President George Bush Presidental farewell address 2009 in washington dc 1-15-09 part 1 with words

words at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090115-17.html

part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmd8zBrDVnk&fmt=18

8:01 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Fellow citizens: For eight years, it has been my honor to serve as your President. The first decade of this new century has been a period of consequence -- a time set apart. Tonight, with a thankful heart, I have asked for a final opportunity to share some thoughts on the journey that we have traveled together, and the future of our nation.

Five days from now, the world will witness the vitality of American democracy. In a tradition dating back to our founding, the presidency will pass to a successor chosen by you, the American people. Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose history reflects the enduring promise of our land. This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole nation. And I join all Americans in offering best wishes to President-Elect Obama, his wife Michelle, and their two beautiful girls.

Tonight I am filled with gratitude -- to Vice President Cheney and members of my administration; to Laura, who brought joy to this house and love to my life; to our wonderful daughters, Barbara and Jenna; to my parents, whose examples have provided strength for a lifetime. And above all, I thank the American people for the trust you have given me. I thank you for the prayers that have lifted my spirits. And I thank you for the countless acts of courage, generosity, and grace that I have witnessed these past eight years.

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.

Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Security has been created. The military, the intelligence community, and the FBI have been transformed. Our nation is equipped with new tools to monitor the terrorists' movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots. And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them. Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored al Qaeda and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school. Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of America to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend of the United States.

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. This is a tribute to those who toil night and day to keep us safe -- law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, homeland security and diplomatic personnel, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Our nation is blessed to have citizens who volunteer to defend us in this time of danger. I have cherished meeting these selfless patriots and their families. And America owes you a debt of gratitude. And to all our men and women in uniform listening tonight: There has been no higher honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief.

The battles waged by our troops are part of a broader struggle between two dramatically different systems. Under one, a small band of fanatics demands total obedience to an oppressive ideology, condemns women to subservience, and marks unbelievers for murder. The other system is based on the conviction that freedom is the universal gift of Almighty God, and that liberty and justice light the path to peace.

(note: sry the words are too long so i had to take out 6 paragraphs, they will be posted in part 2.

Category:

News & Politics

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• George
• Bush
• Presidental
• farewell
• address
• 2009
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• 1/15/08
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[banzaimotorcross]

Morning of 9/11 you were in FL. Flight 93 was never found at shanksville there was no signs of a plane crash, That's been confirmed, 20;11.Stock market will crash. TODAY Russia & China refuse to use or deal with USD, Gold &Silver will go through the roof ,the euro will collapse. food cost will sky rocket like gold and silver. unemployment is @ 23% NOW!,go up 50-60% in12mo, gas will hit $4.by summer $5-7 12mo, all this is promised Thanks TO BUSH 1&2, CLINTON, OBAMA. for selling out INFOWARS,C

[spollock7770]

@MrJ567 Well you need to get your facts straight, because after Clinton, we didn't have a national debt, Bush spent Trillions of dollars on the shitstorm in the middle east. He passed all sorts of legislation that has screwed over the country, he ruined our nations image and failed to preserve our constitutional rights. While I agree that the Bailouts were not a goood move, that doesn't equal out to what Bush did. Healthcare isn't failed... he's going to put it through reconciliation and pass it

[picark]

I like bush especially on a women. George Dubya smoked pot for a month one night.

[MrJDavidson]

I listened to Bush's inaugural address when he gave it, but I had stopped listening to him long before this speech. I was curious to see what he had to say to us before he left office. From 9:10-10:17 is remarkable. He knows he is the true terrorist, and he knows what we must do together in order to stop him. He told us how to resist him together. We must resist complacency and never let our guard down. His masters are always plotting against us, and they lull us into complacency.

[tonysykora1]

i miss bush

[JohnAdams198805]

i dont miss him 

[staviwavi222]

Find Eisenhower's farewell speech. That is what a real president looks like. God help us all if we are unable to do the damage of the Military-Industrial Complex.

[bleekblock]

@bigbrogiant4 The spending on two wars represents less than 1% of GDP. The deficit is from domestic spending. The deficit under Bush was still less than 4% of GDP. Obama more than doubled it.

[bleekblock]

@daptekar He went after both. Bin Laden escaped at Tora Bora. He attacked Al Qaeda all around the world. President Obama to the baton. I give credit to both presidents. We have been at war with Bin Laden since 1993 when the Trade Center was hit the first time. It took 3 administrations to kill him.

[daptekar]

Bush didn't do anything to get Bin Laden. He went ofter Saddam Hussein.

[JudgeMagisterDelita]

@southport97 You are a moron. It's not that simple. OBL was captured due to a very long term gathering of intelligence by both Bush and Obama.