Will Bush Deliver Farewell Address?
ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: Eight years, two wars, a global financial mess, the worst terrorist attacks in the nation’s history, some of the most devastating natural disasters in memory — an eventful tenure indeed for President Bush. But might he slip back to Texas without saying goodbye? The word out of the White House is that the president still hasn’t decided whether to deliver a farewell address, either from the Oval Office or some other location. Spokesman Tony Fratto said Monday that he “thinking about some ideas. But he hasn’t made that decision yet. “I think if he feels that he has something important to say and it’s the right way to say it, he will. But he just hasn’t decided yet,” Fratto said. The president told C-SPAN’s Steve Scully last week that he’d spoken to a speechwriter about the possibility of a formal farewell address, but still hadn’t decided whether it’s a good idea. “A lot of Presidents have, and I’m giving it serious thought. I don’t want it to be — you know, kind of a real emotional goodbye. If I give it, it’s going to be trying to leave behind some lessons learned,” Bush said. “I really haven’t figured it out yet, but I have talked to a speechwriter about, should I decide to do it, what would we say — and one thing, of course, is going to be we have to be vigilant and can’t let our guard down because a terrorist threat still exists.” There’s a tradition of formal presidential farewells going back to George Washington, who famously warned of excessive foreign entanglements in his 1796 farewell. President Dwight Eisenhower gave one of the more famous addresses in this genre, with his warning against “unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.” President Ronald Reagan gave a farewell speech. So did Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
Interestingly, President George H. W. Bush opted against a formal farewell — aides said at the time that it was “just one of those things that didn’t get done.” He did, however, give a last speech at West Point in January 1993 that was treated as his valedictory, where he laid out his criteria for the use of military force. He said force was justified only “where and when force can be effective,” “where its application can be limited in scope and time,” and “where the potential benefits justify the potential costs and sacrifice.” The current President Bush told C-SPAN’s Scully that he was thinking about some words of advice he could leave his successor and the nation: “It makes sense to say, I’ve learned this and I wish my successor all the best; and, America needs to be on the lookout,” he said. “One option for me is to talk about isolationism and protectionism, and that it’s very important for us to resist those ‘isms.’ The world needs our presence. The people dying of AIDS on the continent of Africa need a robust response by the United States to save lives. We need voices calling upon coalition members to stay in the fight against the terrorists. And protectionism is rearing its ugly head — witness the fact we had trouble getting good free trade agreements through the Congress with Panama and Colombia and South Korea. “So maybe that’s what I’ll warn about as well — thank you for giving me some ideas,” he added.
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Tell him to save his breath, no one is interested in anything he has to say. He has done enough damage to our country, so my wish is for him to disappear quietly and quickly into the sunset.
Posted by: Brian, Decatur, GA | December 22, 2008, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
The Bush Doctrine: Impose your values and ideas across the globe whether solicited or not, even while neglecting more pressing concerns at home. If the speech is a reflection of this policy that has done so much damage to our reputation and confidence in government, he should save his breath.
Posted by: Bob | December 22, 2008, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Brian, Decatur GA:
I fully agree with you. He does not even need to wave to anyone!
Posted by: Rita | December 22, 2008, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Not much to say to a country that can’t wait to see him out of office. It would be a ratings killer…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 22, 2008, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
Bush doesn’t want it to be an emotional goodbye? He is so full of himself. I say he needs to skip the farewell because most of Americans will be saying good riddens to the Bush era. He will be remember as a tainted stain to America. Please don’t insult our intelligence Mr. Bush and do what you do best and go to Crawford, TX and stay there.
Posted by: happy | December 22, 2008, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
well, the Bush administration certainly gave our nation the blueprint of how NOT to manage a nation. Words like stubborness, close-minded, inept and deceit will have to be words forever linked to his presidential legacy.
Hopefully enough of us have learned a lesson from this mess that he has helped create. Only insecure party loyalists who are more interested in having their party always being in the right, and incapable of taking any blame as compared to what is best for our nation will care what this man has to say.
Posted by: Tim | December 22, 2008, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
President G. W. Bush, The honorable and just leader of the free world should pause and reflect on his great accomplishments and lessons learned and given before handing the reigns to an empty suit sweet talking nobody that will undoubtedly send this nation spiraling even lower into despair. When the liberals get through with this country there will probably be legal gay sex in the streets of your neighborhoods. Get ready!
