Bush and Obama Ring in 2009
ABC News’ Kirit Radia and Sunlen Miller Report: If President Bush’s New Year’s plans were any indication, it appears the outgoing commander-in-chief is more eager to look ahead than to dwell on what’s behind.
The president rang in the New Year this morning with an early morning walk around the lake on his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
"It’s been a tradition they’ve had for I think for almost their entire presidency down here –- they’ve woken up and gone for a sunrise walk on the ranch," said deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe on New Year’s Eve.
"I think he’s more likely to be an early riser for the first of the New Year rather than to see the old year — to see the old year out," he added.
Both the outgoing and ingoing presidents rang in 2009 with low-key family gatherings on Wednesday night as they gear up for the official transition of power on Jan. 20.
President Bush spent New Year’s Eve with family and friends at the ranch while President-elect Barack Obama wrapped up his Hawaii vacation by spending the evening with family and friends at his beach vacation home in Kailua.
Like Bush, Obama was also early to rise on New Year’s Day with a morning trip to the gym.
Both men return home today. Bush comes back to Washington, D.C. as the Obamas fly back to Chicago. The Obama family moves to the nation’s capital this weekend and their daughters begin at their new school on Monday.
Come Jan. 20, the Bushes will return to Texas.
"I think this has been a place where they’ve been able to get away from it a little bit," Johndroe said. "And I think that they look forward to coming back to Texas in just less than three weeks."
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i am shocked bush didnt party he has done what he set out to do totally destroy the working class and the poor and make his riech buddies even richer. oh did i say riech oh yes i did. must be when i see bush i think off hitler
Posted by: T | January 1, 2009, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
This will be the longest 3 weeks of my life!
Posted by: OverBush4Good | January 1, 2009, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
Within 3 months of Obama/CLINTON administration people are going to wish Pres. Bush was back.!!!!
Posted by: CW | January 1, 2009, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
cw— no we wont i would rather have charles manson or even hitler if he came back to life before i would ever want the disaster bush back….and obama will be great because he will be working for we the people not the rich and huge corpaaration like bush has
Posted by: T | January 1, 2009, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
Obama will be working for all the crooks and his buddies those of you who think otherwise are in for a huge slap in the face…..just sayin.
Posted by: Hawaii | January 1, 2009, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
hawaii—just like bush worked for all his crooked rich buddies. but atleast obama will do something for the working class once in awhile,where as bush ahs done everything he can to destroy the working class
Posted by: T | January 1, 2009, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
Why does he have to come back to Texas?
Posted by: Thinking | January 1, 2009, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
We have had 8 years to see close up what Bush would do. We haven’t yet had a chance to see what Obama will do. I image all those who are convinced Obama will be a disaster, and those who think he will save mankind will all be disappointed. However, I do predict that at the end of his presidency we will be much less eager to get rid of him than Bush. Let wait and see and hope for the best.
Posted by: factscount | January 1, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
Who says Obama will be working for all his rich buddies? Unlike Bush, Obama wasn’t mentored by any “rich buddies”. He worked up to where he is the old-fashioned way. Even, if “working for his rich buddies” were true, he’s earned the opportunity to show us what he will do and that is why he has been voted into the Presidency.
Posted by: OverBush4Good | January 1, 2009, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
Liberals still can not spell, educated my ass!
Posted by: John | January 1, 2009, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm
Obama is part of the “PAY TO PLAY” politics of Chicago. That’s how he got where he is today. Emanuele, Blago, Jessie Jackson Jr.,William Ayers, Rev. Wright. Need I say more ?? Obama is as crooked as Blago.!!LOL
Posted by: CW | January 1, 2009, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
Obama wasn’t mentored by the rich but he was mentored by “local terrorists”.
Posted by: Cj | January 1, 2009, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
Obama wasn’t mentored by the rich but he was mentored by “local terrorists”.
Posted by: Cj | January 1, 2009, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
john—–shut the f-up. i am so sick of you hatefull nasty republicans. i dont believe in violence but most republicans should get there a**es kicked just for being republicans.
