Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush wave to the crowd during a "Welcome Home" rally, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Midland, Texas.
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Obama’s inauguration
Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009 — the first African-American elected to the position. Many locals will make the trip to Washington, D.C., to watch the historic event. Others will watch from here in Kansas.
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Midland, Texas — Waving cardboard red, white and blue “W”s, thousands welcomed George W. Bush and his wife on Tuesday to their post-presidential home in Texas.
“The presidency was a joyous experience, but as great as it was, nothing compares with Texas at sunset,” Bush said to cheers from the crowd of about 25,000 as former first lady Laura Bush stood at his side. “Tonight I have the privilege of saying six words that I have been waiting to say for a while — it is good to be home.”
In the hours leading up to his return, excerpts of some of Bush’s speeches played on a large TV screen, including remarks he made to Congress shortly after the terrorist attacks in 2001. Among the state officials who attended was Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who took over after Bush became president.
One little boy waved a sign that read, “President Bush, thank you for keeping me safe” in multicolored lettering.
Bush spoke about the challenges he had faced as the 43rd president. He said that even during some of his most difficult days as president, he “was always optimistic about the future.”
He lauded those who helped throughout his presidency.
“People came to Washington, D.C., not to serve George W. Bush, not to serve a political party, but they came because they wanted to serve the United States of America, and they did a fabulous job,” he said.
With Bush at the rally were Karl Rove, former White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others from his administration.
Bush defended decisions he said some thought unwise.
“I never took an opinion poll to tell me what to think,” he said. “And I’m coming home with my head held high and a sense of accomplishment.”
Jan Rhodes, a school teacher in Midland, was on hand when Bush left Midland eight years ago for his inauguration as president. She was back Tuesday.
“We watched for eight years and we’re proud of how he served us and how he represented Midland,” she said.
“It’s a special day, but it’s a sad day,” said Dudley Winn, a cotton farmer who drove two hours from Lubbock to greet Bush. “He did the job we asked him to do. He kept our values safe.”
While Bush was born in New Haven, Conn., he spent his childhood in Midland. He returned there as an adult in the 1970s and met the future first lady, who grew up there.
After the Midland rally, the Bushes flew to Waco where about 3,000 friends and supporters, bundled up against 40-degree temperatures, greeted them at the airfield. Dozens of children sat on their parents’ shoulders to get a glimpse of Bush.
“I am grateful for my friends in Texas. I am grateful that you all came out tonight, and I am thankful for having had the chance to serve our great nation for eight years,” Bush told the crowd.
From Waco, the Bushes were headed to their 1,600-acre ranch in nearby Crawford where Bush said he would look in the mirror and “be proud of what I see.”
Comments
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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
A celebration of arrogant cluelessness by the eternally clueless.
75x55 (anonymous) says…
The Emperor feels your hate...... You two are so classy.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Where did I express any hate, 75x55? And who is the emperor?
autie (anonymous) says…
at least back in Texas, people will understand what he says when he talks.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"at least back in Texas, people will understand what he says when he talks."Now that's a scary thought.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
I am also very pleased that Bush is back in texas.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
bozo, the bush hate thing is getting old and regarding the clueless comment, same could be said for the Obama lovefest. Time will tell, demos are in charge, let's see what they can do.
Trobs (anonymous) says…
So fast to condemn a man. A man who held the hardest and most stressful job in the world.Do I agree with everything he did? No. Will I burn him at the stake for doing things I didn't like? No. Let the man enjoy his break. Anyone who takes the office of president deserves that much.
50YearResident (anonymous) says…
Nobody could be more happy than me that he went home!!!!
cthulhu_4_president (anonymous) says…
Sometimes Tom's comments are actually factual, sometimes they're humerous, sometimes they're moronic. This one, unfortunately, is the last two.Just because someone is true to their ideals doesn't make them smart, or a good leader. What an idiotic statement to make. The 9/11 hijackers were pretty true to their ideals, you know. But you are correct that the hijackers committment to their ideals did upset the left, but the obviously upset the right also, judging by the state of perpetual war we've been in for the last 5 years.==="Will BO be just another typical Democrat who has his advisors study public opinion before he makes a move? Looks like it."==Gosh yes, I've seen the light. The barbaric practice of gauging public opinion must be stopped. Heaven forbid a leader finds out how policy will affect the people that he's leading.
Akreed (anonymous) says…
"...and time has told all we need to know about dubya's two terms"Really? 1 day after the two terms ended time has made the determination? You obviously have no clue what the phrase time will tell means.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Anyone who thinks that "time" is going to rehabilitate the disaster of BushCo needs to get beyond their wishful thinking.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Time will tell. George W. Bush Avenue through baghdad will be lined with homes of the prosperous. Iraqis will demand that the GWB presidential library be moved to Baghdad. A free and democratic Iraq will have transformed the muslim middle east such that Jordan, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Arabian peninsula states, Egypt, Libya and Algeria have become free, prosperous democracies and all cooperate with one another and the USA to continue to build democracy and freedom across the world.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"4 President, glad to see you can compare the 9/11 hijackers to an American president. Funny. Moronic."Yea, Bush is responsible for the destruction of entire countries, not just a couple of big buildings, and the deaths of hundreds of times as many innocent civilians.
