December 24, 2007
Posted: 11:57 AM ET

President Bush phoned U.S. troops from Camp David Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush made his traditional Christmas Eve calls to members of the U.S. military Monday morning, thanking them for their sacrifice.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino says Bush reached out to three soldiers, two sailors, two airmen, two marines and one member of the coast guard serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.

Perino says the President said the country was proud of them, and that he is proud to serve as their commander in chief. He also thanked the service members for their contributions to the country, and for serving a cause that is "very noble."

According to Perino, the president went on to say he understood it's hard for their children not to have them at home for the holidays, but that as they get older they will appreciate the sacrifices their parents made to keep the country safe.

Perino says Bush also asked the service members to pass on to those serving with them a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush are spending the Christmas holiday at the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Joining them are Mrs. Bush's mother, Jenna Welch, daughters Jenna and Barbara, and President Bush's siblings Doro Bush Koch and Marvin Bush and their families.

Perino said President Bush will be spending the day enjoying time with his family. She said they love being at the presidential retreat, since it's a chance to be outdoors and catch up with one another.

According to a White House press release, the first family and their guests Christmas day will dine on roast turkey, cornbread dressing, pancetta green beans, sweet potato casserole, fresh fruit salad, parker house rolls, red velvet cake and pumpkin and pecan pies.

On December 26, President Bush and his family are scheduled to head to their ranch in Crawford, Texas, where they will spend the remainder of the holidays.

–CNN Correspondent Kathleen Koch

Filed under: President Bush


Ajay Jain, Garland, TX   December 27th, 2007 12:36 am ET

Andy, Evansville, IN says "Imagine now, if Iraq becomes another democratic Islamic nation down the road,
well, like Turkey… keep dreaming!! I am not. I want our troops home by 2009.

Go Hillary44 08! http://hillaryis44.org/

Ajay Jain   December 26th, 2007 5:46 pm ET

PUTIN, Time's Person of the YEAR 2007:

After 8 years in Presidential office PUTIN makes the TIME Cover "Person of the Year 2007″ and in the same period Dubya Bush 43rd President of the only Super Power in the world remains at 30 percent popularity vs Putin enjoys 70% popularity. Two OPPOSITE scenarios!!

Bush is reaping what he has sown. An unstable world with two pre-emptive WARS with no end in sight. Putin thus emerges as the angry man that roused nationalistic fervor throughout Russia which has gone Anti-American.

Bush has the greatness to not only dream up a State of the Union address like "AXIS-OF-EVIL" speech but he dared deliver it because it suited his neo-con ideas of winning in IRAQ and rebuilding IRAQ with "IRAQ Oil money".

Where was Dr Rice then? Where is Dr Rice now. Salvaging what is left of the Middle East. Trying to BUILD any semblance of BUSH foreign policy legacy!!!

We are sitting on a powder keg of dynamite called BUSH junior who has the audacity to utter phrases like "World War III…,", a sitting President of the USA!!!!

Putin has to make the TIME cover for 2007!!! Time editor's are smart. Because a lot depends on Putin now!!!!

Has BUSH not done enough already!! Is he going to give us a WW III but for the CIA NIE report on Iran. Cheney "can not OUT" all the agents of the 16 Intelligence communities that go into making the NIE report!!!!

May GOD save our nation and the world till January 2009.

We NEED the CLINTONS in the White House to put our country and the world back in order.

Go Hillary44 08! http://hillaryis44.org/

CK, Arlington, VA   December 26th, 2007 4:02 pm ET

Brad, from the great state of Texas:

You have it so right Brad. Thank God we have a President that has the —-s to see the job through regardless of poll numbers, Monday morning quarterbacks and spineless politicians. Clinton despite all the reminisccing by all his groupies, was not up the job. He was weak, mediocre as Presidents go and did not have the guts to do what might be percieved as unpopular. That is what happens when you're "poll reader".

PW Va   December 26th, 2007 1:59 pm ET

Real nice touch, W, as commander-in-chief…pretty brazen of you to send holiday greetings to our brave troops and yet YOU'RE too sorry to even hold the phone up to your OWN EAR!!! Someone else has to do even that for you!!! You are truly the pits!!!!

Kathryn Irby - Metairie, LA   December 26th, 2007 12:33 pm ET

I can't believe the nerve of this terminal idiot! He is the culprit for the thousands of deaths of our American men and women soldiers!!! Send the Twinnies!

Val Davydov, Agawam, MA   December 26th, 2007 12:52 am ET

HEY LQ Rochester MN. It warms my heart to hear a liberal confess that they love America - that's great, keep it up. NOW LET'S JUST SHOW SOME OF THAT LOVE IN ACTION please, not just words.

Tommy, St. Louis, MO   December 25th, 2007 9:19 pm ET

"Our Commander-in-Chief hs made possible yet another Christmas without Americans living under Muslim rule." (Andy in New York)

Wow, it's shocking to me that anybody can honestly believe this garbage and try to spread it around. You must be a White House employee. The truth is, those "evil" Muslims do not even have the power to drive us out of their own countries (Iraq and Afghanistan) or overthrow their dictators who work in our interests rather than their own people's (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) - much less come here and occupy the entire U.S., and force all 300 million of us to live according to their wishes. They are weak and that is why we can pick on them the way we do. "Peace through strength" goes for them too, but they don't have any strength. The things we do to Iraq every day, we could never have done to the Soviet Union. So a few of them get mad and carry out a terrorist act against the U.S. - I know that is sad, but how weak in the knees do you have to be, to buy into Bush's B.S. and seriously worry that the security of the whole country is at stake? What makes you think in such a backwards way? Tell me, in what concrete way, can a single terrorist act, 9/11 or otherwise, actually threaten to overthrow our government? They would need a modern state-of-the-art military, like ours, to even begin to threaten us in that way, and the fact is, they simply don't have it. This comment has no logic, but sadly shows how racism and xenophobia, and fear run rampant in this society and are exploited by those in power to commit injustices in historic proportions.

