until the past two years the bush admin. touted the unemployment rate as being lower than ever, but to the best of my knowledge there was no huge change between two years ago and now in illegal immigrants (just more news on it).

I guess what I'm asking you is, what's your point, because it seems that nothing you are saying cannot be shot down cold.

Even if you agree that Bush acted in the nation's best interest he was so incompetent at the task that he is still going down as one of the worst, if not THE worse, president in history. IMHO, of course.

Comparisons to Belarus are irrevelant, Belarus is a dictatorship and a controlled economy. Plus the people are starting from a very low standard of living.

Guess we'll see what happens next.

Cost of the Bush era: $11.5 trillion

Seeing him hang for it

Pricless

MadVerts:

"Being president isn't about being popular, that's for American Idol contestants. It's about making tough decisions." Thus spoken by a die-hard Bush supporter, presumably still unsure as to what a 25% approval rating means... The President is unpopular because of his decisions. It's not that hard to work out whitehawk.

Contrast Bush43 to his predecessor. Clinton rarely made a tough decision. Instead, he had the luxury of taking politically expedient options to make himself seem popular. He had the willing assistance of most of the media, of course.

We've gone over the decisions you're referring to before. No need to rehash again, unless you want to continue on JT's forum side. But I think it's worth noting that however low Bush's approval rating is, it's still more than twice that of congress. And guess where our new president came from?

And (yet) one more time, I am not a die-hard Bush supporter. I have opposed his support of amnesty for illegal aliens, increasing entitlement spending, signing every congressional spending bill that crossed his desk, handing education reform over to Teddy Kennedy, and other times he veered Left. But myopic BDS sufferers can think only think of Iraq (now that they've forgotten Katrina), just as they only mention deficits when it comes to defense spending (and never when the topic is welfare). Because the BDS sufferers keep threads focused on Iraq and defense spending, they'll mistake me for a die-hard Bush supporter since I supported the removal of Saddam Hussein and his sons, and the rebuilding of Iraq. It's funny, though, how things come to a stop when I remind them of Clinton and Yugoslavia...

Taka313:

The previous 8 presidents had no problem calling on Helen. As for the partisan thing...yeah, that's why Nixon hand picked her to go to China with him. bush avoided her because she demands accountability and that is kryptonite to him and all neo-cons.

As others have since backed up, Thomas is a hack. Possibly a bigoted hack. Bush avoided her because she's a joke. A very, very old joke.

?:

"I was also unaware that the US has a higher rate of unemployment than Belarus."

Belarus, shmelarus. It's still lower than under Carter's policies.

Bush Jnr was with out question the finest most talented and reliable comedian ever to get into the white house.He made me laugh out load many times.Ha Ha Ha...oops.. what.. he was the president of the USA..sorry about that i thought he was the after dinner entertainment.

DXXJP at 02:46 AM JST - 17th January

Cost of the Bush era: $11.5 trillion

Seeing him hang for it

Pricless

That would be so sweet. Stretch him and watch him Swi-i-i-ng.

he's a traitor to the American people, but a benefactor for Halliburton and all the bush/cheney connections. < :-)

After being away from the site for two years I have to laugh at the likes of Sarge and that who continue to be led blindly by political persuasion, rather than intelligence, ethical standards or the power of individual thought. I am pleased, dare I say over the moon, that everything I wished for in a second Bush term came true.I suggested back in 2004 if America couldn't decide between Bush and Kerry then America needed another four years of Bush to ensure nothing like him would ever be allowed near the whitehouse again. What the world knew four years ago America needed another four years of damage (but this time internally), torture, and the butt of everyone's jokes. Lets just hope America and Americans have learned their lessons. Lets also hope for a new and improved America, seriously the bar is sooooo low it can't be that hard. Good luck to the Democrats!! Farewell to the republicans.

A bit more from wuzzademcrat's linked article that perhaps he didn't want you too see:

The responses are not representative of the opinions of the military as a whole. The survey group overall under-represents minorities, women and junior enlisted service members, and over-represents soldiers.

Hmmm... pretty self-explanatory.

While nearly half of the respondents said they disapprove of Obama’s proposal to withdraw combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months of taking office, a slightly higher percentage said they support the Status of Forces Agreement calling for U.S. forces to leave the country by the end of 2011.

"Nearly half" means less than half, gang. The majority, however slight, approve of President Obama's plan.

