Home > Politics > Political Punch
Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

« Previous | Main | Next »

W's Last Presser

January 12, 2009 10:51 AM

A very loose President Bush came before the White House press corps for his 47th and final press conference as president. He had lots to say about 9/11, Katrina, and the economic crisis, but before I blog about those items, here's our exchange about how he would defend his legacy from critics who say his administration was incompetent.

By way of explanation of his first comments, I covered his first presidential run in 1999 and 2000 and was recently appointed Senior White House correspondent.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Jake, yes?  How you doing?

JAKE: I'm good. How you doing, sir?

BUSH: What have been doing since 2000? (LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: Working my way to this chair.

BUSH: So you going to be here for President Obama?

TAPPER: I will.

BUSH: It's a pretty cool job.

TAPPER: It's not bad.

BUSH: Yes. (LAUGHTER)

TAPPER: Yours might be better.

BUSH: Yes. What, retirement? (LAUGHTER)

TAPPER:  In the past, when you've been asked to address bad poll numbers or your unpopularity you've said that history will judge that you did the right thing -- that you thought you did the right thing. But without getting into your motives or your goals, I think a lot of people, including Republicans, including some members of your own administration, have been disappointed at the execution of some of your ideals, whether Iraq or Katrina or the economy. What would your closing message be to the American people about the execution of these goals?

BUSH:  Well, first of all, hard things don't happen overnight, Jake. And when the history of Iraq is written, historians will analyze, for example, the decision on the surge. The situation was -- looked like it was going fine, and then violence for a period of time began to throw -- throw the progress of Iraq into doubt.  And rather than accepting the status quo and saying, "Oh, it's not worth it," or "The politics makes it difficult," or, you know, "The party may end up being -- you know, not doing well in the elections because of the violence in Iraq," I decided to do something about it and sent 30,000 troops in as opposed to withdrawing.

And so that part of history is certain, and the situation did change. Now the question is, in the long-run, will this democracy survive?  And that's going to be the challenge for future presidents. In terms of the economy -- look, I inherited a recession, I'm ending on a recession.  In the meantime, there were 52 months of uninterrupted job growth.  And I defended tax cuts when I campaigned, I helped implement tax cuts when I was president, and I will defend them after my presidency as the right course of action.

And there's a fundamental philosophical debate about tax cuts: Who best can spend your money, the government or you?  And I have always sided with the people on that issue. Now, obviously, these are very difficult economic times. It's a -- when people analyze the situation, there will be a -- this problem started before my presidency. It obviously took place during my presidency.

The question facing the president is not when the problem started, but what did you do about it when you recognized the problem? And I readily concede I chunked aside some of my free market principles when I was told by chief economic advisers that the situation we were facing could be worse than the Great Depression. So I've told some of my friends who've said -- you know, who have taken an ideological position on this issue, you know, "Why'd you do what you did?"

I said, "Well, if you were sitting there and heard that the depression could be greater than the Great Depression, I hope you would act too," which I did. And we've taken extraordinary measures to deal with the frozen credit markets, which have affected the economy.  Credit spreads are beginning to shrink.  Lending is just beginning to pick up. The actions we have taken, I believe, have helped thaw the credit markets, which is the first step toward recovery. 

And so, you know, look, there's plenty of critics in this business. I understand that. And I thank you for giving me a chance to defend a record that I am going to continue to defend because I think it's a good, strong record.

More to come.

-- jpt

January 12, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (62)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

I JUST LOVE HOW SOME BLOGGERS HERE CONTINUE TO DEFEND BUSH AND CHENEY INSPITE OF THE OVERWHELMING ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE THAT CONTINUES TO COME TO LIGHT,DID BUSH KEEP THIS COUNTRY SAFE FROM TERRORIST ATTACKS BY MAKING WAR IN IRAQ??BILLIONS OF TAX PAYER DOLLARS GONE TO IRAQ,4000 BRAVE SOLDIERS DEAD,COUNTLESS IRAQI CIVILIAN NON COMBATANTS KILLED OR MAIMED,A HUGE TRANSFER OF WEALTH FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS TO THE RICH COPORATISTS,NO BID CONTRACTS FOR HALIBURTON,DOES ANYONE HERE WONDER IF BUSH AND CHENEY ARE PROFITING FROM THIS WAR IN IRAQ?? WELL I WONDER!THE LEGACY OF THE BUSH PRESIDENCY IS UNAFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE,HUGE NATIONAL DEFICIT,2 ONGOING WARS,RAPIDLY GROWING UNEMPLOYMENT AND RECORD FORCLOSURES.THESE ARE FACTS!!YET SOME PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT BUSH WAS A GOOD PRESIDENT!!???!!SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER WAKE UP!

