Tony Almeda, Los Angeles, CA ~ Putting your issues aside, educate me then. What do the top 5% pay in taxes relative to income? For that matter since you have the numbers to back you up, what does the curve look like when you factor costs for basic necessities relative to income from top to bottom?

BTW, I'm sure you would bring a smile to Leona "only poor people pay taxes" Helmsley's face, how much are you leaving your dog?

Dave,
The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence was provided the same information, as were countries such as Britain, Spain, and the 30+ other countries involved. These countries also have their own intelligence gathering agencies, all indicating the same thing – a WMD program. In fact, some intelligence from foreign countries STILL insist that WMD is somewhere in Iraq or simply moved to neighboring countries just waiting to be found. And to say that not enough time was given to the weapons inspectors is just insane….unless of course 12 years of failed inspections and complete defiance of every United Nations resolution passed (I believe at least 18 of them) since the first Gulf War was still not enough. The justification was certainly there… my point is that there are far, far more agencies/committees AND countries involved in the decision to go to war – this was not just the whim of a single man who has somehow become the whipping post for everything wrong in the world today. And once again, all this blind hatred documented online for a story about the President's Christmas is absolutely mind boggling.

CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law.

More than half of these Bush bashing liberal freaks that post here directly violate this policy. Calling the President of the United States a murderer, a war criminal, and comparing him to people like Hitler with no evidence other than shear blind hatred, stupidity and ignorance (and of course their moveon.org bible which incorporates all three) is not only dangerous, but directly violates CNN policy and could be considered illegal as defamation of character. Why is this policy not enforced here? Oh and by the way, this was supposed to be just a simple Christmas story.

BRAD, NEWARK, DE…..HAS THE RIGHT IDEA
PRESS BOYCOTT… WHAT BETTER WAY TO
TELL THE COWBOY TO GET OFF THE BULL***.
NOBODY SHOWS… BEAUTIFUL.

I would like to thank Bush for STARTING the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. You removed the Taliban and Saddaam Hussien's regimes from this world and the people of those countries and the rest of the world will eventually see what a true service this was to the world. My roommate is an Iraqi Kurd whose family escaped Iraq along time ago. I asked him what he thought of the war and he was 100% in support of it. He told me the truth about Iraq, what people had to endure, and the good that we are doing there. No other president has had the courage to take the hits that he has to do the right thing and get rid of these regimes. War is never without cost and we are dealing with our share of lost heroes but in the end the world will be a better place for it. Thank you Bush for having the courage to free millions!

Bush Jr. is a spoiled rich kid–who was born again
and somehow became President, in spite of the fact he is inarticulate, uncharismatic, and a foreign/economic policy
blunderer. His legacy as Presidential role model will be the example to avoid.

The idiot Raymond from El Paso seems to prefer to take whatever the billionaire liberal Warren Buffet SAYS as gospel; I'm sure that Raymond also idolizes Soros. But the FACT remain that the rich do pay MORE of the tax burden now than ever. Here are the statistics (WSJ):

Top 1% (nationwide share):
Income Share: 14%(1990); 21%(2005)
Tax Share: 25% (1990); 39% (2005)

Top 5% (nationwide share):
Income Share: 27%(1990); 36%(2005)
Tax Share: 44% (1990); 60% (2005)

That's right, the remaining 95% of all taxpayers pay only 40% of the total tax bill (versus 56% in 1990)!

Yes, we have really botched things up such that 95% of voting taxpayers would benefit (in the short term, anyway) by having the top 5% pay more and more and more taxes, while voting themselves more and more and more freebie entitlements. Hurray – free money!!! And anything that anyone tries to do to correct this devastating trend is demonized as "tax cuts for the wealthy".

"Tax cuts for the wealthy" are absolutely in order (since they are the ones paying almost all of the taxes), even if I am not one of them. I do want to be one some day, but idiots like Raymond prefer to stack the deck against me and everyone else who wants to climb the ladder, while killing the golden goose in the process.

Fidel would be so proud of you.

The attack on 9/11 was forwarned, but it was disregarded and Cheney had the FAA on maneuvers during this time so no protection was there. But from the info I've been seeing, it may have been an inside job. Buildings that fall inward (imploded) are usually taken down by C-4 planted in various parts of the bldg. Then the 3rd bldg that went down was NOT hit by an airplane. So Cheney took away some of our safeguards, and the twin towers were demolished, while Bush read about a little goat, ignoring the report that was whispered to him about the "attack".

Perhaps the "Connecticut Cowboy" can explain to the families of the Iraq troops what the war was about and why their relatives are dying so he and his ilk can "hang-out" at Camp David and celebrate the meteoric rise to fame of Halliburton?!?!?!

respect is earned along with disgust, between clinton and george 2 where do you find any room for respect. i recomend changing the presidential seal by adding a toilet lid. for honesty

"Terry from El Paso..You didn't say, but is Bush being fairly labled as a coward for getting out of the war? You just admitted that everyone of 'your' generation was trying to do the same thing." – Theo, Manorville, NY

"My" generation is the group of men who were eligible for the draft during the Johnson and Nixon administrations. Personally, I was frightened at the thought of being sent into combat and I was worried that I would bolt and run. Surely many other 20 year old boys felt the same way. "Cowardice" is a strong word and it should not be used by those who have not personally been in combat. Therefore I would never use it.

If I had been ordered into Viet Nam and then into combat, my plan was to keep low and run fast for one year. We'll never know now how that would have turned out.

I do not think you can judge a man's character today by whether he volunteered for action in Viet Nam way back when. A lot of gung-ho guys volunteered and came back nuts or dead. Some of them, like McCain, came back heroes.

"CONGRESS APPROVED THIS WAR BASED ON THE SAME EXACT INTELLIGENCE THE PRESIDENT WAS PROVIDED!

Posted By Fred Jax,FL : December 26, 2007 2:15 pm"

Congress was NOT given the same detailed information the pResident was given. Look it up. And the vote was on the authorization to use force if Saddam did not allow the completion of weapons inspections. Bush pulled the inspectors out about two weeks before they were done. This is no secret, it's a fact.

Having said that, I still have contempt for the Congress that voted to give Bush the authority, which they surely should have known he would abuse.

Yes Dubya can call this Congress session ending:

"ending on a high note,"

because he got 70 Billion after asking for 200 Billion for the Iraq/Afghanistan war effort.

