Bush Farewell Speech Thursday Night On Primetime

From AP:

WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush will give a farewell address to the nation Thursday night, billed by the administration as a chance to reflect on his tenure and welcome Barack Obama without fighting old battles one last time.

Bush will deliver the speech, expected to run 10 to 15 minutes, from the ornate East Room of the White House. He will have a small audience of people in the room, chosen for their stories of personal courage.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said Monday that Bush will "uphold the tradition of presidents using farewell addresses to look forward _ by sharing his thoughts on greatest challenges facing the country, and on what it will take to meet them."

The president also will defend his record, Perino said, but will show graciousness toward Obama and not attempt to revisit the old battles of his presidency.

Bush will speak in prime time, although no specific time has been set. The White House has requested airtime from the major television networks.

Perino said the speech will be the last scheduled public event for Bush as president until he appears on the North Portico to greet Obama on Inauguration Day, which is Jan. 20. Bush held his final news conference on Monday.

The White House says the ritual of a farewell address dates to the time of George Washington. Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan delivered goodbye speeches from the White House; Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford gave a final State of the Union address on Capitol Hill, Perino said.

Comments

[MtDavid]

Bush was "disappointed" that there were no weapons of mass destruction.
Wouldn't a "normal" person be relieved to find that your neighbor, who you had suspected of having a meth lab or was producing something evil, be relieved to find that you were mistaken?...
NOT when you are trying to deny your own failing, or justify the havoc and destruction wrought on an innocent people. The vast majority of innocent Iraqi people were victims of the former US ally, Saddam, and now are victims of Bush. Although Bush would love to justify their suffering, he MUST take responsibility.

[hawkseye]

I'm going to save energy and skip it.

[CommonSenseMom]

BUSH - JUST. GO. AWAY.

And you better not interrupt the Office Thursday night.... I don't care if it's a rerun or not.

[GarthR]

JOIN THE CELEBRATION!
While throwing shoes at the GWB on the TV during this historic event could prove damaging, many types of slippers will work quite well. For those of us who are not of Arabic ancestory, I suggest that unwashed underpants and socks can be just as insulting. A light knot will turn them into satisfactory projectiles without permanently sacrificing them for the cause.

[naschkatze]

I've changed my mind since yesterday (page 60 or thereabouts). On second thought, we don't know what he would say, and there is no historical precedent, is there?

[tbone99]

MORE ?

the guy hasn't addressed the country this much in the last eight years. All at once the strong silent DECIDER is a groveling sentimental sniveler?

He wants to say good bye? - - this is the first clue he's ever given that there was anyone in the room but him.

[klandish]

As the Harvard man stated in his address last night "people have mis underestimated me".

[redfrog]

He's never been ready for prime time.

[1differentdrummer]

C'mawn, Tex, git in yer pickup, load a chaw, an' vamoose.

[littlewitch]

Better not pre-emt LAW AND ORDER for this pathetic egomaniac.

[kellygrrrl]

let me know when it's time to watch the perp walk

[tobyjack]

It will be more lies and distortions and attempts to change history. Don't waste your time. Instead, advocate for him to be arrested and tried for his crimes against humanity.

[larmarch5]

Listening to Boosh's last press conference was like eavesdropping on a patient with his therapist. It gave me a strange feeling that Boosh is borderline dilusional, very confused, and totally unwilling to take responsibility for the consequences of his actions.

[Tom Payned]

They have this saying in Texas, probably in Tennessee too, ahhhh, Watch him once, shame on you, watch him twice, ahhhhhh, you want watch him again!

Enough already. Air it solely on Fox so the 23 percent of idiots who still think he's doing a heck of a job can watch him, and leave the rest of us alone.

We've already seen his dog and pony shows and they also turn out to be lies, half truths, and excuses of why nothing is his fault.

The accidental President.

Bet GHW and Barb wish they had known about contraception back then. If they don't the rest of the world does.

[partyofone]

Spare us the spin, George, and just go away. The damage is done and no words will change it.

[goldcoastsailor]

Israel's arrogant little puppet takes the stage one last time.