Thank you President Bush, Welcome President Obama

[belcherboy]

I am one of the few that felt like Bush did many good things over the past 8 years and I wanted to show my appreciation to him. I do hope history will show that he made the right choices, and will hopefully celebrate his presidency one day. I personally think it will take some time to truly measure his presidency.

I wish the best for President Obama. I think he is a good man, and I hope he does his best to make America better.

I hope all who have supported Obama this past election have a WONDERFUL celebration tomorrow! You've earned it!

[Motor City Sonics]

Five stages of grief.


Stage 1: Denial

[Oblong]

classy

[eastside billee]

nice post BB. You're a good guy.

[DetroitFolly]

classy

but funny, nonetheless.

[apabruce]

I disagreed with Bush on so many levels, but I still feel grateful there are people who are willing to do this thankless job. Well, maybe not thanklless since BB thanked him, but presidents in particular and politicians in general have a very tough job.

For anyone wanting to know a taste of what it's like, go to your legislature and listen to the public input during a budget hearing. Everyone is legitimately, desperately needy and no one wants their budget cut.

[cruzer1]

I agree with BelcherBoy. History should vindicate him for Iraq, he got rid of Saddam Hussein. He had the balls to do what he thought was right, not the politically correct things to do. He was also one of the most unluckiest presidents, with all of the disasters that happened on his watch. He was a little clumsy on a couple of instances, but altogether deserves to have his presidency looked in a much better limelight than how the American public has treated him.

[Motor City Sonics]

classy

George W. Bush and his neocon friends have such disdain for real working people they don't deserve an ounce of respect. Good bye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Oblong]

You were ripping on belcherboy, not on GWB. He's trying to be nice and cordial and you come and act like a jerk.

Classy.

[Corky]

George W. Bush and his neocon friends have such disdain for real working people they don't deserve an ounce of respect. Good bye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Yeah, the new administration really cares about the little guy.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6680531&page=1

On the Money Trail: Inauguration Perks Go To the Rich
VIP-seating at the "We Are One" Concert Among the Benefits for Big Donors

By JUSTIN ROOD, ANNA SCHECTER, and MEGAN CHUCHMACH

Jan. 19, 2009—

President-elect Barack Obama billed his inauguration an event "for all Americans." But in the nation's capital this long weekend, wealthy visitors are finding themselves a bit more equal -- and warmer -- than others.

Most Americans here to see President-elect Obama make history crammed onto buses and trains, slept on floors and fought crowds and cold. But the wealthiest Americans coming to see the event are enjoying all the perks their money and power ever warranted.

For CEOs and stars arriving by private jet, local airports have shut down entire runways to serve as parking lots for their planes. Officials are prepared to handle hundreds of private aircraft for the long weekend.

Limousine companies have been busily shuttling the somebodies around town in style. Shirlington Limousine's Chris Baker says he has seen a spike in business for this inauguration, as he has for the past five. (Democrats seem to be more last-minute than Republicans, he said. "The GOP has much more advance, prior planning.")

Watch live coverage of the Inauguration all day Tuesday beginning with "Good Morning America" at 7 a.m. ET and go to the Inauguration Guide for all of ABC News' coverage details.

Despite the recession, the big money's sleeping easy in D.C. While many other visitors feel lucky to have a room in a suburban budget hotel or a spot on a friend's floor, the wealthy snapped up rooms in the capital's best downtown hotels weeks in advance. The Four Seasons Georgetown (up to $75,000 for a minimum five-night stay), the Ritz-Carlton (up to $60,000 for a minimum five-night stay) and other top hotels say they have been booked for weeks, even months.

The Four Seasons is using the inauguration to introduce its new Royal Suite  a 4,000-square-foot, "bullet-resistant" suite featuring a landscaped terrace, exercise room, library and dining room. A hotel spokeswoman confirmed a guest had booked the suite for the inauguration, but declined to share the guest's name.