Posted by: PAULY | Feb 15, 2009 12:20:23 AM

Bush created Iraq problem
Palwstine was an existing problem which he helped make worse
He did not inherit a recession Clinton left 450 billion on the black.

A child is born he learn to crawl walk run read write
Bush speaks like a thug nowhere near a novice young diplomat.

Posted by: Phonk | Jan 17, 2009 8:16:19 PM

this thread is the PERFECT illustration between the right and the left...the right believes the left to be merely deluded, whereas the left believes the right to be satan incarnate

Posted by: spike | Jan 14, 2009 4:14:38 PM

if you have a fair mind and logical thought:
President Bush is a good leader ,good president.He did the best he can,and he has a "super team" :Vice president Cheney is very smart and he has a lot of experiences,Chertoff,Rice... In the last 7 years,our country has been safe because his policies on battling terror, but he got a lot of blames on that policies!.Look at Israel how she dealed with Hamas or any ter rorist groups? Israel has more experirence battling terror than us! American,please wake up because "united we stand". Our nation still has a lot problems in the next four years, but if we are united, we will be ok.
with my humble heart: president Bush is a Great president,better than Clinton,Ford,Carter,Nixon...Thank president Bush and all your administration.
May God Bless President Bush,president elect Obama and our country.

Posted by: lu | Jan 13, 2009 10:06:53 PM

ABC news has deleted nearly every comment defending President Bush. Note the space between the time of this comment (about 13:05 and the previous comment, about 11:45).

Disney is biased and should lose their broad casting license.

Posted by: Hannibal Lechter | Jan 13, 2009 1:05:37 PM

Bush actually thinks he did a great job! He knew there was a recession yet his one brain cell added trillions of dollars to that initial debt... yep, you did real good George... now go play with your cows.

Posted by: couplewords | Jan 13, 2009 12:56:11 PM

The Bush legacy! How about vetoing Medicare negotiating directly with the pharmaceutical companies, they negotiate with doctors, hospitals and medical supply businesses but not with the pharmaceutical companies. So we have a failing system (Social Security) funded by our tax dollars vs two huge private entities, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Let’s see who would I vote for? Isn’t that corporate socialism? Or Bush writing an executive order putting into place his controversial "faith-based" initiative and handing over $65 billion of your tax dollars. Bush apparently thinks he is much more capable to decide who you should donate to than yourself. Or Bush “I’m for outsourcing” American jobs, these are jobs Americans don’t want. We need to try to hold on to what U.S. jobs we have and create more or there will be none!

Posted by: rickyt1234 | Jan 13, 2009 11:39:14 AM

Why doesn't George W. Bush talk about the stench that hangs over his presidency from the Alberto Gonzales term of politicizing the Dept of Justice? That is what destroyed and discredited the Bush administration.

Posted by: US Citizen | Jan 13, 2009 11:07:27 AM

It's comical to see that the loonies failed to realize that if someone like barrack were president when 9/11 happened, we'll be in worse shape than we're now and our country would be in danger of being overun by the bad guys.
Bush did a good job protecting us from the terrorists despite being constantly sabotage by the lefties. Their aid and comfort to the enemy indirectly contributed to more death of our troops, the very people they claimed to love and support. These pathetic bunch should all be on trial for treason.

Posted by: USA-No1 | Jan 13, 2009 11:07:08 AM

I hope Bush will continue to be able to duck when the shoes are thrown in Texas. At least he will be exercising his reflexes if not his mouth.

