WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2009
Bush Gets Reflective As Term Nears End
President Discusses Legacy, Looks Toward Future For Himself, Country
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Bush Looks Back
President Bush held his final news conference with a spirited defense of his policies and a look back at his mistakes. Jim Axelrod reports with commentary from political consultant Dan Bartlett.
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In his final news conference Monday, President Bush said would ask Congress to release the remaining $350 billion in Wall Street bailout money if President-elect Barack Obama asked him to do so. Mr. Obama made that request shortly thereafter. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
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Bush Presidency
The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
As President Bush leaves office, we take a look back at the legacy he leaves behind.
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Complete Coverage of The Bush Legacy
While recalling the start of his own presidency, Mr. Bush also looked forward to the challenges awaiting his successor, calling President-elect Barack Obama "a smart, engaging person" while wishing him all the best.
"This was George Bush being the son of his father, who was a very gracious person," said CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer.
As others have already started contemplating his legacy, Mr. Bush offered his own views - a noteworthy event for someone who hasn't "reflected very much, at least not in public," said Schieffer. (Read more analysis from Bob Schieffer.)
CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer called it "a defiant, wistful and sometimes unusually introspective performance." (Read more analysis from Peter Maer.)
Mr. Bush defended his decisions on the Iraq war, the issue that will define his presidency like no other. There have been over 4,000 U.S. deaths since the invasion and toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
He said that "not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment." The accusation that Saddam had and was pursuing weapons of mass destruction was Mr. Bush's main initial justification for going to war.
Mr. Bush admitted another miscalculation: Eager to report quick progress after U.S. troops ousted Saddam Hussein, Mr. Bush five years ago made a victory speech in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner, a sign that turned out to be wildly optimistic.
"In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed," he declared triumphantly May 1, 2003, from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of San Diego.
"Clearly putting 'Mission Accomplished' on an aircraft carrier was a mistake," he said in Monday's news conference.
He also defended his decision in 2007 to send an additional 30,000 American troops to Iraq to knock down violence levels and stabilize life in the country.
"The question is, in the long run, will this democracy survive, and that's going to be a question for future presidents," he said.
Mr. Bush referred to the enormous weight Mr. Obama is about to experience, describing what it might feel like on Jan. 20 when, after taking the oath of office, he enters the Oval Office for the first time as president. "There'll be a moment when the responsibility of the president lands squarely on his shoulders," Mr. Bush said.
And he gave his view of the most urgent priority facing the incoming president: the possibility of an attack on the United States. The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks changed the country and shaped his own presidency.
"That will be the major threat," Mr. Bush said, putting the risk of another attack over the dire economic problems now facing the nation.
"I wish that I could report that's not the case, but there's still an enemy out there that would like to inflict damage on America - on Americans."
While it may have been the last time Mr. Bush takes questions from the White House Press Corps as president, it likely won't be the last time he addresses the nation. Asked about prospects for a presidential farewell address, Press Secretary Dana Perino said, "It's customary and likely," reports CBS News correspondent Peter Maer.
The last previous time the president took questions from reporters in a public setting was Dec. 14 in Baghdad, a session that hurtled to the top of the news when Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi threw his shoes at Bush during a question-and-answer session with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Among other topics President Bush discussed:
The president says he's taken "extraordinary measures" to deal with frozen credit markets, which he says is the first step toward recovery. He says a lot of the decisions he's made have been "very aggressive" ones, aimed at keeping the financial system from "cratering." And he says lending is "beginning to pick up."
Mr. Bush also says he will always defend his position that tax cuts are the "right course of action."
Looking back on his administration's record on the economy, Mr. Bush said he inherited a recession and left amid one, but that his term in office also included 52 straight months of job growth.
"Don't tell me the federal response was slow when there was 30,000 people pulled off roofs" not long after the hurricane passed over the Gulf Coast.
He said it was "a devastating storm" and that hard work remains to bring New Orleans back to the kind of life people had before the hurricane that hit in the summer of 2005.