The Democratic Congress is giving Dubya enough rope so he may hang himself in the end.

$555 Billion Spending bill for Bush to secure $70 Billion for Iraq.
Poor Dubya calls this "ending on a high note,"!!

Republicans BEWARE you are getting what you are asking for a spend, spend, spend BILL. Come 2008 you will have to answer the electorate about your fiscal conservatism!

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

Bush Advising next President Hillary Clinton, 44:

Dubya, 43 is advising Hillary, 44 on his terms of support!

A history lesson: How did he become 43? First rigging the Supreme Court in 2000 then rigging OHIO in 2004!!

This idiot has the audacity to ADVISE!!
Was that a response to a question or just plain unsolicited advice?

The history books will record in posterity how Bush cheated Al Gore in 2000 and then cheated War decorated Kerry through SWIFT BOATING!! SWIFT BOATING is a dictionary "verb" now for posterity to record the Dubya "victory' of 2004.

In spite of his cheating record Bush has the audacity to preach the "… way forward…". Does he mean the IRAQ War because he does not believe in polls and focus groups.

Maybe he will believe in HISTORIANS when they write his obituaries 50 years from now in 2057 AD!!! Thank you Mr. "President" for your sound advice! But no thanks.

The CLINTONS are coming in 2009! Bush Sr, 41 does not want to go on a tour so be it. Bill, 42 just was being polite.

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

Bush on Foreign Policy:

Bush had 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 who has the audacity to utter phrases like "World War III…,", a sitting President of the USA!!!!

Surely 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 World War III by attacking Iran like he did Iraq? Thank God for the CIA NIE report. Cheney "can not now 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/

About 41 Bush Sr.'s trip around world:
At least Dubya has the "intelligence" to concede that Hillary will be President in 2009.

Why would she call upon 41, Dubya's father to repair the damage done by 43, Bush himself? Its beyond comprehension!

42, Bill Clinton must have been smoking something when he made that COMMENT of world tour!

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

I'm always puzzled when people claim that President Bush is not from Texas, since he was reared in Midland and Houston from the age of two. Except for going away to school, and working out of state on two political campaigns, Bush has lived his entire life in Texas.

What a silly thing to be so exercised about. I hope I never become as deranged about any American politician as so many commenters here are.

"Whether you approve of our President's decisions or not, he's still our President and as all Presidents, they deserve our respect."

About as much as John Wayne Gacy. Bush has actually murdered far more. Bush has seemingly done everything in his power to destroy the American way of life.

If there were any justice (and I mean ANY justice) he would have spent xmas in shackles.

Bush should have been serving meals to the homeless and poor, whose numbers have vastly increased under his watch.

"Senator Clinton – like the rest of congress – was lied to by Bush and Cheney and others in the Administration."

***************

To Ge of NY: Yes, I'm sure Bush and Cheney held a gun to everyone's head and told them how to vote. They had a chance to look at the data too, so what is your excuse for that one? Either they knew better and voted Yes anyway, or they didn't check the intelligence out. (like other countries as well??) Why aren't you advocating having all the Yes voters in Congress impeached? Actually I give kudos to Hillary, who I can tell you love, for having the stones to do what was thought to be right and appropriate. Of course, now she just back peddles and tries to put blame on the Bush administration in order to pander for votes. Pathetic.

Jackalope williams san diego, ca
Liberals are hate mongers?
Hahaha! Good one. Lay off the Elmer's glue paste.

After reading this again, it looks like the the word for wording of a press release. Is Ed trying to kiss up so he can get a question to the President.

It is this sort of wussy press that got us into this situation in the first place.

Respect is NEVER given it is always earned. This president has NOT earned my respect nor the respect of millions of people. For that I will never censor comments about Bush. That said, he is by far the worst president in the history of the United States. He is either the most sinister president, or the dumbest. For his sake, it should be the latter, since that is the the only way God may have mercy on his soul.

Bush is NOT a "tough guy from Texas".

That comment alone represents the idiotic concept that CNN has of this man.

Most American's see him as a war criminal. There is nothing tough about him. If anything, he is a wuss.
Let's call a spade a spade.

"no less than three desserts"

CNN writers:
That should be "no fewer."

This president (and his crew of enablers) does not deserve respect. I cannot believe how he can get away with starting a war that has caused the deaths of millions and he still has that stupid smirk on his face. An idiot who cannot pronouce the word "nuclear". Futhermore, the mainstream media is just as bad when they turn a blind eye to him and his criminal deeds. I used to watch CNN, NBC et al but I have now stopped as I am sickened daily by their inability to confront this lunatic. God help us all.

you lost me at tough guy from texas

"Hardly anyone likes this President b/c even the least intelligent Americans have awaken to the truth."

++++++

So would the writer fall in this category, by chance?

Wonder what the 2 million Iraq refugees got for Christmas? Certainly not a new home in America.

Hey, the good news is the 100,000+ dead Iraqis as the result of Bush's unwarranted invasion don't have to worry getting any gifts.

Oops, they are mostly Muslims and aren't really people anyway.

Theo, Manorville, NY,

Senator Clinton – like the rest of congress – was lied to by Bush and Cheney and others in the Administration.

What Bush did was the dumbest possible approach to fighting terror – it does not take a genius to see that.

George W. Bush is a draft dodger yet sent thousands of our young Americans to their deaths. When you sign up for military service – you have a right to a president who is not an idiot. Americans who voted for Bush failed our fighting men and women.

Hardly anyone likes this President b/c even the least intelligent Americans have awaken to the truth.

May the next 13 months go by quickly!!

Do we really have to re-hash this all over again for a simple Christmas story? Ok here goes: first a question….Do all liberals suffer from this same terrible affliction of convenient amnesia? Sure, the President as the Commander in Chief has control over the military, but guess what? (And yes, let's go ahead and say this yet one more time for those still in denial)….drum roll please…..CONGRESS APPROVED THIS WAR BASED ON THE SAME EXACT INTELLIGENCE THE PRESIDENT WAS PROVIDED! So, should we get them all to resign? Are they all liars? Why isn't every member of congress that voted for the war a war criminal too??? Oh no, we can't do that to Hillary, she was able to change her mind despite her vote because it hasn't been a "perfect war", so its ok to flip flop. Or that great 'patriot' Harry Reid (who by the way needs to quit saying that he speaks for ALL Americans), you know the one – declaring defeat in the face of our brave soldiers and marines still giving it their all for their country. God Bless them all. So, instead of all this impeach Bush crap, maybe you ought to say Merry Christmas and thank you.

