| On Monday of the week before America's historic | | | | statement that America's moral standing had been |
| new non-white president would be inaugurated, the | | | | damaged by Gitmo, harsh interrogation techniques |
| sitting president held his last press conference. That | | | | and American unilateralism during his term in office. |
| was six months after the previous one on July 10 | | | | Gitmo had created controversies, but when it came |
| when he signed the American Competitiveness Act | | | | time for those who had criticized America to "take |
| to keep the American economy the "envy of the | | | | some of those detainees," they "weren't willing to |
| world." | | | | help out." But most people in the world, he said, |
| He told the press corps then that the "fundamentals | | | | viewed America as compassionate. |
| of our economy are strong," there was no evidence | | | | Besides, he said he wasn't worried about popularity |
| of an emergency in Pakistan, the cover-up of Pat | | | | when he was asked about anger and hostility toward |
| Tillman's death by friendly fire in Iraq would be | | | | him. He said he went around the country and didn't |
| investigated and that people in his administration had | | | | see anger or hostility so they were just a few of |
| been held accountable. The convicted and pardoned | | | | the population. He didn't know why they were angry |
| vice-presidential aide Lewis Libby had paid a high price | | | | or hostile but in time of war, "people get emotional." |
| for being found guilty and Attorney General Alberto | | | | At any rate, he hadn't really spent that much time, |
| Gonzales had done nothing wrong before he resigned | | | | frankly, worrying about the "loud voices." He heard |
| later that month in the midst of congressional | | | | them but they didn't affect is policy or decisions. |
| investigations. | | | | What he did worry about, he said, was "the |
| Since then, America had voted resoundingly to reject | | | | Constitution" and making it easier to "find out what |
| the party that the current president had led and | | | | the enemy is thinking." In fact, the most urgent |
| which in turn had ignited a bottomless global | | | | threat the new president and those after him would |
| economic crisis with no end in sight. For America's | | | | have to deal with was an attack on the homeland |
| part in that fiasco since that time alone, $350 billions | | | | because there was still an "enemy" out there that |
| had been spent in bailouts to financial institutions for | | | | would like to inflict damage on America, on |
| which there was no oversight or accountability | | | | Americans. |
| mechanism. The American unemployment rate, | | | | In response to a question about a fair amount of |
| meanwhile, was expected to rise to nearly 10 | | | | discussion in legal circles about preemptive pardons to |
| percent. | | | | officials in the administration, he said he wouldn't |
| In the January 12 press conference, however, Mr. | | | | discuss pardons. He wished the new president all the |
| Bush said that every day of his presidency "has been | | | | best and hoped that the tone in Washington would |
| joyous." The American presidency for him had not | | | | be different for him than it had been during his |
| been "the loneliest office in the world" because he | | | | administration, when it had been "disappointing." |
| had built a "really capable team," a "fabulous team" of | | | | Finally, he said that of course the new president |
| "highly dedicated, smart, capable people. And we had | | | | would have his hands full with the economy. It was |
| fun," he added. He also said he believed the phrase, | | | | "tough" out there for a lot of working people. |
| "the burdens of the office" was overstated. | | | | Asked if he would request the second half of the |
| Iraq was a challenge for future presidents, he said. | | | | $700 billion bailout money, he said he would do so if |
| Abu Graib was "a huge disappointment" while not | | | | the president-elect asked him to. He also said he |
| having weapons of mass destruction was a | | | | hoped the Senate would vote positively for the |
| "significant disappointment." | | | | request but there was no answer to a question on |
| Those statements were made in response to a | | | | whether he would be motivated in part by wanting |
| question on mistakes he may have made during his | | | | to make things a little easier for the incoming |
| presidency. Elaborating, he said he didn't know if they | | | | president. |
| could be called "mistakes" but they were "things that | | | | In that regard, another comment was telling. |
| didn't go according to plan." The only clear mistake to | | | | Speaking about the historic lunch he had hosted the |
| which he admitted was the "mission accomplished" | | | | previous week with four living presidents at the |
| flag aboard the aircraft carrier early in the Iraq | | | | request of the president-elect, he said the current |
| invasion. That was because it had "sent the wrong | | | | and past presidents present at the luncheon had one |
| message". He also conceded that some of his | | | | experience in common. They knew what it meant to |
| "rhetoric" had obviously been a mistake. | | | | withstand the responsibility of the presidency. The |
| The president said he strongly disagreed with the | | | | president-elect, he said, "is fixing to do that. |