Posted on 01/15/2009 3:25:03 PM PST by kristinn
President George W. Bush will address the nation from the East Room of the White House at 8 p.m. EST.
The White House released excerpts of the speech to the media:
Five days from now, the world will witness the vitality of American democracy. In a tradition dating back to our founding, the presidency will pass to a successor chosen by you, the American people. Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land. This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole Nation. And I join all Americans in offering best wishes to President-elect Obama, his wife Michelle, and their two beautiful girls.
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Tonight I am filled with gratitude. I thank the American people for the trust you have given me. I thank you for the prayers that have lifted my spirits. And I thank you for the countless acts of courage, generosity, and grace that I have witnessed these past eight years.
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This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house – September 11, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor.
As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our Nation. And I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.
Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Security has been created. The military, the intelligence community, and the FBI have been transformed. Our Nation is equipped with new tools to monitor the terrorists’ movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots. And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them.
There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions. But there can be little debate about the results. America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil. This is a tribute to those who toil day and night to keep us safe – law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, homeland security and diplomatic personnel, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
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When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror. When people have hope in the future, they will not cede their lives to violence and extremism. So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, human rights, and human dignity. We are standing with dissidents and young democracies, providing AIDS medicine to bring dying patients back to life, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria. And this great republic born alone in liberty is leading the world toward a new age when freedom belongs to all nations.
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For eight years, we have also strived to expand opportunity and hope here at home. Across our country, students are rising to meet higher standards in public schools. A new Medicare prescription drug benefit is bringing peace of mind to seniors and the disabled. Every taxpayer pays lower income taxes. The addicted and suffering are finding new hope through faith-based programs. Vulnerable human life is better protected. Funding for our veterans has nearly doubled. America’s air, water, and lands are measurably cleaner. And the Federal bench includes wise new members like Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.
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Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks. There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made. But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.
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The decades ahead will bring more hard choices for our country, and there are some guiding principles that should shape our course.
While our Nation is safer than it was seven years ago, the gravest threat to our people remains another terrorist attack. Our enemies are patient, and determined to strike again. America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict. But we have been given solemn responsibilities, and we must meet them. We must resist complacency. We must keep our resolve. And we must never let down our guard.
At the same time, we must continue to engage the world with confidence and clear purpose. In the face of threats from abroad, it can be tempting to seek comfort by turning inward. But we must reject isolationism and its companion, protectionism. Retreating behind our borders would only invite danger. In the 21st century, security and prosperity at home depend on the expansion of liberty abroad. If America does not lead the cause of freedom, that cause will not be led.
As we address these challenges – and others we cannot foresee tonight – America must maintain our moral clarity. I have often spoken to you about good and evil. This has made some uncomfortable. But good and evil are present in this world, and between the two there can be no compromise.
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Even in the toughest times, we lift our eyes to the broad horizon ahead.
I have confidence in the promise of America because I know the character of our people. This is a Nation that inspires immigrants to risk everything for the dream of freedom. This is a Nation where citizens show calm in times of danger and compassion in the face of suffering.
These virtues give me an unshakable faith in America. We have faced danger and trial, and there is more ahead. But with the courage of our people and confidence in our ideals, this great Nation will never tire … never falter … and never fail.
I have always thought that the democrats got together and planned to attack the President after another terrorist attack. If you look back at the year leading up to the 2004 campaign, you see lots of stuff from the democrats, particularly John Kerry, warning that we weren't doing enough about container shipping. It struck me as odd at the time, because it didn't seem to be an area they would particularly concern themselves with.
I will always think that there was some sort of danger in container shipping that surfaced in reports to the Intelligence Committee, and they were using that information for political purposes. When the danger was stopped by whatever agencies or military actions, they had a plan they couldn't use against the President. Katrina came along and they decided to put it into action.
Blanco's refusal to aactivate the national guard, Nagin's foot-dragging on evacuation, the media wailing on air about the slow response time, all were pre-planned. They simply used it about a hurricane instead of a terrorist attack.
I used to see people saying that we wouldn't have national unity until we had another attack. All you have to do is look at Katrina to know that would not have happened.
LOLOLOL!!!