From the North   December 25th, 2007 8:09 pm ET

"Bush sends holiday cheer to troops"
Right - HAHAHAHA
There is no one on this planet that a call from BUSH could bring cheer to!!!
He should have spent his time dialing a prayer.

Walt, Belton, TX   December 25th, 2007 7:55 pm ET

God bless you, Mr President!

Brad, from the great state of Texas   December 25th, 2007 7:16 pm ET

Amazing… Bush Derangement Syndrome has now apparently morphed into Texas Derangement Syndrome, huh Adam from MD and Ed from Orlando? And by the way, ImpeachBush from TX, I'm embarrassed YOU are from Texas.

Matthew may be wrong in saying Bush is a great president, but our president isn't all those dumb names liberals call him (which really show their lack of class). This administration has made many mistakes, but not because Bush is a Texan or a Christian. Had he gone into Iraq with more troops from the get-go, we'd all be talking about how GW deposed a murderous lunatic and changed the landscape of the Middle East.

I will agree with Matthew on one thing– Clinton had Bin Laden, but he was embroiled in a scandal and was therefore too afraid of world opinion to do any more than lob a few cruise missiles. If it had been Bush, he would've said "screw world opinion, let's get that SOB!"

"What's right is not always popular… what's popular is not always right"

S, Orlando, FL   December 25th, 2007 7:12 pm ET

"AND TO THINK THE LEFTIES THINK BUSH IS ADVERSELY AFFECTING THEIR RIGHTS. TALK ABOUT FASCIST! TO THOSE THAT SUPPORT BUSH, BE COMFORTED TO KNOW TRUMAN WAS SUBJECT TO NEAR IDENTICAL CRITICISM. HISTORY GAVE HIM THE LEGACY HE DESERVES…SAME WILL BE TRUE OF BUSH.

Posted By Bill, Fort Riley, KS : December 25, 2007 8:52 am "

Truman never lied this country into war and got thousands of people killed as a result. I challenge all the Bushlickers on this site to name the ways in which the Iraq war has been beneficial to the United States because I can't think of any.

Bush's legacy? The little scumbag will be lucky at this point to just be remembered as a failed president. Instead, he'll be remembered as the most despised criminal to ever slither his way into the Oval Office. Get used to it.

LB, Franklin Lakes, NJ   December 25th, 2007 6:03 pm ET

"It must really perplex you that President Bush had better academic skills than your poster boy John Kerry. "

Posted By Larry / Covington, Louisiana : December 25, 2007 5:25 am

Uh, Nimrod, Bush was a c-student at Yale. Kerry was an A student. Kerry played football. Bush was a cheerleader. Kerry was interested in serving his country while Bush was the town drunk of Crawford Tx and failing at every business he tried. How does one fail in the oil business in Texas? Until he met the puppet master Rove who arranged it so that soft brains like you could possibly think that Bush is something more than the failure he actually is.

Patrick, Denver Colorado   December 25th, 2007 5:11 pm ET

To those of you who say Bush should be in Iraq, McCain did this on Thanksgiving and actually got critized by those against the war for being political, how disgusting

Ajay Jain   December 25th, 2007 2:43 pm ET

He should send his twin daughters as ambassadors to the front.

Go Hillary44 08! http://hillaryis44.org/

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   December 25th, 2007 1:29 pm ET

HISTORY GAVE HIM THE LEGACY HE DESERVES…SAME WILL BE TRUE OF BUSH.

———–

Although one of his lies was that he was a "uniter not a divider", Bush probably has everyone in agreement that they want him to get the legacy that he deserves.

Jose Card - Independent   December 25th, 2007 1:07 pm ET

The matter of the fact is that if our service men and women are not working to protect us, we won't be able to enjoy Christmas the way we do.

Donate to USO!

http://www.uso.org/

WhereInTheWorldIsOsamaBinLaden   December 25th, 2007 12:53 pm ET

Two countries invaded. Where is Osama, Mr Bush?

Bill, Fort Riley, KS   December 25th, 2007 8:52 am ET

"We have a real bunch of Bush-supporting clowns commenting on this response page. Any idiot who has such a simplistic thinking capacity as to believe that criticisms of this lying, war criminal president somehow equates to hatred of America shouldn't even be allowed to commentate or have an opinion on political matters. Good lord."

+++++++++++++++

AND TO THINK THE LEFTIES THINK BUSH IS ADVERSELY AFFECTING THEIR RIGHTS. TALK ABOUT FASCIST! TO THOSE THAT SUPPORT BUSH, BE COMFORTED TO KNOW TRUMAN WAS SUBJECT TO NEAR IDENTICAL CRITICISM. HISTORY GAVE HIM THE LEGACY HE DESERVES…SAME WILL BE TRUE OF BUSH.