Posted by: T | January 1, 2009, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
Obama is part of the “PAY TO PLAY” politics of Chicago. That’s how he got where he is today. Emanuele, Blago, Jessie Jackson Jr.,William Ayers, Rev. Wright. Need I say more ?? Obama is as crooked as Blago.!!LOL
Posted by: CW | January 1, 2009, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
John, that may be the case on the first response above (liberal spelling), but that’s an exception to the general rule here. “Cannot” is normally one word, by the way. I encourage you to look at any blog or story here that deals with politics and under which people write their comments and reveal their political leanings. It is always astonishing to me and my writing/writing instructor colleagues just what a big difference there is in the literacy levels here between liberals (more literate) and conservatives (markedly less). This is not a reflection of general right-vs.-left literacy elsewhere. At least I pray it’s not. I suspect that perhaps the most educated and literate conservatives are simply posting elsewhere. You can definitely see this for yourself, though, if you read through the story responses and note political leanings in conjunction with literacy. We’ve done survey after survey to test it. It’s frightening.
On the topic of this story, we in the Dallas area are dreading President Bush’s return when he does that in three weeks. We’ve already been told there will be bad traffic tie-ups whenever he goes out to go someplace!
Posted by: Kellybelle22 | January 1, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
What kind of news is this? Obama and Bush get up early.. What time does St. Obama have a bowel movement?
Posted by: CW | January 1, 2009, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
History will treat Bush well but PEBO not so much! :)
Posted by: aware2u | January 1, 2009, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
I understand how you feel about Obama; I felt the same way when Bush took office 8 years ago! LOL
Posted by: liz | January 1, 2009, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
The stupid irrelevant comment are a reflection of your own lack of ability to see what is, that even in small things there is always an element that is wonderful about life.
The simple things, everyday action, little smile or a goodmorning from someone walking on your path.
A reflection of America best and brightest moment in the history of this country…to elect a brilliant and capable leader at the time we need it most.Dedicated, hard working and well prepared to make decisions and most of all he came along at just the right time.God bless him and his family for wanting to take this job.
And I was a republican but unfortunately if you do not live up to your own agenda you have no credibility.
My allegiance is to the country not a party, and the best man won.
Posted by: lee | January 1, 2009, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
Okay everybody, don’t forget to tune in Jan. 20th!!! Gotta love it!! A history making moment! I know some of you will vomit on that day. Oh well! You’ll be okay.
Posted by: liz | January 1, 2009, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
I hope Bush enjoyed destroying the entire US economy, wasting bilions of dollars on a war of his personal vendetta, thousands of american lives lost, and countless hundreds of thousands of innocent lives around the world lost due to him. History will judge him as a war criminal who should be tried in the War crimes tribunal in the Hague.
What a contrast between bush and Obama. I can’t wait to see the last of that hatgeful idiot bush and his ilk get their faces out of the news.
Posted by: Tom | January 1, 2009, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 TO OBAMA AND FLY.INDIANA NEEDS JOBS VERY BADLY. ARBONNE HAS LAYED OFF 196 JOBS,AND LOTS OF FLY HAVE SHIFTED TO INDIANA FROM CALFORNIA ARE GOING BACK BECAUSE OF JOBS.I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNOR HAS SPENT SIX BILLION DOLLARS ON THE AIRPORT WHEN THE COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH RESSION.
Posted by: keith u.s.a. | January 1, 2009, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
It is most unfortunate that the alignment of stars that brought some very unfortunate events had occurred during Mr. Bush’s presidency. How and why those events had occurred is beyond the comprehension and control of human beings, who are mere mortals. No technology and science could decifer the codes drawn by the Almighty. It was all pre-ordained.
I wish Mr. Bush and his family many happy and fruitful years after he leaves the presidency on 1-20-2009.
Posted by: narumanchi | January 1, 2009, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
Why is Bush hated so much? Post stories of how he has personally changed your life.
Posted by: c | January 1, 2009, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
DOWN WITH OBAMA!!!
Posted by: Ryan | January 2, 2009, 12:03 am 12:03 am
Within 3 months of Obama/CLINTON administration people are going to wish Pres. Bush was back.!!!!
Posted by: CW | Jan 1, 2009 6:18:40 PM
**********************************************
Most likely to question him on how
he botched up the country sooo bad.
Posted by: spacerook1 | January 2, 2009, 12:05 am 12:05 am
I sure hope One of President Obama’s top priorities will be education. It is sorely needed, judging by many of the previous posts, beginning with the author’s of this story. Come on Sunlen Miller and Kirit Radia, “woken” and “ingoing”?
Posted by: devilkev | January 2, 2009, 12:58 am 12:58 am
The Bush has not been for the majority of us. I am talking about the working class. If any of you who voted for bush happen to realize that you are working class welcome.
