Bush looks forward to 'mandatory retirement'

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Bidding farewell to his fellow Republicans, President Bush said at a GOP fund-raiser last night that he was already thinking about his next steps.

In remarks at the President's Dinner, an annual Republican gala, Bush said, "This is my last President's Dinner -- also known as my last dinner before mandatory retirement."

Bush quipped: "I can't say for sure what I'm going to be doing at this time next year -- I suspect I'll be in Crawford, watching the Rangers on TV. But I know what you'll be doing -- you'll be holding this dinner in honor of a new guest: President John McCain."

Bush beat McCain during the 2000 primaries, despite the Arizona Republican's reputation as a seasoned veteran of both war and politics, two areas where the Texas governor boasted less experience. But now Bush is promoting McCain because "America needs a president who has the experience and judgment to do what is right."

"I know the pressures of the Oval Office -- the daily intelligence briefings, the unexpected challenges, and the tough decisions that can only be made at the president's desk," Bush said. "In trying times, America needs a president who has been tested and will not flinch."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo credit: Paul Morse/White House

Comments

What a clown.

[Dan Williams]

Best president we have ever had and I'm a Democrat.

[Steven]

God, I can't wait until I don't have to see his stupid face in the news anymore.

[David]

"America needs a president who has the experience and judgment to do what is right" -- 'especially after the habitual ineptitude of the current one' I presume is what he means.

[Barbed, Boston]

I hope he's in jail this time next year.

[William Parkhurst]

Too bad the retirement can't start today.

We're all looking forward to it too.

[Gern Blanston]

I've been looking forward to this retirement for 8 years.

[Patiently Waiting]

I'm looking forward to his "mandatory retirement" too. Let's hope he stays out of the public's eye!

[aleks]

I think we're all looking forward to your retirement, Mr. President.

[abandoned by my govt]

Well America, the American news media is at it again. While they report on the distraction of "off shore drilling" and "mandatory retirements", Exxon Mobile, BP, Shell and other large "multinational" oil companies are about to get no bid contracts to service the Iraqi oil fields. These are some of the SAME oil companies ousted by Saddam Hussein some 36 years ago. Imagine, all of this happening at PRECISELY the time Americans are paying >$4.00/gallon for gas. Now we really know what that MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner meant because suddenly, that war in Iraq seems like a good idea now doesn't it. President Bush and Sen. John McCain - YOU CAN'T FOOL ME.

All of this is being reported by International news journalists as being finalized on June 30th and reports of this story on the American news media are suspiciously absent. Hmmm..... Didn't John McCain just do a 180 on drilling off US shores? Hmmm... why after 8 years of Pres. Bush, six of which under the control of a Republican congress, is our president blaming the Democrats for the price of gas? I'll tell you why, once BP and Exxon get in Iraq, the price of oil will mysteriously drop. Then when/if we pull the US out of this war, gas prices will rise again and Bush will say "I told you so". So now we are pretty much STUCK subsidizing a foreign country AND these extremely rich corporations because as the president puts it, "America is addicted to oil". MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Why should Americans respect American journalists who continue to be mindlessly manipulated into ignoring the BLATANT war profiteering in Iraq? Show the President that he can pay off the American news media to ignore this, but not the American people.

[Scott]

What is WRONG with him? Man, I'd kill to be so self deluded. (lol, he IS a clown...except the kind of clown that starts wars and bleeds economies dry for personal gain)

[Billy]

We needed a president with the experience and judgment to do what was right in 2000....

[Joey Smallwood]

One thing's for sure -- there's no way he's looking forward to his mandatory retirement nearly as much as America is!

[Kate]

Yeah, we need a president who will not flinch while authorizing the brutal and unlawful torture of detainees at Gitmo, who won't miss a wink of sleep after shredding the constitution, a president who will continue to kowtow to special interests (especially big oil!) while ignoring the plight of average Americans. /sarcasm. We need John McCain like we need an extra hole in the head.

Obama 08! Help bring integrity and judgment back to the white house!

[Francis]

The Republican party has made a wrong choice for the president 8 years ago. McCain is certaily a better choice back then. He was more honest, intelligent and experience. In my opinion, we would not face the mess we are in now if McCain were elected. The Oil company and big corparation hijacked the presidency back then. Now, Mc Cain has lost his moment and no longer a better alternative.

[nunya]

yes you are

[sg]

Interesting that he jokes about sitting around watching TV while young soldiers are still dying in Iraq.

[Greg Jacobs]

He and 300 million of us Americans of every race,creed,sex and political persuasion are looking forward to his retirement. Hell I vote for early retirement of this inept fool.

[Gary D]

I hope this "I don't have a clue" president, who can't put together a single, coherent, intelligent sentence on his own, rots in prison this time next year where he belongs. And his bud Cheney is water boarded by Bubba, his cell mate and husband. The worst 8 years in American history are coming to an end. On his watch we have seen America change in ways that will take years to rebuild. Oh, and don't forget the bringing back of our Constitution, something he can't spell or pronounce, and the thing he called "it's only a god damned piece of paper".

[Michael Jones]

Hopefully soon after comes trial for treason and war crimes, and then appropriate punishment.

[Sparky]

If what he means by mandatory retirement is mandatory imprisonment, then I'm really looking forward to it too!

[Dan]

If he's very lucky he'll be in prison; he sure as hell ain't gonna be relaxing on the "ranch."

[Eric]

abandonded...:
Looks like you abandoned the facts. The GOP only had majorities in both chambers of congress during the 108th and 109th. And only the first 6 months of the 107th (4.5 years total). This is important because the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were both declared by the 107th congress (as per the U.S. Constitution) while Democrats had a majority in the Senate. Kinda makes the "Bush's war" rhetoric into nonsense since Democrats could have prevented Iraq (vote YEA then blame someone else seems to work these days). P.S. Also check out when congress lowered taxes, and the votes.

[anOPINIONATEDsob]

Will America have the stones to retire this moron to federal prison and take his pals with him? Jeff Skilling needs a cellmate and Kenny Boy could use some company as well. I can't help but roar with laughter at the claims of talk radio as they labor to create a legacy by taking credit for anything including things Democrats have accomplished. It is not possible to support the republican party any longer. This disaster had its roots in Reagan's deregulation of greed and has been exacerbated by all who have followed. The trillion dollar question is will Obama have the guts to follow thru with the rhetoric or will these crimminals get away with it again?