Sam IA   December 25th, 2007 6:51 am ET

Thanks to our troops for their sacrifice. To Matthew. Everyone except the 30% who still worship the childking knows that the 98 report about Bin Laden was proved to be BS. So what has your hero done to capture him with 7 years of opportunities?

hey allons,tn   December 25th, 2007 5:50 am ET

hey hello this is your president commander yellow coward safe at camp david mary christmas

Tyler, Cambridge, MA   December 25th, 2007 5:39 am ET

"I dont what to hear any more about people's rights, privacy, or any other garbage until this war on terror is OVER."

Don't you realize that they have created "1984″. Even Bush, in a moment of candor, admitted the war against terror is unwinnable. The next day his handlers scrambled to cover it up. It is also unloseable. At what point is the enemy defeated? At what point are we? How many times have we taken out "the number 2 guy"? What does the invasion of Iraq have to do with terrorism? All the intelligence agrees - nothing. There is nothing noble about this war. It is not protecting our whiny liberal freedoms. It is endangering all of us - like swatting at a beehive.

Spread love. Spread peace. Spread unity. Then we might win.

"Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys"

Larry / Covington, Louisiana   December 25th, 2007 5:25 am ET

To Len of Fallbrook: Great to hear intelligent and reasonable commentary. One can only hope that this can press through the hatred of the predominantly liberal posters on this site. It is refreshing to see truth.

To those who imagine that those in the administration are lining their pockets, you might want to consider the financial losses that Cheney incurred in giving up his lucrative position at Halliburton to serve as Vice President. He didn't need to step up to the plate to serve, and it cost him. How many of you would give up a multi-million dollar position to serve for a fraction of the benefits and many more headaches? He wasn’t looking for the job—he was asked, and fortunately he accepted the challenge.

And how many of you critics are sharp enough to pass the tests and to eventually fly a fighter? You equate smooth speech with intelligence, which says more about your lack of intelligence than those whom you criticize. It must really perplex you that President Bush had better academic skills than your poster boy John Kerry. That has to be frustrating for you. You are better men than I am, I could not handle the humiliation. You, on the other hand, display great maturity and grace, reflected in your fine own fine and eloquent speech.

Tom, Bloomfield Hills, MI   December 25th, 2007 5:25 am ET

"the hundreds folks I know that have been on the front lines in Iraq at the pointed end of the spear say we are doing the right thing over there."

1. Soldiers are conditioned to accept orders without question or dissent.

2. Psychologically, it is only natural that people who are risking their lives for a mission are going to find a way to justify it in their minds. How else could one in such a horrific situation pull himself out of bed in the morning? The opinions of soldiers are very subjective and biased for their own mental stability.

3. The primary reason we went to war was for profit. Having worked in Washington, I can tell you that EVERYTHING that comes out of government is motivated by greed and power and sold on some noble lie.

4. I think these soldiers deserve even more of our honor and respect. Not because they are "defending our freedom" or some such lie, but because they continue to do their jobs despite the overwhelming evidence against its validity. To me, that is heroic and I have nothing but respect for the soldiers do their jobs. God bless.

S, Orlando, FL   December 25th, 2007 3:04 am ET

We have a real bunch of Bush-supporting clowns commenting on this response page. Any idiot who has such a simplistic thinking capacity as to believe that criticisms of this lying, war criminal president somehow equates to hatred of America shouldn't even be allowed to commentate or have an opinion on political matters. Good lord.

Aaron Kinney, Sherman Oaks CA   December 25th, 2007 12:52 am ET

Did Bush perhaps send the troops some body armor for x-mas?

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   December 25th, 2007 12:47 am ET

DH, Flagstaff, AZ

It has been reported by one source that the 9/11 attack was in retaliation for Clinton's effort to kill bin Laden earlier. Bin Laden's top man Ayman Al-Zawahiri last year taunted Bush, saying, "Bush, do you know where I am? I am among the Muslim masses, enjoying their care with God's blessings and sharing with them their holy war against you until we defeat you." (sounds like laughing to me). After no comments from him for a year, just a few days before the 2004 elections, bin Laden denounced both candidates in a move which obviously intentionally favored Bush's re-election. Apparently bin Laden was not concerned about Bush and prefered Bush stay in office to help his own recruiting.

In the 8 months Bush was in office, he made no effort whatsoever to prevent "al Qaeda to flourish unabated in Afghanistan". He had every bit as much military intelligence as Clinton had PLUS 8 MONTHS NEWER INFO. He did nothing, but managed a full month vacation right before 9/11. George Tenet testified he hadn't heard from Bush.

Scorecard: Attempts on bin Laden's life before 9/11 - Clinton 1 Bush 0.

Mark R. Fort Lauderdale FL   December 24th, 2007 10:35 pm ET

13 months

Cable King Pittsburgh PA   December 24th, 2007 10:03 pm ET

Spot Dubya 3 countries and methinks he still can't locate Iraq on a map.

IN hoosier allons,tn   December 24th, 2007 9:04 pm ET

you bet he smoked in-hale cocaine how the crop in afghanisian from camp david love it.

Len, Fallbrook, CA   December 24th, 2007 8:33 pm ET

"He is a draft dodging coward with no class"

I think you have him confused with Bill "Slick Willy" Clinton who never served a day.

Interesting point, the hundreds folks I know that have been on the front lines in Iraq at the pointed end of the spear say we are doing the right thing over there.

The multitude of the posters here I suspect have never served and would not know what the pointed end of a spear is are the ones making all the noise, generally about a situation they know very little about.

Talk to some that have been there, then decide.

