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Bush On Obama and Personal Regrets

November 11, 2008 7:03 PM

ABC's Jennifer Duck reports:

President Bush was reflective and quite candid after a Veterans Day ceremony aboard the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

The president was asked by CNN's Heidi Collins about his private meeting with President-elect Barack Obama yesterday in the Oval Office but he was reluctant to divulge the details.

"We had a good conversation. I was very pleased," Bush said.  "I remember the conversation I had with my predecessor Bill Clinton, as a matter of fact called him yesterday and said, Bill, I'm getting ready to meet with the new president and I remember how gracious you were to me. I hope I can be as gracious to President-elect Obama as you were to me."

On the historical significance of the election, Bush said, "There are a lot of people in America who did not believe they would ever see this day. It is good for our country that people have hope in the system and feel vested in the future and President-elect Obama has a great opportunity. I really do wish him all the best. I am just as American as he is American and it is good for our country that the president succeeds."

President Bush, also a father of two daughters, talked adoringly about the president-elect being a family man who showed great compassion and concern about how his girls Sasha and Malia will get along in the White House.

Rarely one to lay out his regrets, President Bush owned up to a few missteps during his presidency.

"I regret saying some things I shouldn't have said," Bush explained.  "Like dead or alive, or bring 'em on. And by the way my wife reminded me president of the United States you better be careful what you say. I was trying to convey a message. I could have conveyed it more artfully. Being on this ship reminds me of when I went to the USS Abraham Lincoln and they had a sign that said Mission Accomplished. I regret - that sign was there. "

The president first told ABC's Martha Raddatz in April he would write a book after he leaves office and today he elaborated on the topic saying he wants people to know "what its like to make some of the decisions I had to make."

"I've had one of these presidencies where I had to make some tough calls. I want people to know the truth about what it was like sitting in the oval office but it's going take a lot of thought and a lot of work to get it out and it will be an interesting project," Bush explained.

Bittersweet, the president explained what lies ahead post-Inauguration Day.  "I'm not sure what to expect. I know I'll miss certain things about the presidency, I also know I'm looking forward to getting home so I've got mixed emotions."

November 11, 2008 in President 44 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (17)

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How sad that Bush's regrets center around messaging, not the substance of decisions that resulted in tragic loss of life. Not a word about Katrina. It's always wonderful to see people growing and learning from their mistakes at any stage in life--but this is not one of those times.

Posted by: lee | Nov 11, 2008 7:39:54 PM

WOW!!!

I have respect for all presidents. Not an easy job!

Posted by: Christian Nation | Nov 11, 2008 7:41:04 PM

If it were not for the flawed info about Iraq and nuclear weapons, Bush would be going out as one of the greatest presidents. It's hard to be the leader of the best country in the world. But one thing he did do is keep us safe. Bush, along with all of us, were blind-sided by 9/11. But he vowed we would not be attacked again and we haven't thanks to our excellent military.

Obama is getting ready to tear it all down. Let all the terrorist out, cut defense by 25%, pull us out of Iraq and leave them, and the U.S. vulnerable to an Iranian takeover.

If we get attacked again because of Obama's policies, he'll just blame Bush.

Posted by: S Adams | Nov 11, 2008 10:23:23 PM

Bush will never admit he is the worst president ever. His mistakes and the Republicans cost them plenty. At least it got Obama elected and the Democrat majority. At least he was good for something.

Posted by: Steve | Nov 11, 2008 10:28:16 PM

S Adams - What about Katrina? Dependence on oil making terrorist rich? Bush failed on these and everything else he tried to do. Your just like all the other Bush followers who choose to forget about all the other stupid things Bush did, blinded by some imaginary "terror" threat. Time proved your people wrong plus the majority vote proved you wrong. Get used to it.

Posted by: Steve | Nov 11, 2008 10:34:40 PM

Re: 'Katrina'
It was Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco's fault for not asking for federal troops immediately. She just waited and waited.

It was HER job to give the 'go ahead'.
That's how it all works here in the USA.

Gov. Blanco did not run for a second term, because she knew she could not win.
We elected Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Already, we can see a world of difference. Thank goodness.

Ray Nagin, Democratic Mayor of New Orleans also acted spastic. It was his job to implement an evacuation plan.
He had no food or water for the people in the Super Dome. He had no transportation. He had nothing implemented. And spastic Blanco would not ask for federal troops to move in quickly.

However, New Orleans being New Orleans, again elected that idiot, Democrat RayNagin. People in New Orleans would rather suffer than blame
Democratic politicians: Kathleen Blanco and Ray Nagin. Well, there you go.

Posted by: Nagin and Blanco's Disaster | Nov 12, 2008 3:59:27 PM

Re: Oil
Presidents have been talking about being 'free' from foreign oil for many many years. This includes both republican and democratic presidents.
So, there you go. The facts get in some people's way AGAIN.

Re: 'imaginary terror attacks'
Did we all imagine September llth?
Did we all imagine Ahmandinejad's speech at the United Nations regarding how he wants America and Israel to be wiped out?
Did we imagine how Chavez and Russia are co-operating with each other?
Did we imagine the Taliban? Al Qaeda?
Are they all just a bunch of misunderstood souls?

Those darn facts, huh?

Posted by: Imagine that | Nov 12, 2008 4:10:09 PM

Our Republic was attacked on 911 and well defended after it through a strong policy executed by a President who would not let this happen again with the grace of God.

