The Bush Farewell. No Preparation for the Job. No Candor. No Accountability. Plenty of Fear.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
by Christine Bowman

George W. Bush delivered his farewell address tonight. He stressed the fears that arose with the 9/11/01 attacks and indicated that, from that day forward, his constant concern was to put the country's safety first. He explained that, in his view, America could not be safe over the long run unless it worked to expand freedom abroad. He espoused optimism and hope for the nation's future, as well as pride in the peaceful and historic transition of power to his successor. Bush looked sympathetic and seemed content to move on.

Listening to him brought to mind the day that Richard M. Nixon resigned the presidency in August, 1974. Bush's departure was long overdue, as was Nixon's, and there is no clarity yet as to whether he will take responsibiity or be held accountable for his mistakes. Repairing all the damage incurred will not be possible.

The post-speech analysis at MSNBC included several good insights. Chris Matthews portrayed Bush as an anti-intellectual tabula rasa, when first elected, and as someone who latched onto neoconservative ideology in the wake of 9/11.  As Matthews sees things, Bush hadn't done the hard preparation for becoming president but had been carried along on his father's coattails through life, all the way to the Oval Office. He then looked to Cheney, Wolfowitz and others for intellectual leadership. "He's learned the wrong lessons, and he's out there selling them tonight," Matthews concluded.

Scott McClellan, Bush's former press secretary and author of What Happened, said Bush had long since lost the public trust due to his lack of candor and, tonight, merely tried again unsuccessfully to burnish his image without admitting mistakes. McClellan saw a man trying to emphasize his humanity, inner decency, and good intentions, but one who still refuses to have an honest dialogue with the public about what he actually did as president. McClellan made the point that Bush's very consequential decisions, not his claimed good intentions, will be the basis for judging him.

Keith Olbermann also provided a closing insight in pointing out a weak line in Bush's speech. In saying that after 9/11 he would wake every day and work to keep Americans safe, did the President open the door to criticism that perhaps he had not taken prior briefings seriously enough or kept the country safe before that fateful day?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

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