Bush Thankathon Continues

Tributes and memories from bloggers are pouring in!

Yesterday we gave the Bush haters one last day to vent their anger at President Bush. Frankly, eight years should have been enough already.

Right Think with Rivka opened her weeklong Thankathon with this simple rule:

We all have areas of disagreement with Bush and this week wasn't meant to discuss those issues. It is meant to 'honor' him. We are taking this week to look at the things he has done right.

That's the rule I intend to follow for the remainder of this week. It's time the lefties who are demanding we respect Obama demonstrate their capacity to do the same for President Bush in this final week.

Thankathon Highlights:

Ken at The Liberal Lie, The Conservative Truth couldn't wait until Monday to begin the Thankathon. He used his regular feature, the Sunday Commentary to offer this:

[President Bush] understood that this enemy would not yield to negotiations or pacification but that the only course was action through strength in defeating this evil enemy. His faith in the tremendous ability and dedication of our brave men and women in uniform and his caring leadership as Commander in Chief has protected this Nation and brought freedom to thousands who had known nothing but oppression in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many of our reflections this week take us back to the nightmare of September 11th. It was a formative time for our nation and the Bush presidency. On Tuesday, Ken reminds us of that moment at Ground Zero with this video:

That image of President Bush with the bullhorn and the cheers from the rescue workers shouting "USA, USA" will go down in history. It's also the moment when a young ten year old boy named Ben first became aware of politics and came to admire deeply the only President he has ever known. Ben's video tribute is a touching reminder of all the young people whose lives have been forever changed by the times we now live in. It will be up to the Ben's of this world to write the history of the Bush years. With that in mind, Bush's legacy is in good hands.

But there is so much more to the Bush record of achievement than war leadership. Marie's Two Cents, Dee at Conservatism with Heart (who had the brilliant idea for this Thankathon) and Right Think with Rivka all cited the very excellent article by columnist Fred Barnes: "Bush's Achievements: Ten things the president got right."

A brief excerpt:

Bush had ten great achievements (and maybe more) in his eight years in the White House, starting with his decision in 2001 to jettison the Kyoto global warming treaty so loved by Al Gore, the environmental lobby, elite opinion, and Europeans. The treaty was a disaster, with India and China exempted and economic decline the certain result. Everyone knew it. But only Bush said so and acted accordingly.

He stood athwart mounting global warming hysteria and yelled, "Stop!" He slowed the movement toward a policy blunder of worldwide impact, providing time for facts to catch up with the dubious claims of alarmists. Thanks in part to Bush, the supposed consensus of scientists on global warming has now collapsed. The skeptics, who point to global cooling over the past decade, are now heard loud and clear. And a rational approach to the theory of manmade global warming is possible.

Rivka wasn't content to let the list go at ten. She added five more:

11. Bush held his ground on Stem Cell Research.
12. Bush freed an oppressed people both in Iraq and Afghanistan.
13. Bush has enabled Iraq to be a free nation which is crucial in the middle east in fighting the war on terrorism and spreading democracy.
14. Bush has put a huge dent in the power of AlQaeda by having the guts to keep going after them and not backing down in Iraq.
15. Bush cut taxes, got rid of the marriage penalty and raised the child tax credit. He gave us the money back that Clinton stole.

A Compendium of Bush Accomplishments

Writing at Sparks from the Anvil, Wordsmith has compiled fact sheets of the Bush legacy gleaned from the White House web page. Topics include:

• Protecting America/Global War On Terror: President Bush Has Kept America Safe, Global War on TerrorAgenda: President Bush's
• Freedom Agenda Helped Protect The American People
• Military Transformation: Transforming Our Armed Forces to Face the Threats of Today and Tomorrow
• Veterans: The Bush Administration Has Provided Unprecedented Support for Our Veterans
• Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction: Defending Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism
• Global Health Initiatives: President Bush's Global Health Initiatives Are Saving Lives Around The World
• Tax Relief: President Bush Helped Americans Through Tax Relief
• Trade: President Bush Expanded And Enforced Trade Agreements To Open New Markets For American Products
• No Child Left Behind: No Child Left Behind Has Raised Expectations and Improved Results
• Health Care: President Bush Strengthened America's Health Care System
• Medicare: Empowering Medicare Beneficiaries With Affordable Options
• Faith-Based and Community Initiatives: President Bush Has Improved How We Address Human Need Through Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
• USA Freedom Corps: USA Freedom Corps: Strengthening Service to Meet Community Needs
• Energy and Climate Change: Diversifying Our Energy Supply and Confronting Climate Change
• Conservation and the Environment: President Bush Has Advanced Cooperative Conservation
• Stem Cell Research: Advancing Stem Cell Research In Ethical, Responsible Ways
• Judicial Appointments: Judges Who Honor the Constitution
• First Lady Laura Bush: Mrs. Laura Bush's Leadership

At Flopping Aces, Mata Harley recounts how First Lady Laura Bush (who deserves her own day in our Thankathon) expects history to judge President Bush:

His convictions and courage to face down domestic voices - even from his own party - exerting pressure for to do what is politically expedient instead of what is morally right is one of the prime reasons Laura Bush, our most gracious and elegant First Lady, says she believes that her husband was a good President for our times.

