He did not leave soon enough - We don't care about him - American's have had it - 80% wanted him GONE -
Finally we can sigh a breath of fresh air that this incompetent damaging adminstration has ended. The last 8years were terrible for the US. Elections matter - image if Gore had not had the election stolen??Bye bush - don't ever return - even to visit - stay in Texas.Thank the Lord we have come through this - It will take 8 years to begin to overturn the mess of Bush. NO MORE BUSHES

I'm proud to say that I am one of the minority who will always be grateful for our 8 years under President Bush's leadership. While I'm happy for the peaceful transition of power from one good man to another, it was sad to see the former president leave Andrews on what was Air Force One. I spend a lot of time in Washington for work and have always been honored to drive by the White House. He brought honor and decency to the office that he so humbly held. He was dealt one of the worst hands in history and I am glad he was President during this time. While many blame him for the trials America faced, I believe we have his leadership to thank for helping America through those trials. Thank you President Bush!

"he made the best decisions that he could at times under some very difficult circumstances." Hmm lowering emission standards when the rest of the world is trying to figure out how to lower emissions, That a real difficult decisions there, to do right or wrong, and which did he choose, bah useless, maybe he can use that as his defense if your country has the balls to bring him and his merry band of henchmen to some semblance of justice.

Great article. Just the man I always knew in my heart he was. As for you Obama voters, I will respect Obama in the same manner you respected President Bush. Don't like it, tough.

This is more spewage of the bitter swill. Quit poisoning the well.

He and his ilk may be gone, but we'll be cleaning up the carnage for generations.

I believe you and Bush are both good guys, Mr. McKinnon, even if I disagree with you on a lot of fronts. What I don't understand is how Mr. Bush's good gut for people gave us Bolton, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, Feith, and so much incompetence, scandals, and catastrophe.

But I guess you're not the person to answer the questions so many are asking. You're the ad guy, a damn good one at that, and a tourist as you describe yourself. I'm happy for you that you came out unhurt from the maelstrom of the past eight years, and I admire your decision not to help McCain's campaign. Hope the last eight years were fun for you, and I wish you the best.

I only hope TDB was paid by the Bush's to insert this patronizing dribble. It may belong in someone's scrap book but not as a writing piece with real substance in TDB. File it as a celebrity piece and move on.

Nice sentiments, I'm sure the people who have lost their homes and jobs due to this regime feel great right about now. Oh, did you notice Bush wincing when upholding the Constitution was mentioned? Bush turned out to be worse than any 10 Al Qeida organizations as far as the harm that has been done to this country.
Maybe, just maybe, the US will learn the lesson of letting a radical ideology, cloaked in patriotism and religion, gain control of the levers of power.

Reflection is always the rule of the day when a president leaves office. Bush's polices were not popular and the choices (which the public does not know in detail) were not fun and still they had to be made. In the days past the election his popularity decreased quickly; that's the game. Nixon was not a popular president at the time of his departure and still he is honored and scholars reflect on his brilliance. Clinton survived a public infidelity and is revered. Bush will be honored as history becomes more than yesterday.

Thank you, Mr. McKinnon, for that tribute to George Bush, his family, and staff. I didn't always agree with everything George Bush did, but I do believe he did a lot of things right. It was nice to read a favorable article for a change.

You know im reading some of the comments here and i will never understaind peoples need to be hateful. Bush has not done the best job ever but he has done a pretty decent one. When we look back at something we all have 20/20 vision. as far as cleaning up his mess if you are refering to the war lets look at Clintons mess any one seen Black hawk down that is a true story during Clintons administration i was in the Military and we were bombing Sadam Hussan long before both wars. My point is ever president has made there mistakes let Bush's die already and move on!!!!

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I am so grateful that he was our president for the last 8 years ---- who knows what might have happened if we had someone less committed to our safety? We may soon find out. I am disgusted and sick of congress and americans ignorant to the truth and so gullible to believe the lies of mainstream media to blame all things wrong on President Bush.
Shame on those obama worshippers yesterday who demonstrated childish and hateful attitudes toward a man who did more to protect this country than you will ever know. The hysterical idolotry of obama is just startling --- all for someone who has no experience and surrounds himself without apology with people of questionable backgrounds and practices ---- I mean, a secretary treasurer who cheats on his taxes? It's laughable and scary how a lot of americans just think all this is fine, are quick to overlook the many attempts by the bush administration to oversee and audit fannie and freddie and congress' strong stand to prevent it ---- but it's all bush's fault?
How many millionaires were made during the years 2002-2006? Too bad many didn't sit on some of that wealth.

Shame on you people that does have the integrity or maners to disagree with someone in the right way. People might even listen to you if you did. Hazel

I can't believe all the harsh comments towards President Bush. He did the best he could during times that were unthinkable in America's eyes. I would hate to see where our country would be if Bush had not taken action after 911. You cannot back down and hope for PEACE when terrorists are in our country. As for the economy, if a democratic president had been in office we would still be where we are at now. Bush was a loyal and honest man who always stood by his beliefs whether we agreed or not. Do you people really think that everyone is going to agree with our new president? No, I am sure there will be many disappointed with his decisions. I just hope and pray that the United States does not focus on him being the 1st Black President sooooo much. If color is not an issue then why make a huge deal about it. That in itself will cause many problems if it continues as it has been. President Bush was there for 8 eight years he obviously won America's heart by staying there that long. As many of the military said and I agree, we will give our new president a chance and see how his decisions play out. WITH MANY THANKS TO PRESIDENT BUSH!!!!!!!!!