Akreed (anonymous) says…
Anyone who thinks they can predict how future generations will view current/recent events needs to get over themselves.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
You're right, Akreed-- we could, as a species, devolve back into chimpanzees.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Tom is well ahead of the rest of us in the great devolution that will rehab Bush.
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cthulhu_4_president (anonymous) says…
tjhoop: A noble effort, but it's impossible to gain the moral high ground when we're all standing in the mud.
saoirseglen (anonymous) says…
I teach people to hunt and use firearms. I also teach students self-defense training.I also share knowledge in how to grow gardens and share my knowledge about self-reliant and self-sufficient living.I don't believe that Obama can do anything to help us. I believe that individuals have to help themselves and elect of their own volition to help others as they see fit. Each person has their own ability and skills that can help others. I don't rate one such ability or skill above another nor rate one a better use of time and effort. Infinite diversity of willingly, voluntarily helping others in infinite combinations of such people working together can make changes. We don't all have to do the same thing to improve our community and selves.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
You make some good points, tjhoops, and I hope Obama puts most of his efforts into moving us forward rather than looking backwards. I'll certainly try to do my part.Nevertheless, Bush wasn't just a bad president, he was downright criminal, as were many of the top members of his administration and party. I think we, as a country, need to make a clear statement, whatever form that takes, that that is not acceptable; otherwise, future administrations, democrat, republican, whatever, will see themselves as entitled to act similarly.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
Time out Bush haters, a message from President Obama:"In the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things."
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Holding public officials accountable for their misdeeds is not a "childish thing."
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"but what I am saying, is instead of bashing Obama and putting him under a glass,"I certainly haven't been bashing Obama. In fact, I think he's a tremendous improvement over Bush. Nevertheless, Obama shouldn't be immune to criticism.
tunahelper (anonymous) says…
jimmy peanut brain carter and slick willie were a million times worst than George W. Bush.carter was (and is) a total idiot, kinda like slick willie who sold all the missle technology to the chinese commies. carter and slick willie should be tried for treason.I have complete confidence that nobama will frak things up for sure and the Republicans will get Congress back in 2010.
75x55 (anonymous) says…
Who will the haters hate when the hated are gone?
JHOK32 (anonymous) says…
Thank God & Greyhound Bush is finally gone!! He left Obama the biggest financial mess this country has seen since the great depression, the stock market is down 40%, he has killed 4000 of our kids so Exxon & Cheney's buddies can steal Iraq's oil & make more millions of dollars. His big bank buddies have thrown a million people out of their homes, 40 million Americans with no health insurance, unemployment lines in every state, state budgets wrecked, then after leaving this incredible historic trail of destruction, he moves into a new $2 million dollar house and we pay him $400,000 a year for the rest of his life for destroying our country. Yes, he was a great man! We need a couple more dozen just like him!
witchfindergeneral (anonymous) says…
The idiot has returned to his village.
witchfindergeneral (anonymous) says…
Projecting your insecurities, Pilgrim2? I know you miss Bush already, but you really shouldn't take your frustrations out on me as you work your way through the various stages of grief. It's unhealthy and very childish.
grammaddy (anonymous) says…
The village of Crawford now has it's IDIOT back. Good riddance!!
jaywalker (anonymous) says…
So many on this string are so, sooo very sad.............
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Please enlighten us, jaywalker, oh great one, so that we, too, may enjoy the benefits of willful ignorance.
Akreed (anonymous) says…
"You don't get out much, do you Akreed? Try picking up a paper sometime. Then you can avoid looking so uninformed."So picking up a current edition of a newspaper (or a past edition) is going to tell me how future generations will judge the past 2 presidential terms? Your argument makes no sense and your attempts to bash me to divert that don't change that fact.On a side note, if I truely appeared uninformed I should fit in quite nicely with quite a number of regular posters on this forum.
witchfindergeneral (anonymous) says…
Pilgrim2 says..."That's hilarious, coming from someone who should have spent the last eight years staring at a mirror to get a really good look at what “childish” is." Initially, I thought you had moved on to the second stage, anger. I see now that you're still on the first--denial--and it appears as though you'll be stuck in that confusing stage for long, long time. Don't fret, pilgrim, there are plenty of similarly idiotic Bushies (several on this forum, in fact) to help you on your journey to acceptance.
uncleandyt (anonymous) says…
Let's hear more about "bustling" Baghdad . I hear the walls are painted up nice in some parts. The open sewers are open, which is another word for Free! Do they have electricity? Is the water on ? How are the schools and hospitals? Can the politicians go out in public? Or , are they holed up in the Green Zone? Is there space left in the cemetaries?
uncleandyt (anonymous) says…
Time will tell. The problem is that Bush and Cheney won't Tell. We must wait for History to tell us what happened and why. That is stupid. Maybe there were no BlackSites, no Blackwater, no NSA wiretapping, no waste , no fraud , no abuse, no DIME weapons, no depleted uranium, no phosphorus, no cluster bombs, no 35 counts of Impeachment, no war profiteering,...His mirror is haunted.