I'll try again…

"W is a draft dodging candy-ass"

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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the First Family and to all ! Godspeed President Bush in his travels overseas next week.

Posted By Laura – Tulsa OK : December 25, 2007 1:27 pm

Laura, do not forget that Saddam Hussein had a lot of support. Hitler had stadiums full of people cheering for him. DO you like that we are a nation of torture? Are you proud of this? You want our soldiers waterboarded? This is the playing field that Bush Co. has layed out for us. Is this freedom?

Liberal Kool Aid Drinkers?
Jim Jones was a freak wacko socialist who ended up having his followers kill a Democrat Congressman (Jim Ryan).

You all throw the "liberal" word around like one might throw around the "race card." Loosers

ahna in Appleton, how very nice that you think Bush deserves our respect… but he does not. I didn't get the gift I wanted this year: Bush in prison, Cheney in prison, both for war crimes, troops home from this lie of a war. Perhaps soon, perhaps not since the DEMS have zero spine to do what's right.

ATTENTION" ahna From Appleton, WI
It's one thing to respect the OFFICE of the President, but quite another to respect its occupant. That respect must be earned. It doesn't come with the office furniture, although the furniture might be an improvement.

Who the F cares? Why do we keep covering this idiot? The press should just boycott him. Imagine if the "President" gave speech and press conferences and nobody showed up, broadcasted it, or reported it. That would put this guy in his rightful place and maybe he wouldn't be able to screw up so much of the USA.

W has kept us safe from attacks? Really??? 9/11 happened on his watch! And only a few days after that now famous "Bin Laden determined to strike the US" memo.

Can you say "My Pet Goat"? Tough guy my ass. . .

He ain't MY president. Never was, never will be. . .

The person that said he was a draft dodger was mistaken, President Bush was in the National Guards as a pilot
he may have tried coke, but I do know that Bill Clinton was the draft dodger, he went to England and he smoked pot but he did not inhale, so I guess if Bill did it then that's ok.

He's a cheer leader from connecticut so pocketbook and silver tray shopping is a natural fit.

Poor Neil must feel about as welcome as the clap.

Would the press please stop covering this man? His presidency has been a flop, a very dangerous one at that. He's having a Merry Christmas while the troops are dodging AK-47 bullets and suicide bombers in Iraq, fighting a war he was determined to start.

How appropriate he gave his wife a bag. Perhaps this is the same bag he's taking America to hell in.

"George W. Bush is the WORST and most IMMORAL President this great nation has ever had.

He started a never ending war based on lies, stupidity, and arrogance. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 or terrorism. I believe he did it – in part – to settle a personal score with Saddam Hussein, who tried to kill Bushs' parents when they were traveling in the Middle East.

Any Americans who support Bush are ignorant and foolish and do not deserve to be citizens of this great nation."

Ge of NY: You are the idiot here. Never-ending war? About the same length as the Civil War, and our involvement in WWII. A war of lies? When are you moron liberals going to give it up. It was based on information at the time, though we now know it was flawed, and was approved by the likes of Hillary Clinton for seemingly good reasons. Hindsight is always 20/20, and all the Dem candidates like to say "we were deceived" now in order to get votes. Fact is, many thought it was a good idea in the wake of 9/11, which surely influenced the President's opinion also. We wanted justice, so give up the "immoral war built on lies and deception…. war criminal" talk.

Who gives a rat's ass? I know I certainly don't, along with thousands/millions of others!

Should have been Time's person of the year in my book. Bush has done a helluva job.

I call out all of you that post these anti-American blogs against Bush. This is America … love it or leave it!

God Bless You Both,I keep you in my prayers, you are doing a wonderful job,stay the course……

Very well put Terry, El Paso, TX:

You and I are of the same era/age. I remember those times very well. I was a military brat. My father had a couple of tours in Vietnam…and not behind a desk in Saigon either. The point I'd like to stress, however, is that what set Clinton apart from you and others during Vietnam was that from an early age, he had a yearning to become President. Some of his predecessors willingly went into military service to "punch that button", knowing it would be a feather in their caps. Clinton chose not to. Whether we agreed with the war or not, the decision to go or not was not a choice. He could have claimed conscientous objector, as many others did, but he chose not to. He had strings pulled to avoid the draft. Thats what sets him apart, and I think there is a distinction that should be made here.

I don't give care what this pathetic imbecile president got for christmas.

New York Times columnist, Paul Krugman, has taken Bush sharply to task, asserting that it is "long past time for this administration to be held accountable." "The public was told that Saddam posed an imminent threat," Krugman argued. "If that claim was fraudulent," he continued, "the selling of the war is arguably the worst scandal in American political history – worse than Watergate, worse than Iran-contra." But most media outlets have reserved judgment as the search for WMDs in Iraq continues.While Bush narrowly escaped being dragged into Enron, it was not, in any event, his doing. But the war in Iraq is all Bush's doing, and it is appropriate that he be held accountable. Bush has taken Congress and the nation into war based on bogus information Manipulation or deliberate misuse of national security intelligence data, if proven, could be "a high crime" under the Constitution's impeachment clause. It would also be a violation of federal criminal law
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20030606.html

all these sites
are a lie.
no one can really
say what they really think.
it's all another american trap -
like credit cards,
or the internet itself.
any real truth is handed
over to homeland security.
or the truth about bush
lands you into legal troubles.
bush is the opposite of freedom
he's a satanic figure
that smells of sulfer.
his crimes are not to
be measured on modern terms.
to talk about them on the internet
is not allowed.
you won't see any truth
about what has actually been done.
this is all small talk.
the truth is etched in stars.

i Googled "Bush and Red Mass" and find he attended the Catholic event in 1989 and 2003. It's a 700 year old event. They pray for God to tell civil lawmakers & and judges how to make their decisions. Church leaders, who say they represent God, have been telling people how to vote. The pope insists he is God's one true agent here. Google to see which judges including supreme court attend and which lawyers. Islam bans mobility of Muslim womwn and Pro-life Bush wants to pen up pregnant women from moving from home to abortion sites. Judge Thomas (See "Strange Justice") had a vasectomy after one child but wants other men to be burdened with costs and labor of fatherhood.Genesis says God had no wife and never came from a mother's womb–but he has a navel since his inventors were mammals and made their God mammalian. See "Jews for Buchanan " for facts and then think about use of Red Mass supreme court in 2000 to put God's choice in as contoller of all our ejaculatory explosives used against Muslim Iraq.