Unfortunately, he could not hold off domestic terrorists who prefer to use the Constitution as toilet paper instead of revering it as a document containing a set of ideals that founded this Country to be the God fearing and God blessed nation it once was.

You had to know that it was only a matter of time that gross Constitutional negligence would creep into Government when you remove the fear of God from the free exercise of moral restraint.

With respect to the office of the President, the same people that called President Bush -Hitler are now heralding Barack Obama as the savior of the world.

I dare say President Bush and Clinton talked quite candid about the PE Obama and I dare say that both express some deep concern for the country in the hands of a new 'Ruler' who examines the quest for world peace before the Constitutional integrity of our Republic.

God help us.

Posted by: Wes Hazlett | Nov 12, 2008 6:43:29 PM

President Bush did an excellent job in protecting Americans. Job well done.
-and that's the bottom line-


Posted by: Imagine that | Nov 12, 2008 7:09:11 PM

Was Bush a perfect President, no, but thank God he took the steps necessary from being attacked again after 9/11/01. He and his administration are doing the right thing in reaching out to Pres-elect Obama with all of the information to keep us safe. He is being very gracious to Obama and his family, also, there won't be shenanigans in the WH like there were after Bill Clinton left the WH and took furniture with him, etc.

Posted by: smc341 | Nov 13, 2008 12:24:17 AM

Bush leaves office with a disapproval rating of 70%, the worst of any modern President, including Nixon.

Out of the small faction who still approve of Bush are an even smaller faction who seem to hate the rest of the United States.

Wes Hazlett posting @ Nov 12, 2008 6:43:29 PM, for example, chooses to insult the majority of Americans who voted for Barack Obama and the millions of others who, being loyal Americans, also support our President even though they voted otherwise.

The Wes Hazletts of the world will continue to tear the country appart. I think such a person hates freedom and liberty. I doubt he has much understanding of the U.S. Constitution, which protects him as well as the millions of good and decent Americans whom he hates and attempts to verbally terrorize.

Posted by: Citizen of Chicago | Nov 13, 2008 1:08:41 AM

Hate to tell you, ImagineThat, but the United States was not founded by Christians. And not everybody who lives here is a "god-fearing" American.

God will not save this nation- the people will.

Posted by: Moredena | Nov 13, 2008 7:13:13 AM

The world will not miss Bush. He has caused pain to so many people in the world. In Iraq, there mothers without their children, there childrens without their parents, there is no family in Iraq has not been affected in his war he created. Not to forget the American and British who died in this war, they left behind children, wifes, husbands and family. Bush and Blair, if the justice system was fair in this world they should have been taken to the International Court for committing crime against humanity, but I suppose these courts are for third world presidents.History will judge them.

Posted by: Grace Matata | Nov 13, 2008 10:24:13 AM

Why can't you back stabbing people of our President realise he had a democratic party vetoing everything he tried to do. Why don't you check facts on the mess we are in now because of democrats in congress. No you have to always blame anyone but them. Now you don't have Bush to blame. Good luck with your mean spirit against our new President.

Posted by: koifish | Nov 13, 2008 10:43:08 AM

Clinton's policies and his lack of action lead to 9/11. If Gore would have been president, America would have looked like cowards. Democrats are only violent towards other Americans, otherwise they are considered by the rest of the world as generally wimpy.

Posted by: Natasha | Nov 13, 2008 1:39:30 PM

Bush Junior was incapable of protecting the country from attack on 9-11-2001. He was a tool for Cheney, Rumsfeld, and other leftovers of the Richard Nixon era and invaded Iraq because of the strategic resources there. This episode of shame has cost the United States much of our good reputation in the world, at tragic cost to loyal American military families.

Instead of extinguishing terrorism, Bush's hostility increased pain and disorder in the world, leading to greater risk of terrorism by increasing their support and ability to recruit. Bush's approach to fighting fire was to pour gasoline on the fire.

Meanwhile, Haliburton and other war industries made great profits, those of us who are well off got great tax cuts, but the national economy failed anyway, despite the "voodoo economics".

The Bush years accomplished nothing in dealing with the most urgent questions of 21st century civilization: what will power the world as oil is used up, how will humanity survive the changes we make in the environment, and how will nations ensure liberty, justice, and peace in the world.

Bush junior found these questions "above his pay-grade" Unfortunately, Bush took the office of President and the duty to handle these questions. He failed.

Posted by: Citizen of Chicago | Nov 13, 2008 5:57:06 PM

smc341...

The Constitution cannot protect America from the wrath of God for our grave sins of murder of the unborn, abominable socially acceptable practices, greed, vanities, and our nation's ultimate rejection of truth.

You err in that you presuppose that I have no understanding in the Constitution when I know the intent of the Constitution was to reflect the grace of God on a free people.

Call me what you want sir or madame but I put my real name down because I am not afraid to tell the world that I am a bought and paid for God fearing Christian.

So now, I ask you, what do you think of Jesus the Christ? Do you want to be saved? Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and accept Him as Lord God your Savior and you will be saved from the wrath to come.

I care for the lost too much and fear the wrath of God Almighty too much to not tell you the truth.

Do you know that when Christ comes back to judge the world an Angel will loudly call out to the birds of the air to eat the dead bodies of those that rejected Him?

It is called the supper of the great God and you can read this in Revelation 19:17.

You do not want to be there do you?

Posted by: Wes Hazlett | Nov 14, 2008 3:33:51 PM

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