Bush Promises "Complete Cooperation" With Obama

WASHINGTON — President Bush embraced Barack Obama's election victory Wednesday, saying he understands the message of change that was the centerpiece of Obama's campaign.

Bush promised Obama his "complete cooperation" during the Democrat's 76-day transition to the White House. The president said he would keep Obama informed on all his decisions between now and Jan. 20, and said he looked forward to the day _ soon, he hopes _ that Obama and his family would take him up on his offer of a pre-inauguration White House visit.

But perhaps most striking about the Republican president's brief Rose Garden remarks was the stream of compliments he paid to Obama and the multiple nods to the history-making nature of his ascension.

Bush called Obama's win an "impressive victory" and said it represented strides "toward a more perfect Union." He said the choice of Obama was "a triumph of the American story, a testament to hard work, optimism and faith in the enduring promise of our nation."

The defeated leader of his own party, John McCain, won accolades as well, but not nearly so glowing.

"The American people will always be grateful for the lifetime of service John McCain has devoted to this nation, and I know he'll continue to make tremendous contributions to our country," Bush said.

To a country with monumental civil rights battles in its past, Bush said: "All Americans can be proud of the history that was made yesterday."

He recalled the millions of blacks who turned out to vote for one of their own, saying he realizes many never fully believed they would live to see this day. But he also hinted that he has personal feelings of high emotion at this moment, representing the end of a controversial eight years in the Oval Office during which he tried, but failed, to attract more blacks to his party.

"It will be a stirring sight to see President Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House," the president said. "I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have waited so long."

Comments

[SailFree]

A decent man to the end, despite the pack of angry pit-Chihuahuas continually biting his ankles.

[NWBrunette]

"Complete cooperation"? In bush-speak that's a time frame lasting about 10 seconds. He's probably already got his old frat buddies up there planning how to trash the place prior to their exit...

[SailFree]

You are thinking of vicious left-wing pols such as the Clinton staffers. Get over it. Bush and Republicans behave much more decently.

[MsCanadian]

I do commend Bush for his gracious and coherent comments about Obama.

[NWBrunette]

... that's how we know it wasn't really him speaking.

[appleknocker]

Cooperation? Maybe. But I suspect that every shredder in the administration will be working overtime for the next 2 months.

[Deidroni]

DON'T TRUST A WORD HE SAYS.

[draindrop]

How can we expect Bush to co-operate when the man is completly in the dark. Bush was just a puppet. We the people have finally over thrown the puppet master when we elected Obama. I think the best thing that Obama can do once he takes office is FIRE EVERYONE. We can not take a chance, our children's future is at stake. Thank you America, thank you for making a stand NO MORE SHALL WE STAND BYE WHILE THE CREED OF FEW, EFFECTS THE LIVES OF MANY. I have a new found hope in America that has been missing for so long. I think we all have forgotten who we are and want America actually stands for. "YES WE CAN"

[angryliberal]

Ultimately, Obama's historic victory is Bush's legacy. If Bush hadn't been the biggest f@ckup in American presidential history, I doubt Obama could've pulled this off. Thanks Dubya, and thanks to the idiot Republicans who supported him in lockstep every step of the way.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

I don't think bush has gotten his fair share of thanks for last night's election results.

Turns out he really is a uniter, not a divider.....just not the way he thought!

[murphysgirl]

I commend Bush for his gracious comments. He could have been very general and to the point, but he chose to acknowledge the historical nature of an Obama presidency. Bush also gave his condolences of Obama's grandmother's passing.

Bush realizes the failed legacy he is about to leave behind, and just like the rest of us, he's counting down the days to when he can go back to Crawford...

[breakfast]

Bush probably realizes the extent of his unpopularity, but I doubt that he believes he leaves a failed legacy. After all, he has accomplished most of what he set out to do. He did it and he got away with it and he is no doubt proud of himself.

What a twit.

[paixa3]

Too bad that George lied every past day for the last nearly 8 years. I am happy to see that he was a gracious man in the announcement and spoke the truth.

[NWBrunette]

This man was the worst President in American history. He butchered our Constitution, he lied us in to an invasion of another country, he played Birthday kissy-face while Katrina wrecked devastation, he diddled with a children's book while the tower's we're being destroyed. And on and on and on and on and on... And after eight years of his torturous failures you want to commend him for a few sentences his speech writer got right? Oh please. The man should be arrested and take to the Hague for war crimes trial. Criminals are not commended because they say something true. Don't make an exception for this one.

[Eres]

We'll see if his spirit of cooperation hold up during his trail for war crimes.

Yeah, yeah...I know.

But....

We've just elected our first African-American president. Let me believe for just a moment that justice is indeed possible.

[LoveOverGold]

I wonder if he watched as the crowd gathered in Chicago? To see that crowd and all their intense emotions. I wonder if he had any revelation, maybe an epiphany, maybe even a clue as to the effect his ham-fisted, bungling CEO decidering that caused these people to react the way they did? I think maybe he had a Nixon moment and realized his true legacy. At least I hope so.

[NWBrunette]

I'm pretty sure bush-republicans have their epiphany portal permanently sealed and locked.

[zandy1]

I want to to give George W. Bush some credit for tpaving the way for the election of Barack Obama, his appointments of Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice broke down barriers and put African Americans in positions of power at the national stage.

[Economike]

I'll bet his staff is busy removing all the O's from the keyboards in the white house now.

[robXdion]

Gotta defend Dubya here (rare).

Bush is a lot of things, but at least he's not as petty and b!tchey as the Clinton WH staff was when they removed the W's. Bush would just rather leak info on Obama's aunt and direct a politically trumped up ACORN investigation.

[shaf]

BTW, the removal of the "W"s from the keyboards were the stuff of urban legend (i.e. it never happened).

[elakelaiset]

No, Dubya and staff are busy dreaming up every Executive Order deregulating they can think of to make life tough on his sussessor.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

There busy thinking of new ways leave the country a little more F@#ked up. Clinton left it better than he found it.

[AmericanReflections]

And I'll bet the paper shredders are in high gear these days.

[normathumb]

I hope someone makes plain to Bush that this is a rejection of his viscious, meanspirited thuggery. The Repubs lost big two years ago and that rejection was reaffirmed in spades, (no pun intended), last night. Bush urinated on the Constitutution, wrecked the economy, depleted the military and nearly destroyed the international reputation of America. It will take a generation to restore balance to what this very small man has done. He is not a more or better Christian than anyone else, not that that should matter in America. And neither are his snake handling, superstitious, hasten the apocalypse, willfully ignorent supporters.
True conservatives need to consider whether their marraige of conveniance to the crackpot coalition of antiintellectual Christian primitives is what they really want or need. This isn't the party of Barry Goldwater or Bill Buckley. Heck, it isn't even the party of Richard Nixon. This failure of a campaign was a celebration of the dumbfounded.

[mirza]

So what did the real president --Dick Cheney--have to say?