He told the press that he disagrees "strongly" with the assessment that the U.S. has been damaged by the war in Iraq or by the way the nation has gone after terrorists.
Mr. Bush says some countries criticized the American prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, but then weren't willing to take any detainees.
And he says people who criticize the way the U.S. gets information from terror suspects are asking after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks why officials in Washington hadn't been able to "connect the dots" ahead of time.
Mr. Bush says most of the world still sees Americans as a "strong, compassionate people" who care about freedom.
For years, Washington and Pyongyang have been locked in a standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
Six-nation talks aimed at resolving the dispute have been stalled due to the North's refusal to accept a protocol that would allow verification of its nuclear programs' list.
Mr. Bush said Monday in a news conference that if North Korea wants to improve relations it "must honor the commitments it made to allow for strong verification measures."
He said that it was "still a problem."
Mr. Bush said that presidents can try to avoid hard decisions and controversy, but that it's not his nature to do so. He said he's been "willing to take on hard tasks," and understands that in times of war, "people get emotional."
He said he hasn't been alone in being the target of dissent. Bush said he's been reading a lot about Abe Lincoln, who he says faced his own share of criticism.
Mr. Bush said he wishes Mr. Obama "all the very best."
The outgoing president doesn't plan to maintain a high profile. He says he's leaving the stage for good, adding that there's only one president at a time.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 72 Comments"Clearly putting ''Mission Accomplished'' on an aircraft carrier was a mistake," he said in Monday''s news conference.
How sad for Bush that still lives in Denial and Stupidity. We all know the only reason for the Iraq war was to kill Saddam Hussein (for ***** Cheney''s oil). No WMD, No Al Quida in Iraq, No War on Terror.
Shrub does not realize that the banner WAS CORRECT for the real reason he went to Iraq.
But as Bush constantly tried to reinvent the reason for going to Iraq, to justify his real intent, the banner became a double edge sword: The truth, mired against his failure and lies!!! Ironic...
January 20th is my birthday!!!!!
The day Bush is out, Tha is the best BIRTHDAY GIFT I have ever gotten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^
Please! Please! Go away Mr. Bush!
Posted by Judithstart
You''re BOTH idiots!!
What a putz.
What planet have you been on for the last 6+ years.
Good Ridance George W Bush.
"I am not a crook."
On NPR Radio this morning they said George W Bush ratings are in the high 20s or low 30s. George W Bush is going to go down in US History as probably the worst president of all time and his administration is going down in flames also.
I_H_Libturds & Judithstart you are both Crack Heads if you think George W Bush was good for this country.
I_H_Libturds & Judithstart, Bush left us with 2 unfinished wars and an economy thats in the toilet.
I_H_Libturds & Judithstart, I hope you enjoy the next 8 OBAMA YEARS !
You both must live in Crawford Texas in the same Big Group Home that George W Bush and the the Bushies are coming back to in 8 days.
I am sure it will be a fantastically GAYE reunion with all you folks.
Posted by Dave_P5 at 02:00 PM : Jan 12, 2009
Eight more days until the veil of shadow that has fallen over our United States is finally lifted. It''s encouraging to think that the long night is finally almost over.
Thank The LORD !
Posted by Judithstart at 02:20 PM : Jan 12, 2009
This has got to be sarcasm. Nobody is that stupid.
Eight years ago, George W. Bush and D-i-c-k Cheney had the opportunity to become the greatest ever U.S. president and vice-president.
Instead, they frittered away their chances at greatness.
When they leave office, both of them need to become more reclusive.
Silver spoon in mouth -He held books upside down
as he taught children
Made illiterate Bushisms regularly--
Conived and contrived an unnecessary war for Profit
Fed the Rich (tax cuts) -- ignored the poor(Katrina)
Saying as late as 3 months ago
That Our economy is sound--
Without a doubt -- an arrogant prep school bred
Failure who rode power, and privilege,
To catastrophic ends for millions of Americans.