Although realistic about the challenges ahead, troops overwhelmingly support the mission in Afghanistan.

So does President Obama. Pity bush didn't.

Eight out of 10 respondents said the U.S. should have gone to war in Afghanistan. Nearly the same amount support plans to boost the number of troops there by more than 20,000, for a total of more than 50,000.

"Eight out of ten" translates into 80% by my math. That's the percentage of my colleagues who agree (know) we should have prioritize Afghanistan over Iraq. Now that we have a good CnC, we can begin getting the job done right.

While the majority of respondents expressed some degree of optimism the U.S. will succeed in Afghanistan, 30 percent said troops will need to stay for more than a decade to achieve its goals.

That 30% would've had much more faith if we'd have fought the war properly. But, now we can, so take heart, gang!

Oh, and uh, "sarge":

Um, Bush was re-elected. He wasn't voted out.

Sure he was voted out! We took his party (and by extension, any post-Presidential influence he may have had, out of the picture entirely! Sweet! God, I love America!

Bush make an properganda about natinal security for waging wars. In the reality it is not for national interest. It was for his business interest. Many of his business associates got the military contracts on his watch. Such as weapons manufacturing, transportaion and logistic, security guards, catering and reconstruction. VP Dick Cheney was a major share holder in the oil field disaster relief company. Burning oil fields of Irag are gifts from God for his company.

Bush gave priority to Saddam instead of Bin Laden. He is more interested in Saddam because he was his Daddy old enemy. He completed his Daddy unfinished business. Irag war was five times more expensive than Arfagan. Because Irag is oil rich nation and Arfagan is not.

Bush became millionare because of the oil business from Taxas. His mentor and business advisor Karl Rove mentioned him before, Irag oil reserves are lucrative business oppournity for them. Sadly he betrayed the trust of public, some of his staff and closed allies. He was dishonest since he was young. It is hard to accept that President is dishonest and cunning because he is a role model for kids. Bush changed the image of US for his personal or business interest.

It's clear GWB spent his life in flight. First it was to drink. By his own admission he enjoyed a prolonged boozey youth. It ended only at the age of 40 when he discovered religion. Then, when he embarked on a political career, he wrapped himself in ideology. There was no economic problem a tax cut wouldn't solve while spreading freedom would solve the world's ills. It was all as simple as that.

If you're in flight, you'd better know what you're runnin' from. Yet GWB lacks the self-awareness and introspection necessary to do so. The irony of a committed free marketeer nationalizing Wall Street is completely lost on him. He will cut a lonely figure in retirement, though not one who will elicit much sympathy.

Barack Obama's approval rating is the highest of an incoming president since Ike. Higher than Reagan's, though RR got more votes the first time he ran in 1980. The public is anxious to put the GWB era behind us.

Bush annoys me less than the radical left, and that's saying something. ;)

Ya know, I've never been a fan of Bush. There has been very little that I have agreed with him on, and as a conservative, I despised him for what he did to conservatism, and the republican party. Having said this, I give the man credit for one thing. (Everyone can feel free to disagree with me here.)

The one thing I have to give him credit for, is that when a tough decision needed to be made, he made it. When everything seemed to be going wrong, and everyone turned against him, he held firm. He believed in his own judgment, even if history and everyone else no longer does. It takes a strong, and brave man to stand up and make some calls, especially when everyone in the world damns you for it. So even though I disagree with just about every single damn thing he did, I gotta give him credit for making the calls in spite of it.

Now for 4 more years of suck under Obama.

"Barack Obama's approval rating is the highest of an incoming president since Ike"

We'll see how long that lasts.

The one thing I have to give him credit for, is that when a tough decision needed to be made, he made it.

I reject that view. A hard decision for GWB would have been to ask for sacrifice or raise taxes rather than spending the future. It was easier to put it on the credit card. As a result, the tough decisions on belt tightening have been bequeathed to others.

"Obama walks in with nearly twice the support on the economy that President-elect Clinton had in January 1993, and he beats Ronald Reagan as well," Holland adds.

A third said that their impression of Obama has gotten better since the election, with 8 percent saying their opinion has gotten worse.

"The bad news for Obama: History shows that presidents usually start to lose support once they assume office and start making the tough decisions. But with eight in 10 currently approving of Obama, he can give away 20 or 30 points and still have a majority of the country on his side. That's a reservoir of good will that may help him get things done in his first few months on the job," Holland said.

