Bush’s TV Farewell

Set your TiVos: President Bush will offer a formal farewell to America on Thursday night at 8. His televised address, before an audience in the East Wing of the White House, will be his last public appearance before Obama’s inauguration. While heartfelt reflection has been the customary theme of presidential farewell speeches, don’t expect Bush to drop to his knees in self-reproach. At a press conference this morning, he said some parts of the Iraq war “didn’t go according to plan,” but he assured the public that America’s reputation abroad is still strong. According to White House press secretary Dana Perino, the president will talk at length about the challenges facing the nation and the Obama administration, and he’ll likely impart some wisdom to the president-elect (like how to ignore your critics).