The Ritz-Carlton sold a "Politically Correct" package for $50,000, which includes four nights in one of the hotel's suites; two hard-to-come-by seats at the inaugural parade; two tickets to an inaugural ball; a luxury hybrid vehicle with chauffeur on call 24 hours a day; a ball gown and tuxedo from Saks Fifth Avenue; a private in-suite dinner for two at the hotel's restaurant, and more, including a special, inauguration-themed pendant of gold, diamonds, rubies and sapphires valued at $8,000.


Even the lesser rich get their perks: The Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown is giving all of its guests Democrat-blue iPod Shuffles with Obama's favorite songs. (If guests can't figure out how to operate the device, they can call the hotel's "iPod butler" for assistance.)

While hundreds of thousands of Americans spent hours in the cold to enjoy the "We Are One" inaugural concert Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, a clutch of Obama's top donors could watch from a heated tent near the performers, courtesy of the president-elect's Inaugural Committee.

Visitors who hadn't raised hundreds of thousands of dollars couldn't get closer to the performance. "Excuse me! You got tickets? If you don't have tickets, you have to go to 'General Population,'" shouted a guard at an entrance near the memorial, gesturing with her arms to turn around and head back away from the show.

The concert was supposed to be part of "the people's party," said Shawn Paterniti, who had come with his wife Mia from Columbia, Md., to see the show. "But still, you have the VIPs who want their front-row seats. So I guess they get their tickets no one knows about," he said, as he and his wife headed to join the "general population," far away from the performances.

"It seems odd to have a VIP section for a concert about unity," quipped the local blog DCist.com. The blogger, Kriston Capps, suggested a new name for the event: "We Are One, but Some Are More One Than Others."

On Tuesday, millions are expected to brave the weather on the National Mall to be a part of Obama's inaugural parade and swearing-in. Meanwhile, businesses and law firms with offices along the parade route are inviting moneyed clients and lawmakers to view the parade from warmth and catered comfort. And of course the inaugural committee handed out fistfuls of tickets to both events to its high-rolling financial backers. It also gave out 10 tickets to other Americans through an essay-writing contest.

The real inaugural partying happens in the evenings, in lush ballrooms and well-appointed homes. Corporations, unions and interest groups plow tens of thousands of dollars into lavish inaugural balls and parties, while the city's power brokers throw invitation-only soirees in private homes.

Visitors without connections may scrounge to buy a $150 ticket to a state ball and feel a small part of history; meanwhile CEOs, media personalities and major campaign donors hop from private party to ball to private party.

Garnering RSVP's for the most elite parties should be easy, but some hosts aren't above resorting to friendly bribery: At least one sent invitations to potential guests accompanied by specially-engraved bottles of champagne.

"There are lobbyist-sponsored and corporate sponsored parties all over Washington during the week," says Criag Holman of the Congressional watchdog group Public Citizen, who believes the events can be used to improperly influence politicians.

[chasfh]

I am one of the few that felt like Bush did many good things over the past 8 years and I wanted to show my appreciation to him. I do hope history will show that he made the right choices, and will hopefully celebrate his presidency one day. I personally think it will take some time to truly measure his presidency.

I wish the best for President Obama. I think he is a good man, and I hope he does his best to make America better.

I hope all who have supported Obama this past election have a WONDERFUL celebration tomorrow! You've earned it!

I don't agree with your premise regarding George Bush, but this is a nice hands-across-the-aisle post, BB.

[FloridaTigers]

Nice post, BB. Don't like the guy, but he's still the President and still deserves a Thanks.

[JohnJMS]

I am one of the few that felt like Bush did many good things over the past 8 years and I wanted to show my appreciation to him. I do hope history will show that he made the right choices, and will hopefully celebrate his presidency one day. I personally think it will take some time to truly measure his presidency.

I wish the best for President Obama. I think he is a good man, and I hope he does his best to make America better.

I hope all who have supported Obama this past election have a WONDERFUL celebration tomorrow! You've earned it!