This is a fascinating, newsworthy, and revealing post.

Gonzales was on the plane? That alone is amazing, and speaks volumes.

Thanks for this reporting. Ignore the shite-spitters, they're already in withdrawal from BDS.

Anyone here heard of the phrase "gracious winners"? I think the Obama's have, infact, wasn't that the theme of his speech? Let it go......live for today, correct past mistakes and take this country on a successful journey for at least 4 years.

Bushbashers. Safety comes at a price.
He was not trying to be popular.
Wait until he can explain his side.
The economy is from nationwide greed.
ProBushers:Keep your head high.
Do not be surprised if bad things are uncovered.

George Bush is going to go down as one of the best Presidents America has ever had. Wait and see. Your "messiah" Obama is going to figure that out. The perfect storm that was the order of the Bush presidency will treat Bush kindly some day. It is easy for liberals to point a finger and blame a scape goat when they think only Democrats can do no wrong. The truth is, the dems are like tornados, they blow through town leaving a mess in their wake and then blame the Republicans for the mess and leave Republicans to clean it up. Dishonesty is thier operating mode....(Clinton,Carter) So you may boo and cuss and whine about G.W. but at least he was honest and did the best he could. History will speak kindly of him.

W. has always been a "good guy", one you could hoist a brewski with. The problem, though, was that he approached the job of President as a corporate CEO.

His method for dealing with legislation, for example, was to take the position that if a bill made it through the sifting process of the House and Senate, he would rubber stamp it.

Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove, however, were personalities of entirely different compositions. Cheney was blatently lining his pockets with the spoils of war, and Rove has no morality beyond doing anything and everything to gain political leverage.

Now, however, we have a real President, a leader who inspires hope in the collective American heart. The love and adoration that this new leader inspires is made all the more poignant because of the close call our society had with losing everything.

I feared at a point several years ago that we would never have another free election in this country. Back during the time when our civil liberties were being systematically stolen by what appeared to be a criminal cartel, it was truly a time of darkness. That my supposition was wrong only gives a feeling of relief.

Now, however, that relief has been supplanted by a feeling of hope for the future. The very idea that ideals may still have a place in the American political realm is refreshing indeed!

So, GO President Obama! Lead us back into believing in our country once again!!!

Ugh. All you can do us look at the bad and not the good he has done in office. He liberated 50 million people. But thats not good enough. He kept America safe for the last 7 years. But thats not good enough. He brought the most help to Africa's AIDS problem than any other president, but thats not good enough. You all want to dwell on your sorry state of affairs. You think the world revolves around you. Well, sorry to say, there are others in the world along for the ride and President Bush did his best to help. Its too bad we cant help everyone but we can help some. And thats what he did. You lost your job? Get off your lazy butt and find another one. Sure he did some things wrong but dont lay the blame of the current economy on him. Lay it at the feet of Frank and his cohorts and the lending institutions who gave out loans to folks with no jobs. Yea, good one.

Anyhow, Im sure none of you care what i think and I certainly dont care that you dont. I for one am sorry to see him go. He is a great man, I wish him the best and I with President Obama the best as well.

I won't attempt to defend any of Bush's policies for I disagree with many of them too. I will defend him as a person. I know him. He's gracious and caring and much more intelligent than many people give him credit for. If President Obama can survive four to eight years and retain as much of 'self' as George Bush has, then he'll be all the great for it.

I'm amazed how little many Americans understand what has happened. More, how little people know of how things really work in our society.
The comment of 'gut feel for people' was ill chosen by Mr. McKinnon. George W. did stick by friends too long for his own good and the countries.
But, He did well as history will prove.
Enjoy your respite Mr. President George W. Bush.

"His gut tells him Obama has what it takes to be a successful leader. Not yet tested. Not yet proved he is willing to make difficult and unpopular decisions. But the potential is clearly there."
-anytime i hear about Bush's "gut" feeling, i begin to worry....
this bodes ill for Obama(laughing)

And hopefully the rabid left will now end their acrimony over losing the 2000 election even though Gore tried to steal it very much like Franken is attempting to do in Michigan. Never in my life have I ever seen a man so demeaned by a group of ingrates who have no respect for the Oath of Office George Bush took to protect and defend the constitution and this country. As he said, he was happy everyone went back to their lives after 9/11. Unfortunately he could not. The only thing that made sense to me in Obama's Inaugural speech was a message to the terrorists. He used their own words to let them know "we will out last you". It was a message that i'm sure the little rabid ingrates did not pick up. History will be much kinder to Mr. Bush. I'm not sure how history will view a man who is all things to all people, who is and will be a "tabula rasa" - where upon all who want change can posit their ideas onto this blank slate. The only change in this change episode was Obama. Now let's see what his platform reveals. We either remain one nation under God or become another France.