Mata concludes:

I shall miss the quiet strength of this President, as much as I shall miss the stated elegance and grace of Laura, our First Lady. In a world where media polls rule pols, and ever on the mind of an elected official is public opinion and high approval ratings, this man took the bruising personal volleys from the public and media for everything from Commander in Chief decisions to critiquing his oratory skills. He accepted it all with the grace and aplomb of a true leader…

… but he never let political pressure divert him from what he believed was right for the US and Iraq today, and our national security in the future.

It will take time for the petty ill will of the media and the public to recognize what Bush accomplished… in spite of their attempts to force this President to govern according to their agenda. What can be directly attributed to this President is a self-governing Iraq and Afghanistan - and their residents the ability to govern themselves; a Libya without a WMD programme; a Pakistan who is an ally instead of an armed enemy, and a Muslim world increasingly fed up with jihad right along with this US President.

The Last Press Conference

Monday's news conference with President Bush, the last of his presidency, was a hot topic for bloggers on Monday. Dcat at Razor Sharp Claws posted video highlights and Curt at Flopping Aces posted videos of the entire event.

President Bush expressed his disappointment(transcript) with how Democrats responded to his outreach:

President Bush: I am disappointed by the tone in Washington, D.C. I tried to do my part by not engaging in the name-calling and -- and by the way, needless name-calling. I have worked to be respectful of my opponents on different issues.

He went on to express his desire that people are respectful of President Obama in a way that they were not towards him. That's the kind of good man he is and we're still waiting for the Bush haters to learn that lesson. I'm not holding my breathe.

Dee Said Thank You in Person

I regret I have not had the opportunity to meet or hear President Bush in person. Since I have had the opportunity to hear or meet every other GOP President going back to Nixon I can't complain. But Dee, who initiated the idea for this Thankathon, did have the chance to meet President Bush and speak to him:

There were 12 of us volunteers who got to be on the tarmac waiting for Air Force One to arrive today. It was so awesome to see the motorcade pull in and then to see Air Force One land. I almost had tears in my eyes as I saw him come to the door and begin to descend down the steps.

I had 3 things I wanted to say to him and I was able to get them all said. I let him know what a huge honor it was to meet him, I told him I was praying for him and that I was proud of how he was protecting our country in the war on terror. When I told him I was praying for him he said it was working!!!

Dee closed her Monday Thankathon post with the words of Thomas Paine:

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated."
--Thomas Paine, “The Crisis”, December 23rd, 1776

Bush Thankathon Begins

And a final opportunity for Bush haters to vent!

Air Force One, with U.S. President George W. Bush aboard, enters its hangar for Bush to visit Air Force One crew members, called the Presidential Airlift Group, after his last scheduled flight as sitting president landed at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, January 10, 2009. The next time Mr. Bush boards this plane it will be as a private citizen for his ride home to Texas and the call sign will no longer be Air Force One.

All this week we'll be sharing our memories of the Bush presidency. Since the "news" media only covered the bad news and little of the good, the good news will be the focus for this week. But I do want to give the Bush haters an opportunity to express themselves one more time today (though eight years of bile seems long enough) in the comments section. After today, if you can't hold your tongue and be civil, don't expect your comments to remain posted for long.

Bush's Mixed Record

Conservatives would be the first to point out President Bush's weak points. Many of us disagreed with him strongly on issues like immigration and wished he had done a better job of controlling spending and taking a more direct approach to combating the negativity and bile that elected Democrats threw at him from day one.

It soon became apparent that the "new tone" with which President Bush came into office was a one way street. One of many examples of how this failed was with Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) who was invited to the White House along with his family to watch a movie in the White House theater about his late brother JFK's efforts to keep America safe during the Cuban missile crisis. A few years later, Senator Kennedy rose on the Senate floor and accused the Bush Administration of telling "lie after lie after lie" in the effort to keep America safe from another deadly threat.

President Bush was also too silent in combating the successful efforts of Democrats to blame him for everything that went wrong during the past eight years and deny him any credit for what went right.