The new mantra of the right, I see, is: "bush made tough decisions when decisions needed to be made."

Whoopde-freakin'-doo.

If I make the decision to get in my car and drive at 90 mph after 5 Bush Blacks on the rocks, it's still a decision. After all, I have to get home. So...where's my cult?

Making stupid decisions when decisions have to be made is no accomplishment. What it is, is a really, REALLY poor excuse being used to excuse a poor excuse of a man.

Taka

Taka313 - Bush made the decision to remove a terrible dictator who was responsible for mass suffering in the region and was running Iraq into the ground, and provide the conditions for a free elections, resulting in a government in Iraq that doesn't seek WMD or threaten its neighbors, unlike Saddam, and give hope to the Iraqis, whereas before under Saddam, they had only despair. You disagree with this decision?

Let me see, sargie...

When the decision to remove saddam caused mass suffering in the region, ran Iraq further into the ground, while providing conditions for free elections that aided in further dividing the nation along religious lines.....it's a tough call.

But then, when you factor in that it also caused mass suffering for tens of thousands of Americans whose loved ones were killed or maimed in a fight over a country that was not a imminent threat to America at a cost over-run of about $500 billion (which is just the military budget mind you), while taking away from our capabilities to catch Osama Bin Laden and simultaneously destroying our credibility and good standing with the rest of the world AND weakening our overall military readiness. Well...the pictures getting clearer.

But then you also need to factor in the stress it has put on our VA system, which is massively under-funded to care for our returning warriors, leaving veterans to deal with TBI and PTSD on their own, the decision comes even further into focus.

It was a stupid idea. So...yes, I disagree with this decision. And in pure sarge fashion, I'm going to throw this out. If you disagree with me, that means you are against our troops and our veterans. So there.

Taka

P.S. And that didn't even factor in the erosion of our civil liberties by allowing for illegal wiretapping to be conducted, approval of torture, and suspension of Habeas Corpus. Which makes it even more stupid. And, if you disagree with me, you hate the Constitution of the United States.

Taka313 - "yes, I disagree with this decision ( to remove a terrible dictator who was responsible for mass suffering in the region and was running Iraq into the ground, and provide the conditions for free elections, resulting in a government in Iraq that doesn't seek WMD or threaten its neighbors, unlike Saddam, and give hope to the Iraqis, whereas before they had only despair )"

I thought you would.

"sargie"

It's Sarge.

sarge: I agree, you did not answer his question at all. You said the deaths were tragic, but you never said whether you agreed with their murders or not. So... sargie... what's the answer?

Taka: here's my guess, sarge is simply not going to show up on this thread anymore, comment-wise. I for one am going to copy and paste your honest and admirable question to him on any single thread he pops up on ranting about how great the liberation of Iraq was, and how just, etc. I hope you will continue to do the same. Only then will the blind, like sarge, perhaps begin to see the blinding white lights in front of their faces.

Sarge

Freedom isn't free.

The deaths of over 4000 Americans never affected out freedom. It hasn't made us freer, it hasn't made our country freer from anything except the lives of over 4000 American mothers, fathers, son, daughters.

Tell me how I am freer because george bush. Tell me how anybody in the United States is freer Sarge. < :-)

"The deaths of 4000 Americans never affected out ( our ) freedom. It hasn't made us freer"

You just dissed the 4000+ Americans who died in Iraq and their families. Shame on you.

You just dissed the 4000+ Americans who died in Iraq and their families. Shame on you.

they died for nothing except feeding the fantasies of your boss and people like you who blindly support him. sleep good at night knowing people died for no good reason? 'dissing' sounds a little disrespectful Sarge, even for you. show some respect! I think he meant to express sorrow at what a waste their lives were. they could have done anything but instead died in late teens/early 20s so that your countrymen can drive a car 2 minutes down the road to get some onion rings.

I'll add your response to save you the trouble "what about the President who freed Iraq?" "how many terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since 9-11?"

bush really had no choice but to say he acted in the nation's best interest. He was/is really in a bad position.

What were his options?

a) He can say he acted in the nation's best interest and go down in history as a colossal failure

or

b) He could tell everyone that everything worked out exactly as he planned and go down as a one of the greatest villains in modern history.