Posted by: mogo III | December 22, 2008, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
Nobody needs a farewell speech from somebody who cannoy speak. When Bush took power America was in economic surplus and after his 8 years of mismanagement, America is in economic bankrupcy. We are thinking that he was agraduate in management, but it seems he has stolen his degree as he has stolen the 2000 elections. Maybe we have to send him our shoes too as farewell present.
Posted by: Panama Canal | December 22, 2008, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
Brian, Decatur GA:
I agree also, you have said it all!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | December 22, 2008, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
His farewell speech will come in the form of pardons for himself and the rest of the co-war criminals of his administration.
Posted by: hang | December 22, 2008, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
@Mogo III — LOL, “legal gay sex.” You bigots crack me up!
Posted by: Kris | December 22, 2008, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
ditto to all of the above
Posted by: Ernesto Guzman Irizarry | December 22, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
He has nothing good to say except that “We have not been attacked since 9/11″.
Mr. Pres, 9/11 was the worst attack in our nations history. It happened under your watch. Why didn’t you prevent it?
If we could had been attacked again, there were no way you could had survived your Presidency up to now. It was your duty and don’t tell us we should praise you.
Posted by: FM | December 22, 2008, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
OMG – here’s a good one: From Fox News Website: “While the nation’s commander in chief waged two wars against terror, he — along with Vice President Cheney — also was leading a secret mission of comfort.” (referring to military veterans!!!) Those people have no connection to reality, do they?
Posted by: hang | December 22, 2008, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
Seey Dubya.
Fair Winds and Following Shoes!!
Posted by: Omentum | December 22, 2008, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Kris,
I’d like to say the same to you but gays like you would no doubt support that sort of thing and that is nothing to lol about. You call me a bigot because I don’t like obama, you don’t know me, but thats automatic when one doesn’t like a black person. Why not call the entire group of Bush hater’s bigot also? Oh that’s right you don’t know them either BUT, their disparaging remarks are aimed at a white person so no matter the persons race that screams the vile remarks none of them are bigots. Bunch of liberal crap!
Posted by: mogo III | December 22, 2008, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
Will Bush Deliver Farewell Address?
not without successfully dodging flying shoes
Posted by: richardm | December 22, 2008, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
I believe that even without ever meeting mogo that he may be another one of those “living in fear” and insecure party loyalists I was referring to earlier.Unfortunately there are still far too many of them still around and made the rest of us suffer through 8 years of irrepairable damage caused by the Bush administration.
Mogo– keep tuning in and listening to the likes of Rush and O’Reilly no doubt they can stir up enough fear for you to remain comfortable in your closed little world.
Posted by: Tim | December 22, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Oh come on Tim, there’s no damage that Bush could have possibly done that the Lord God Obama can’t repair with a wave of his hand. At least that’s what your kind was telling us in between sips of Kool-aid all through the election…
Posted by: howwouldiknow | December 22, 2008, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
I can’t believe that a Bush supporter brings up the subject of sipping kool-aid…too many of you Bushies quivering behind your locked doors helped get this submoron elected twice..Most other civilized nations wouldn’t trust “W’ with a pair of scissors let alone elect him president, twice even for the office of President..what else does this guy have to do to you for you to open your eyes,.. burn your house down.?, spit on your kids.? – but I know, your team,.. er.. I mean. your party must always be in the right-because afterall that is far more important than what is best for America.
Posted by: Tim | December 22, 2008, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
Oh, my God, what will he say?… I found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; I was the worst president ever; I captured Osama bin Laden; the fundamentals of the economy were sound…this farewell address will leave a lot of people speachless. Bush should do us all a favor: quietly crawl under a rock and disappear.
Posted by: what667 | December 22, 2008, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
I see BDS is still in full bloom.
Posted by: JamesJ | December 22, 2008, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
It’s pretty ironic that GWH Bush’s last speech laid out criteria for war which was defied by GW Bush.
Posted by: Kat | December 22, 2008, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Thank you President Bush for keeping our country safe for these past 7 years.
I read today that you have personally written every fallen soldier’s family a letter and met with over 500 of these families, as well. Of course this story, along with anything else that might reflect positively on your presidency, is no where to be found in the headlines.