Merry Christmas

Jim in Orlando, FL   December 24th, 2007 8:30 pm ET

Brendon in Texas,
The smallness of your intellect is only further magnified by your inability to compete with both wit and backbone. What is for certain is that with your current lack of constitution, you will always be standing behind someone else, which is fine with me, as I do not want you in my way. If BC had been half the man as GB, we would not face the difficulties we now do. If you hadn't noticed, Bin Laden tries to rally support against GB in his diatribes, but he simply mocks BC. He knows who to respect. Merry Christmas !

Len, Fallbrook, CA   December 24th, 2007 8:21 pm ET

To All My Democrat Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Brian, Orlando, Florida   December 24th, 2007 8:21 pm ET

Dear Troops,

Thank you for being over there so my cronies can make lots of money and we can drive up the price of oil.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with $3.50 gas come Memorial Day,

President Bush "The Decider!"

Andy B Goodyear, AZ   December 24th, 2007 8:17 pm ET

HA HA Shouldn't the headline be AWOL Coward phones brave Amercan soldiers from the comfort of home. As a USMC Viet Nam Veteran I spit on Bush the coward and the Swift Boat veteran movement.

Bet CNN won't post this.

Bill Culver, Covington,LA   December 24th, 2007 8:01 pm ET

Thanke to bill in Orlando,Fla. And like bill My Father, two brothers and I have 60 years of militay service to this country, How many of those know nothing creeps bashin the President have served? Certanly not the great slick willie,their hero. give it a break

DH, Flagstaff, AZ   December 24th, 2007 7:30 pm ET

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL:

Bin Laden is hardly laughing. It was very revealing to learn that Bin Laden was very surprised at America's stern reaction to 9/11…al Qaeda did not expect the magnitude of the U.S.'s military response. More likely he was accustomed to Clinton's weak responses to terrorist attacks of the past, and expected more wimpiness on the part of America. I suspect he was laughing at Clinton, but certainly not Bush. Fact is if Clinton had shown some leadership ability he wouldn't have descimated our intelligence community through budget cuts. Clinton demonstrated a lack of political backbone by allowing al Qaeda to flourish unabated in Afghanistan during his Administration. If that idiot had so much political capital as some say, why didn't he spend some of it to eradicate the training camps? Clinton is very much responsible for 9/11.

Bob, Des Moines, Iowa   December 24th, 2007 7:21 pm ET

"Keep in mind, if it wasn't for Clinton, Bin Laden would have been captured by now, for it was him who had a chance to get him in '98, how'd that work out?"

Actually, Clinton tried to go after Osama. His Republican Congress opposed his efforts because they felt his preemptive strike without overwhelming evidence would have overstepped the bounds of the executive branch. Now, those same Republicans are rewriting history (again) and taking the completely opposite stand just to play party politics.

sir - move beyond conservative or liberal and find truth.

LQ Rochester MN   December 24th, 2007 7:07 pm ET

HEY Val Davydov, Agawam, MA - I do NOT hate my country. I love my country. I love what my country is supposed to stand for.
This poor excuse for a man and a president literally makes me sick. Because of his lies, thousands of American troops have been killed or injured - not to mention how many more with mental health problems that the VA has been unable to address - and let's not forget the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed, injured or displaced. All because of his lies.
I have been voting since 1972 and this is the worst I have ever seen.
Yeah, why doesn't he make a nice gesture and go eat his stupid Christmas dinner over in Iraq?

I support our troops completely. I'd love for them to come home now. Let them spend the holidays with their families.

CS, Gerald, MO   December 24th, 2007 6:32 pm ET

"Wow! What disrespect being shown to a GREAT President! I'm sorry, i guess all of you dumb liberals like "noble" presidents like Bill "BJ" Clinton? You remember him don't you, the one who couldn't stay faithful to his marriage? Keep in mind, if it wasn't for Clinton, Bin Laden would have been captured by now, for it was him who had a chance to get him in '98, how'd that work out?"

Posted By Matthew, Keller, TX : December 24, 2007 11:53 am

——————————————————————————–

In the history of this great Nation, both Republican and Democrat presidents have been unfortunate enough to preside over wars. The difference this time is we have become a divided nation and cannot seem to find a common rallying point the likes of past wars. Take for instance your position, actually reduced to name calling as your supportive argument in a forum that should be used for intellectual debate.

"Bush sent the soldiers to Iraq for YOUR freedom, liberals. As far as Im concerned the consitition is not applicable to times of war, and right now we are in a war on terror. Mitt Romney understands this. I dont what to hear any more about people's rights, privacy, or any other garbage until this war on terror is OVER."

Posted By James, South Tampa, FL : December 24, 2007 3:17 pm

——————————————————————————–

WOW!!! I think "We the People" may feel otherwise. A loosely defined war is no reason to tear up the Constitution, the very mold that defines and guides this Nation through good times and bad. As per your position, Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines terror as, "a state of intense fear". This is when level heads must rise above those who wish to inflict this fear. The Constitution of these great United States outlines the very Freedoms we have enjoyed for over 200 years. To simply make the Constitution not "applicable" would invariably give terrorists the outcome they had hoped to achieve. God I hope you and Mitt do not share opinions.

MERRY X-MAS,LA.   December 24th, 2007 6:15 pm ET

THANK YOU MARY, MATHEW AND VAL. GOD BLESS OUR BRAVE TROOPS AND MAY GOD PLACE A NEW TOUCH OF HEART IN THE MUSLIM HATE THAT EXIST. MAY THEIR LEADERS CHANGE THEIR EVIL WAYS OF KILLING CHILDREN, GRANDMOTHERS, GRANDFATHERS , ANMALS.LET PEACE RULE. AMEN!