More postings from right wing christian conservative nut jobs. Your cult will come to an end soon!!!! America is realizing the horror of religion. It is about time.

Thank you Mr. President and family. Merry Christmas and a prosperous, healthy and Happy New Year to you and yours!

Merry Christmas George and thank God this is your LAST YEAR TO RULE. One last thought, respect is something earned…When is he going to earn his keep?

tough guy from Texas. Man, you morons have bought into it haven't you. W is a draft dodging candy-ass who has now failed at everything he's ever tried. Nice story.

who gives a chit! this is the petty type of information that takes our attention away from the REAL issues of today and the fact that THIS president IS a lame duck due to his policies and blunders over the past 7 years. Someone should have given him a rope.

I am so tired of everyone bashing Bush. What have you done to make this a better country besides buying energy saving lightbulbs which I doubt most of you have? How many nights have you defended it? George Burns said "It is too bad all the people who know how to run the country are too busy cutting hair and driving cabs." Losers.

Since when does ducking the draft qualify someone as a "tough guy"?

George W. Bush is the WORST and most IMMORAL President this great nation has ever had.

He started a never ending war based on lies, stupidity, and arrogance. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 or terrorism. I believe he did it – in part – to settle a personal score with Saddam Hussein, who tried to kill Bushs' parents when they were traveling in the Middle East.

Any Americans who support Bush are ignorant and foolish and do not deserve to be citizens of this great nation.

And don't forget that Bush is the leader in US history for the number of executions as Governor.
The fact that 11% of those on death row are innocent doesn't matter at all to W. He put to death over 165 people during his tenure as their governor, which means that HE KILLED at least 17 innocent people. He made fun of at least one of the people he killed, laughing the whole time. And he bragged that he didn't spend more than half an hour reviewing any of those executions.

America has suffered enormously under this Administration. I look forward to Jan. 2009 when this incompetent, arrogant, and immoral President is out of office.

Terry from El Paso..

You didn't say, but is Bush being fairly labled as a coward for getting out of the war? You just admitted that everyone of "your" generation was trying to do the same thing.

Tough Guy???? The tough guys went to Vietnam !!! The not so tough guys had daddy get them into the Air National Guard!!!

Tough guy from Texas??? Too bad he's a wimpy former cheerleader and Vietnam War dodger, and is really from New England.

ahna,
Did your mother ever tell you that respect has to be earned?
This President doesn't deserve any respect!

Thank you AJ and OOPSWEDONEITAGAIN:

Exactly my point, when I was called a "right wing fool" for expressing my disdain for all the Koolaid drinking going on. I too am tired of the constant Bush slanderous, Bush-bashing…the man, according to the Koolaide drinkers has done NOTHING right. Yes, he's made mistakes, who hasn't. To hear them talk Clinton walks on water…never mind his own failures like WACO, Cabinet level scandals and the like. I'm sick of it and want nothing more than to get past the Bushes and the Clintons.

He does not even deserve a lump of coal. Who cares what he got her?

Gee for a people whose majority can't do basic physics, you sure treat your warcriminals good.

I wish the President and his family a Merry Christmas, and wish them a Happy New Year.

However one can not overlook the fact what has happened to our country over his watch and overall extreme growth of the power of the President. Are we better off than we were almost eight years ago, I think not. Lets be honest left, right, does it really matter they are becoming the same thing. We now have Repbublicans that over spend unwisely, we have Democrats who have forgotten about the common man. It's all garabage. Revolution needs to happen like Jefferson said. So Merry Christmas to all and hopefully the people of the country will come together to finally start something NEW.

It beats the gift he got her last year. MERRY X-MAS TOO ALL.

When I complained that the Bush twins did not serve in the military, Alice in VA made this comment: "Did you also wonder how Clinton actively dodged the draft with strings pulled, but yearned to be Commander in Chief one day starting years before? Did you wonder why Chelsea didn't join the military? Come on now, fair is fair."

You make a good point, Alice. I see some differences though. Back in the Viet Nam days, all of us of draft age were trying to get into college, impregnate someone, or come up with a medical excuse to get out of the draft. If you are in your thirties now, the odds are good that your dad was trying for a draft deferment when you were conceived. Clinton, Bush the younger, Newt Gingrich, and many others of my generation managed to get out of service. We all believed back then that the war was failing and that the only reason we kept on fighting was to help Richard Nixon be re-elected. We reasoned that the last man to die in Viet Nam and tens of thousands that preceded him were dying for nothing. They were right. Viet Nam is now one of the three remaining Communist countries in the world, the other two being Communist China and Cuba. I was drafted but was not assigned to Viet Nam, so I was lucky too. Neither of Johnson's daughters enlisted, nor Nixon's.

In Viet Nam and in Iraq, the poor fought and died. The well-to-do stayed home, went to college, married the prettiest girls, and got good jobs. Most of us who post to this blog spent the war sitting on our soft backsides on our soft couches. I know I did.

The people who are fighting are essentially prisoners of this war. They must serve until they are released. When I was drafted, I had to serve two years – to the day. When I was released, some other young lackwit was drafted to take my place.

(George Bush Sr, we note with pride, was a war hero of the first order. No matter what you think of his politics or his son, you must admire his courage and patriotism.)

Bob Lipsett Sr. North Attleboro, MA and the rest of you Bush haters should 1)get your facts straight 2)quit making false and borderline treasonous statements about our President, 3)try to remember that THIS IS CHRISTMAS, and 4) move to Iran where you would feel much more at home under that presidency and way of life.

I actually feel very sorry for the next 4 or more presidents of this Country whose responsibilty will be to repair the damage done by the Bush administration. Makes me wonder why anyone would want to be elected to the White house after this disasterous administration.
And those of you who are prasing Bush, need to go back to the beginning when he was telling us that Iraq had WMD, and that the oil revenues would pay for the cost of war. That America would not have to pay any money for it.

Because of his lies, America is forever in debt to our creditors in Asia.Who will one day soon call in thier loans with interest accrued just like the loan sharks in the crime world. The dollar is falling in value fast and will soon be going the way of confederate money. It will be worthless..

He is also making a fool of China by borrowing all that money when it is going to be impossible to pay it back. Clinton was impeached for a whole lot less..

Lets see bash Bush…..Lets see bash Clinton….Lets see Reagan…..Lets see bash Carter….Lets go on on & on. Who is so perfect in everything we do that we can judge others without looking their own plate and say this is what I can do for my country, or town, or village, or just shut-up…..Merry CHRISTmas

What I see in all these comments is a continuation of bile that began with the Bill Clinton administration (republican ferver against anything Bill), followed by the Bush Administration (democrat ferver against anything George). It is precisely this reason that I will vote and campaign for anyone but Hillary. America doesn't need another 4 years of division.

George Bush is a jerk and a war criminal the best thing tha can happen is to get a president with a heart and a brain, and one that doesn't care only for RICH AND RICHER PEOPLE HE IS THE ANTICHRIST HIMSELF I HOPE HE PAYS FOR HIS CRIMES. He is the worst person in the world along with Cheney and Karl Rove, may they all burn in HELL.

Well, he didnt give her the shaft as he has the nation. And I must say that I am quite enjoying all of the ignorant liberal bashing posts. They really illustrate the intelligence (or lack of intelligent) that one can expect from our electorate. It's impossible to have nay kind of political discourse any more without derision and venom.

Those who are praising the good works of George W. Bush as President of the United States of America should be painstakingly embarrassed.

To praise a man who fulfilled his own personal whims and that of his Father
by instigating a war based on his individual desires, unproven facts, (lies), unsubstantiated reports, (unconfirmed theories) and an age old vendetta is unwarranted praise to say the least.

To praise a man who terrorized and turned the lives of innocent Iraqis and Mid East citizens into complete chaos without one thought for their health or safety.

To praise a man who put military lives at risk for a more than ambiguous cause.

To praise a man who turned a world into complete chaos, shattered world economics, fractured world security, and destroyed the reputation of America as a noble Nation for years to come is a travesty of deceptions.

You who see this President as a man warranting such respect and praise must foster little compassion, dignity and aspiration for your Nation and its people.

A view from a Canadian with no voting privilidges and nothing to gain. And who could care less Who Came to Dinner or What was on the menu at the Shrub
Palace. Although I think Turkey for the main course was a very appropriate choice.

"President Bush gave his wife a new purse and a silver tray for Christmas, according to an aide to First Lady Laura Bush."

Uh, 1950 called…

I'll be glad to see him leave office (not soon enough for me). His legacy will live on in the eyes of parents, grandparents whose children won't be coming home for Christmas due to Bush's war crimes! He should be impeached and then hung (along with Cheney and Rice and a few others). He doesn't deserve a library for his being president. He deserves to be tarred and feathered and sent to Iraq.

For all you complaining, Im not seeing you doing a better job. Public office is no easy thing for anyone, and there is not one current canidate that hasnt or wont lie to you either.

Posted By Chad, Wisco

You're right… but why identify this problem and not want to fix it? Are you seriously okay with having a bad president and justifying it by saying there have been other bad presidents?

Yeah it's a hard job, but that's why it should be given to people who know what the hell they're doing.

I wish he would give the American people his resignation for Christmas. What a terrible president!

as a died in the wool democrat, gay, and an athiest, I still respect the rights of others to persue their religious and personal beliefs. I wish all people a very happy holiday season, and can only wish they feel the same towards me. It's time we all repect each other as tax paying free americans. If your religion is teaching you anything else than that, it is a sad day in America, an your religion is dangerous.

"Tough guy from Texas"? Yeah, right. The guy is noting but a two-bit coward.

Jacque Bauer, Los Angeles, CA ~ WROTE:"Never before have so many paid so little (or nothing at all, if not getting free money back) in taxes.

Please show us the data that confirms that the rich are now paying a lesser share in the nation's tax bill. It just ain't so, and repeating it over and over doesn't change the fact…

So the data you provided 'because I said so' proves your point? LOL!!! I'll take Warren Buffet's word over yours any day. But of course, what does he know!

"Warren Buffet complained that he paid a 17.7% tax rate on his $46 million of taxable income in 2006, while his employees paid an average 32.9% tax rate (his receptionist's tax rate was 30%)."
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2007/06/warren-buffet-p.html

"While expressing optimism about the U.S. role in the global economy, he warned that the nation needed to increase exports and cease being a debtor nation. He also called for an overhaul of the tax code, which he said unfairly favored rich men like him."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062602504.html

"Tax breaks for corporations (and their investors, particularly large ones) were a major part of the Administration's 2002 and 2003 initiatives," he wrote. "If class warfare is being waged in America, my class is clearly winning."
http://money.cnn.com/2004/03/06/pf/buffett_letter/index.htm

On the same subject, Laura gave Bush a Brain, but it didn't take.

"It has always bothered me that neither of Bush's daughters felt any need to join the military."

Did you also wonder how Clinton actively dodged the draft with strings pulled, but yearned to be Commander in Chief one day starting years before? Did you wonder why Chelsea didn't join the military? Come on now, fair is fair,

What a great gift idea from the Dems to King George…..NO RECESS APPOINTMENTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND THE HOPE OF THIS SEASON SHINES, WITH A LAME DUCK IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

http://www.bushtimer.com

All I want for x-mas next year is a new president……

PS (Santa, please, not another Neo-con Republican )

what odd things to be in the same sentince…

"bush" & "peace"

Then toss in the word "mideast"

Merry Christmas!

Bush sends some lowly aide out to by a purse….

Slow news day huh?

Personally, I like to know what WE bought the First Family for Christmas.

TOUGH GUY FROM TEXAS!?! You mean spoiled rich boy who attended private prep school in Conn., summered in New England, and attended Yale and Harvard for college. I wonder how many other kids from Crawford did any of that!

I love it when all you Libs whine about President Bush.

He won two general elections and all you do is beg for handouts.

He's the President of the United States and you libs are pathetic losers….keep whining.

It is really astounishing to read all these supposedly compassionate Liberals on here really go this LOW. He is a human being regardless if you believe in his policies or not he deserves peace and time to spend with his family during christmas. Really Liberals why are you so angry with him. Is it cause he has kept us protected at the homeland the last 6 yrs? Or maybe cause we have the lowest unemployement rate (lower than your boy billy boy)? Or maybe cause the stock market grew at a 12% percent rate this year? Sorry libs it is plain and simple why you hate this fine man. You hate him cause he has beat you twice and has done it with class and grace and not let your childish belitting effect his decision making. Have a great christmas GW with your family and I really am ashamed of how some of my fellow americans act. Sorry sorry people.