Two examples of this: First, the purpose of President Bush's recent trip to Iraq was to sign an historic alliance between Iraq and the United States. It fulfilled one of the prime conditions that President Bush laid down for victory in Iraq. That is, that Iraq should become an ally of the United States in the war on terror. It escapes many who can only see the downside in Iraq that the Iraqis themselves have killed more terrorists than any other entity in the world except the U.S. military. Iraq has become an ally of the first order. Yet all that good news was ignored because one Iraqi "journalist" threw his shoes at President Bush.

Second, President Bush is blamed for the financial meltdown. After all, it happened on his watch. But many who blame him for the meltdown refuse to accept that it was Democrats in Congress who protected Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from the regulatory reform President Bush proposed years before the crisis occurred. Those reforms could have prevented the crisis. President Bush's critics say that he should have stopped the Democrats from blocking the reforms. Some of these critics also accused him of stifling political dissent, even comparing him to Hitler. Now they say he wasn't good enough at stifling dissent? Which is it?

The financial crisis has been debated in full on these pages and many others. I would only add this late entry by Karl Rove. It's an excellent summation of the problem:

President Bush Tried to Rein In Fan and Fred
Democrats and the media have the housing story wrong
By Karl Rove
Wall Street Journal
JANUARY 8, 2009

Mythmaking is in full swing as the Bush administration prepares to leave town. Among the more prominent is the assertion that the housing meltdown resulted from unbridled capitalism under a president opposed to all regulation.

Like most myths, this is entertaining but fictional. In reality, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were among the principal culprits of the housing crisis, and Mr. Bush wanted to rein them in before things got out of hand.
...
Because of this, the Bush administration warned in the budget it issued in April 2001 that Fannie and Freddie were too large and overleveraged. Their failure "could cause strong repercussions in financial markets, affecting federally insured entities and economic activity" well beyond housing.

Mr. Bush wanted to limit systemic risk by raising the GSEs' capital requirements, compelling preapproval of new activities, and limiting the size of their portfolios. Why should government regulate banks, credit unions and savings and loans, but not GSEs? Mr. Bush wanted the GSEs to be treated just like their private-sector competitors.

But the GSEs fought back. They didn't want to see the Bush reforms enacted, because that would level the playing field for their competitors. Congress finally did pass the Bush reforms, but in 2008, after Fannie and Freddie collapsed.

The largely unreported story is that to fend off regulation, the GSEs engaged in a lobbying frenzy. They hired high-profile Democrats and Republicans and spent $170 million on lobbying over the past decade. They also constructed an elaborate network of state and local lobbyists to pressure members of Congress.

When Republican Richard Shelby of Alabama, then chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, pushed for comprehensive GSE reform in 2005, Democrat Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut successfully threatened a filibuster. Later, after Fannie and Freddie collapsed, Mr. Dodd asked, "Why weren't we doing more?" He then voted for the Bush reforms that he once called "ill-advised."

But Mr. Dodd wasn't the only Democrat to heap abuse on the Bush reforms. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts defended Fannie and Freddie as "fundamentally sound" and labeled the president's proposals as "inane." He later voted for the reforms. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York dismissed Mr. Bush's "safety and soundness concerns" as "a straw man." "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," was the helpful advice of both Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware and Rep. Maxine Waters of California. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York berated a Bush official at a hearing, saying, "I am just pissed off" at the administration for raising the issue.
...
The housing meltdown is largely a story of greed and irresponsibility made possible by government privilege. If Democrats had granted the Bush administration the regulatory powers it sought, the housing crisis wouldn't be nearly as severe and the economy as a whole would be better off.

That's why some mythmakers are so intent on denying that Mr. Bush worked to rein in the GSEs. But facts are stubborn things, as Ronald Reagan used to say, and in this instance, the facts support Mr. Bush and offer a harsh judgment on key Democrats. Perhaps that explains why so many in the media haven't told the real story.

History will be kind to the Bush Presidency

As much as conservatives might find reason to criticize certain aspects of the Bush presidency there is no doubt that we have deep respect for the man and his conduct as Commander in Chief. As a war time leader he has kept America safe. It's odd that some of the handwringers on the left who said Bush policies threatened civil liberties are alive today because of the actions President Bush took in the wake of the September 11th attacks.

I firmly believe that history will be kind to President Bush. I recall that at the end of the Reagan presidency it was widely reported in the "news" media of the time that his presidency hadn't been a great success. That was the verdict of so-called scholars and pundits. But the appreciation of the American people for Reagan's efforts has only grown with time. The same will be true for the legacy of President Bush. As the media generated hysteria over insignificant events like the shoe thrower, or Abu Ghraib or the phony stories about domestic spying fade, the real legacy of an America that is safer, stronger and with Iraq as an ally will emerge.

