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Bush and Obama Ring in 2009
January 01, 2009 4:48 PM
ABC News' Kirit Radia and Sunlen Miller Report: If President Bush's New Year's plans were any indication, it appears the outgoing commander-in-chief is more eager to look ahead than to dwell on what's behind.
The president rang in the New Year this morning with an early morning walk around the lake on his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
"It's been a tradition they've had for I think for almost their entire presidency down here –- they've woken up and gone for a sunrise walk on the ranch," said deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe on New Year's Eve.
"I think he's more likely to be an early riser for the first of the New Year rather than to see the old year -- to see the old year out," he added.
Both the outgoing and ingoing presidents rang in 2009 with low-key family gatherings on Wednesday night as they gear up for the official transition of power on Jan. 20.
President Bush spent New Year's Eve with family and friends at the ranch while President-elect Barack Obama wrapped up his Hawaii vacation by spending the evening with family and friends at his beach vacation home in Kailua.
Like Bush, Obama was also early to rise on New Year's Day with a morning trip to the gym.
Both men return home today. Bush comes back to Washington, D.C. as the Obamas fly back to Chicago. The Obama family moves to the nation's capital this weekend and their daughters begin at their new school on Monday.
Come Jan. 20, the Bushes will return to Texas.
"I think this has been a place where they've been able to get away from it a little bit," Johndroe said. "And I think that they look forward to coming back to Texas in just less than three weeks."
January 1, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (44)
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i am shocked bush didnt party he has done what he set out to do totally destroy the working class and the poor and make his riech buddies even richer. oh did i say riech oh yes i did. must be when i see bush i think off hitler
Posted by: T | Jan 1, 2009 5:45:17 PM
This will be the longest 3 weeks of my life!
Posted by: OverBush4Good | Jan 1, 2009 6:07:32 PM
Within 3 months of Obama/CLINTON administration people are going to wish Pres. Bush was back.!!!!
Posted by: CW | Jan 1, 2009 6:18:40 PM
cw--- no we wont i would rather have charles manson or even hitler if he came back to life before i would ever want the disaster bush back....and obama will be great because he will be working for we the people not the rich and huge corpaaration like bush has
Posted by: T | Jan 1, 2009 6:29:58 PM
Obama will be working for all the crooks and his buddies those of you who think otherwise are in for a huge slap in the face.....just sayin.
Posted by: Hawaii | Jan 1, 2009 7:03:19 PM
hawaii---just like bush worked for all his crooked rich buddies. but atleast obama will do something for the working class once in awhile,where as bush ahs done everything he can to destroy the working class
Posted by: T | Jan 1, 2009 7:09:34 PM
Why does he have to come back to Texas?
Posted by: Thinking | Jan 1, 2009 7:21:16 PM
We have had 8 years to see close up what Bush would do. We haven't yet had a chance to see what Obama will do. I image all those who are convinced Obama will be a disaster, and those who think he will save mankind will all be disappointed. However, I do predict that at the end of his presidency we will be much less eager to get rid of him than Bush. Let wait and see and hope for the best.
Posted by: factscount | Jan 1, 2009 7:30:31 PM
Who says Obama will be working for all his rich buddies? Unlike Bush, Obama wasn't mentored by any "rich buddies". He worked up to where he is the old-fashioned way. Even, if "working for his rich buddies" were true, he's earned the opportunity to show us what he will do and that is why he has been voted into the Presidency.
Posted by: OverBush4Good | Jan 1, 2009 7:39:46 PM
Liberals still can not spell, educated my ass!
Posted by: John | Jan 1, 2009 7:48:41 PM
Obama is part of the "PAY TO PLAY" politics of Chicago. That's how he got where he is today. Emanuele, Blago, Jessie Jackson Jr.,William Ayers, Rev. Wright. Need I say more ?? Obama is as crooked as Blago.!!LOL
Posted by: CW | Jan 1, 2009 8:14:27 PM
Obama wasn't mentored by the rich but he was mentored by "local terrorists".
Posted by: Cj | Jan 1, 2009 8:15:51 PM
Obama wasn't mentored by the rich but he was mentored by "local terrorists".
Posted by: Cj | Jan 1, 2009 8:15:53 PM
john-----shut the f-up. i am so sick of you hatefull nasty republicans. i dont believe in violence but most republicans should get there a**es kicked just for being republicans.
Posted by: T | Jan 1, 2009 8:17:12 PM
Obama is part of the "PAY TO PLAY" politics of Chicago. That's how he got where he is today. Emanuele, Blago, Jessie Jackson Jr.,William Ayers, Rev. Wright. Need I say more ?? Obama is as crooked as Blago.!!LOL
Posted by: CW | Jan 1, 2009 8:18:59 PM
John, that may be the case on the first response above (liberal spelling), but that's an exception to the general rule here. "Cannot" is normally one word, by the way. I encourage you to look at any blog or story here that deals with politics and under which people write their comments and reveal their political leanings. It is always astonishing to me and my writing/writing instructor colleagues just what a big difference there is in the literacy levels here between liberals (more literate) and conservatives (markedly less). This is not a reflection of general right-vs.-left literacy elsewhere. At least I pray it's not. I suspect that perhaps the most educated and literate conservatives are simply posting elsewhere. You can definitely see this for yourself, though, if you read through the story responses and note political leanings in conjunction with literacy. We've done survey after survey to test it. It's frightening.
On the topic of this story, we in the Dallas area are dreading President Bush's return when he does that in three weeks. We've already been told there will be bad traffic tie-ups whenever he goes out to go someplace!
Posted by: Kellybelle22 | Jan 1, 2009 8:27:11 PM
What kind of news is this? Obama and Bush get up early.. What time does St. Obama have a bowel movement?
Posted by: CW | Jan 1, 2009 8:28:27 PM
History will treat Bush well but PEBO not so much! :)
Posted by: aware2u | Jan 1, 2009 8:41:02 PM
I understand how you feel about Obama; I felt the same way when Bush took office 8 years ago! LOL
Posted by: liz | Jan 1, 2009 8:41:19 PM
The stupid irrelevant comment are a reflection of your own lack of ability to see what is, that even in small things there is always an element that is wonderful about life.
The simple things, everyday action, little smile or a goodmorning from someone walking on your path.
A reflection of America best and brightest moment in the history of this country...to elect a brilliant and capable leader at the time we need it most.Dedicated, hard working and well prepared to make decisions and most of all he came along at just the right time.God bless him and his family for wanting to take this job.
And I was a republican but unfortunately if you do not live up to your own agenda you have no credibility.
My allegiance is to the country not a party, and the best man won.
Posted by: lee | Jan 1, 2009 8:50:56 PM
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