The legacy of Cowboy machismo -- The undecider
Who squandered the wealth of a Nation--
Overseeing the collapse of our Economy
The stretching of our Military
And finally The loos of our Moral prestige
Throughout the World
Good Job George!!!!
too dense to absorb.
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Yikes. Talk about an understatement. "Sorry, Moms. Yer five thousand kids were unnecessarily killed." Just a lil'' boo boo "dissapointment".
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I think this was written by somebody in China.
For all you know I''''m a big black **** equipped with a black snake that would make your eyes pop out of your head.
Posted by I_H_Libturds at 03:53 PM : Jan 12, 2009
Ahhh Ummm! The Obama Express leaves on Jan. 20th Sparky, be there or be left in the dust. You, Your constant "Lib''s did it" garbage isn''t going to mean SQUAT in 8 days and frankly Sparky YOU lack the basic ability to openly debate your position so that makes you just IRRELEVANT! Sieg Heil??
Posted by daffy64 at 03:54 PM : Jan 12, 2009
Oh but one he did not have to make. Everyone seems to forget that HE lied, removing INSPECTORS from the UN. NO ONE HAD to die and I''m here to tell you THAT is very important. Anyone who has had a brother fall at his side can tell you that.
Is reflect on turning yourself in
To the War crimes Tribunal in The Hague
Take Cheney and Rummy with you:
For invading a Sovereign Nation without provocation-
Displacing Millions-
Killing and wounding 1 million +
For Crimes against humanity
For Criminally negligent homicide
Starting a War for Corporate profit--
Juggling the Intelligence books to fabricate
Phony Reasons for aggression-
And last but not least:
Overseeing the Collapse of an Entire nations economy
Through incompetence, ineptitude,
And malicious negligence !!!!
This is your legacy George!!!
Ponder it !!!
Unbelieveable.
He ought to.. Would be nice for him to see what a total piece of S^hit he really is. His moronic comments were full of jiberish during his News conference this morning.
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I think this was written by somebody in China.
Posted by daffy64 at 03:55 PM : Jan 12, 2009
No, I think it was written by Bin Laden himself! As I''ve been saying for the past 7 years, Bush was Bin Laden''s "weapon of mass destruction"! Bin Laden made it clear that he would destroy our financial markets and with Shrub''s help, it is Mission Accomplished!
What a waste of Talent.....
Reflective in the most shallow and deluded way possible.
Bush is still in deep denial about all the damage he''s done.
Good riddance, and I hope he gets arrested in a foreign country and tried for war crimes.
Posted by raflin0010 at 05:53 PM : Jan 12, 2009
Good point. What a chilling thought, however..If you believe in karma then sit back and watch because fate will catch up with this man in this life and the next. I''ve seen it happen over and over again, and it''s not pretty....
Being AWOL from the opportunity of serving our country in Vietnam--the only blood that would bother him would be his own.
I wish for Bush to begin having nightmares,dreaming of blood dripping from his hands waking up in a cold sweat and reliving that dream 24 hours a day for the rest of his miserable life.
I wish nothing but agony for a man with out a consicence or a soul.
Posted by CitizenUSA
I totally agree! I have seen this happen time and time again---as the good book says, "whatever you reap you shall also sow". Karma
GENTLEMEN ALL : AS RUDOLPH HESS WAS LONELY PRISONER IN BERLIN AFTER WAR WORLD II , I HAVE AN IDEA , PUT MR. BUSH IN GUANTANAMO AS A LONELY PRISONER ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES, HE DESERVED.
Proverbs 6:16-19
[16]There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: [17]haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18]a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, [19]a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
George W Bush - an Abomination to the LORD.
Son of Satan!
Damned for ALL TIME!!
4200 DEAD AMERICANS BECAUSE OF THOSE LIES.
GEORGE W BUSH - DAMNED FOR ALL TIME!!
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