Posted by: Jane G | Jan 13, 2009 11:02:34 AM

An empty record to defend is not a difficult task ... even for Bush

Posted by: Dave | Jan 13, 2009 10:34:46 AM

What a sorry excuse for a President! I am thoroughly ashamed to be an American when we have Bush at the helm. The world has suffered so much from his idiocy! He will be remembered as one of the worst (if not THE worst) president's to ever run our country. I pray times can change with Obama - but fear that Bush has done damage that may not be repairable anytime soon! Sad and pathetic man ....

Posted by: Cheetah | Jan 13, 2009 10:20:50 AM

all these people still supporting bush should be in jail with bush and cheney. he has destroyed our economy we are hated world wide. we are 10 trillion in debt and have nothing to show for it.....republicans always bitch about democrats tax and spend,atleast when dem,s spend they spend on the american people why republicans spend on war and subsidies for the rich and big business. it will be so great to have a real human in the white house and not a demon.

Posted by: T | Jan 13, 2009 9:13:37 AM

Bush will have to defend himself pretty soon against a trial for crimes against the constitution. 70% of Americans can't be wrong. The other 30% are delusional about what Bush has done for this country. He didn't listen to the 60+% of Americans who wanted us out of Iraq. Instead, and with total arrogance, he did the exact opposite. Bush has vetoed the SCHIP program because he didn't like what was included along with it in the bill.

Posted by: Bob | Jan 13, 2009 8:44:04 AM

I'm glad Bush came out in defense of himself and his record. It's been outrageously distorted by the media. He's kept the eoonomy booming after it could have easily sunk into a deep recession after 9/11. He's kept us safe and literally had to rebuild the intelligence capabilities and Homeland security. He's kept us safe for 7 years and that alone given the circumstances has been a great accomplishment. I thank him for his dedicated, selfless service.

Posted by: Randall George
**************************************
Randall, I hate to inform you that we hae one heck of a recession right now that is most likely worse than what we might have had at that point. But according to your logic since we didn't have one "then" he's a great guy in that area? I simply don't understand you types.

Posted by: Susan | Jan 13, 2009 7:37:59 AM

This deluded retard can't step back and see what he did to the very backbone of our once great country. His constant feeding of corporate greed and letting business police itself has reallt served us well. It's a plain and simple fact, we need the regulation to protect us from corporate greed. This is what 1. Has destroyed our banking industry, (and still does. Can you believe the recent billions that was given to them that is unaccountable?)2. Our job market(Yep, let's ship all jobs to China and Mexico, our people can work at Burger King or WalMart)3. Our military weaker (this huge mistake of a war has left us an unbelievable debt to China and 4000+ of our brave soldiers and 100,000+ innocent Iraq's dead)4. Housing industry in shambles (No jobs, no mortgage payments). This absolute dreg of the earth can "hold his head high" as he leaves office? How arrogant and what a final slap in the face of the American public. Thanks for nothing numb-nuts. Can't pass the buck on this one.Just wait for the additional insider info to come out. You haven't seen more then the tip of this iceberg.

Posted by: bill1037 | Jan 13, 2009 7:02:16 AM

This was what happened when you put "Country First"....Our families, the economy, and our morals came second. GO BUSH, and take Cheney with you!

Posted by: able | Jan 13, 2009 3:49:46 AM

although i've been against Mr. Bush & the Republican "machine" for the past 8 years, i do believe that GW is not the person to blame for the past. While he is the face of the whole mess, he(as a person) isn't to blame. He's the puppet of the administration, and I feel sorry for the place he has been placed. The patsy of the party that has been tainting our nation is happily seen out, and with it comes cheer. however, let's not forget about this man as a person...a father...a husband...a human being. we may hate him for being the face of all we dislike about America today, but we can't forget that he is just like you & me. A man that makes mistakes is a normal man, and judgment should only come when the fat lady sings. let's not forget the celebration America had when Nixon died(if anyone out there can recall).

Posted by: chuck mcclude | Jan 13, 2009 3:37:34 AM

Obama will soon feel the weight of keeping 300 million Americans safe from brutal attack. Let's hope he has the medle to hold up under the intense pressure.

Posted by: ardvark1 | Jan 13, 2009 2:10:57 AM

Al Capone was proud of his record too.

Posted by: JL | Jan 13, 2009 2:08:02 AM

Next Comments »

Post a comment





 

POLITICAL VIDEOS