Bush’s Advice for Obama

George W. Bush offered some advice to his successor, Barack Obama, and gave the public an impression of how things will unfold after his troubled presidency, says AFP, taken by NewsIn. “There will be disappointments, I promise you. On the other hand, the job is so exciting and so profound that the disappointments will be clearly, you know, a minor irritant. Sometimes the biggest disappointments will come from your so-called friends.”

At his last press conference as president, Bush held onto his principles and defended his eight years as president, years which are ending with the lowest popularity rate he’s ever had. He didn’t comment on the upcoming president’s administration, one of the most sensitive transitions of power in American history. Moreover, Bush didn’t make any important announcements, which would have been unlikely anyway, given the fact that he has only eight days until withdrawal.

One of the last significant decisions he could make – asking the Congress to unlock 350 billion dollars for handling the economic crisis – was made public after the press conference, by spokesman Dana Perino. Before January 20th, Bush can still make use of his power by granting a few pardons, for example, to former chief of staff to the vice president, Lewis Libby, but Bush refused to make any statements on the issue.

He responded to a question asked by a journalist from the New York Times, regarding the mistakes he made during the last eight years. He acknowledged them and took responsibility for them.

He also described what awaits Obama. He said that the president-elect will feel the full weight of presidency as soon as he steps into the Oval Office. “At least that’s when I felt it,” said Bush, joking about the fact that since he doesn’t have the same oratorical skill as Obama, he was too focused on his inaugural address to ponder the realities of the position. Also, Bush declared himself “lucky” to be offered a front seat for “this historical moment” – the first African-American president being sworn in.

In addition, he warned Obama that he will be faced with harsh criticism and that “he will have to do what he thinks is right. And if you don’t, then I don’t see how you can live with yourself.”

On the 20th of January, Bush will go back to Texas, where he says he will look at himself in the mirror with pride. On January 21st he will wake up on his farm in Crawford and make coffee for his wife, Laura, he added. For the first time in a long time, he won’t be handed the morning’s briefing on all the threats hanging over the country.

Bush has declared his intention of dedicating his time to his political institute in Dallas, promoting his views, and writing a book. “I just can’t envision myself, you know, the big straw hat and a Hawaiian shirt sitting on some beach…particularly since I quit drinking,” ended the current president.