Agreed. Bush did many things wrong - but so do all Presidents. However, I know that in my lifetime no other President had their administration defined by two such horrific occurrences - 9/11 and Katrina. I honestly don't think either of these two tragedies would have been avoided by either Kerry or Gore. I wonder if he knew now what was to happen on his watch - if he would have still wanted the job.

One thing's for sure - I hope Obama does well. God only knows what awaits us all over the next 4-8 years. Let's hope that the wars are over, the terror has subsided, and that the economy is robust, and that we are all safe.

[djhutch]

George W. Bush and his neocon friends have such disdain for real working people they don't deserve an ounce of respect. Good bye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

This post brought to you by page 2 of the union handbook.

[Mschottey1985]

I respect George W. Bush.

I think he made a lot of mistakes. I don't think he necessarily did any more to earn my respect than he did to lose it, but I still respect him.

The office commands respect. I may have different ideas, I may have better ideas...I cannot say--having not faced the rigors, pressure, stress of the job that I could do any better. The president the public knows is a caricature of the the real thing. I believe George W. Bush is a good man, he just was not a great president. He did not leave the country better than when he left, and in that respect he failed.

Yet, I can still respect him, and thank him for his service. I hope and pray that Barack Obama will succeed. Not because I voted for him, but because, for the sake of America, I hope he will succeed.

[Motor City Sonics]

This post brought to you by page 2 of the union handbook.

I am not a member of any union.


Sorry, I am not reaching a hand across the aisle here, not for him - he does not deserve it. There are plenty of Republicans that deserve respect even though I don't agree with them. He is not one of them. He was foolish, short-sighted, reckless and had such a lack of intellectual curiosity that it was astounding. If he had half the brains and curiosity of his brother Jed or his father, maybe he could have actually done some good. He was just a void.

[chasfh]

I agree with you on your assessment of GWB. I think most of us here do. The hand across the aisle is from, and for, belcherboy.

[shabba4detroit]

but funny, nonetheless.

About as funny as it was classy.

[shabba4detroit]

I agree with you on your assessment of GWB. I think most of us here do. The hand across the aisle is from, and for, belcherboy.

Who's assessment? MCS's. A surprising amount of of piss and vinegar, even for him. When once again we get to witness what truly makes America great -- the peaceful transfer of power from leader to leader, it simply doesn't seem the time or place.

[Oblong]

My beef isn't with MCS's assessment of Bush. That's his opinion. However it was rude of him to piss on belcherboy's thoughtful post by telling him he's got some problem that he needs to deal with. It had a bit of "Debbie Downer" to it.

[belcherboy]

I can understand why some loathe anything about Bush. Many felt the same way after 8 years of Clinton. That is why I said it will take some time after his presidency to see how history treats him. I think it is too early to really truly judge Clinton's presidency and he has been out 8 years now.

I don't really care what people think about Bush or Obama. It has been said before, and I look forward to it.....we get a new president, with new ideas, and we were the ones who elected him. Not a gun or militia. A peaceful transfer of power. It is GREAT to be an American, and we need to thank those who serve and let history tell us how great they were well after the fact. Just my two cents!

[Lbh24]

He also deserves my thanks, without a disclaimer with my opinion about his terms.

[djhutch]

I am not a member of any union.


Sorry, I am not reaching a hand across the aisle here, not for him - he does not deserve it. There are plenty of Republicans that deserve respect even though I don't agree with them. He is not one of them. He was foolish, short-sighted, reckless and had such a lack of intellectual curiosity that it was astounding. If he had half the brains and curiosity of his brother Jed or his father, maybe he could have actually done some good. He was just a void.

So it's "Jeb in 2012"?

[Ingefanclub]

I was thinking over the Bush 8 years this morning.

I remember in March 2001 that GM and Ford were shedding workers like mad. This was carryover from the dot com bust of 2000. Then in September 2001 the terror attacks rocked America. IN 2002 Enron collapsed. In March 2003 we went into Iraq and that is when things finally began to turn around.