Andy. New York, New York   December 24th, 2007 6:07 pm ET

Our Commander-in-Chief hs made possible yet another Christmas without Americans living under Muslim rule. All you ingrates who spent the last six years living normal lives should thank God that Bush is your President, because when Clinton was President, the terrorists were attacking us and our interests with impunity. 9-11 was the last atack. Ever wondered why? Our troops diverted the terrorists attention away from us, and we beat the hell out of them right in their own front yeard so we didn't have to fight them in our own house! History is going to look very kindly and grateful on Bush when the dust of what hapened in the past 7 years finally settle. As for Clinton and Clinton, two lawyers who are so phony and full of themselves, history will always remember them as DOING NOTHING WHILE TERRORISTS ATTACKED US! Hail Bush! "The Bush burned but was not consumed!"

Karen, Utica NY   December 24th, 2007 6:01 pm ET

The best Christmas gift that one could give is a call to ALL the faithful… We need MORE Disciples and LESS Christians — if our Faith is to Survive.

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=28964

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   December 24th, 2007 5:09 pm ET

Anyone ever stop to wonder (or give thanks) as to why we haven't had another 9-11 on our soil? Just lucky, huh? The message went out loud and clear: if we even think your country will help pull a stunt again like 9-11 we are going to come down on you and wipe out your leadership. They got the message–it is only limp-brained liberals who don't have a clue

————————–

Bush FAILED to stop 9/11, even though he had 8 months to do it and had more spy intelligence than Clinton ever had. How "limp-brained" can anyone be to delude themselves into thinking Bush is preventing foreigners from sneaking into our nation daily? Anyone can easily sneak into our country from Mexico and Canada. Bush fought increased import inspections and to put port control into the hands of an Arab company.

"we are going to come down on you and wipe out your leadership". Just like Bush has done in SIX YEARS to Osama bin Laden and his top man? Osama is still laughing at Bush and the U.S. Bush has sent more Americans to die in Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11 than there were Americans killed here by bin Laden while Bush read "The Pet Goat". Get back into the real world and don't be so "limp-brained".

Joe, Port St Lucie, FL   December 24th, 2007 5:02 pm ET

So using your theory, Abraham Lincoln would be considered the WORST president ever. The blood of 620,000 soldiers is "on his hands."
Posted By Tyler, Albany, OR : December 24, 2007 1:20 pm

No, Tyler from Albany, that would be using your stupid, nonsensical version of thinking that you and your buddies can bounce off each other and claim to be "logic".

Lincoln presided over a war to, quite literally, bring the nation together. It wasn't an unjust war in a foreign land that was based on lies to the American people. Lincoln also didn't bungle the operation and execution of the Civil War. The Civil War wasn't founded on lies and shoved down the throats of the American people by preying on their fears after the worst domestic attack in half a century. Most importantly, the Civil war was a war between Americans, where each of those fighting had a vested interest. W is "overseeing", and I use that term very loosely, a civil war raging between ethnic groups with our soldiers caught in the crossfire. So yeah, he made a few phone calls before he headed off to his presidential retreat. I hope he sleeps peacefully while the soldiers he "commands" serve bravely as he himself never did.

And for the love of God, are you people ever going to get over the fact that Bill Clinton got a BJ? To those of you who cannot, I say only this: Mark Foley, Newt Gingrich, Larry Craig, Bob Barr, Robert Allen, etc. etc. etc.

And with that, I'm OUT. Merry Christmas all.

ProudVet ny ny   December 24th, 2007 4:09 pm ET

To all of those compasionate conservative REPUGS

Get a life and if you don't appreciate yours, go to iraq and get your head blown off.

Commander in Sin that's hat gb is along with all who defend him.

May the Baby Jesus protect the men and women in our military nd their families who have been completely NEGLECTED by the repugs-all of them-

Trash they are and with bloody hands….SHAME

John from America   December 24th, 2007 3:46 pm ET

As Christmas approaches one must understand that GOD will judge George Bush and his accomplices!

It won't be a happy day for the thieves and lairs and justice will prevail!

George Bush the "greatest president" WHAT A SAD JOKE! If George wasn't so concerned about stealing Iraq's oil, we would have had enough troops in Afghanistan to capture Bin Laden when he was trapped on the mountain by the 10th mountain division troops. But no, George and company had to commit our troops to Iraq where we are now stuck in the middle of a civil war thats draining our treasury!

What happened to the George Bush that declared during the presidential debates that "Our nation doesn't do nation building" criticizing President Clinton's efforts at every step.

I truly believe that all posters here have America's best interest at heart but, some of you are being deceived by preconceived prejudices and just plain old greed. You are turning a blind eye to the great deception - Attack Saddam for his oil and let Bin Laden get away - SHAME!

Merry Christmas to ALL

Larry / Covington, Louisiana   December 24th, 2007 3:45 pm ET

And by the way, to add a little cheer for the liberals, as a conservative I will admit that President Bush totally botched the immigration issue, and he failed miserably to put the brakes on government spending, along with a Congress bent on buying votes with pork. There, happy? But Iraq is not the disaster that you think it is. People 10 or 20 years from now will finally come to understand this.

Larry / Covington, Louisiana   December 24th, 2007 3:33 pm ET

Anyone ever stop to wonder (or give thanks) as to why we haven't had another 9-11 on our soil? Just lucky, huh? The message went out loud and clear: if we even think your country will help pull a stunt again like 9-11 we are going to come down on you and wipe out your leadership. They got the message–it is only limp-brained liberals who don't have a clue. North Korea also learned the lesson that they definitely do not want to take on the U.S. Military on the battlefield. Try to add up the positive dividends of that lesson—they are higher than you can count.