All I want for Christmas is a new President!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ed, Bush is no "tough guy". The ranch didn't exist before his 2000 campaign and he's deathly afraid of horses. Have you ever seen this "Texas Cowboy" actually ride a horse?

And to remaining wingnuts who still support this disaster of an administration: No one is listening to you anymore. People are tried of the same old "evil leeeeburals" spiel, yelling "911″ and trying to fright people into voting for your party isn't going to cut it. You guys have been pushing hate a division for over decade and now it's come home to roost.

Clintoon was called president, and Hildebeast called 1st lady. yet CNN and their Liberal biased views continue to call the first family by their names. Disgusting.

"Tough guy from Texas"? Corrct me if I'm wrong but the man was cheerleader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tough guy? LOLOL that's funny!!

I see the Christmas spirit is alive and well on the CNN blogs (note thick layer of sarcasm).

It has always bothered me that neither of Bush's daughters felt any need to join the military. The president asked other parents to send their kids – and he asked children to send their parents – to Iraq. His children went to exclusive universities instead of war, following the tradition of their father instead of their heroic grandfather.

I have often wondered how either of those girls would have done in combat or as prison guards at Abu Gharaib. I have often wondered how I would have performed myself in such a hellish environment. Fortunately for me, I'm too old to join and I'm a veteran anyway so I didn't have to worry about it. Like most of us, I watched the war from my sofa.

Mr Bush gets to spend Christmas with his family while there are men and women over in Iraq and Afghanistan who haven't seen their family in months. How fair is this ?

Bush should be spending christmas behind bars for the illegal actions he has committed. He better thank his lucky stars for "executive privledge"

Camp DAvid is in MAryland? haha

Please tell me who is sitting at home…caring about what Bush gave his wife?? We have our own families to be concerned about! NO ONE CARES!!

Honestly Ed, you're better than this. In fact, anyone is better than this.

I see all the liberal coolaid drinkers got an extra supply of the stuff for Christmas. Try laying off the stuff for a while…open your minds to alternate views for once. Doesn't it get tiring to spew the same childish nonsense over and over again? It sure is tiring hearing it…how about some intelligent diacourse for once?

Posted By AN, Fairfax, VA : December 25, 2007 3:04 pm

"Intelligent" discourse? This from some right wing tool who accuses legitimate Bush critics as being "liberal kool aid drinkers"? What color is the sky in your little world?

The best present Bush could have given the country in 2007 was his resignation and subsequent surrender of all relevant information to the Congress or any other body that might be investigating the various crimes he committed in office.

May God bless the Bush Family. I wish them a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year. He is a great President

I wonder if the children and families are all sitting around the computer screen watching in delight as the hate commentors type off there nasty vile thoughts on christmas day. drinking there green and red kool-aid listening to the sounds of the keypad and the author chuckling, "Impeach, vaporize, hang him for war crimes.Wat a picture and caption for the cover of the "New Yorker " christmas with the LIBRALS

Yeeikes, this is an earlier comment that scares the hell out of me. I realize the remainging 25% is a bit of a freakshow, but can we save the religious fervor for Sundays?

"God Bless the President and his family. Enjoy your time off and get ready to lead in '08. Mr. President, thank you for having the moral courage and fortitude to do the hard thing. I know that you are not perfect…and I never expected you to be. You are human and have emotions and sometimes those emotions can cause us to do irrational and irresponsible things. Regardless, you have made me proud to be a Republican and to have voted for you twice. Thank you for your convictions and the character to carry them through regardless of what your detractors opine about. Remember, Mr. President, that you are God's ambassador and you represent Him. He has allowed you to lead and you are to lead with Biblical authority. I realize that you have to appease the "religious" masses today, but remember that you are an "ambassador for Christ" and it is to Him you will give an account. I hope and pray that you seek His counsel when making decisions. Merry CHRISTmas and God Bless.

Posted By Jeff Jones : December 25, 2007 2:42 pm "

"Whether you approve of our President's decisions or not, he's still our President and as all Presidents, they deserve our respect."

B.S. This "president" has shown no acumen for the job, and has shown no respect for the American people, the National Guardsmen he forces back to Iraq again and again, and not even a glimmer of understanding, much less respect, for the Constitution.

Bush has disgraced the office of president and deserves to be impeached and tried for treason. Cheney should be vaporized, or at least forced to move to Brazil with the rest of the former Nazis.

When you're the most powerful man on earth, you don't need to buy expensive gifts for your wife and kids.

Mike ? Reagan Boom ? I just about fell off my chair:) Reagan had a one year bump in a depressed economy that set the record for deficit spending and his legacy continued into the Bush 41 era where we the taxpayers bailed out the banking community to the tune of billions of dollars. Man, that GOP koolaid must be some powerful stuff!!

Tough guy huh? What a joke and he deserves no respect he deserves a prison cell.

Respect is earned. I respect the office of the president – not George Bush. Anyone who tries to subvert the constitution as he has does not deserve respect. He deserves a cell next to some nameless detainee at Guantanamo.

Instead of spending a cozy Christmas at Camp David and a vacation in Crawford, he should be spending every single holiday in Iraq with the soldiers he sent there. I mean EVERY HOLIDAY until every one of those soldiers returns home. In fact, to save money, let's just leave him there until everyone he sent returns home.

Thank God gore and kerry were not able to steal the election from President Bush.

To all of you who stay up at night thinking about how much you hate your President, I'm sad for you. Hate is a terrible thing, and only terrible people will let it take over their lives. This includes people on the right who hate the Clintons and the far-left wackos who hate President Bush and have long ago forgot how to look at an issue objectively. I would like to thank President Bush, Clinton, all past presidents and the military for their hard work for our country! Have a merry Christmas.

Bush a "tough guy"?

Since when is a moron who freezes up in front of a class of grade school kids, and can't even think to excuse himself as having "president" stuff to do, when all he knows is the USA is under attack a tough guy?

We're lucky he wasn't caught on camera wetting himself.