Join in the Bush Thankathon!

Post the link to your blog article thanking President Bush in the comment's section.

Bloggers Remember Bush Years in Images

Inviting you to share your favorite Bush memories in photos and cartoons!

President George W. Bush waves after remarks Sept. 23, 2004, at a Victory 2004 rally in Bangor, Maine. White House photo by Paul Morse See the photo essay "The Bush Record" for more.

They say a picture paints a thousand words! And images are certainly the best way to communicate the fullness of the Bush presidency. They capture the big moments and the smaller ones. How else can you easily capture the President's humor and the First Lady's dignity? Put together, photos from the Bush years make one heck of an album of memories.

As we gear up for the grand finale of the Bush Thankathon, Here are some images gleaned from a few of the blogs contributing to this event. We welcome any submissions you may have. Just drop a link to the photograph, cartoon or other images in the comment section below. If you need help finding a picture or just want to browse, the White House web site offers photos for events by clicking on current news and the year, and month. Other sites such as Daylife offer searches of news photos.

Ken at Liberal Lie the Conservative Truth shares with us this photo showing then candidate Bush's ever present sense of humor as he campaigns in 2000.

Wordsmith posted this photo of Bush making an exit after an event in Beijing, China in November 2005 and finding the door locked:

The Further Adventures of Indigo Red posts this photo of President George W. Bush, cautiously followed by his daughter Barbara, walk up to African elephants at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve in Bostwana, South Africa in 2003:

Right Think with Rivka posts some graphic pictures of President Bush meeting injured soldiers along with those of the troops enjoying a moment of face time with the Commander in Chief:

Dee at Conservatism with Heart, who thought up the Thankathon, reminds us that images also tell a story of how Americans and those from other lands who have been touched by the Bush presidency regard our Presdident.

One of thousands of such signs at campaign and other events:

An Iraqi man shows his gratitude:

Cartoons have also played a big role in how we view the Bush presidency.Timothy from His Own Private Possession shares his favorite:

Drop the link in the comments section to your favorite Bush photo or cartoon and join the Bush Thankathon before times runs out!

Bush Thankathon Rolls On

Bloggers remember as we count down the last days of a great presidency and a good man!

President George W. Bush strides to Marine One Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, as he prepares to depart the White House for Camp David from the South Lawn. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

All this week we have celebrated the presidency of George W. Bush and the very loving nature of this good man and his family. In the closing days bloggers from all over the country continue to share their memories, impressions and thoughts.

Cajun Tiger, who has been to Iraq twice, offers this:

History will be the judge and if Obama doesn't reverse all the progress made over the last year by removing troops too quickly, Bush's decision to invade Iraq and stick with it to the end, especially with the surge, will be a very defining moment in the region that will continue to produce positive results.

Gayle at Dragon Lady's Den offers a personal welcome home from one Texan to another.

President Bush will soon be coming home to Texas, and I'm not only thanking him for what he has done in keeping us safe, showing us that he truly is a man of compassion, and not being afraid to mention God - but as Texas is my adopted home state - I'm also welcoming him home.

This week, many of us have focused on the moving and heartfelt farewell address that President Bush delivered from the East Room at the White House on Thursday night. Both The Liberal Lie The Conservative Truth and The Further Adventures of Indigo Red posted the address in total. Yours truly posted excerpts with photos from that night.

Photographs from the Bush years have been one of the best ways to communicate the full heart and soul of this good man as well as the history he has made. I'll be posting a pictorial wrap up as the grand finale of our thankathon.

Right Think with Rivka has been on fire all week showing her appreciation for this great and good man:

Thanks Mr. Bush for bringing integrity back into the White House and for keeping us safe. You had to do a lot of unpopular things to keep us safe and you were willing to risk your 'legacy' to do what was right which is unheard of in politics these days. Thanks!

Timothy at His Own Private Possession shares with us his story of meeting Mr. Bush in 1992 and covering his visit as a report for the Wichita Falls Times Record News:

I wasn't a sports writer, but for some reason, the editors did not want me writing on what he said about his dad, so they sent me to ask questions about the Rangers. George probably figured that one out long before I did, but he was gracious nonetheless.

His response to my first question: "The same thing they have always needed, good pitching." We probably talked for another 20 minutes or so and he was extremely pleasant to interview. I'm really glad because I was quite nervous at the time. I thought interviewing him was a bit above my pay grade, and writing a sports story, at that time, was way out of my area of expertise.

