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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)
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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 | Jan 13, 2009 2:07:37 AM
Yes, Bush su---d as a President. So true. And I voted against him twice and I am as glad as anyone to see him go. But I am also a realist, and I just hope there are enough anti-depressants to go around when this country realizes Obama is not the second coming of Christ.
Posted by: Melanie | Jan 13, 2009 1:35:20 AM
""Obama taking a Hawaiian vacation."
It is where he was BORN, for God's sake! So you would criticize him for going home for a vacation, which included a memorial for his Grandma who had still lived there?
"
What are you objecting to? It was obviously a vacation according to Political Punch. It obviously took place at a $9 million beach house. And its also obvious that Obama left town and then released a questionable report on his staff's interactions with Blago. And it is also a fact that no one ever followed up with him about the story that Craig put out.
Those are all facts.
The press let him get away with his document dump.
Posted by: bertiew | Jan 12, 2009 11:28:39 PM
"Country first:
Thank President Bush,you are a great president, you had the good policies on "battling terror'
God bless you and America.
Posted by: l love America | Jan 12, 2009 11:20:05 PM
Thank President Bush,History will reconize your hard working president.you are a good president, good leader, humble man, did not compromise the principles and alway acting : "Country first".God bless you.
Posted by: lu | Jan 12, 2009 11:11:37 PM
It is almost time to shave that Bush. WORST.PRES.EVER.
Posted by: Phil the machinist | Jan 12, 2009 10:59:20 PM
In other words, the pathetic, deluded little man continued to blow smoke at the Ameican people -- i.e. the president with the lowest job creation rate since Herbert Hoover tries to take credit for "52 months of uninterrupted job growth -- and the corporate hacks sat there and ate it up.
This would be different from the past eight years how?
Posted by: Peter Principle | Jan 12, 2009 8:46:27 PM
Funny how Bush supporters say anyone who critizes Bush is hateful! Bush was the Worst President by far! Fact! It will take decades to undo all the damage Bush has done. Thank God Rightwingers are a dying breed. No wonder why the world dislikes American rightwingers!
Posted by: AJ | Jan 12, 2009 7:32:43 PM
I am actually giddy right now.
really I am.
pinch me. please.
This nightmare is actually OVER.
Posted by: Omentum | Jan 12, 2009 6:43:20 PM
Patriot I don't think you're quite getting this economic situation. Here, this should help. At some point you'd think one of you would ask yourselves if it's all some democratic created problem (they did contribute) why it was after 9/11 that the real trouble began??? "Bush and his aides are quick to point out that they oversaw 52 straight months of job growth in the middle of this decade, and that the economy expanded at a steady clip from 2003 to 2007. But economists, including some former advisers to Bush, say it increasingly looks as if the nation's economic expansion was driven to a large degree by the interrelated booms in the housing market, consumer spending and financial markets. Those booms, which the Bush administration encouraged with the idea of an "ownership society," have proved unsustainable."..... By the way? What's with bragging that "you attempted" something. You either get results or you don't.
Posted by: Susan | Jan 12, 2009 5:24:54 PM
willialm j lepeto-----very true the republican just love cutting down on obama for going to hawaii for his grandma,s memorial, and for the holidays,but they were ok taht bush was on vacation for a big part of crisis in new orleans,and well for almost 8 years really. evil republicans.
Posted by: T | Jan 12, 2009 5:05:48 PM
"Obama taking a Hawaiian vacation."
It is where he was BORN, for God's sake! So you would criticize him for going home for a vacation, which included a memorial for his Grandma who had still lived there?
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | Jan 12, 2009 4:45:24 PM
President Bush, September 13, 2005: "Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government," Bush said at joint White House news conference with the president of Iraq.
"To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said.......... Yet today he said they made no mistakes?
Posted by: Susan | Jan 12, 2009 4:31:09 PM
"Bertie, You're the one showing hate. Of course, Obama will state "so help me God" without reservations. For ne, he's a Christian and will undoubtedly say those words..."
Where am I showing hate? Because I point it out when you 'progressive' do it?
A commons theme seems to be:
- dont like tax cuts, unless Obama is doing it
- dont like bombing other countries, unless it Clinton doing it
- dont like haters, unless you are the ones doing the hating
- dont like budget deficits- unless its Obama's turn to run them up
- dont like draft dodgers running the military in war time- unless its Obama
- dont like the culture of corruption; unless its your guys getting named with gift cards and freezers of cash. Then its unfair prosecutions.
- dont like politicians ducking press questions. Unless its Obama taking a Hawaiian vacation and the press forgetting all about his ties to a certain Lego character.
Its quite ironic when when someone says "thank goodness my guy isnt hateful- unlike those puppy hating nazis!"
I pointed out the "So help me God" thing because 'progressives' lost control of their bowels when Rick Warren got chosen to give the invocation. I personally think its a good thing. But 'progressives' took Warren's post as an opportunity to spew their anti-religious venom.
Posted by: BertieW | Jan 12, 2009 4:19:24 PM
fake "T"------ the democrats won by a landslide the last two elctions now. why? because the republicans have screw up so bad.
Posted by: T | Jan 12, 2009 3:54:40 PM
bellstar-----sour grapes taste bad... your evil empire republicans lost because they failed horribly and have brougt america to its knees. so instead of saying yes the republicans screwed america you just cut down obama and wish him ill.....taht is why your party lost becuase all the hate and nasty words coming from republicans.
Posted by: T | Jan 12, 2009 3:38:40 PM
Liberal only report the news. Its conservative that write HISTORY BOOKS.
SNUB that Liberal Democrats
Posted by: pet hound | Jan 12, 2009 3:36:43 PM
granstwin----you must live is a different america then the other 75% of use because in our country the economy is destroyed we are hated world wide and are now 10 trillion in debt..... oh yes thank you bush for all the terrible things you have done,honestly you did us democrats a very big favor mad eit possible for us eto take control of the whole gov. so we can finnaly get back to prosperity.
Posted by: T | Jan 12, 2009 3:35:40 PM
where is my post
Posted by: T | Jan 12, 2009 3:31:29 PM
God Bless George Bush for making the tough decisions that kept our country safe. Thanks for standing up to all your critics that opposed you and standing true to your beliefs. I agree that history will prove that he did the right thing by getting rid of Saddium Hussein. He was a monster and responsible for killing many innocent people. Thank you President and Mrs. Bush for bringing a new set of moral standards to the White House that we all can be proud of. I wish them both good health and happiness in their new private life and will truly miss them.
Posted by: granstwins | Jan 12, 2009 3:14:44 PM
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