Iraq was tough but the economy was good from March 2003 to March 2007. Then the economy fell off a cliff but the Iraq war was turned around with the troop surge.

The 2 huge mistakes Bush made was 1) not enough troops in Iraq in the early stages and 2) giving Paulson a blank check to give to the banks with little Congressional probing.

Bush was too trusting of democrats. He enacted too many of their spending programs trying to be buddies with them and it may cost us with the budget in future years.

[mtutiger]

The 2 huge mistakes Bush made was 1) not enough troops in Iraq in the early stages and 2) giving Paulson a blank check to give to the banks with little Congressional probing.

In regards to his first mistake, I would say even going to Iraq was a mistake.

Bush was too trusting of democrats. He enacted too many of their spending programs trying to be buddies with them and it may cost us with the budget in future years.

Newsflash: Those spending programs were HIS spending programs, ones that he wanted and touted. You also fail to mention how the Republicans basically controlled Congress for 3/4ths of his term, including the House of Representatives, which ultimately is responsible for spending.

Heck, Bush didn't veto a spending bill until 2007. I don't know what the hell you are talking about when you said he was too placating of Democrats.

[WMUDan]

From the decision for NORAD to stand down on 9//11 to the fascist nationalization of the banking system the GWB administration has been a colossal failure.

I hope the dude rots in hell.

[shabba4detroit]

Heck, Bush didn't veto a spending bill until 2007. I don't know what the hell you are talking about when you said he was too placating of Democrats.

Your first sentence contradicts your second.

[shabba4detroit]

From the decision for NORAD to stand down on 9//11 to the fascist nationalization of the banking system the GWB administration has been a colossal failure.

I hope the dude rots in hell.

While I disagree with your assessment of the examples you provide of colossal failure, as well as the very notion of colossal failure, they are nonetheless opinions that fall within the realm of reasonableness, and I do not begrudge you them.

However, the desire for eternal damnation seems unnecessarily harsh and bitter; and frankly, it is more a poor reflection upon your own character than the character of the 43rd president.

[mtutiger]

Your first sentence contradicts your second.

How does it contradict my first sentence? The point I was making was that it took Bush until Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives to veto a spending bill, which actually proves the overall point that Bush's spending is Bush's fault.

[WMUDan]

While I disagree with your assessment of the examples you provide of colossal failure, as well as the very notion of colossal failure, they are nonetheless opinions that fall within the realm of reasonableness, and I do not begrudge you them.

However, the desire for eternal damnation seems unnecessarily harsh and bitter; and frankly, it is more a poor reflection upon your own character than the character of the 43rd president.

For sure I'm bitter. I'm just hoping God sees things my way.

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Based on his trampling of our Country's Constitution I think it's fair to say that, at best, GWB is a chronic liar.

[Nolan]

I can understand why some loathe anything about Bush. Many felt the same way after 8 years of Clinton. That is why I said it will take some time after his presidency to see how history treats him. I think it is too early to really truly judge Clinton's presidency and he has been out 8 years now.

It is GREAT to be an American, and we need to thank those who serve and let history tell us how great they were well after the fact. Just my two cents!

Can't history, sometimes (maybe more often than not), obscure how especially bad individual Presidents are, though? Instead of letting historians 25 or 50 years from now tell me how well a President did, I will try to remember how it was when it actually happened.

[dettigfan222]

For sure I'm bitter. I'm just hoping God sees things my way.

No reason for this.

Regardless of the decisions made by an elected official, you can't help but give thanks if they served honorably. Bush served this country well, even if he made mistakes.

[Anthony]

I am one of the few that felt like Bush did many good things over the past 8 years and I wanted to show my appreciation to him. I do hope history will show that he made the right choices, and will hopefully celebrate his presidency one day. I personally think it will take some time to truly measure his presidency.

I wish the best for President Obama. I think he is a good man, and I hope he does his best to make America better.

I hope all who have supported Obama this past election have a WONDERFUL celebration tomorrow! You've earned it!