I'm grateful he was nice about it. Because that really helped me at the time.

It will be sad when he leaves office. He and his family really are a class act. It's too bad that many in the country will never see it that way. I'm glad that I do.

Timothy: millions and millions of us see it exactly the same way you do.

Dee at Conservatism with Heart was the originator of the idea for the Thankathon and she's done some great work on the topic all week. Dee captured the essence of the Bush presidency with these few words from Winston Churchill:

"All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope."--Sir Winston Churchill

Our goal has been to not only share our thoughts on the Bush presidency but to highlight that of fellow bloggers as well. Dee does that with two great posts by the Anchoress.

First: "The Essential President Bush:"

How you receive a good has a lot to do with whether any more “good” comes your way. The Conservatives got a “good” in 2000 and 2004; they’re receiving it very badly, indeed. I think the throwing-under-the-bus-of-George-W-Bush by “the base” is one of the most shameful things I have ever witnessed in all my years of watching politics, from both sides of the political spectrum. How do you receive a good?

The second is an extraordinary list of the things President Bush got right. It's from a 2007 post by the Anchoress but rings stronger with each passing year. Here is just a sample:

--Has he inspired the Iraqi people to finally believe enough in freedom to fight AlQaeda with us? YES!
--Has he figured out that a free and engaged Middle East makes America safer? Yes.
--Has he kept you safe since 9/11? So safe that you’ve almost forgotten to fear? Yes.
--Did he protect us from the reach & province of the International Criminal Court? Yes.
--Did he keep us from the Kyoto mess that is currently tying up Europe? Yes.
--Did he inspire Libya to surrender it’s WMD without firing a shot? Yes.
--Did he appoint excellent SCOTUS and Federal Judges to the bench? Yes.
--Did he implement the NSA terrorist eavesdropping program? Yes.
--Has he handled himself with enormous courage, dignity and grace in the face of world/media/hate?

At Flopping Aces Mata Harley excerpts from the always excellent Thomas Sowell who wisely said:

Whatever history’s verdict on the Bush administration might be, it is likely to be very different from what we hear from the talking heads on television or read from the know-it-alls on editorial pages.
...
That a President of the United States protected us from deadly enemies may not seem like much of an accomplishment to some. But it may be more fully appreciated when we get a President who eases up on that protection, in order to curry favor at home and abroad.

Wordsmith at Sparks from the Anvil has two contrasting posts. The top post examines Bush's deliberate mispronunciation of the word "nuclear." Clearly the man isn't' stupid but also doesn't mind poking fun at himself.

Wordsmith also goes into detail on one of President Bush's greatest accomplishments that has all but been ignored: his efforts to help the peoples and nations of Africa. No President has done more for Africa and Africans than President Bush and yet he is pilloried for supposedly hating black people because of the mess a black mayor Nagin of New Orleans made of that cities evacuation before Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

This second post at Flopping Aces goes beyond the statistics showing that because of President Bush's policy the US already donates a quarter of all foreign assistance to Africa. Wordsmith relates what that means in the lives of ordinary Africans who might otherwise be scarred by poverty or disease:

Three-year-old Faith Mang’ehe, whose mother is HIV positive, attends a roundtable session with her mother on AIDS relief with U.S. President George W. Bush at Amana District Hospital in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Tatu Msangi, a single Tanzanian mother, took the story of the success of PEPFAR to Congress during a State of the Union address last month.

She is a living testimony of just how, through PEPFAR, the Bush administration has saved a life deep in a remote African village.

Msangi testified how despite living with HIV, she received the necessary counseling and Nevirapine (medication) during her pregnancy, and subsequently delivered a bouncing HIV-free baby girl. Now, her daughter Faith Mang’ehe has a future, and Msangi hope, thanks to Bush’s Emergency Plan.

Yours truly has been busy all week keeping up with President Bush as he sprints to the finish of his eight year run in the White House. Aside from the excerpt and photos of the President's Farewell Address, I also posted:

• Closing Moments at the Bush White House: President Bush awards the Medal of Freedom to Tony Blair, hosts his last cabinet meeting and the Bush homeland security team takes the unprecedented step to conduct an orientation event for the incoming Obama team.
• The Monument to the Bush Presidency: are the thousands of American lives that have been spared the horror of another September 11th attack due to the decisive action by President Bush. A list of foiled attacks is presented to remind those who think Bush is so awful that they and their family members are alive today because of him.
• Comforter in Chief relates some key moments when President Bush showed the caring and loving side of his nature so many of us came to admire.

More to come as we count down the final days of a great presidency!

A Salute to Laura Bush

Our Bush Thankathon would not be complete without a look at one of the best First Ladies of our time!