LOL!! Believe me, I understand!
LMAO! Exactly!
That makes me teary again. :-(
LOL!! Pruny is a cute word.
Wouldn't it be great to see the freepers outnumber the pontificates?
I am heartbroken.
Thank you, President Bush. Some here do truly love you and appreciate you!
God Bless!
President Bush - Thanks for being there for us, you stand along side Churchill and I’ll always remember you for that and Laura has been a blessing to our country!
Is this the end of the Dose?
Just seen it. Made me emotional.
I’ve said it many times here, but I’ll say it again. This Brit has nothing but love, respect and admiration for President Bush.
Has he been perfect? No, far from it, mistakes have been made, he’s made the wrong decision many times.
BUT, in my opinion he has made the right decision many many more times.
He has shown himself to be a wonderful caring patriot. A man that stuck to his convictions on the most important issue our generation has faced. He has not gone after the critics that have besmirched every aspect of the man, both political and personal.
He has been humble in the defeats he has faced and respectful to even his very worst critics.
I will miss his sense of humor, his compassion and his sincerity. His bold belief in spreading freedom and helping the worlds poor will inspire me for the rest of my life.
Thank you and god you President Bush, please enjoy your hard earned and deserved retirement!
Thank you, Lonestar. Re the grace, I don't know if I have any more than anyone else, but deeply appreciate your kindness in saying that. :)
Jonny, it's terrifying. One thing I know for certain. Obama didn't get this far on his own. No one EVER makes it this big on their own essentially "overnight." Ever. Not in any walk of life. I firmly believe Obama is a front man. If Soros is not his patron, then someone much like him in the international left is.
You're welcome. Eventually there will be information somewhere online about where his post-presidential office is located. They are set up precisely for public business. We'll just need to keep an eye out for the address when it becomes public.
Maybe I will just respond with a simple”Bush Basher go to DU” and then repeat it.
President Bush has far more confidence in the Amerikan people than I do. I hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.
You are not wrong. My country disgusts me now. Land of the fat, home of the stupid. Conservatives should all move to Alaska.
We are about to have a girlie man once again attempt to lead us....just the type that will once again afford the terrorists a chance to build up a plan to attack us once again-ala billy klinton.
I love our President. He has STAYED THE COURSE............WHAT A MAN AMONG MEN!!!! He fought on TWO FRONTS....the terrorists that would kill us and the those massive liberals in the press corp that would lie to us to force their own agenda to prop up only democrats.
Only a sick press could let barney frank and chris dodd get away with what they did for fanny mae and freddie mac.
Oh...AND WHILE our President, a REAL man, helps OBAMA in every way to assume the highest position in the world, what does Barack Hussein Obama do???????????????
Why that SOB goes to a fancy smancy restaurant in DC instead of GIVING OUR PRESIDENT THE COURTESY of LISTENING to his farewell address.
But what does one expect from democrats these days, anyway. Certainly not civility and kindness.
They are truly PIGS, oinking at the public trough and spreading their stench and unethical approach to life everywhere. They poison our nation. They are NOTHING like the late great democrat party.
Democrats today are one great big bunch of girlie men and confused would be women who ACT like men.
So a community organizer with a fancy education, a highly paid wife, ridiculously nasty and filthy friends has schmoozed his way into the American Presidency...already displaying an horrific lack of graciousness to our President and a piggy like penchant for stabbing the spirit of America to death.
I think democrats HATE our nation, just like one suspects Obama's wife does.
Fantastic post Republic!
I don’t suspect that the tacky one (Michelle) hates America-I firmly believe it. It doesn’t bear thinking about the wreck they are about to make of a fine old nation and everything she has been for over 200 years. They have no feeling for history, no awe of how special this nation is and what our forefathers sacrificed to make it that way, and the clear values and principles upon which it was founded, no matter how we may have had to find our way again sometimes after losing it. The amazing thing is that we always did, sooner or later. Because the road was still there. They are about to dynamite the road and lose the map.
President Bush will be sorely missed by patriots-that is, not the left for a certainty. They are rubbing their hands together and drooling at the best opportunity they’ve ever had to inflict their socialist agenda on America.
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