Bush insists US moral standing not damaged under his watch

[Darth Wong]

From CBC:

Bush says U.S. moral standing not diminished under his watch
Last Updated: Monday, January 12, 2009 4:57 PM ET CBC News

U.S. President George W. Bush gestures during his last news conference as president on Monday. (Ron Edmonds/Associated Press)
In the final news conference of his presidency, George W. Bush strongly dismissed suggestions that the United States lost its moral standing during his administration, insisting his most vociferous critics are few.

Bush touched on a range of topics during the press conference, including foreign policy, the economy, criticism of his administration, and the mistakes and disappointments of his presidency. He also mentioned the pressures and challenges facing president-elect Barack Obama, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

Bush bristled when asked whether certain policies like the war in Iraq, U.S. interrogation tactics and the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had a negative impact on America's moral standing.

"I strongly disagree with the assessment that our moral standing has been damaged," Bush said. "It may be damaged amongst some of the elite, but people still understand America stands for freedom, that America as a country provides such great hope."

Bush pointed to Africa, India and China as having a positive view of U.S compassion and generosity.

He said only a few European countries disagreed with the decision to invade Iraq. As for the countries criticizing the detention of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, he said many have refused to accept the prisoners.

Bush said he doesn't worry about his popularity because those types of debates "will matter not if there's another attack on the homeland.

"My view is that most people around the world, they respect America," he said. "And some of them don't like me. I understand that — some of the writers and opiners and all that. That's fine; that's part of the deal. But I'm more concerned about the country and how people view the United States of America."

'Mission Accomplished' slogan a mistake, Bush concedes

In his final news conference, George W. Bush said he regrets a banner reading "Mission Accomplished" while declaring the end of major combat in Iraq on May 1, 2003. (J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)
Bush was also asked why he sparked such passionate and personal criticism. But he rejected the notion that those critics are in the majority. He said the people he met on his travels throughout the country, including those who disagreed with him, were always civil.

"I view those who get angry and yell and say bad things and, you know, all that kind of stuff, as just a very few people in the country," Bush said.

"I don't see how you can get back home in Texas, and look in the mirror and be proud of what I see if I allowed the loud voices, the loud critics, to prevent me from doing what I thought was necessary to protect this country."

Bush also listed a number of mistakes he believed occurred under his watch, including putting the slogan "Mission Accomplished" on an aircraft carrier shortly after Saddam Hussein was toppled from power. He also cited his attempt to reform social security immediately rather than focusing on reforming immigration.

He said the revelation of U.S. abuses at the Abu Ghraib detention camp in Iraq was a "huge disappointment," and not finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was a "significant disappointment."

Bush referred to the enormous weight on Obama, describing what it might feel like when, after taking the oath of office, he enters the Oval Office for the first time as president.

"There'll be a moment when the responsibility of the president lands squarely on his shoulders," Bush said.

He said the biggest security threat facing Obama will be another attack on the United States.

"That will be the major threat," Bush said. "I wish that I could report that's not the case, but there's still an enemy out there that would like to inflict damage on America — on Americans."

The outgoing president will deliver his farewell address to the nation during prime time on Thursday night, White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

I knew that Bush was still deluded enough to think that he'd done a good job, but he's in such full-blown denial that he thinks that the world population in general has not downgraded its opinion of the US at all, except for "some of the elite". Unbelievable.

[Elfdart]

I think he gets off on the idea of being hated, since he knows that as long as he stays in his whites-only gated community in Dallas he's retiring to, no one will hold him responsible.

[Kanastrous]

It wasn't damaged.

It just more or less ceased to exist.

[TempestSong]

Oh those zany "elites". They're the cause of all this anti-US hatred. The only thing worse than them are the liberals.

There is always an enemy out there in Bush's eyes; if there isn't, I guess he would make one up. Wait a minute there...

My cynicism for this country I live in grows ever stronger.

[KlavoHunter]

Oh those zany "elites". They're the cause of all this anti-US hatred. The only thing worse than them are the liberals.

There is always an enemy out there in Bush's eyes; if there isn't, I guess he would make one up. Wait a minute there...

My cynicism for this country I live in grows ever stronger.

Fortunately, the importance of George W. Bush will evaporate in a week.

[Themightytom]

How the F is the son of a former president not "elite"???

he hates himself and his family, he really does. he buys a ranch, spends all his time clearing brush, and never realizes that "common folk" fucking hate clearing brush. (As an over experienced brush clearer, I would like to take this opportunity to say "Fuck yoiu, trees.")

Bush would LOVE to sustain the illusion that he's a hands on common sense guy, but seriously he's just the biggest asshole to walk the face of the earth.