Laura Bush is unquestionably one of the best First Ladies of the last 50 years or more. Unlike Hillary Clinton, whose time in the White House was dogged by scandal, Mrs. Bush has maintained an air of dignity and calm throughout. Even Laura's mother in law generated more controversy than Laura ever has when she inartfully used the "B" word in reference to Hillary Clinton.

In many ways Mrs. Bush has been a traditional First Lady. She's managed the duties of White House entertainment and state occasions flawlessly. Traveling with the President she has always been an asset and never a liability.

But beyond the traditional role, she's carved a unique niche for herself and worked tirelessly to promote a range of important causes and issues beyond those traditionally pursued by First Ladies in the past.

The White House has prepared a fact sheet highlighting the leadership of Laura Bush, but I didn't need a press release to remind me that Mrs. Bush has taken the lead on vital issues like promoting women's rights and women's health in the Middle East and Afganistan. She's made multiple trips to these areas of the world and also invited women's represenatives from this area to the White House to continue the vital work which they have begun.

On her own and with the President, Laura Bush has become an indefatigable globe trotter. The White House has a photo album of the First Lady's travels here which tells that story so much better than I could.

Aside from her public role, Mrs. Bush is first and foremost a wife and a mother. Her family has remained front and center throughout her time as First Lady.

The following are a collection of photos culled from the thousands taken these past eight years that illustrate for me the many reasons I will miss First Lady Laura Bush:

This official White House photograph released on May 11, 2008 shows US President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush (2L) with Mr. and Mrs. Hager (R & 2R) posing with the newly married couple, Jenna (3R and Henry Hager (3L) in front of the altar on Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

Barney, Kitty and Miss Beazley pose for photos to publicize favorite recipes of the Bush Family, available online.

Mrs. Laura Bush applauds after pushing the button to flood the north front of the White House with a sea of pink, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, on Oct. 7, 2008. Bush addressed breast cancer survivors and advocates and members of the diplomatic corps just before the light display. The First Lady has encouraged worldwide efforts in preventing and curing a disease that is the leading cause of death in women. Each year more than 1.2 million people worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. The United States is working with countries in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas to empower women to take control of their health, raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early diagnosis, and support collaborative research to find a breast cancer cure. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

Mrs. Laura Bush talks with women in the Pink Majlis Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Mrs. Bush sought to elevate the awareness and importance of women's health in Muslim countries. Something which was hitherto taboo in many.

More photos from her 2007 Middle East trip here.

The First Lady is responsible for all the state dinners which occur at the White House in honor of visiting heads of state. Mrs. Bush has never failed to impress.

Mrs. Laura Bush discusses the motifs and entertainment for the official dinner honoring His Excellency Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, in the State Dining Room during a media preview Thursday, June 29, 2006. "I think it's going to be a very fun evening," said Mrs. Bush. "Our orchestra is the Brian Setzer Orchestra. He'll play a lot of both the President's and Prime Minister Koizumi's favorites, and he's especially known for his guitar. So I think that will be terrific." White House photo by Shealah Craighead

And who can forget the incredible Christmas decorations that Mrs. Bush has been responsible for these past eight years?

2008: The Last Bush Christmas. More Here.

Like the President, Mrs. Bush has taken time to meet and greet the ordinary average Americans who they encounter along the way. Mrs. Bush has always time for children.

Mrs. Laura Bush offers photos of the Bush family dogs, Scottish Terrier's Barney and Miss Beazley, and the cat, Willie, to a little girl before departing from Forbes Field in Topeka, Kan., on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. She had just greeted members of the military gathered to see her departure from the air field. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

The cable public affairs channel CSpan did an incredible series of programs Inside the White House in which we learned that Laura Bush was the prime driver behind a project to restore the Lincoln Bedroom on the residence floor of the White House to what a room from that period would look like as well as recovering and displaying Lincoln artifacts which were part of the room when it served as Abraham Lincoln's presidential office. A short one minute clip from the C-Span program permits you to see the result.

The Lincoln Bedroom. Restored by Laura Bush

For more views inside many of the public and private rooms in the White House, the C Span layout page is highly recommended.

Another of the First Lady's projects was the acquisition with private funds of two new sets of China. The set of George W. Bush State China (pictured below) provides service for up to 320 people. Mrs. Bush describes the process of selecting the china here. A set of gold rimmed Magnolia china (shown here) for the White House residence was also received. Sadly, both came too late in the life of the Administration to be used. One hopes the Obama family will enjoy them.

The George W. Bush State China, unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at the White House by Mrs. Laura Bush, has a gold rim with a green basket-weave pattern and a historically-inspired gold eagle throughout the 14-piece place setting. The 320-place setting pattern will allow the White House to accommodate larger Rose Garden dinners and cover any breakage. The china was paid for by the White House Historical Association Acquisition Trust, a non-profit organization. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

First Ladies Former and Future

Mrs. Bush has spent a great deal of time working with other First Ladies on projects of mutual interest.

Laura Bush and former First Lady Nancy Reagan share a moment Thursday, May 12, 2005, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during the unveiling of The Heart Truth’s First Ladies Red Dress Collection. White House photo by Krisanne Johnson

Mrs. Laura Bush welcomes former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and her daughter, Lynda Johnson Robb, on their visit to the White House Oct. 19, 2005. Lady Bird passed away less than two years later. This was her last visit to the White House.

Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Michelle Obama sit in the private residence of the White House Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, after the President-elect and Mrs. Obama arrived for a visit. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

A Note of Grace and Dignity that Will Be Missed

Mrs. Laura Bush shares a moment with Delilah Winters, 3, during a visit Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, to the Auchan Red Cross Shelter in Houston for those individuals and families who still need assistance as a result of Hurricane Ike. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

Mrs. Bush's official portrait now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery

Thank you Laura!

Thank You Condi Rice

Our Bush Thankathon would not be complete without a tribute to our Secretary of State!

After Laura Bush, there has been one other person seen most often at President Bush's side. His faithful friend, the former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Affectionately called "Condi" by President Bush, he was often overheard saying "get me Condi" when some problem or other cropped up around the world.

Since the early days of President Bush's 2000 campaign for president Dr. Rice has been there on an almost daily basis. She has become part of the Bush family and stayed with them at the ranch and Camp David on numerous occasions.

She has been at the heart of every decision on national security and foreign policy during the last eight years and has represented our nation overseas with style and dignity.

With all the hoopla over the inauguration of the nation's first black president, let's not forget that trail blazers like the first black female Secretary of State led the way.

Condi is one heck of a class act!

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice walk from the Oval Office to board Marine One at the White House in Washington November 21, 2008. They are on their way to the APEC Summit in Peru.

President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice walk to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, after spending the weekend at Camp David.

President George W. Bush is introduced by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the U.S. Department of State Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, during a ceremony commemorating foreign policy achievements. White House photo by Eric Draper

President George W. Bush is introduced by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the U.S. Department of State Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, during a ceremony commemorating foreign policy achievements. White House photo by Eric Draper

US President George W. Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wave as they arrive on the South Lawn of the White House November 17, 2008 from Camp David.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice answers questions on the Middle East during a news conference with President George W. Bush Monday, Aug. 7, 2006, in Crawford, Texas. White House photo by Eric Draper

Standing with his national defense team, President George W. Bush talks with the press at Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas, Monday, Aug. 23, 2004. Pictured, from left, are: Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Meyers

President George W. Bush meets with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Foreign Policy Team at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Thursday, August 11, 2005. White House photo by Eric Draper

President George W. Bush meets with his National Security advisors via video conference at Camp David, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001. Also pictured from left, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, CIA Director George Tenent and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. White House photo by Eric Draper.

President George W. Bush meets with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House Monday evening, July 31, 2006, to discuss her recent trip to the Middle East. White House photo by Eric Draper

President George W. Bush is joined for lunch Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, by Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice and Karen Hughes, newly appointed Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. White House photo by Eric Draper

President George W. Bush bows his head as he stands with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday, April 3, 2008, at the start of the North Atlantic Council Summit in Bucharest. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

US President George W. Bush (R) kisses US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) during a ceremony at the US State Department in Washington, DC, January 15, 2009 commemorating foreign policy achievements during the Bush administration.

Thank You Condi!

Dedication of George W. Bush Library Center Reminds Americans of Better Times

So much has changed since Bush left office and not for the better!

Obama and four living former Presidents on hand for dedication of Bush Library and Center in Dallas Thursday.
More at the Daily Mail.

It's been four years since Mike's America stood in an empty field alongside the freeway just north of downtown Dallas. Today on that site the George W. Bush Presidential Center and Library and Museum were dedicated.

It's a state of the art facility with a full size replica of the Oval Office and even a variation of the White House rose garden set on grounds that show off the best of natural Texas landscapes.

Fostering nature awareness and conservation 15 acres of natural Texas landscape
surrounds Bush Center and Library. More on the landscape and building design here. More images here.

The Library and Museum is a reminder that after the last four years it's difficult to remember just how good we did have it during the Bush years. Following the September 11th attacks President Bush woke the country to the danger of Muslim terrorism and no further attacks took place on U.S. soil during his time in office. Despite the attacks an already weak economy recovered and thrived for many years. However, the housing market and financial system did eventually face crisis. What a shame Democrats blocked repeated Bush Administration efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Efforts which might have averted the crisis.

Here at Mike's America we hosted a Bush Thankathon in the final week of the Bush presidency. Readers and fellow bloggers took the opportunity to remember what they liked best about George and Laura Bush and President Bush's leadership.

There's so much to look back on it's hard to pick out one moment, but I'd say the best of Bush was on display at Ground Zero days following the attacks as rescue workers sought to recover the dead. Bush began speaking to the crowd, hesitant and rather muted at first. But the crowd wanted more and Bush delivered the message that was in his heart and in the heart of every American:

BUSH: "The people who knocked these buildings down will hear from ALL of us soon!"

 

Can you imagine what Obama would say in a similar situation?

 

President Bush gave us a style of leadership that was able to guide America and much of the world through some of the most difficult years since the end of the Cold War. Unfortunately, his replacement prefers a different leadership style and the results are not as optimal. Our friends respect us less, our enemies no longer fear us and according to international surveys Muslims despise Obama more than they did Bush at the height of the Iraq war.

 

President Bush was a good man and a good president. History will show quite a contrast with the one who followed him!



Poll: Americans Would Dump Obama for Bush?

The result is about a tie! How long before it becomes a solid majority?

With so many polls showing Americans are eager to dump Obama (Oct 2009, Jan 2010, Feb 2010) this shouldn't come as a surprise:

Poll: Public Split On Whether They Would Prefer Obama Or George W. Bush
By Eric Kleefeld
Talking Points Memo
April 14, 2010

In yet another sign of political polarization, a new national survey from Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Americans are almost evenly divided on whether they would want to stick with President Obama -- or go back to George W. Bush.

The poll asked: "Would you rather have Barack Obama or George W. Bush as President right now?" The answer was Obama 48%, Bush 46%, within the ±3.9% margin of error. Consider what a close result this is, compared to Bush's amazingly low ratings at the end of his administration.

"George W. Bush's approval ratings were horrid his final few years in office because even a decent number of Republicans and conservative leaning independents were unhappy with him," writes PPP president Dean Debnam. "Now those folks wish they could have him back over Obama."

Why is this no surprise?

Just compare the two men:

A national hero and leader:

More great Bush moments in the Bush Thankathon archives.

An embarrassing disgrace:

Obama: "Whether we like it or not, we (United States) remain a dominant military superpower."

Is it any wonder people are putting up billboards with President Bush's picture and the question: "Miss me yet?"

Live Chat for Bush Thankathon Thursday Evening

Right after the completion of the President's Farewell address slated to begin at 8 PM EST I'll host another of our very popular live chats online.

Make sure to watch the President's speech live then fire up your computer and share your reflections on the Bush years and what may lie ahead.

Sorry, no Bush haters allowed!

Meanwhile, the Bush Thankathon rolls on with new posts coming fast and furious from friends near and far. I'll have an update soon.

Closing Moments at the Bush White House

The Bush Thankathon rolls on!

President Bush rewards a great friend and ally:

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (L) receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President George W. Bush during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, January 13, 2009. The award is the highest civilian honour that is given in the United States. Also honored were Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Rush Limbaugh, (right) talks with Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at the White House prior to the Medal of Freedom ceremony in the East Room on Monday.

A Goodbye to our Southern Neighbor

President George W. Bush welcomes Mexico's President Felipe Calderon to the Oval Office at the White House, seen in this remote camera view, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2008, during their joint press availability. White House photo by Eric Draper

The Last Cabinet Meeting

President George W. Bush speaks to reporters during the last meeting with members of his Cabinet Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, where President Bush thanked members of the Cabinet for their service and for helping with the President-Elect Obama transition.

Bush Administration Officials assist Obama Transition to train for emergency response

White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten (C) welcomes senior officials from the Bush Administration and the incoming Obama Administration to the principal level homeland security exercise at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C January 13, 2009. The exercise provided an opportunity for officials to discuss incident management practices and continuity of government procedures.

Thus far we have seen one of the most gracious transitions to an incoming Administration in history. It's highly unlikely we will read stories about vandalized offices or missing "O"s on the computer keyboards in the White House as we did when the juvenile pranksters from the Clinton Administration were packing up.

And speaking of juvenile Clintonista pranksters, here's incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel being escorted to the microphones by Josh Bolten, current White House Chief of Staff. One hopes the example Bolten sets will sink in with Emanuel but I'll wager it's a long shot at best.