President Bush Remembers 9/11 in Farewell Address

Photograph of President Bush during his farewell address by Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Though somewhat overshadowed by the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 that landed in the Hudson River, President Bush gave his farewell address to the American public last night. He said, "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've 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 of the tough decisions I have made. But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions."

Bush also harkened back to the event that defined his presidency: September 11, 2001.

This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house -- September the 11th, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor. I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center three days later, surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock. I remember talking to brave souls who charged through smoke-filled corridors at the Pentagon, and to husbands and wives whose loved ones became heroes aboard Flight 93. I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son's police shield as a reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry his badge.

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. I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe....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.

Here's the full text of his address and the video is below:

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The Washington Post notes, "The address capped a two-month public relations effort by Bush, who saw his popularity reach record highs after the 2001 terrorist attacks before plunging to historic lows as the Iraq war dragged on, Hurricane Katrina struck and the nation's economy crumbled. Although Bush's approval numbers have improved slightly as he prepares to leave office, he remains one of the most consistently unpopular presidents since the advent of modern polling."

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By Jen Chung in News on January 16, 2009 1:17 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Do I care about this person? No.

Wza

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N8_u1FLu30

ANGRYGOD11

To defend his place in history, W. must address some of his critics. It's too late after he leaves office. But, he's doing a typical bad job and looks pathetic. Doesn't he know by now he doesn't have the skills to pull this off?

Amanda Harletsch

republican PUPPET married to a zombie.

Reflect

bye fucker. Hope there is a massive celebration in the streets when your time is up.

abcohen

TUNNEL VISION!!!!!!!!

babyhitler

his speech was like "yeah I made bad decisions but I'm dumb and you voted for me, so there!"

Guest

Isn't 9/11 the last time his approval rating was above 50%?

Nyctini11

I watched, i wanted to make sure it was the last time i was ever gonna have to watch/listen to him again addressing us with absolute BS. Hallelujah!!

starrygordon

"What -- me worry?"

citylion

I didn't even think that the day was eventful until one of my coworks showed me those shots of the plane...Bush? I don't care. Last time he lowers the stock market hopefully.

Guest

Thank god a true hero - Chesley B Sullenberg III - the pilot of UA Flight 1549 overshadowed the President's last sorry gasp. He's the kind of guy Bush wanted to be, brave and beloved. Oh, right - and he actually reported for duty.

Kevin Walsh

The man looks incredibly weary. It has been 8 of the worst years in American history; even if I could do it, this is not a job I would ever want to do.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Pull My Finger

How the fuck were these the worst eight years in American history? Spoken like a true dick head.

Kevin Walsh

8 *OF* the worst, Pull.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Atomische

Truly shameless man. He is pathologically unable to admit even the slightest mistake.

He basically admitted that he didn't the security briefings before 9/11, but still wants credit for reading them afterward.

Outter Burrougher

that's how i heard those statements about the daily security briefings as well!

ottoemezzo

Who cares what this sociopath has to say? Good riddance!

VanessaNYC

Did anyone watch it anyway? I think that there are very few people left who are willing to listen to what he has to say.

Outter Burrougher

i watched; haven't had any respect for the man for a very long time, but i watched because i always do.

I increasingly look forward to the prospect of not hearing references to 9/11 in presidential speeches.

Lautaro

I used to look forward to things like the State of the Union speech, and the special addresses from the White House. They were fun and interesting.

But statememts like "...I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions" throw me for a loop. He wants credit for doing the job he's supposed to do. I'm a file clerk. No one pats me on the back and says "Great job!" when I put away a file. That would be coddling, something you do when you're potty-training an infant.

Sigh.

Rocknrope

No.

Spirit of 76

"One of the most consistently unpopular"? I can't imagine how he can't be the most consistently unpopular.

ANGRYGOD11

Considering the South tried to leave the Union by force, the fact Lincoln won a 4 man presidential election and the North didn't like the sheer bloodshed and length of the Civil War, Lincoln might have polled dead last.

However, I doubt we really have to think about where to put the George W. Bush Memorial.