[Patrick Degan]

Fuck him. The stupid, lying Chimp also insisted his government's response to Hurricane Katrina was "rapid". Guess that's why he was able to say "Good job, Brownie" to the man who let New Orleans burn after it drowned. But then, I suppose he has to believe all this shit he spews because the alternative is moral annihilation, so I'd say he's in about the same state of denial as Thomas Woodrow Wilson was just before the stroke.

Well, fuck him. I hope he keeps trying to run from the reality of the horrors he has directly or indirectly perpetrated. I hope they dog his heels for the rest of his miserable life as he watches himself being slowly erased until he is little more than a trivia question on a game show.

[Drooling Iguana]

Bush said he doesn't worry about his popularity because those types of debates "will matter not if there's another attack on the homeland."

Wow. I often suspected that the Republicans were looking forward to another 9/11-style event but to state it so bluntly...

[Patrick Degan]

Bush said he doesn't worry about his popularity because those types of debates "will matter not if there's another attack on the homeland."

Wow. I often suspected that the Republicans were looking forward to another 9/11-style event but to state it so bluntly...

Why not? The drift from cartoon villany to treason is an easy one to slip in to.

[bobalot]

I think the guy is a bit insulated. He has an army of arse kissers who keep telling him he has done a fantastic job. People and the media kept flattering the guy.
The Republicans and their media allies have become so right wing and partisan, it doesn't matter that the guy is an incompetent moron, he is a Republican. It doesn't matter how much he fucks up, as long as he believes in their core principles, they will keep making excuses for the guy and telling him (and us) what a great job he did.

You guys remember these lines:

"He's not stupid, he just speaks slow"
"He is actually very intellectual behind closed doors"
"George Bush is a visionary"

What the fuck?

Old Georgie Bush has had half of America, his sycophant advisers and most of the tame media telling him his shit doesn't stink, and guess what? He has actually come to believe that.

[Posner]

Credibility is gone. Moral standing so far as Christian Fundamentalism goes is on the rise, unfortunately that's doesn't mean shit. Personally I would be fine without moral standing if we had some credibility and respect.

[Samuel]

How the F is the son of a former president not "elite"???

he hates himself and his family, he really does. he buys a ranch, spends all his time clearing brush, and never realizes that "common folk" fucking hate clearing brush. (As an over experienced brush clearer, I would like to take this opportunity to say "Fuck yoiu, trees.")

Bush would LOVE to sustain the illusion that he's a hands on common sense guy, but seriously he's just the biggest asshole to walk the face of the earth.

The Marie Antoniette of the modern era. Goes out and plays "commoner". You can have your fun- just don't think it is real and that you are a man of the people.

Credibility is gone. Moral standing so far as Christian Fundamentalism goes is on the rise, unfortunately that's doesn't mean shit. Personally I would be fine without moral standing if we had some credibility and respect.

Aren't they synonyms?

[Posner]

Credibility is gone. Moral standing so far as Christian Fundamentalism goes is on the rise, unfortunately that's doesn't mean shit. Personally I would be fine without moral standing if we had some credibility and respect.

Aren't they synonyms?

Well I have a realpolitik view of international relations. I don't see much use in the United States winning any UN awards for nicest superpower ever. Actual security from international terrorism and economic prosperity for the nation and world would be just fine.

[bobalot]

Credibility is gone. Moral standing so far as Christian Fundamentalism goes is on the rise, unfortunately that's doesn't mean shit. Personally I would be fine without moral standing if we had some credibility and respect.

Aren't they synonyms?

Well I have a realpolitik view of international relations. I don't see much use in the United States winning any UN awards for nicest superpower ever. Actual security from international terrorism and economic prosperity for the nation and world would be just fine.

The guy has pretty much alienated most of Americas traditional allies, gotten your country bogged down in a war which has really overstretched the army, and fucked up the economy. What a total douchebag of a President.

[Stark]

Well I have a realpolitik view of international relations. I don't see much use in the United States winning any UN awards for nicest superpower ever. Actual security from international terrorism and economic prosperity for the nation and world would be just fine.

lol @ 'realpolitik'

It's amusing that you'd comment on such in a thread about 'moral standing' or public relations.

[Bluewolf]

Actual security from international terrorism and economic prosperity for the nation and world would be just fine.

...and acting in an unpopular way to other countries and communities might make those two goals harder to reach. I mean really you can not deny that the US has been acting like a bully these past few years can you? Its not as if having alllies and potenital enemies to respect you is needed right?

[Shroom Man 777]

Credibility is gone. Moral standing so far as Christian Fundamentalism goes is on the rise, unfortunately that's doesn't mean shit. Personally I would be fine without moral standing if we had some credibility and respect.

Aren't they synonyms?

Well I have a realpolitik view of international relations. I don't see much use in the United States winning any UN awards for nicest superpower ever. Actual security from international terrorism and economic prosperity for the nation and world would be just fine.

You have no credibility and no respect from the international community. International terrorists can go into Iraq and Afghanistan to kill Americans because you've made it that much easier. The economy of the nation and the world is not fine.