Posted by: dave | December 22, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
I can hear Mr. Bush saying to all the liberals who have commented on this posting: KMA, please! Did I read somewhere today that Pelosi, Rockefeller, Daschle all voted warrantless wiretaps but lied about it when questioned by the MSM? I can hardly wait for the Messiah to take over. He won’t know what hit him.
Posted by: mj loehrer | December 22, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Oh MOGO 111, for God’s sake and the rest of us, keep your rediculous diatribe to yourself and stay on topic
Posted by: seansatx | December 22, 2008, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
Bushed is and was the worst of all US presidents. Shameless and ignorant. He and cheny should be prosecuted for war crime which killed tens of thousands of human beings. They will be punished by their God as well as their conscience (I doubt) and wil be burnt in hell for the wicked deed they did to the whole world since 2001.
Posted by: royknng | December 22, 2008, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Bush is the worst US president ever. I stopped listening to him 7 years ago.
Posted by: becky (the real one) | December 22, 2008, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
George Bush is a complete and utter failure. The damage he has brought to this country, our economy and our Constitution is catastrophic. The word INCOMPETENCE does not even come close to describing the destructive bungling and willful ignorance his administration subjected this country to. And the bizarre thing is some people still support this deficient alcoholic. We can only assume they are as deluded as he is. No, Mr. Bush, a farewell speach is definitely not called for. Head back to Texas. At least until the American people have their day in court with you…
Posted by: DaveM | December 22, 2008, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
“I read today that you have personally written every fallen soldier’s family a letter and met with over 500 of these families, as well.”
He personally wrote them letters? If you believe that I’ve got some beachfront property for sale in Barstow.
Posted by: Silky | December 22, 2008, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
If he’s going to insist on a fairwell speech, I would like to throw a comment into the suggestion box, requesting it be very short and to the point. With no tricky phrases or words. It is literally agonizing to watch him speak.
Posted by: Silky | December 22, 2008, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
I think you dumb ass people are so stupid about talking bad about Bush that you are sick .You just wait until GOD #2 GETS IN OFFICE You are in for a big surprise. And the Finance has been in control of the sorry Democrats for the last 2 years that is the problem and i used to be a DEmocrat . The US is really going to be sorry with Hussein Obama
Posted by: lee conyers | December 22, 2008, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
I think a farewell speech from George W. Bush would be quite entertaining. I would want to watch it over and over, and I would laugh and laugh at anything he might have to say to us at this point. He’s the worst figurehead ever, in the history of the U.S., but he’s so FUNNY when he tries to be smart!
Posted by: Cxle | December 22, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
“I think if he feels that he has something important to say and it’s the right way to say it, he will.”
If Bush feel like he have something important to say, I hope he say it the right way without mangling subject verb agreement too much.
Posted by: kat | December 22, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
I’m sure he only speaks behind shoe deflectors. Just go away you worthless low-life. No one is the least bit interested in what you have to say. You ruined the country just like all of the businesses that daddy handed you. Dear-in-the-headlights approach to governing until CHeney told him what to do. Just go away and don’t worry about how history will judge, the American people already have.
Posted by: bill1037 | December 22, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
“And the childrens shall learn”!
Posted by: bob | December 22, 2008, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
There’s no doubt he was a grave disappointment, but let’s be clear here. He in fact did inherit Bin Laden–Clinton was offered his head on a platter and he did *nothing* about it.
His top advisors told him that Iraq *did* have WMDs. Hindsight proves that was bad info, but I personally don’t think we should gone to war again even if they did. And I think it goes without saying that terrorism has spiked in large part because of the war, and our response to 9/11. That part is tough. I honestly don’t know how we *should* have responded, but obviously hurling harsh words at the human garbage terrorists would have had no effect.
The economic disaster is not his fault either, as much as people would like to blame him. If you know anybody who bought a larger house than he can afford, with two (or more) interest-only loans, who has a boat he can’t afford, and who is buying an RV he can’t afford, then you know who is responsible for our financial meltdown. That guy, and all of the idiots who were willing to give him the loans for the stuff he can’t afford. There was a time where loan officers would be fired for being that reckless, but the lunacy went all the way to the top. They should all be fired, and potentially jailed.
And let’s not forget that America is not a dictatorship. The president cannot simply say “Attack!” and suddenly we’re at war. The reason we are fighting two wars is because Congress voted for and approved them. Keep that in mind. If you want to fix the real problem, fire everybody in Congress. Get rid of all the career politicians and start over.