Curiously (or not so), few in our military hate the Commander in Chief as much as those who consider themselves superior to anyone who might join the military. Most of you are getting a free ride because of the sacrifices of others past and others present. If the lot of you were around during World War II we would have given up in the first year when all looked so hopeless. We lost more soldiers & marines taking no-name islands in weeks than we have in taking a country and then having years of occupation–and yet you dare call this defeat. If and when you get your way and we withdraw into selfish smugness, you will soon see the wolf at the door. But I am sure that you will then call that somebody else's fault too. I'll close by saluting our fine military. Congratulations to you all. Most of us know what you have accomplished, and it is tremendous. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Kim, Sacramento, CA   December 24th, 2007 3:32 pm ET

President Bush - Spread some real holiday cheer to the troops and their families by ending this unjust war and bringing them home.

Ivan, Chicago, Illinois   December 24th, 2007 3:30 pm ET

The only Cheer the Troops want to hear:
YOUR COMING NOW.
No more WAITING and DYING for the Iraqi's to get their act together.

ImpeachBush, Texas   December 24th, 2007 3:27 pm ET

ED orlando FL ~ Geez Ed, it’s already embarrassing enough this wannabe, drugstore cowboy lives here, do you have to rub it in?

If voters had only done a little research they would have immediately learned this idiot has never accomplished anything on his own. He's always been a pawn in someone else's game.

James, South Tampa, FL   December 24th, 2007 3:17 pm ET

Bush sent the soldiers to Iraq for YOUR freedom, liberals. As far as Im concerned the consitition is not applicable to times of war, and right now we are in a war on terror. Mitt Romney understands this. I dont what to hear any more about people's rights, privacy, or any other garbage until this war on terror is OVER.

Mike, Dallas TX   December 24th, 2007 2:59 pm ET

"You are pathetic bunch, liberals. You hate the president and this country so much that NOTHING he does will make you happy. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you anyway."

We are not liberals. Conservatives, independents and libertarians can all find reasons to hate the man. We love our country and that is why these last seven years have been so painful. Our troops don't even support him, they follow his orders b/c they have no choice. I work at the VA as a physician and even the WWII vets hate him. He is a draft dodging coward with no class and a small intellect. God save the US!

Mike, Dallas TX   December 24th, 2007 2:54 pm ET

So using your theory, Abraham Lincoln would be considered the WORST president ever. The blood of 620,000 soldiers is "on his hands."

His nickname was honest Abe right? W is a lying mass murder who will stack up well next to President Jackson and Hoover as the worst president is the history of the US. You are a delusional mental case if you think Bush will be looked on kindly or compared in any manner to Abe Lincoln.

Elizabeth Kleinert, Boothbay, ME   December 24th, 2007 2:49 pm ET

"GREAT GESTURE ON THE PRESIDENT'S PART"
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!

Elizabeth Kleinert, Boothbay, ME   December 24th, 2007 2:47 pm ET

"Bush sends Holiday Cheer to our troops"!!!!!!!

WHAT KIND OF CHEER CAN THEY HAVE?????
WHO PUT THEM THERE?
BE SURE TO ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY CHEER, MR PRESIDENT WHILE THE ONES YOU SENT OVERSEAS WILL STILL BE RISKING THEIR LIVES-NOT IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM, BUT BY YOUR DOING. THEY SHOULDN'T BE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!

ELIZABETH KLEINERT (WHO INCIDENTLY TRUSTED YOU AND VOTED FOR YOU)

PW Va   December 24th, 2007 2:46 pm ET

I'm certain our young men and women in uniform have a lot more to contend with other than a very hollow and insignificant remark from w. No one of any depth believes a word he utters anyway at this late date.

Ted, Riverhead, NY   December 24th, 2007 2:38 pm ET

"When are you so-called hyper-Americans going to wakeup? You can't support the troops and the war at the same time. It's the war that's killing them. Or haven't you figured that out yet?

Posted By Oh so Wise Cape Coral FL"

Oh so Wise…….. NOT! You can always support the troops, and their mission, yet still recognize that soldiers die in times of war. Sad, but still a fact and cost of liberty. Many of the citizens, I'm sure, supported the cause and troops in the war against England. I'm even sure a few of the Colonials died, but how did that one turn out again??

Lou, Miami Florida   December 24th, 2007 2:27 pm ET

Are you serious? Comparing this idiot to Abraham Lincoln is blasphemy. Get real and Merry Christmas!!!

Theo, Manorville, NY   December 24th, 2007 2:18 pm ET

What a bunch of liberal idiots. Yea, Bush should "grab a weapon and take a post….."

What else can he do, which is the same as every other President during times of war. I'm sure he's glad people are dying, and has "blood on his hands" for a "false" war. Get over it you morons. One day Iraq will probably be a stable country, much better off, and the actions taken will look justified. At least he is on vacation with his family, instead of doing an intern.

Mitt, FLL Florida   December 24th, 2007 2:16 pm ET

Wow! What disrespect being shown to a GREAT President……
Posted By Matthew, Keller, TX : December 24, 2007 11:53 am

Say Matt you do not know what a great president is if it hit you on the head man.

My father told me if you want respect

YOU EARN RESPECT!!!