Riding in the passenger seat for a carrier landing photo op to declare premature victory in Iraq does not make anyone a tough guy. Telling the world he looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes and saw his soul doesn't sound like a "tough guy".

Anyone who pansies out on a cushy National Guard stint protecting our Gulf shores from Vietnamese fighter pilots isn't a "tough guy".

Ed Henry, we are smarter than you must assume. The guy was a cheerleader in college for Christ's sake. He can't ride a bike without crashing into people or buildings. He can't ride a Segway without falling off. He can't even eat a pretzel.

And he goes out and shops for purses? Yep. That's a tough guy all right.

Don't choke on your red velvet cake.

And what Bush gave the American public for Christmas?

A never ending war. Thousands of injured and maimed soldiers. A huge and growing National debt. A divided country. An economy on the brink. The disdain and anger of other nations. A debased justice department. And eroded freedoms and privacy.

Thanks, George. Merry Christmas to you too.

Handbag made from the skin of Gitmo prisoners; silver tray from the tooth fillings of Abu Grahib prisoners.

That shrub, always the great gift giver.

Tough guy from Texas? Here is what the tough guy and friends gave Texas before they left.

Texas – at or near the bottom:

1 – A child is born into poverty every 7 minutes.

2 – Has the highest rate of people living in poverty.

3 – A child is abused or neglected every 10 minutes.

4 – Texas ranks 50th for the highest teen birth rate.

5 – Texas leads the country in executions since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

6 – 80-90% of the Texas homeless population living on the streets are affected by mental illness. One in four is a veteran.

7 – Texas ranks 50th in the nation for the most people without medical insurance – (that is THE BOTTOM.)

8 – Texas has the second highest rate of incarceration.

9 – Texas has the second highest income gap between rich and poor.

10 – Texas is the first in the nation for cancerous emissions into the air and toxic chemicals released into water.

11 – Texas is home to three of the poorest counties in the nation – (these are in the southwest part of the state, an area Bush never visited while governor.)

12 – Texas is home to three of the most polluted cities in the U.S.

13 – PortArthur, Beaumont and Orange have the highest rate of cancer incident and death in the state. (hydrocarbon toxins and emissions)
14 – 5.6 million Texans do not have health insurance.
15 – Texas has the highest teen birth rate and the most repeat teen births in the nation. (Texas requires middle schools to teach abstinence as the only method that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy.)

Repect the president? Bah-hum-bug! The office maybe, but not the man nor his greed.

Judging this comment thread it looks as if it is represenative of President Bush's approval rating.

What's disturbing is that the 30% of the comments (pro Bush) are either frightening Jesus-bots or haters of all that's remotely "liberal," as if they've just finished scribling notes while listening to Limbaugh.

These very same people I'm sure, in the '90s, were telling each other to "keep their powder dry*" and the "gubmint" needs to be reined in by (darkly) "any means necessary." And that Clinton was "destroying" the Constitution.

Well, now that one of their own has pumped steroids into the Executive Branch takover of power that they warned against, they apologize like battered wives. Making excuses; attacking those that simply point out the fact of their black eye(s) (insert horrible mismanaged Bush disaster here).

"May you live in interesting times."

Indeed we do.

Bush is neither a Texan nor a "Tough Guy"

It's also very nice that he can afford these gifts to lavish on his family while millions of Americans go without, and tens of thousands hope and pray that their loved ones don't die in a war zone.

Good job Ed Henry.

Merry Christmas to our First Family!

The president's own wife gave him "sole warmers"
(soul warmers?) for Xmas…. is she trying to tell him he is a cold hearted something or other?

Nobody in this great wide Universe gives a rats patoot how Georgie and Clan spent Christmas, what they dined on, or who was there.

In fact, nobody in this great wide Universe gives a rats patoot about Georgie Period.

The only important issue surrounding Georgie is when he's leaving the White House so this Great Wide Universe might have a chance of returning to it's normal state!

Georgie shouldn't be celebrating Christmas as Christmas is the season for Love,Peace and Generosity.

Best Wishes that his tires go flat, his seat is cold and hard, and his new outdoor attire provides no warmth. All minimal hardships compared to the crosses his military, Iraqui's, Afghanistan's, and Hurricane Victims are carrying on a daily basis.

Re: AN from Fairfax — This West Texas liberal has had enough of your "conservative" nonsense. You folks need to realize that you have tied yourself to a man who could care less about you or our country. If you can come up with something intelligent to say, I'm sure we can have a nice discussion.

Oh — and learn how to spell Kool-Aid and discourse while you're at it.

I don't know if any of the people who've posted before me know this, but President Bush was Governor of Texas before he was President. TEXAS, not Connecticut. He may have been originally "from" Connecticut but he became a Texan when he moved there and did business there. Bush may even break the "lame duck" spell next year; I can scarcely imagine the limp-wristed, bare Democratic majority actually opposing him on key issues such as Iraq and the fascist "PATRIOT" Act.

Well George, I voted for ya. Git on that bike and RIDE back to Texas please. Who said you were a republican? >>>> jerrysrollin.blogspot.com

He didn't give the USA and us that opposed him in this senless war
anything. But he gave us Petreaus who is now arming the Sunni military AWARE group. With Petreaus arming the Sunni and Rep. John Boehner R-OH saying the sacrificing of 3,700 military lives was a small price to pay for the position in the Middle East,is it not clear that the USA wanted the OIL reserves and the Position to protect, defend and supply Isreal.
As a New Years Resolution maybe he will explain how he and Condi sat on their hands on Jul. 10 and Aug 6, 2001 and never passed the warning to anyone especially the FAA, NORAD, Civil Avation Board or the Airlines to increase the securtiy of the safety of Americans. The outing of Valeria Plame was a cover up of the failure to secure America from the al Queda attack. Sept. 11, Commission didn't complete their work as many loose ends still are there.
At that point after the disaster of the WTC this President should have been removed from office as he was in "DERLICTION OF DUTY" to keep America safe. Then to fight a world war with "BACK DOOR DRAFT of reserves & National guards" are unthinkable. WWII everyone contributed but, 2001 the middle class was ask to do what this guy wouldn't do himself.
He ran like a scared Rabbit away from the Physcal that would quaified him for high altitude combat status, hide untli he knew that they would not hunt for a former president "chickenhawk" son.
This man is guilty of the murder of 3,897 of our finest men and women and his wrapping himself in the flag and men and women that obliged his building a NATION in the Middle East.
Let the investigation roll and expose this depot for what he really is. The Liberal media should be ashamed as I am ashamed that my country has been given away for the cheapest price and money to fund this insane "MISSADVENTURE OF WORLD DOMINATION"
BTW: Ramos and Compean are still in prison Dec. 25, 2007, for shotting a drug dealer that GWB friend Johnny Sutton of El Paso gave immunity to testify against the pair while he used the free pass to run more drugs. What are the ties to Mexico does this lame-duck have to Mexico. Will he escape to Mexico to avoid being held in contempt for this missguided war.

