After listening to President Bush’s farewell speech last night, I hope the fanatics who destroy every word that this man says will let up a bit. His speech was genuine and from the heart. Many of the fanatics who hate Bush (not dislike, but hate the man) are pessimistic anyway, so I doubt that they’ll give this man his moment to say goodbye. President Bush’s speech was very classy and to the point – you couldn’t ask much more for a now-controversial President who is leaving the White House after eight years.
I have to say, though, I got a kick out of the audience shots looking at Vice President Dick Cheney. Again, I think that history and scholars will show that Cheney didn’t overstep the bounds of his office, but rather scared a nation who became used to an impotent Vice President. Frankly, I hope that Vice President-Elect Joe Biden takes as active as a role in that position as Cheney did because Biden has some good thoughts in his head if he just lets them out.
Anyway, Cheney amused me because he has that perpetual angry old man look on his face. About halfway through the speech they spanned to Cheney and he had a look on his face like, “Let’s go, George. I gotta get to sleep!” I loved it – hilarious. And then when the speech was over you KNOW Cheney wanted to turn to the crowd and say, “Alright, assholes. Get out!”
He’s the best.
Whether you love or hate the man, you have to admit that President Bush’s message last night about freedom in the Middle East and a strengthened security system at home was mildly inspiring. Whenever we, as a country, step back and look at the results of our good work around the world you can’t help but be in awe. Sure, most of the world doesn’t understand us and we’ve been too aggressive in foreign policy lately, but that doesn’t negate the positive results worldwide thanks to American involvement.
Foreign and domestic policy will change drastically with the new administration. I’m looking forward to these changes for a variety of reasons, but I thank President Bush and his administration for their contributions over the last eight years.
