Bush Says Goodbye

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Republicans

(AP)

Less than two hours into his new life as a private citizen, former President Bush boarded a helicopter from Washington D.C. following a handshake and hug from President Barack Obama.

Vice President Joe Biden saluted the helicopter as it took off.

Mr. Bush headed for Andrews Air Force Base, where he arrived a short time ago. As the Associated Press reports, his helicopter passed over the masses of supporters of Mr. Obama who came to Washington to celebrate the new president's inauguration.

Some in that crowd booed when Mr. Bush appeared on the big screens positioned on The Mall during the inauguration ceremony, the AP notes. There was cheering when a broadcaster announced that Mr. Bush is no longer president, and some chanted "Na-na-na-nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye."

Mr. Bush met with supporters and staffers to say his final goodbyes at Andrews Air Force Base, reports CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod. Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who is in a wheelchair after straining his back during a move, was also present.

From Andrews, Mr. Bush will fly with family and friends to Midland, Texas, where thousands are expected to greet him. He will then fly to Waco, Texas, and from there head to his ranch in Crawford.

NOTE: You can check out former Bush senior advisor Dan Bartlett's thoughts on Mr. Bush's state of mind today by watching

this video

of his conversation with Katie Couric.

Click here to see more photos of Mr. Bush's day

Click Here For More Of CBSNews.com's Special Coverage Of President Bush's Legacy

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by Blushark6 September 20, 2010 10:52 PM EDT: What's funny is that those who vote Obama out of office in 2012 will undoubtedly demonstrate much more class than the cretins who disrupted the last inauguaration. Get ready dems, it's coming.; Reply to this comment


by notfooled January 21, 2009 6:17 PM EST: Just think about how many of our brave soldiers and how many innocent women and children wouldn''t have been maimed, crippled, or killed had a man named George Bush not lied 962 times to get us into a war for bloody profits.; Reply to this comment


by OrionCA January 21, 2009 2:36 AM EST: I wonder if the morons singing "na-na-na-na" today know the song is about a woman who wants her ex-lover to COME BACK? She''s not giving him the finger and telling him to go away, she''s begging him to say goodbye to his new lover and return.; Reply to this comment


by billpl-2009 January 20, 2009 11:31 PM EST: bye bye; Reply to this comment


by McHineguy January 20, 2009 11:21 PM EST: These were his words, "And all Iraqi military and civilian personnel should listen carefully to this warning: in any conflict, your fate will depend on your actions. Do not destroy oil wells,..."

''''''''Nuff said.

Posted by Evian_Ycnan
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That was to prevent ecological disasters. You tree hugging liberals can''''''''t even appreciate that?

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Posted by USA-No1 at 08:11 PM : Jan 20, 2009

Hate often blinds the hater.

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Posted by machineguy at 08:19 PM : Jan 20, 2009; Reply to this comment


by McHineguy January 20, 2009 11:19 PM EST: These were his words, "And all Iraqi military and civilian personnel should listen carefully to this warning: in any conflict, your fate will depend on your actions. Do not destroy oil wells,..."

''''Nuff said.

Posted by Evian_Ycnan
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That was to prevent ecological disasters. You tree hugging liberals can''''t even appreciate that?

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Posted by USA-No1 at 08:11 PM : Jan 20, 2009

Hate often linds the hater.; Reply to this comment


by McHineguy January 20, 2009 11:05 PM EST: ...
My best friend Brian didn''''t make it home from the war in 2005. We believed in justice and we were told that the terrorist who killed Brian was also was taken out by several members of the platoon.
After his funeral, Brian''''s father read a special letter from Brian only to be open if he didn''''t make it. It says it was great to be a Marine and it was an honored to serve the country. One of the sentence stucked in my head was "Please honor me by not letting anyone used my death for their political agenda."
I think that speaks for itself. Let our troops kill or capture the bad guys and stop giving aid and comfort to the enemy.....if you really want justice that is.

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Posted by USA-No1 at 08:02 PM : Jan 20, 2009

My condolences to you for the loss of Brian. Seems to me he had it right.; Reply to this comment


by youreidiots January 20, 2009 11:04 PM EST: I am sad for your loss USA, and honor the memory of your friend.; Reply to this comment


by McHineguy January 20, 2009 10:58 PM EST: These were his words, "And all Iraqi military and civilian personnel should listen carefully to this warning: in any conflict, your fate will depend on your actions. Do not destroy oil wells,..."

''''Nuff said.

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Posted by Evian_Ycnan at 07:50 PM : Jan 20, 2009

Then why did oil get so expensive after we won? And, even more mysterious, why dont we ever see our military guarding oil wells in Iraq? Think the foreign press is in on it too?; Reply to this comment


by youreidiots January 20, 2009 10:57 PM EST: Evian, if you think the whole reason that we went to war was for oil, you''re entitled to your opinion. I think it was a mistake, as you can read from my previous posts. However, the argument for lower oil prices doesn''t hold up. It is determined by the market, and by larger producers than Iraq. I will agree with you on the point that he was a horrible communicator, but I do believe that he had the security of the nation at heart.; Reply to this comment