I have the highest hopes for the Obama administration. At first I considered McCain, since he has so much more experience. But I’ve changed my mind. Partisan politics is an absolute failure. The truth always lies somewhere in between the extremes.
I would love to see a rebuilding of infrastructure. Stop outsourcing everything! Let’s regain some national pride and expertise, and regain our position as the leader of the free world, as a country to be respected, not reviled.
Let’s all support Obama now, and try to rebuild the American Dream. When he struggles–and he will–let’s be easier on him than we have been with Bush. Granted, he has limited experience. But if he surrounds himself with the best and the brightest (as he seems to be), and he continues to lead with the right attitude, I think our future could be a lot brighter than it is today.
Posted by: bob | December 22, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Let’s see: (1) We had the Afrans war won and almost got OBL but diverted our resources to Iraq, (2) started the Iraq war using excuses the administration knew to be false, (3) imprisoned over 900 detainees at GITMO (we released over 650 of them with 250 still to get trials after years of imprisonment), (3) a national debt that has virtually bankrupted us, (4) great loss of credibility overseas, (5) a President who has the lowest approval rating in history. Would he talk about any of these things? Would he recover from self denial?
Mr. President Bush – please go gently into that dark night and take you minions with you. Allow us the time to recover from your years in office. Please do not make a farewell speech. Frankly, you do not bear all of the blame. After all, we did reelect you in 2004.
Posted by: Beto | December 22, 2008, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
Why not just read us a story, Mr. President?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/the-protection-racket/
Posted by: dragon | December 22, 2008, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
Bush,
NOBODY gives a #$^& what you say, think or do.
JUST GET OUT !!!!!!!!
Posted by: Order | December 22, 2008, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
Goodbye Mr. President,
Thank you for opting to serve in tough times. While I did not support many of your policies, I salute anyone willing to take on the poisoned chalice of the presidency …
Posted by: Andre | December 22, 2008, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
Bush giving Obama advice??! That’s rich! I hope I can get a laugh out of that one!
Posted by: Danny | December 22, 2008, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
mogo III, you are the classic example of why so many think that Republicans are uneducated hillbillies from the South. Thankfully, the Republican Party is losing popularity BY THE DAY! Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Danny | December 22, 2008, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
Oh yes mogo III that’s it, follow all the other idiots who perfectly target gays as the bringers of all evil. You know, the ones who voted Bush into office and blindly follow him as he leads you(and now everyone else!) off a cliff.
Oh yes, that’s it, follow the stereotype of the close-minded, uneducated, and downright stupid American. Like George Bush!
Posted by: a person | December 22, 2008, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm
You folks saluting the great and shiney Obama will see, understand and then wonder why no good change will happen under the new leadership. Your life will not become better. There will be increasing violence in our schools, parents will continue raising gang members and your paycheck will not improve. Blame Bush if you like but you have taken God out of schools, which you think is good and fair but fail to understand that our country was founded in Him. Like it or not Progressives, you will see the foolishness of your ways, I guarantee that. Just because you can prove to yourselves that there is no God does not make it so, it just makes it easier. I feel sorry for this country. No matter what you say or do will ease your conscience as the events of the next years unfold. You, a slight majority, will understand with wide open eyes exactly what you have done. The trials this country will face in the next five years will bring even the most deluded atheist to his knees. Don’t believe me, just sit back and see it with your own eyes, hear it with your ears and feel it with your own skin.
Posted by: The other side... | December 23, 2008, 12:00 am 12:00 am
Obama will inspire to stop ghetto crime, milking the welfare system, laziness, teenage pregnancies, drugs abuse and tardiness.
You messiah will leave you with no excuses.
Now go work hard (like those immigrants do) raise good kids and do something with your pathetic lives.
Posted by: John | December 23, 2008, 12:22 am 12:22 am
“ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: Eight years, two wars, a global financial mess”
All the battlewhines of every libiot, all in one fun-filled sentence.
You, ABC, are getting desperate.
And no, that’s all I read. Which is 10x more than any of your mindless kiddies did.
Posted by: zak | December 23, 2008, 2:13 am 2:13 am
Danny, who the gull dern hell gives a rats ass wut the mindless friggin libiot “thinks” so ta speak, y’all? Yer wut Bibles -n- guns were invented fer. Wut one don’t solve t’other will.
Posted by: zak | December 23, 2008, 2:20 am 2:20 am
So I read mogo III after all the libiots are done drooling on their keyboard, and what do I find? An intelligent person, grace under fire, honest to a t, perfectly literate, and you you freaks don’t even know youve just been outclassed a thousand to one.
What a SHOCK! Gee, what ARE the odds???
Don’t worry, kiddies. Obama will learn y’all good.
Posted by: zak | December 23, 2008, 2:28 am 2:28 am
So tell me, would Gore have saved our country — dont think so.
Posted by: Dennis | December 23, 2008, 5:12 am 5:12 am
What is it with rabid conservatives and excessive use of caps and punctuation? I wonder that we might use this tendency as a simple diagnostic for the unstable.
Posted by: ked | December 23, 2008, 6:23 am 6:23 am
bush, and his administration, is like a recurring nightmare that you want to just end, to stop. his second term has been awful and the nation’s economy ruined during his watch. the nightmare might end if bush were to just go away quietly. the nightmare might end but the aftermath will linger until something sweeps it clean. perhaps a ww3 would help just as ww2 helped toward to end the depression years of the 30s.
Posted by: Lawrence | December 23, 2008, 7:05 am 7:05 am
I bet that on the long run President Bush will go down in history as a great US President. That’s assured. Iraq war was a right one and Iraq is on the right way to democracy. Iraq government and Iraq people don’t want by no means the total withdrawal of US troops. They know too well that with a small US military presence their future, their freedom, their prosperity can be assured: more or less the same old story as it has happened in Germany, Japan, Italy and South Korea, which all caused much grater problems. The surge has worked and is working very well and terrorists have been almost defeated, they are disarranged and are fleeing in disarray to Afghanistan where they will try to reorganize their scanty forces. Iraq army is getting to be well organised and will counter without problems fanatical rebels. America has been defended with success against all its inside and outside enemies by a great President. So much in defiance of all his lightweight fault-finders. God bless the great President Bush!
Posted by: Silvio | December 23, 2008, 7:29 am 7:29 am
Mr President, would you please ride down my street and see all the closed business’s and foreclosed homes, so you can see your legacy up close. While you are at it, please stop at my house, I have a pair of shoes for you.
Lastly, you and VP Cheney will get your just deserve when you meet our father. Please have your speech ready for him, you’ll need it.
Posted by: Independent Minded | December 23, 2008, 7:32 am 7:32 am
I believe President Bush will go down in history as one of our best Presidents..Why doesn’t anyone remember how Clinton was handed Osama and didn’t take him..causing 9-11. He defiled the Oval office! I know he will be happy Hillary will be traveling out of the country…while the cat’s away the mouse will play. You liberals won the election thanks to Acorn and the media.
Posted by: JBT | December 23, 2008, 7:42 am 7:42 am
After 8 years the people in the US and the world at large has agreed Bush was a mistake. But who put him in power? Who elected him a second time? Did he dupe the people to get elected? And then he is a criminal and should go to Gitmo.
Posted by: Fishcka | December 23, 2008, 8:48 am 8:48 am
“Will Bush deliver a farewell address”? What a pregnant statement just waiting to be answered. This man is the epitomy of incompetence and arrogance. The American people clearly hate him and just want him to go away so we can clean up his mess.
Posted by: Bob | December 23, 2008, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Silvio & JBT, among others: I can’t believe you have actually read much history. I don’t think it matters whether historians are writing 10, 50 or 100 years from now, they’ll say Bush’s tenure was marked by a wholesale crisis of leadership.
Posted by: ked | December 23, 2008, 11:37 am 11:37 am
I wonder why some idiot praises the guy who threw his shoes to Bush. These idiots are disregarding the fact that this delinquent, this terrorist if he had had the chance had thrown a hand granade as well.
Posted by: Silvio | December 23, 2008, 11:54 am 11:54 am
Some people say that liberals are perfect idiots. I say that they are not perfect but they are doing all right.
Posted by: Silvio | December 23, 2008, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
Let’s hope he doesn’t! Truly, he’s the worst president in Our Nation’s History.
Posted by: BVD | December 23, 2008, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
Wow…… Did you all get mogo III’s comment near the very top of the page? This must be a perfect example of the mental giants that can relate to Sarah Palin. If we could sell STUPIDITY as an axport…..
