The nightmare of the past eight years is nearly over. Unless, of course, you count the economic hangover being left behind for all of us to deal with.
Bush gave his final press conference, no one came. He gave his farewell speech, no one cared. He leaves office with a final approval rating of 34%, up from an even more dismal 25% a mere two months ago. The increase, of course, comes courtesy of spineless farewell ass-kissing by fellow Republicans, 3/4 of whom suddenly believe he knocked it out of the park during his terms in office. How does he rank among all presidents since WWII? Third lowest approval ratings and second highest disapproval ratings according to Gallup. Given that Nixon holds the trophy in both categories, Bush is definitely in good company.
While I’m sure there will be much more to discuss about the Bush Administration as the veil of presidential secrecy is lifted by more and more of his insiders, it’s time to move on for now. There are only four more days until the change becomes official and I can’t wait. (Ok, so I could also really use a Steelers win on Sunday to start the week out right, but that’s a topic for another time and blog.)
Have to work on Inauguration Day? No problem. You can watch the historic events live right here:
Today was already not going so well and then this came across my desk. Holy roasted chestnuts, this is awful! The wars are still going, the economy is in the tank and getting worse by the minute, but Bush and Barney decide to make a 4-minute long Christmas video for us all to enjoy. How many tax payer dollars were spent on this garbage? I guarantee the cost was not commensurate with the production quality. Hell, there was probably $15,000 sunk into the poinsettias alone that appear behind Laura in her closing statement at the end of the video…a statement which, by the way, will make you ill.
And not to leave our Jewish friends out of the mix, were you lucky enough to receive an invite to the White House Hanukkah celebration, complete with a Christmas tree on the front of the card? No? Well, here you go:
The message reads that the couple “requests the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah reception,” written beneath an image of a Clydesdale horse hauling a Christmas fir along the snow-dappled drive to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
And, no, it is not a Hanukkah bush. A close look at the wagon reveals the message “White House Christmas Tree 2008.”
In the background, the White House windows are festooned with Christmas wreaths.
Did you really expect any less of this administration? Just in case you can’t go another minute without knowing what the Bush family is up to for the holidays, you can visit the official White House Holiday website.
I’m wondering how many of you are now feeling like me right now, wishing someone had thrown a shoe at your head instead.
You know you’ve done a bang up job as POTUS when, in your final days in office, a journalist is willing to go to prison for chucking his shoes at you during a press conference. I’m still looking into this, but I’m pretty sure this is the first time someone has removed their shoes and thrown them at a U.S. President. Rock stars have women throwing their panties on stage. Bush? He has people throwing their shoes at his head.
In the middle of the news conference with Mr Maliki, Iraqi television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi stood up and shouted “this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog,” before hurling a shoe at Mr Bush which narrowly missed him.
Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.
Did you see how fast Bush ducked that first throw? I’m guessing he gets a lot of practice at home with Laura.