Posted by: atl | January 2, 2009, 1:14 am 1:14 am
This topic seems trite. I can’t imagine Mr. Bush is really such an ugly person. He had considerable help. I, also, can’t see Mr.O’bama as being the devil incarnate.
Let’s not forget We the people voted for both.
Let’s unite for once, forgetting about who can and can’t spell. Perhaps, we should all Do something tangible to help our country and our leaders. Has anyone volunteered for anything lately? Has anyone even helped a less-abled person cross the street safely lately? If both your answers are no, quit complaining, please and go do something.
Posted by: Libby | January 2, 2009, 6:30 am 6:30 am
I wish President and Mrs. Laura Bush the best. thank you for serving our country for the last 8 years.
Posted by: CW | January 2, 2009, 6:48 am 6:48 am
Bush wants to leave behind his awful legacy. He can’t look behind him because everything he has done in office will come back to haunt him. He is, without a doubt, the worst US president of all. Convinced by God he was right, he never listened to the American people. Even worse, he listened to the neocons who were even more brain dead and dangerous than he was.
Posted by: Bob | January 2, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
bush and cheney ride off into the sunset. I do think that cheney needs to spend some time behind bars after he leaves office. January 20th will be like opening the windows on a bright airy Spring day after a loooong hard winter to let the stale stench out of the country.
Posted by: pt | January 2, 2009, 8:50 am 8:50 am
I can see why Bush would rather look ahead rather than what he’s left behind. Not a pretty picture.
Posted by: leftyintexas | January 2, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Well, it’s sad to see that the American public is completely out touch with how political economic policy works. I am not a staunch backer of Bush, but I think it is insane that people don’t understand that Clinton is responsible for slashing the throat of the U.S. economy during his presidency a decade ago.
Posted by: Pedro | January 2, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
pedro—-yes i know you republican haters want us to see it that way but taht is a lie.
Posted by: T | January 2, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
We have had 8 years to see close up what Bush would do. We haven’t yet had a chance to see what Obama will do. I image all those who are convinced Obama will be a disaster, and those who think he will save mankind will all be disappointed. However, I do predict that at the end of his presidency we will be much less eager to get rid of him than Bush. Let wait and see and hope for the best.
Posted by: factscount
____________________________________
Just how do you predict that?
If history is to be a guide, Bill Clinton was supposed to be the “best thing that ever happened since sliced bread” in the early 90s. There was no way HE would have a negative approval rating like Bush Sr.
Yet, Clinton decided to act like a maniac and as a result, he lost both houses of Congress only two years into his presidency.
GW Bush was supposed t be so UNpopular, yet his party controlled both houses of Congress for SIX years.
The only Democrat in the White House before Clinton was Jimmy Carter who’s presidency was a well known disaster.
SO far in the last 50 years the Democrats haven’t been doing that good of a job of holding on to the Presidency or Congress. I doubt if Bush would have been in the White House at all or even come close to winning in 2000 against Al Gore if Democrats were so wildely popular.
Posted by: marco | January 2, 2009, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
marco—bush didnt win in 2000 he had his brother cheat for him in florida. and we have all been stuck with the worst president history.
Posted by: T | January 2, 2009, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
I will NEVER wish either President Bush back. I would rather have Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy.
Carter, by the way, inherited mostly problems from the Nixon era and prior, including the Iranian problem. Since they idiots can’t blame Clinton, they’ll go back 30+ years.
Posted by: James | January 2, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
They are both worried about the same think. BUSH = Worst rattings in history, how could I have messed up so bad. OBAMA = What a mess I have clean up, is it even possible.
Posted by: drwfll | January 2, 2009, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
I truly respect George W Bush who has
fought against terrorists for justice,
peace and freedom. Even he already knew that unpopular the Iraq war would make his popularity hit the low. Thanks to Bush’s efforts, any how, Americans have safely been in a beautiful land since 9.11, 2001. The history will judge about Bush’s efforts.
Posted by: Janet-NY | January 2, 2009, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
janet-ny—-go to h***—-bush is the anti-christ and will fry in h***. cant wait until obama takes office then the world will respect us again and our economy will come back.
Posted by: T | January 3, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
I pray almost daily that the press stop building president elect up so much it’s history but so many people don’t like him me better than bush i like him but too much press why can’t he be the same as all the other elect. Don’tmiss under me i am scared stop the press
Posted by: charles | January 3, 2009, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm