The Exit Interviews

Oh yeah, that's me, in RED!

WASHINGTON — In a nostalgic final news conference, President George W. Bush defended his record vigorously and at times sentimentally Monday. He also admitted many mistakes, from the "Mission Accomplished" banner during a 2003 Iraq speech to the discovery that the alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that he used to justify war didn't exist.

Many mistakes? How about not really be elected president, no matter what the courts said, those activist judges? How about the mistake that the people of America wanted you as their president when the majority of the people of America voted for Al Gore?
Mistakes?
Pfffffft.

After starting what he called "the ultimate exit interview" with a lengthy and personalized thank-you to the reporters in the room who have covered him over the eight years of his presidency, Bush showed anger at times when presented with some of the main criticisms of his time in office.

He particularly became indignant when asked about America's bruised image overseas.
"I disagree with this assessment that, you know, that people view America in a dim light," he said.

That's because you're a dim bulb, W. Your war in Iraq, you remember, the one you started to find bin Laden, the one you said was because Saddam Hussein had WMD, the one you said you started because you wanted to rid the world of Hussein? That war? The rest of the world knew you were wrong, lying, deceitful, and they still think that. You don't believe me, have someone Google worldwide response to Obama's election victory and see how the rest of the world celebrated him. Look familiar? I didn't think so.

Bush said he realizes that some issues such as the prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have created controversy at home and around the world. But he defended his actions after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including approving tough interrogation methods for suspected terrorists and information-gathering efforts at home in the name of protecting the country.

Interrogation is one thing, W, torture is something completely different. And we are not supposed to be that guy; we are supposed to be the good guy. You could have protected us, without the torture.
With the Iraq war in its sixth year, he most aggressively defended his decisions on that issue, which 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.

Four-thousand American deaths, W; let's not forget the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children killed since your war on terror, against the Axis of Evil, began. And let's not forget the wounded, missing limbs, traumatized for life because of your quest for power.
Four-thousand Americans dead. More than the number who died on 9/11.
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 Bush's main initial justification for going to war.

WMD. He had 'em. He could make 'em. He was hiding 'em. One lie after another fed to the public to win support for your war. One more lie on the heap of lies you've given us over the last eight years.

Bush admitted another miscalculation: Eager to report quick progress after U.S. troops ousted Saddam's government, he claimed less than two months after the war started that "in the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed," a claim made under a "Mission Accomplished" banner that turned out to be wildly optimistic. "Clearly, putting `Mission Accomplished' on an aircraft carrier was a mistake," he said Monday.

I remember laughing at Mission Accomplished, like you thought you were Tom Cruise, or Mighty Mouse, or some such nonsense. And here we are nine years later and still fighting a war you declared won in 2003.
How stupid you must feel now.
If you feel anything at all.

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 there.
"The question is, in the long run, will this democracy survive, and that's going to be a question for future presidents," he said.

So, let me reread some of this stuff. We went to Iraq because it was a hotbed of terrorist training camps, because Hussein had WMD, wanted WMD could make WMD, or because he was a bad guy. Then you say we won; the mission accomplished.
Four years later you send another 30,000 soldiers into a country where the war had already been won. I wonder if the families of our soldiers loved your decision; I am sure most accepted it, because that's what you do in the military: follow orders.
Even when the orders are coming from a tiny little man.
And you've left this mess for future presidents.
Talk about Cut-and-Run.
On another issue destined to figure prominently in his legacy, Bush said he disagrees with those who say the federal response to Hurricane Katrina was slow.
"Don't tell me the federal response was slow when there were 30,000 people pulled off roofs right after the storm passed. ... Could things been done better? Absolutely. But when I hear people say the federal response was slow, what are they going to say to those chopper drivers or the 30,000 who got pulled off the roof?" he said.

The response was slow, W.
You couldn't even be bothered with the situation on the day of the storm; you were in California getting a guitar from somebody. You didn't even tour the area until days later, from the air.
How brave of you, W; what an example of leadership.
And you keep bringing up the 30,000 pulled off roofs. What about the hundred thousand other folks left with nothing, with no hope, no help?
What about them, W?

He called President-elect Barack Obama "a smart, engaging person" and said he wishes his successor all the best. He hinted at the enormous responsibility Obama is about to assume, 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," Bush said.

The responsibility that lands on Obama's shoulders on January 20 will be felt by Obama; unlike you, he is concerned for America, all of America, not just "his base" of the elite, the wealthy, those who profit from war and hurricane.
He can shoulder the burden you couldn't or wouldn't, W.
He can give America the one thing you never could:
Hope.

He gave his view of the most urgent priority facing the incoming president: an attack on the United States. He chose that risk 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."

I am so tired of all the people who said he's kept us safe since 9/11. Just because we weren't attacked, doesn't mean he protected us; it means we weren't attacked. Remember, the last bombing of the WTC was in 1993; it was eight years before bin Laden could mount another attack.
Safe.
Sorry is more like it.

He said he would ask Congress to release the remaining $350 billion in Wall Street bailout money if Obama so desires. But, he said, Obama hasn't made that request of him yet.
If Bush should make the request of Congress, it would take the burden off Obama's shoulders involving a program that is extraordinarily unpopular with many lawmakers and much of the public.
But, said Bush, "He hasn't asked me to make the request yet and I don't intend to make the request unless he asks me."

So, you're the President, and you thing releasing these billions is what's needed, but you won't do it unless Obama asks?
I thought you were still President?
Just like the rest of your term, you don't do anything until someone asks, or tells you to do so.
The last time the president had taken 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.

Sadly, no footwear was thrown this time.
The only thing being thrown was the W bullshit.

Bush's last full-blown, formal news conference was July 15. He refused to hold another during the final months of last year's presidential campaign, concerned that the questions would be mostly related to political events and wanting to stay out of GOP nominee John McCain's spotlight. But even though aides had suggested that would change after the election, Bush still declined to participate in a wide-ranging question-and-answer session until now, just eight days before leaving office.
He has been granting a flurry of legacy-focused interviews as he seeks to shape the view of his presidency on his way out the door.

Thank god his publicity tour is nearly over.
My hope is that, as of January 20, Bush goers back to Crawford and stays there. My hope is that we don't hear from him again. My hope is that no one buys into his idea that his presidency will be seen as one of the greatest.
My hope is less W and more hope.