Posted by: Central Scruitinizer Orlando | December 23, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
opps export.
Posted by: Central Scruitinizer Orlando | December 23, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
mogo III – What’s the matter with gay sex in the streets? Don’t you know that your intolerance of any sex, anywhere, anyhow, by anyone will not be tolerated. I’ve been having sex with my biological brother and sister since we were teenagers and we love each other. We are going to get married once you love haters are put in your place once and for all.
Posted by: davescott | December 23, 2008, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
davescott: you as a son of a bitch should have sex with dogs too: that would be normal for a trasgender as you are.
Posted by: Silver | December 23, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
davescott: Don’t you love nature, despite what it did to you?
Posted by: Silver | December 23, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
silver – What’s the matter with sex with your dog? Don’t you know they’re mans best friend? You are just a homophobic biggot. Who made you God to judge how other people live?
Posted by: davescott | December 23, 2008, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
silver – and before you accuse me of being a pedofile you sicko… a boy is considered a man at thirteen in many cultures. Vote NO on Prop 8! Don’t deny my civil rights!!
Posted by: davescott | December 23, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
davescott: any similiraty between you and a human being is purely coincidental. You should undergo a brain surgery or a group therapy or let your mental hospital test an appropriate drug: perhaps the best solution.
Posted by: Silver | December 23, 2008, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
If GW leaves without a farewell address, we might miss a good joke from the Leno routine. Maybe George will say something enlightening like the “So what?” reply he gave to the comment that no Al Qaida existed in Iraq prior to our invasion. Something real intelligent and motivating!
Posted by: rwrsok | December 23, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Bush might get sympathy from people if he chooses not to. People will feel little guilty since has has done some good, like exposing economy mess before his term ended, making it difficult for McCain to succeed after that. If he speaks, because of the shoe incedent, unfortunatly many may do the same and further make him look incompetent. It’s a touch one. I would personaly just walk away and wish the country a quick recovery. Sympathy v/s possibility of show throwing. I would walk away but whatever he choses to do is his business. He’s the kind of man that will do as he see’s fit until the end and may go ahead with farewell despite any personal humiliation and if he does that could also work for him. Not sure. Fell bad for him already and don’t want him to end on bad note. He deserves peace just like the world does. God bless you Mr. President and even Mr. Cheney. I’ll say goodbye today aand thanks for trying. You may be forgiven if terrorists continue their insanity and than people will remember you for having been person to see someone had to stand up to it, but something tells me we won’t see terrorism in future because now the world will back up Obama and destroy anyone or country that does after all we have gone thru. So in a sense Bush has done the world a favor by being the bad guy in order to bring future peace. Tha’s huge in my opinion. It’s as if he sacrificed his own name in order to brong peace for future generations. If not for the shoe thing (people still angry) and that time will heal i would say go for it but not sure. Glad this is his call. He could always explain why he didn’t say farewell in future books. Gob blass our president regardless of what some still may feel. I for one think he will be remembered well and the dust settles.
Posted by: zorra | December 23, 2008, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
silver – me and all of my real friends have to take lots of drugs to deal with biggots like you. Legalize marijuana! Vote NO for Prop 8. If you lived in San Francisco you wouldn’t be so uptight! It should be the model city for every town in America! The world! We’re all gay and it’s ok!!!!!!!!
Posted by: davescott | December 23, 2008, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
WELL I believe that he should confess to his sins after all he talks to God and God talks to him…..Maybe he should be waterboarded into writing a conffession of all his wheeling and dealings how he and his fatcats sold us all down the river….He has been a puppet of bigger money calling the shots….Ladies and Gentlemen this is not America anymore…WE have all been sold out….Remember it is all the wheeling and back door dealings that goes on…Elected Officials have lost touch with the people that elected them…On the back of the money we spend it says in God we trust…I wondering who does God trust…With all this failout bailout is it the sign of the ROOT of all Evil..??? We will never know the truth..
Posted by: Michael Mooneyham | December 23, 2008, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
Bush’s farewell speech should be short and to the point and quoted from a much admired historical orator: Porky Pig: ‘aba deah aba deah aba deah, thats all folks.”
How appropo!