Merry Christmas

Jeff, Dallas TX   December 24th, 2007 2:05 pm ET

To all those posters parroting Rush:

Don't worry…Bush wasn't being nice to all those "phony soldiers."

Oh so Wise Cape Coral FL   December 24th, 2007 1:54 pm ET

When are you so-called hyper-Americans going to wakeup? You can't support the troops and the war at the same time. It's the war that's killing them. Or haven't you figured that out yet?

Gladys, Tampa, FL   December 24th, 2007 1:51 pm ET

Don't get sick on all those desserts.

EB Rideout, Georgia   December 24th, 2007 1:36 pm ET

Another empty gesture from the Commander-in Chief, as long as it doesn't interrupt his holiday plans.

God bless our troops and pray for their safe return.

T.M. Ruston, LA   December 24th, 2007 1:28 pm ET

I really doubt my neice will understand why her daddy wasn't home for Christmas and you can't make up missed memories. I would have liked to spend the oppertunity to spend this Christmas with my family as well.

Tyler, Albany, OR   December 24th, 2007 1:20 pm ET

Great president, Matthew? You are deluded. Bush has the blood of thousands on his hands. He will be recorded as one of the worst presidents in US history.

Posted By Read More Books, NY : December 24, 2007 12:09 pm

So using your theory, Abraham Lincoln would be considered the WORST president ever. The blood of 620,000 soldiers is "on his hands."

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   December 24th, 2007 1:15 pm ET

Keep in mind, if it wasn't for Clinton, Bin Laden would have been captured by now, for it was him who had a chance to get him in '98, how'd that work out?

Posted By Matthew, Keller, TX : December 24, 2007 11:53 am
—————–
Clinton tried to kill bin Laden and Republicans ridiculed him for it. Bush had 8 months MORE info about bin Laden and FAILED to stop 9/11. He was so unconcerned about an attack that Bush was on vacation the MONTH before 9/11 and didn't contact George Tenet. Bush's administration has TWICE stopped missions already underway to kill high al Qaeda officials. In 2005, Alec Station, the CIA unit dedicated to tracking bin Laden, was disbanded and its analysts reassigned.

"I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about (bin Laden)." – George W.Bush, "the commander guy".

ED orlando FL   December 24th, 2007 1:12 pm ET

to Mathew from keller tx The sooner you and all the other dumbA– texans get this turkey away from Washington the sooner this country can get on the road to honor and respect around the world like we once had before the texas braggardo [If you do not want to do it our way we will take our ball and go home] so far 20,000 maimed and around 4000 dead . that is a good sized ball to pay off that texas bull s==t.

Jason, Realityville, NY   December 24th, 2007 1:10 pm ET

Why don't you send joy to the troops by bringing them home. Only 370 some days until we send this idiot back to Texas. We should all count down the days.

James, Louisville, KY   December 24th, 2007 1:03 pm ET

I am a liberal, and I love this country. I love the freedoms that we have here. And I do support the soldiers fighting for our country. I currently have a brother serving in the army. But supporting the soldiers does not mean that I have to mindlessly agree to support a war. It does not mean that I have to submit to the removal of freedoms that the soldiers are supposedly fighting to protect.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   December 24th, 2007 12:52 pm ET

It wouldn't surprise me if Bush went to Iraq at Christmas to greet our troops in attempt to change his legacy. Bring the troops home Mr. Bush, then see how your legacy would change.

T. Tim, Lodi, WI   December 24th, 2007 12:48 pm ET

" …liberals. You hate the president and this country so much…" You sure got this wrong! Liberals like conservatives and independents LOVE their country. That's why they speak out against the injustice of a war based on lies and deceptions. As for hating Bush, consider: "Love the sinner, hate the sin." This is also the liberals' country too. No one has a monopoly on it. Get with reality and develop a little compassion and open-mindedness before your us-vs-them mentality tears our culture apart. Happy Holidays!

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   December 24th, 2007 12:45 pm ET

To Jim in Orlando:

Nice post - just as Rush Limbaugh gave it to you!!!

By the way, have you found WMD's or OBL yet?!?!?!

Brendan H., San Antonio, TX   December 24th, 2007 12:43 pm ET

HOW ABOUT IF THE PRESIDENT ADMITS TO THOSE LOYAL TROOPS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ON A MISSION FUELED BY FALSE INTELLIGENCE, MANUFACTURED BY THE ROVE MACHINE AND FED TO THE BUSHEEP IN SHOVELS-FULL, COURTESY OF TONY BLAIR, WHO LOST HIS JOB BECAUSE OF THIS DEBACLE?!?!?!

Adam Flesichman, Gaithersburg MD   December 24th, 2007 12:36 pm ET

Wow! What disrespect being shown to a GREAT President! I'm sorry, i guess all of you dumb liberals like "noble" presidents like Bill "BJ" Clinton? You remember him don't you, the one who couldn't stay faithful to his marriage? Keep in mind, if it wasn't for Clinton, Bin Laden would have been captured by now, for it was him who had a chance to get him in '98, how'd that work out?
Matthew Keller

At least Clinton could maintain a higher than 50% approval rating and be responsible for the largest peacetime economic expansion in the history of our country. What does Bush have to show for his legacy? Scandals and secrecy and hands down, the worst president in the history of the country. Is it me or does Texas produce the worst presidents? Bush Sr, and now his son. Too bad we can't give you to Mexico.