His handlers really left him with a tough way to go...incompetent or evil. Credit where credit is due, I think he chose wisely in going with incompetent.

Now...his worshippers would have you believe that he kept us safe...except for that one time where he dropped the ball by ignoring that report about Osama Bin Laden that led to the biggest terror attack on American soil ever. They want us to discount that one really really big one, and if we do that, he kept us safe from terror attacks.

Well...let's examine that. What was the motivation for crashing into the WTC? To create terror and to destabilize America's economy.

How is America's economy? Pretty gosh-darned destabilized, if you ask most folk. So...what's their motivation? They got what they wanted. To them, "mission accomplished."

So...(and you're going to have to forgive me for a really bad run-on sentence) Did suspending habeas corpus, endorsing torture methods in prison camps, sending young men and women off to die by the thousands in a war against a country that was not an imminent threat to America that costs hundreds of billions of dollars, giving retroactive immunity to telecomm corporations after they broke the law and weakening our overall military readiness prevent a further terror attack, OR, were those things a successful part of our enemy's strategy?

Think anyone at the white house is mulling that one over?

Taka

Sarge I never dissed anybody. george bush dissed all Americans by starting a war that has done nothing to make the United States any safer. Tell me how attacking Iraq has made anybody safer.

There was no connection between Iraq and Al-Quaeda.

Tell me how I dissed them. I never made up lies to start a war. I never dissed them or their families by setting up the circumstances to take their lives. I never belittled them by coming up with wonderful phrases like "Bring 'em on". I never stole American resourses to continue to fund a war dreamed up in an office between doug feith and dick cheney.

You Sarge have dissed them by supporting an action that took their lives for no good benefit except to enbolden you and george bush's political agenda. < :-)

despite all the backbiting and gutter sniping President Bush will show up in history books as the President who presided over the nation during two historical moments, 911 and the inauguration of Barack Obama. Clinton remembered for his impeachment, Bush Sr forgotton, Ronald Regan remembered for the collapse of the Soviet Union, Carter forgotten,Ford forgotten, Nixon Resignation, Johnson forgotton... Barack Obama, already in the history book as the first black guy and who knows what else?

Bush supporters, the only reason you weren't attacked after 9/11 is because his administration didn't need to mastermind, conspire or allow another one. They've already accomplished that "mission". please stop praising him for it. unless you praise every single person you meet that's not commiting a crime.

“You just fade out,” Bush told reporters from Texas newspapers last week. “That’s fine with me. The faster the fade, the better.”

I am amazed, for the first time in 8 years he is talking sense. congratulations Mr. soon-to-be ex-president, finally you have won my vote on something you said.

You just dissed the 4000+ Americans who died in Iraq and their families. Shame on you.

Well...."sarge," you showed the inability to say that you are opposed their deaths, so...bigger shame on you!

Taka

I opposed fighting the war, just like I oppose Bush. Still, unlike others who seemed blinded by their hatred of the man, I can look beyond my dislike and as I said admire him for some things, even while disliking most of what he did and stood for.

I believe him when he said he acted in the nations best interest. I think, more then anything he believes he did. I just kinda disagree.

Molenir

I believe him when he said he acted in the nations best interest. I think, more then anything he believes he did. I just kinda disagree.

I think you come from another planet. It will not change the majority of views for him. He lost his credibilty. His visions and his self compliments are just fairy tales for us. He is entitled for hatred because he promoted for it.

Pls read the comment of Athletes at 09:12 AM JST - 17th January. I strongly agree with Athletes for Bush dishonesty and self-interest.

For or against the war, One thing for certain is that the people of Iraq now has a chance of freedom. THis is something they did not stand a chance for before. Just hope it sticks and those that lost their lives , lost them for a cause. I believe they have... FREEDOM! No BS about freedom not being free as someone posted. Freedom is never free as you have stated. US has been seen as the basis for establishing freedom across the globe feeing people from the grips of dictators that sees life as nothing but to serve the leaders themselves.

Some of you may see it as worthless but to those that suffer under such rule as those 100's of thousands found in the mass burial gave sights in Iraq, I am sure if they are looking down, they are very happy Iraq has been liberated from Saddam Hussien and so does many living in Iraq today, and I would have to say the majority of the Iraqi people.