Posted by: tendergroins | December 23, 2008, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
i hope bush says i am sorry america i fell down on the job i totalled out the awesoem economy clinton gave me i made most of the world hate us. i wrongfully invaded a sovereign nation,and that cheney and i have becoem fantastically wealthy from yoru suffering.. for that i give myself up for punishment. and in parting i now see that the republican party needs to be ended because it has become a hate the poor and working class party.
Posted by: T | December 23, 2008, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Farewell address? It should be a ‘Good Riddance’ address.
Posted by: Nemsen | December 23, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
I can’t believe the rudeness on here. The man is THE President of the United States. He has served us to the best of his ability. I’d like to see any of you do better. I didn’t vote for Obama and I don’t agree with any of his policies – but I have no doubt that he will do what he thinks is best – whether I agree with him or not. It is an unenviable position to be in – knowing that everything you do will be HATED by at least 1/2 of the country.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | December 23, 2008, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
Reading the comments here makes me wonder what will these people be saying about the newly elected punching bag for every failure on the planet, when he fails to change things to what they expected.
Posted by: Czar | December 23, 2008, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
davescott – I’d like to see things from your point of view but I can’t seem to get my head that far up my ass. You instead have got your head so far up your ass that you can chew your food twice.
Posted by: Silver | December 24, 2008, 7:51 am 7:51 am
Dubya’s been Okay! Can’t agree with all that he’s done, only history will tell for sure, but he’s been courageous all the way through. Unfortunately, most great leaders must live with the angst of the little minds of their own time.
Posted by: n_erdowell | December 24, 2008, 8:48 am 8:48 am
I don’t agree with G.W.B. probably too much more than anyone else did. What kills me here is the hatred I’m seeing here. There is no position in the world that has more responsibility and puts more weight on someones shoulders. Right or wrong, mistakes or not, there’s no doubt that Pres. Bush did what he thought was right. He did the best he could. Even if you don’t respect the Man, it is extremely important to recognize the duty and the respect of the office. I do hope that he gives a fair well speech of some sort. At minimum, I would think he would wish the incoming Pres the best. I and many others would be dissapointed if he didn’t.
Posted by: Libricrat | December 24, 2008, 10:22 am 10:22 am
To those still supporting this complete and utter failure of a president, wake up and look around. Your reality is truly incongruent with everyone else’s. This isn’t even open to interpretation! The mess we are in happened under his watch and as a direct result of his catstrophic incompetence. The only farewell I would like to see is him, and his administration, going to prison.
Posted by: DaveM | December 24, 2008, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
As it is the military. When we salute one another, we respect the uniform for which it stands, seldom the man inside it, unless he truly performs beyond the call of duty. As with the office of President, I will always salute, but the present occupant never earned any respect beyond the call of duty. Many presidents in history did not earn any respect and in some cases should have been thrown out and one did. Its a job that requires unique character skills, stamina, and high I.Q.s to accomplish the task the people expect from. Few are worthy of the position. The position isnt for the meek or maladjusted. Sometimes the People make the mistake of letting partisan favors dictate their actions at the booth rather than analyzing the man, or woman as it may be one day for the position.
Posted by: tendergroins | December 24, 2008, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
You can bet your boots that on the long run President Bush will go down in history as one of the greatest US Presidents. That’s assured. Iraq war was a right one and Iraq is on the right way to democracy. Iraq government and Iraq people don’t want by no means the total withdrawal of US troops. They know too well that with a small US military presence their future, their freedom, their prosperity can be assured: more or less the same old story as it has happened in Germany, Japan, Italy and South Korea, which all caused much grater problems. The surge has worked and is working very well and terrorists have been almost defeated, they are disarranged and are fleeing in disarray to Afghanistan where they will try to reorganize their scanty forces. Iraq’s army is getting to be well organised and will counter without problems fanatical rebels. America has been defended with success against all its inside and outside enemies by a very great President. So much in defiance of all his lightweight and third-rate fault-finders. God bless the great President Bush!
Posted by: Silver | December 25, 2008, 8:13 am 8:13 am
Goodbye Mr. Bush. You may have been the worst president in American history, but I must admit you sure made me laugh.
Posted by: tendergroins | December 26, 2008, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
It is a shame that the american people blame all of the problems on a presedent, who has done a great job at protecting the people who talk trash about him. GO BUSH!
Posted by: Jman | January 11, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am