I try to stay away from political subjects, because quite frankly i cant control my mouth/keyboard and would rather not get banned from the last decent detroit sports message board on the internets but i'm right there with you.

Thank you Mr. Bush.

[belcherboy]

Can't history, sometimes (maybe more often than not), obscure how especially bad individual Presidents are, though? Instead of letting historians 25 or 50 years from now tell me how well a President did, I will try to remember how it was when it actually happened.

Sometimes, but we don't know what the result of the Iraq war will be. We also don't know what the war on terrorism will be. In 25-50 years we may know more about whether he did the illegal things that many claim he has done. There are lots of things a president does that truly can't be measured or uncovered till many years after his term as president is done. It could turn out that it was a HUGE waste of money and lives. It could also be the spark that changes the Middle East for the good. Wishful thinking no doubt, but it will take years to see if that comes to pass.

[Ingefanclub]

How does it contradict my first sentence? The point I was making was that it took Bush until Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives to veto a spending bill, which actually proves the overall point that Bush's spending is Bush's fault.

I will give you that but when Obama passes the $800 billion to $1 trillion stimulus he will have pretty much trumped 8 years of Bush spending in his 1st month.

Alot of Bush spending was early on from the Ted Kennedy school thing and a democrat proposal for medicare payments.
Bush fooled alot of republicans. He was just as moderate as his father if not more so.

[shabba4detroit]

How does it contradict my first sentence? The point I was making was that it took Bush until Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives to veto a spending bill, which actually proves the overall point that Bush's spending is Bush's fault.

Okay. I'll withdraw my statement.

[mtutiger]

I will give you that but when Obama passes the $800 billion to $1 trillion stimulus he will have pretty much trumped 8 years of Bush spending in his 1st month.

Obama will still have a long way to go in that regard. The Bush Administration spent close to $800 billion in Iraq alone over 4 years, not to mention the $700 billion dollar bailout, his Prescription Drug bill, etc.

Alot of Bush spending was early on from the Ted Kennedy school thing and a democrat proposal for medicare payments.

Did Ted Kennedy put a gun to Bush's head and tell him to sign No Child Left Behind? How about that Prescription Drug Benefit that half of Congressional Republicans supported?

You're way too willing to excuse Bush for spending bills. If he didn't want them, he could have vetoed them, or even better, not even have proposed them.

[belcherboy]

Did Ted Kennedy put a gun to Bush's head and tell him to sign No Child Left Behind? How about that Prescription Drug Benefit that half of Congressional Republicans supported?

You're way too willing to excuse Bush for spending bills. If he didn't want them, he could have vetoed them, or even better, not even have proposed them.

But wasn't the original point that he pushed through a lot of Democrat led legislation? I mean many of the GOP are definitely guilty, but there was still a large percentage that didn't vote in favor of those as compared the the vast majority of Democrats. Bush should never have buddied up with the left AND claim to be conservative.

[mtutiger]

But wasn't the original point that he pushed through a lot of Democrat led legislation? I mean many of the GOP are definitely guilty, but there was still a large percentage that didn't vote in favor of those as compared the the vast majority of Democrats. Bush should never have buddied up with the left AND claim to be conservative.

It's WHO he is. He's the "compassionate conservative." Maybe Republicans in 2000 should have thought about that when they selected a candidate.

[belcherboy]

It's WHO he is. He's the "compassionate conservative." Maybe Republicans in 2000 should have thought about that when they selected a candidate.

I thought you were addressing this statement:

Alot of Bush spending was early on from the Ted Kennedy school thing and a democrat proposal for medicare payments.

He did spend a lot of time crossing the aisle for expensive Democrat led legislation. To blame the out of control spending on him and the GOP is far from fair. I personally thought Bush went WAY out of his way to be non-partisan. It bit him in the butt because it made him a moderate (as opposed the conservative platform he campaigned on), and the left/liberals just shouted how non-partisan he was. I also think the prescription drug bill was just a grab at putting his name on something that would make him and his party a little more popular with the senior citizens. Obviously didn't work!