There were words one time stated that the holocaust should never had let happen and that in these times should never let happen again, those that kill people on race, religion, ethnic , what ever.. is the same, this was Huissien, this is what all is let happening in Dafur as we argue on this topic. Who is going to stop that??? Who has the balls to put an end to such killing in Africa. No one is doing it.. And why? Maybe because we have the critics as above that see no value in saving peoples lives, or find no value in human life if it is not their own.. There is a real moral issue here I find many trying to stuff under the sheets like they have no morals and why there are places like Dafur and its people experiencing genocide because si many around the world do not want to upset their people of their country when trying to stop the killing of others because they have faded in responsibility of putting high enough value on human lives..

What a shame. And no. Not Shame on Sarge, but those that put him down because they do not have the moral basis within themselves to support those that can not defend themselves, the weak, defenseless. Shame on those!!!!!!!!!

I never liked Bush, but one thing from the start of the war in Iraq was the sense of those suppressed was getting help to rid all those people from the grip of forced rule by a killer that sen his people as worthless lives. If no one can take a stand for that, then where has the morals of those around the world gone?

It is some of the same people that rant about the war, and at the same time wish to forget the life style of the Iraqis to begin with.. Very very understandable , I guess.. It is when hatred drowns out what realy should count which is the baics of human rights and freedom of a people. Get over it!

I am going to miss George Bush's ability to push the naysayers completely over the edge. Its going to get really boring around here without him.

TonyUS

There are countless nations abusing the basics of human rights and freedom. It has been existed for centuries not just right now. Not only in Irag had abuse. Myanmar or Burma, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Russia, our beloved friend Saudi and Israel. Moral high ground can not come from double standard. Irag was singled out for defending the weak and defenless was unconvicing. The true motivation of freeing Irag was for oil and personal hatred. It was a major interest. Afagan war had less resources and priortity than Irag.

How about Russia bullied and humilated Georgia? Israel bullying the weak and defenceless civilians and UN staff right now. The most interesting point was US has never gone to war for humanitarian mission with stronger nations.

Uncomfortable truth was we fought for the war for moral highground. In the reality, we went to war with the weak nation which was easy to beat. We did not take risks for high stakes. If Irag was strong as Bush mentioned, we did not or will never wage the war. Bush said I mistakely declared "mission accomplished". He said it was a his biggest regret during his term.

I am going to miss George Bush's ability to push the naysayers completely over the edge. Its going to get really boring around here without him.

Now that is something I'll agree with. He did have an amazing ability to make people absolutely rabidly irrational with hate. You can see quite a few of them in this thread even. Most of the people who despise Bush, don't even have rational reasons for that hate. Its amusing really. I didn't like him myself, but I'm definitely not a hater.

Athletes, you are right with rights abuses around the world, I agree and also agree something should be done in all of them. I always said we would not be in Iraq if there was not something there of interest, which definitely was the oil. I have used that arguement many times myself about why we are at war there, but at the same time I was always for the idea of the people being freed from Hussien's grip.

Also I am very well p-ssed af that Burma is under military rule and have used that as an exapmple why we are in Iraq and not some of these other place such as Burma and the suffering those people are going throuugh with no help from anyone.

I am for the moral high ground in all instances and can not understand the large powers of the world just sitting back letting these people suffer when something could be done.

Also I agree with you about not taking on major powers, but I am sure you can understand that because of the circumstances that could result if one decides it is do or die in such a conflict. That is why Russia, China, and the US seem to have all these conflicting interests and each go about their everyday bussiness not confronting one another on these conflicting interests. I would love to see US take out Russia's Putin and Communist China's Hu and his yes guys, but I never see that happening of course. Besides Russia and CHina is the reason we can not get anything done in such countries you mention above, because of veto power in the UN and them just being members of the usless UN, which in my opinion is what makes the UN usless when you have authoritarian permentent members being a part of it that supports these togue leaders around the world.

Sure US was in Iraq for one reason only, oil . damn right, That is why I have said again and again, I never liked Bush and all was lies about why we went into Iraq, but wether lies or not, there is going to be one more people of the world liberated from a tyrant, and I will be satisified with that out come and hope that there will be a day that all major powers will take a moral high ground and free all that is living in a controlled society ran by those that could care less fabout its people as being human beings that all deserve rights and not as an object that is something to be taken out with the trash.

Above all else the Bush administration screwed up the war big time right from the sttart that has brought so many casualties to both sides, US and its allies and the Iraqi people.