It's the textbook definition of fail, man.

[Mr Bean]

Sorry to rain on your parade of dog piles on Bush everyone, but there are areas where he is beloved. The Kurds for example love him because thanks to his "brilliant" strategic planning they are closer than ever to having their own country. (To which Turkey of course hates his guts for getting their own Kurdish population thinking that large parts of their country belong in this new country). Then there is Africa were he has done a somewhat good job. Aside from being a dancing fool few know him in Africa outside the fact he's increase aid to most of the countries there. And of course Hamas LOVES him, what with his call for "elections" got them in power in Gaza but they are a might distracted at the moment.

So lets recap, Africa because of aid, future Kurdistan(And won't THAT be a shitstorm) and Gaza. Heck of a Job Bushie. You won't go down as the worst American President in history only because I know you and your family have nothing better to do for the next thirty years than white-wash... white-wash that Presidency.

*Edit
Forgot one, the Saudi's, specifically the Saudi Royal family, still firm Bush friends.

[Darth Wong]

Well I have a realpolitik view of international relations. I don't see much use in the United States winning any UN awards for nicest superpower ever. Actual security from international terrorism and economic prosperity for the nation and world would be just fine.

lol @ 'realpolitik'

It's amusing that you'd comment on such in a thread about 'moral standing' or public relations.

Realpolitik: the theory that the path to security is to piss off every person you know.

[Posner]

Actual security from international terrorism and economic prosperity for the nation and world would be just fine.

...and acting in an unpopular way to other countries and communities might make those two goals harder to reach. I mean really you can not deny that the US has been acting like a bully these past few years can you? Its not as if having alllies and potenital enemies to respect you is needed right?

I'm confused about how we disagree here. Acting in unpopular ways hurts our moral standing and respect. It is the latter that I care about.

The guy has pretty much alienated most of Americas traditional allies, gotten your country bogged down in a war which has really overstretched the army, and fucked up the economy. What a total douchebag of a President.

What about my statement makes you think I don't completely agree with you?

Maybe I am just making an imaginary distinction between moral standing and respect and credibility. They often go hand in hand.

[ray245]

Your version of realpolitik is only real if America can survive and take an isolatist stance.

I mean we are not talking about the middle and classical ages here, where one superpower can piss on almost every nation without any fear of them forming a joint alliance. We are talking about modern day politics, where US needs favourable support from its allies.

A Nation that does not have the respect of other nations as a whole will lose its influence and the lost of friends basically meant that your security will be threatened.

Yeah, piss on every oil producing nations and see what kind of results you will get. National interest and security is inter-linked with respect and favorable support from other nations.

[Posner]

Your version of realpolitik is only real if America can survive and take an isolatist stance.

I mean we are not talking about the middle and classical ages here, where one superpower can piss on almost every nation without any fear of them forming a joint alliance. We are talking about modern day politics, where US needs favourable support from its allies.

A Nation that does not have the respect of other nations as a whole will lose its influence and the lost of friends basically meant that your security will be threatened.

Yeah, piss on every oil producing nations and see what kind of results you will get. National interest and security is inter-linked with respect and favorable support from other nations.

Where is everyone getting this idea that I don't think that I don't think international respect is important? I think respect and credibility, if they can even be separated from moral standing, are the key to America having good foregin relations. I wrote this in my first post. I agree that losing friends means losing security. I don't think the United States should be isolationist, and I don't think pissing on other countries helps out America's interests.

[Samuel]

Sorry to rain on your parade of dog piles on Bush everyone, but there are areas where he is beloved. The Kurds for example love him because thanks to his "brilliant" strategic planning they are closer than ever to having their own country. (To which Turkey of course hates his guts for getting their own Kurdish population thinking that large parts of their country belong in this new country). Then there is Africa were he has done a somewhat good job. Aside from being a dancing fool few know him in Africa outside the fact he's increase aid to most of the countries there. And of course Hamas LOVES him, what with his call for "elections" got them in power in Gaza but they are a might distracted at the moment.

So lets recap, Africa because of aid, future Kurdistan(And won't THAT be a shitstorm) and Gaza. Heck of a Job Bushie. You won't go down as the worst American President in history only because I know you and your family have nothing better to do for the next thirty years than white-wash... white-wash that Presidency.

*Edit
Forgot one, the Saudi's, specifically the Saudi Royal family, still firm Bush friends.

So our friends are people who are backstabbing our former allies? Wonderful. As for Africa, China is getting into the competition and simply giving people money won't work forever.

[Kanastrous]

"George Bush is a visionary"

Maybe they're mistaking the DTs, for visions.

[Mr Bean]

So our friends are people who are backstabbing our former allies? Wonderful. As for Africa, China is getting into the competition and simply giving people money won't work forever.

Pretty much, but the Africa good will lasts long enough to get those history books written.