Rich Lowry enumerates some valid mistakes and disappointments incurred by President Bush during his eight years in office (“W’s Mistakes,” PostOpinion, Jan 13).
In his last press conference, Bush did an able job of defending his deep belief in America and his patriotic love for its citizens.
Unlike the president-elect, Bush does not (and never has) enjoyed a reputation for being eloquent or loquacious. But no one could ever doubt his love for his family and his country.
If he delivers that message in a rough-hewn manner, we must remind ourselves that it is also delivered directly from the bottom of his heart.
I am not sure what to make of Barack Obama, but I know that I will surely miss that quality from President Bush.
Godspeed to him and his family.
Tom Cahill
Manhattan
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Bush calls it his “farewell” speech, but most Americans call it a “good riddance” speech.
Any way you look at it, Bush is out of here as of Jan. 20.
All together now: Good riddance!
Herb Stark
Massapequa
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As the Bush days close, his legacy begins to be written. The left will make every effort to trash it, but the fact remains that Bush led when this nation needed a leader.
Bush inherited a sullied office and restored America’s faith in it.
His character and integrity proved invaluable when we suffered the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and he adapted to the threat by engaging the enemy on his own turf.
The disgraceful Clinton years of “turn a blind eye” foreign policy set in motion 9/11.
No president wants war, but real leaders understand when it is the only option to safeguard American lives. The fight remains, as must our vigilance.
Despite every effort to rewrite the books, history will look favorably upon Bush. He kept his oath, and we remain the greatest nation because of him.
John Owens
East Williston
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bush for his service to our country, and I would like to thank him on behalf of myself and my family.
On 9/11, my brother Glenn Perry, a lieutenant in the FDNY, died while trying to save others at the Twin Towers.
It was Bush who went to Ground Zero and vowed to get those who were responsible. In the seven years since, many members of al Queda and the Taliban have been killed, each one bringing a smile to my face and a respect for our president.
There are those who say that the war in Iraq is wrong and that we created new terrorists who entered Iraq to fight our troops. Those people hated America long before the Iraq war.
If they didn’t enter Iraq to fight us there, they would have spent every waking moment trying to figure out how to kill us here.
Patrick Perry
Staten Island
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There were other mistakes that Bush committed in his two terms that Lowry did not mention.
Bush allowed government spending to quadruple. He never vetoed any spending bills when the Republicans had control of Congress, and he continued spending even when the Democrats were in charge.
Bush created the office of intelligence czar and the Department of Homeland Security, two useless entities.
Bush asked for and signed the failed No Child Left Behind law and Medicare prescription-drug legislation, which added more spending and burdened future generations.
He has never called for an end to wasteful departments, agencies or programs.
Bush deserves credit for protecting the homeland from another terrorist threat after 9/11, as well as choosing good judges to fill the federal courts and the Supreme Court.
On all else, Bush has failed miserably.
Alex Pugliese
Kenilworth, NJ