Myanmar,, Burma. is disgusting and once known as the jewel of the east, its beauty,, what a shame, but we see who has the ties with such nations.... China, Iran..CHina. Russia..S, Korea, China made them and supported them and still are because they still exist today after how many years of 6 party talks?? It is a friggin joke these six party talks, they have accomplished nothing except to keep N. Korea China's bargianing chip with the US with other issues such as Taiwan.. Just more of Bush's bullshit stupid policies.

What a short memory the public has, Bush senior was also thoroughly useless as a president and clearly not the sharpest knife in the box. Billionaire oil men, the Bush family buys presidencies and get this; George senior (Read my lips, no new taxes) has said Jeb Bush will make a run in 2012. So the Bush show is far from over folks. Stay tuned for President Jeb Bush. God ... can the world take another Bush?

WhiteHawk at 03:53 AM JST - 17th January Belarus, shmelarus. It's still lower than under Carter's policies.

WH when you stated that unemployment was higher under Cater you were your correct.

But, what many here fail to understand is that when Carter came to office unemployment was at 6.9% and when he left office it was 6.0%. Meaning under Carter unemployment dropped .9%. Not bad but of course not great.

Now on the other hand, when Bush 2 came to office unemployment was at 4.0%. But when he left unemployment will be at around 4.6%. Meaning under Bush unemployment went up.

I dont know about anyone else but Carter looks better on Unemployment.

If you want to do the research, just google; Bush unemployment and so on.

Let us move next to job creation by president all the way back to Hoover.

I will compare Bush versus the dreaded Republican whipping boy known as President Carter. Who created more jobs in their terms.

Jimmy Carter +10.3 million

George W. Bush +3.01 million as of Dec. 2008

Welp it appears that President Carter beat President Bush one more time.

Carter beats Bush on unemployment

Carter beats Bush on job creation

Start here to get the historical figures.

http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.tn.htm

The better the President the more jobs created.

Moderator: Jimmy Carter is not relevant to this discussion.

Jan 20th of 2009 will be the gloriest day in my living memory. I would like to leave behind the memory of the nightmares and suffering of the countless people.

No one or nothing can change the perception that Mr George Walker Bush was partly responsible creating the world wide depression. He made US broke and left with a mountain of debts. If these strongest consumer broke, the world is broke too. Once might US banks are kneeling on the ground. Daddy Bush said "read my lips" for tax cut. Bush said " it was on my watch for generous tax cut". His spending spree habits and unsustainable budgets created more debts.

He likes self compliments because not many people or media has praised him. His legacy was budget deficits, high unemployment, super expensive long term wars and economy is stupid.

Bush, in farewell address, says he acted in nation's best interest

Which nation -- Saudi Arabia, or Iran?

Well I se e it pretty plain. as the trade deficit kept growing so did the conditions here in the US keep going down hill. Industries kept closing and more and more people overseas were going to work making the products we here in the US demanded. Same with all the other so called industrial nations. The only ones that gained during this conditions has been those producing our products.. Look at the growth rates of countries. over 10% in China and they are so worried about it dropping to maybe 8% this year while the rest of us are looking at none???? Our leaders have sold us out! Plus at the same time we are supporting a commuist country with a suppressed society. Let's see our leaders turn that around and get production of our goods in the hands of our own people, not just here in the US. China grows at historic rates as we go into reccesion or depression.. Not hard to see a problem here.

I think the main point is being missed, my dog would have been elected if he had a (D) and not an (R) after his name on the ballot.

ptolemy,

that is correct and you can thank bush for this fact. mccain did not have a chance even with the sideshow palin stunt. In the US only 23% of the public think the repubs can help the US with its many, many problems. Of course because most of them were created by bush and the repubs.

Nessie,

thats a tough question. He did encourage NK to go nuclear, dont forget that. The dear leader is no doubt very grateful to bush for their new found worldwide respect.

We can cross off Iraq for sure.

Which nation's interest? 'Cause it sure wasn't America's!Q

He had his good points but as Shakespeare wrote: 'the good is oft interred with the bones.' Farewell Mr. President.

I can hardly agree with that statement, but I guess time will tell.

Please don't hate me because I am going to miss him.

OhioDonna,

I absolutely don't hate you because you will miss bush. I'm delighted that you will miss him.

It's kind of a "how can I miss you if you won't go away" thing. ;-)

Taka