Eugene Anaheim ca   December 24th, 2007 12:36 pm ET

Matthew keller.
Yeah right saint matthew just because you are a nobody and no one watching your day to activity 24/7 like what this society does to the president/celebrity i bet you have been involved in worst activity more than clinton or senator Graig.By the way get your fact right yeah when Clinton was going after Osama the republican congress was working against him cause all they wanted was to impeach him, and they thought he was using Osama as an alibi. Lol to bad he came as one of the greatest American president

Bill O. Wilmington, DE   December 24th, 2007 12:29 pm ET

wow, Bush really cares! He called a total of 10 people and then went off on a vacation day.

god help us.

Jim in Orlando, FL   December 24th, 2007 12:26 pm ET

God bless GB, and all others who must bear the burden of making the decisions to send our young men and women into harms way. God bless the likes of Joe Lieberman as well. Sure beats the heck out of the ilk of John Kerry, Dick Durbin, and Jack Murtha providing inspirational mottos for the enemy. The Democrats were vested in our defeat over there. Guess victory rates as a lump of coal in your Xmas stockings ? Pathetic.

As for "walking the walk", both I and my son have over 10 years served between us, so save it.

Val Davydov, Agawam, MA   December 24th, 2007 12:19 pm ET

You are pathetic bunch, liberals. You hate the president and this country so much that NOTHING he does will make you happy. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you anyway.

God bless and protect our wonderful troops. This is my Christmas wish.

Jack Jodell, Minneapolis, MN   December 24th, 2007 12:16 pm ET

Bush should resign immediately, take Cheney with him, and give the entire world their best Christmas present ever by going on permanent vacation! We're not getting our money's worth out of this ridiculous knucklehead anyway, with him constantly taking time off in Crawford and at Camp David. George, we all know now you're not up to the job, but the least you could do is stick around once in a while and try to make it look good! WORTHLESS!!!`

Anonymous   December 24th, 2007 12:12 pm ET

A noble gesture would have been for him to go over there to have Christmas dinner with troups. If he believes it is okay for their families to sacrifice time together, then it should be okay for his also.

Read More Books, NY   December 24th, 2007 12:09 pm ET

Great president, Matthew? You are deluded. Bush has the blood of thousands on his hands. He will be recorded as one of the worst presidents in US history.

Jason, NYC   December 24th, 2007 12:03 pm ET

A hollow gesture at best. Merry Xmas indeed.

Justin, Vancouver WA   December 24th, 2007 12:00 pm ET

Give all the vacation crying a break. Any President technically gets no vacation days. Just because he is in other locations does not mean he is not working, getting briefed, making decisions, etc……

Matthew, Keller, TX   December 24th, 2007 11:53 am ET

Wow! What disrespect being shown to a GREAT President! I'm sorry, i guess all of you dumb liberals like "noble" presidents like Bill "BJ" Clinton? You remember him don't you, the one who couldn't stay faithful to his marriage? Keep in mind, if it wasn't for Clinton, Bin Laden would have been captured by now, for it was him who had a chance to get him in '98, how'd that work out?

Tom, New York, NY   December 24th, 2007 11:48 am ET

maybe the president should be over there in Iraq spending the holiday with the troops instead of sitting at Camp David in luxury… as a noble gesture of his appreciation for the troops and their family's sacrifice? Maybe he would start to really understand the sacrifice… this guy is not noble at all unlike our troops….

Will K. Queens NY   December 24th, 2007 11:45 am ET

AND NEERO FIDDLES WHILE ROME BURNS
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

Mary -- Proud to be a American   December 24th, 2007 11:43 am ET

Regardless of how we all feel about the war in Iraq — We should give thanks and support for our brave men and women who serve our country so nobly and selflessly.

May There Come a Time When There Is Finally Peace on Earth — Goodwill To All Men and Women…

LUIS, MIAMI FLORIDA   December 24th, 2007 11:38 am ET

Please cue the "He should send the troops home for Christmas" type angry liberal diatribes..

Posted By John Q. Public : December 24, 2007 11:13 am

DEAR JOHN:
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND WE "THE LIBERALS" AS YOU CALL US HOPE YOU TAKE TIME OUT FROM THE HOLIDAYS TO REFLECT ON THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAD LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ COURTESY OF YOUR PRESIDENT. STOP BLAMING US.

keith Franklin, Tn   December 24th, 2007 11:22 am ET

Yeah…… boy!! Ol "W" sends greetings to our brave servicemen and heads off to spend even more time on vacation……what does that make now 433 days on vacation for you "W" most of it spent while brave soldiers are bleeding and dying for your "victory".

How about most of the soldiers having a vacation??

Lord, please deliver us from "W" before more die and he sits on his butt on vacation. Some war president and Some example you set ….makes me puke.

BushLies   December 24th, 2007 11:22 am ET

Yeah, it is "very noble" of them but when it comes from the "very not noble" pres that lied them into the war, the sentiment rings hollow.

Robert New York City & Miami, Florida   December 24th, 2007 11:16 am ET

Hypocrite.

We need to impeach the hell of you!

John Q. Public   December 24th, 2007 11:13 am ET

Please cue the "He should send the troops home for Christmas" type angry liberal diatribes..

Tom Bulger, Avon, Maine   December 24th, 2007 11:13 am ET

During WWI the German and English adversaries in the trenches were touched by the Christmas spirit to join in exchanging Christmas carols and small gifts.

This would be a great time for George Bush to announce a troop withdrawal from Iraq, in the spirit of "Peace on EArth. Good will toward Man.".

Jr., California   December 24th, 2007 11:12 am ET

Great gesture on the President's part.

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