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

[whatsthatsound]

His last press conference was like that scene in Mutiny on the Bounty when it becomes clear to all that Bogey/Bligh has completely lost it. All he needed was a couple of steel balls to roll around in his hand.

[whatsthatsound]

Sorry, "The Cain Mutiny" and Captain Queeg. As for "a couple of steel balls" , that will have to be decided by future historians, as the president says.

[bumpersticker]

The speech will be an extension of Bush's self-delusion of his self-importance. It will be broadcast from within the bubble that supports that delusion. Bush can no longer differentiate reality from his own myth creation. His, "I am a man who..." is just pure made up crap by a man who lost his way, and his authenticity, long ago.

[partyofone]

More painful documentation for historians detailing the mental state and capacities of the nation's worst president.

[drewziGNY]

Bush was the only man who could make Warren G. Harding look good.

[sugarmoes]

what is the level of mental retardation bush would need to prove in order to escape standing trial for war crimes? i think he's probably close to the mark...

heh heh

[goldcoastsailor]

The only way I would watch this arrogant little creep, is if he were being tortured on live TV.

[klandish]

And if he were allowed to stay in office you would probably be the one being tortured as you were forced to watch him live on television.

[minty68]

I think most people won't be satisfied until they see the helicopter lift off from the White House next Tuesday bringing Bush to Andrews AFB to leave Washington forever.

[partyofone]

I remember that scene for Nixon and the enoromous relefi. The ending of a long natonal nightmare. . In terms of damage done, Bush is much worse. It will take much effort and decades to address. At least we have Obama to lead us forward, and not Gerald Ford.

[MomfromTexas]

This morning, as I was driving the kids to school, I was listening to Sirius Left Radio. Anyone else listen in this morning? They played Sinatra's "My Way" before and after discussing Bush's press conference yesterday. It was hysterical and so appropriate.

[Cambridge9]

I can't get sirius but I can hear it in my head. Fabulous!!

[me again]

There is not a good reason for anyone to watch this fiasco. However, he feels compelled to continue to revise the history of his administration. No one is fooled at this point.

[partyofone]

He can offer is distorted perspective, but he cannot change history. It is too well documented by millions if not billions of witnesses. Bush cannot set the terms by which history judges him.

[MomfromTexas]

"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.'"

Whaaaaaa, hahahaha, hahahaha. Ohhhhhhhh, God. Well, I can't wait to hear what he has to say on that subject.

[whatsthatsound]

Your comment is pending approval because I can't allow you to jeopardize this mission, Dave.

- HAL 9000

[SpeakSense]

Can we please avoid yet another National embarrassment? Don't give this man yet another platform to rewrite history. Enough already...just get off the stage.

[ReasonableBill]

Thursday night????

I am sorry Mr. President but BONES, CSI and ELEVENTH HOUR are on Thursday night and certainly take precedence. How about you talk on CSPAN and those who want to see you can just go there..

[VOTER]

Who is G.W. Bush afraid of ?

HELEN THOMAS

(Frightened, Bush refused to take Helen's question.)

[my2girls]

This guy really MUST approve of torture cause he keeps torturing the hell out of us. Please just go away dubya.

[MajorBarbara]

He came in as an arrogant, egocentric tyrant and he's going out as an arrogant, egocentric tyrant.

What can this man possibly say on Thursday? Does he want us to feel sorry for him?

And I don't care if he _really_ is smart, as some are now trying to paint him. He never once demonstrated his intelligence when it was needed the most and in the end, that's what counts.

[minty68]

Aw, he's just misunderestimated :)

[schoolmaster]

Just to be short, Bush is worried more about his legacy than he is sorry for what happened under his watch.

[realpolitic]

Great point!! He continually says "let history judge" as if we have not been the ones to suffer under his irresponsible, distracted, ideological watch.

[Truth4Voters]

W-ites are busy re-writing at this very moment.