Bush's Farewell Address

WASHINGTON — Unpopular but unbowed, President George W. Bush defended his tumultuous two terms in a farewell address to the nation Thursday night, claiming a series of successes at home and aboard. Reaching back to the Sept. 11 attacks, when the public rallied behind him, Bush declared the United States will "never tire, never falter and never fail."

Leaving office with the highest disapproval rating since Richard Nixon, Bush said, "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."

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A bookend to eight years indelibly marked by terrorism, two wars and recessions, the brief speech offered Bush one last chance before he leaves office Tuesday to defend his presidency and craft a first draft of his legacy for historians. He spoke from the East Room of the White House with just 112 hours left in office.

It was his final public appearance until he greets President-elect Barack Obama on Inauguration Day at the White House's North Portico.

Bush called the inauguration of Obama, the first black president, a "moment of hope and pride" for America.

"Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land," he said.

Bush's presidency began with the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil and ends with the worst economic collapse in three generations.

"Facing the prospect of a financial collapse, we took decisive measures to safeguard our economy," he said. "These are very tough times for hardworking families, but the toll would be far worse if we had not acted. All Americans are in this together. And together, with determination and hard work, we will restore our economy to the path of growth. We will show the world once again the resilience of America's free enterprise system."

Comments

[wendy12]

oh man...i was almost scared id never see the day..but he is so out of here!! check out this hilarious video i found about the
bush administrations legacy to the USA..enjoy!!
http://effinfunny.com/jimmy-dore%0D/george-bush-legacy

[ZinniaLover]

"Yes, I made the tough decisions. And I made them all wrong. Now don't I get an "e" for effort?" -G. W.

NO!

What we hope you get is a prison term.

A nice long one.

[whatsthatsound]

And now, the end has come, I've nearly done my last decidin'
some new cats run the show, the one's name O, the other's Biden
my friends, I sense your mood, the country's s*****d, up down and sideways,
but please, remember this, I did it My Way

Regretments, there've been a few, but then again, none worth remembrin'
I did what I HAD to do, and saw it through without disassemblin'
with C heney by my side, (and You, Big Guide, to show me Thy Way)
oh yes, oh yes indeed, I did it My Way

Yes it was hard, I'm sure you knew
that I s crewed up, more than one can s crew
but through it all, when I had doubts,
I called up Rove, and chewed him out
I said "bring 'em on", and I stood strong
and did it My Way

I took what they were dishin'
and Accomplished my Mission, and did
it
MY
WAY!

[americanalien]

Bush was such a disastrous President, he make that notorious crook Richard Nixon look slightly less serpentine. America made a tragic mistake with him but she has learned her lesson and has now moved on. She is in love with a new man called Obama and they plan to accomplish great things together.

[dapper dan 8293]

I get so teed I can't see straight every time I hear him take credit for no terrorist attacks for seven years since 9/11. How long had it been BEFORE he took office that we went without a terrorist attack? If he had his wits about him it wouldn't have happened in the first place.
You're right on, YOUKNOWWHAT. You've got the right title to that blasted smirk of his.

[youknowwhat]

Couldn't help but notice that , "I could care less what you think of me", smirk Bush had on his face the whole time he was speaking. Other than rich people, this man has no social connection the citizens of this country.
I hope his father doesn't put him in charge of anything else in this country.

[decrepittex]

Four more days and we can turn the page on the worse President since Nixon, maybe even the
worse ever. Now if he could be held responsible for his crimes................

[sandyeggo]

Lipstick on a pig.

[MarionWatts]

The Gospel according to Bush.

Hmmm ...

Just a few comments. Faith-based programmes to help with addictions et al ... Are you kidding? Too much government funded faith-based anything. Secular country. Hello?

And America upholding truth and justice? How can we claim to do that when the POTUS led us to into an illegal war based on a lie and has tortured people because of that lie? Oh, and he's still using the fear tactic.

Bye, George. Don't let the door hit your a** on the way out.

[bumpersticker]

Sorry George, but it's been a long night's journey into day.
You are a speechwriter's justification of a speechwriter's illusion.

[MountPanic]

I could go down to the square and hear a guy in a tinfoil hat ranting about the aliens using breakfast cereal for mind control, and it would have a higher truth content than Junior's desperate spectacle of spin there.

[USA2Sense]

Here - is - George - W. - Bush's - Farewell Address - Send Shoes -

George W. Bush
10141 Daria Place
Dallas, TX 95229

[lovered]

You are a shameless piece of crap

[Hirnlego]

If plenty of people did that..
then it might actually create more jobs than any of bush's efforts.

[Babele]

All I see is this:

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/-/7/alfredwbush.jpg

And how are you supposed to listen to that?

[JEP57]

Even when Bush is gone and back in Texas, there are a lot of people on the left who won't have satisfaction because he won't be defeated in the way they want him to be. He'll confidently believe he did the right things for the country and he'll go back to Texas not being depressed or racked with self doubt.

[Babele]

Shame, cuz he screwed us over royally. Corporate America was first. Not the American citizens.

[Babele]

Shame, cuz he s*crewed us over royally. C*orporate A*merica was first. Not the A*merican citizens.

[proudcalib]

Enough of the farewell revisionist history tour. Bush's sorry legacy speaks for itself.

[glesslib]

What the H does that mean? Are you saying that he really did a great job and it's just the people on the left who think he didn't? Please spare me that one. i listened to someone saying something similar on the neocon station here in St Louis today. He wanted to know if Obama would be scrutinzed and VILLIFIED as Bush has been by the "liberal" media. I guess he means the "liberal" media who gave this guy a free ride on the war, torture, Katrina, the economy, lying to Congress.....that liberal media. Why shouldn't someone who has done a rotten job be VILLIFIED? When the press finally got its gut up, when Bush slippped in the polls as Americans saw their lifestyle slip away, only then did the press say anything. Why is anyone assuming that will be necessary in the Obama administration? Why are you defending this guy?

[roboturkey]

The vertical pattern of the wooden door behind W emphasizes how he is slowly rocking back and forth while he talks. Yet another aggravating trait in an aggravating man.

W has no reason to ever address America again. Thank goodness. The level of public speaking can get back to a level inviting articulate well-stated sentences rather than this blithering idiot who acts like he is reading a hostage tape.