Wow. What a deferential "news story".

Say, I bet if you run one of these "news stories" about our tough-but-tender commander-in-chief, every day from now until January of '09, they can frog-march him to The Hague with a 30% approval raying, easy!

Is this all we have to look forward to as newsworthy???
Bush gave his wife a silver tray and a purse for christmas!!! Holy cow!!
I can tell you what he has given the Amwerican people debt, destruction, loss of global trust, liars, thieves and corruption, and just especially for myself and my family (drum roll) over the last five christmas seasons, 2 without my husband, 1 without my brother in law, and now this year my son on his way to Iraq…….please a handbag!!!!!
I would hope the media has more important things to report on than this….. I cant wait for this moron to be out of the White House. Who really cares what he gives to his family off the profits and blood of us little people.

Wild guess, but Ed Henry never served his country either, just like the "tough guy from Textas"

a tough guy from Texas

Oh please. He's a silver-spoon Kennebunkport native that built a 28,000+ square foot ranch in Texas as another playground.

Here's a description of the rugged way he spends his summers:

"The Bush compound…has been a family retreat for more than a century.

The estate is situated on the strip of land called Walker's Point which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The large central house, built in the New England shingle style, has nine bedrooms, four sitting rooms, an office, a den, a library, a dining room, a kitchen, and various patios and decks. Next to the main house are a four-car garage, a pool, tennis court, dock, boathouse, and guesthouse. There are spacious lawns on either side of the house, on which there is a small sportsfield."

That's a lot more than 28,000 square feet I'd guess.

Tools.

I guess it must really be a slow news day with a story like this. A real story might be if Laura gave Bush a heart. That would be something to read about.

Yeah I'm sure the President shopped for these gives by his OWN SELF. Uh-huh.

Ed Henry, still a stenographer, feeding Americans propaganda since …. 2000?

Nice article. I appreciate coverage like this of the President and his family.

As for the people that hop on the web and write such horrible things about our President, all I can hope is that you can find some joy and peace this holiday season. The hatred in your heart hurts no one but you. Let it go.

iT'S NICE TO GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS 'EVERYTHING' what HE SHOULD DO IS give HIS FEDERAL employees (VA hospitals, ETC.) another HOLIDAY for NEW YEAR's EVE, like he did for Christmas; espicially since we will not be getting the 3% (or better) COL raise, we so deservingly need.

Who cares? Bring the soldiers home..now that would be a christmas gift.

He should give his wife what Jesus gave all of us "The hope of peace".
Of course we all know is the anticrist.

A silver tray… wow, like we give a rip. How cheap is that? Bush doesn't have to spend a penny all year long and buys a silver tray. I wonder if it was an ash tray? lol!!! I can't wait for the day little Bush is out of the White House. He hasn't done anything but kill people and create a mess in the USA and abroad! Fall off your bike! Perhaps, the world would be a better place!

It surely is nice to know our president has a wonderful marriage and first lady.

I don't agree with everything G.W. Bush does, but I do respect him as our commander-in-chief.

God bless Bush and America.

He looks old. He's going to need a whole lot more surgery than Laaraa has gotten to look just a wee bit younger. Yeah, he can't even pronounce his wife's name.

" A Migrain"

Bush should give the American People a resignation. Now that would be a great gift!

Who's kidding who here? Does Ed want us to believe that Bush actually went shopping himself, or does he just want us to believe that he believes it?

how nice that laura and george had such a wonderful christmas. this is how my husband and i celebrated our christmas. we kissed each other good bye and started our 2 hour commutes to work. we didn't exchange gifts this year because we don't couldn't afford to, especially with the high cost of gas in new york. for dinner i had a swedish meatball lean cusine at my desk and some donuts a coworker brought in. my husband ate dinner sitting in his ambulance waiting for calls to come in. we are hoping we can make next months mortgage payment. that will be a lovely gift.

Gifts all around so we can celebrate peace on earth. Oh wait seven years of Bush = Seven years of War

President Bush? Tough guy?

Thanks for the laugh.

Of course, the "Tough Guy from Texas" is really from Connecticut and a former cheerleader, but I'm sure that you did lots of in-depth journalisming to come up with that characterization.

Congress gave "43″ 70 billion for his war. The rest of middle class America got a lump of coal and more national debt.
Frankly I don't care what his wife gave him or what he gave her. It's just his PR crew trying to put a warm happy human face on a the opposite of that image.

I think to qualify as a "tough guy" you actually have to do more than read speeches and intimidate the press corps.

He did cause a lot of death, though he kept his own hands from getting soiled. Maybe some consider that "tough."

Thanks Mr. President for your lasting "gift" to the american people. You will leave us fellow americans with your lasting legacy of death and destruction, war and corruption including: the unjustified war in Iraq, wide spread hate & intolerance, divisiveness, partisonship, invasion of privacy, torture, immunity from prosection to war criminals, exceleration of global warming, supression of political dissent, hatred and mistrust of americans world-wide, disaterous & short-sided foreign policies, huge corporate welfare distributions, obscene profit magins for non-competitive military contractors, a corrupted justice department, a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, out of control energy prices (with out of control profits for oil and gas cronies), damage to the clean air and water and the environment in general and ….oh gosh….there's so much more to your "gift" this holiday season that it just seem to keep on giving…headache after heartache.

SO NOW A LITTLE "GIFT" AMERICANS WILL TRULY ENJOY. THE END OF YOUR LAST TERM AS COMPLAINER AND THIEF IS ALMOST HERE…..TO GET A GLIMPSE JUST VISIT:

http://www.bushtimer.com

LIKE KING GEORGE OF ENGLAND, THE ONLY TRUE INSPIRATION FREEDOM LOVERS CAN GET FROM THIS "GEORGE" (BUSH ADMINISTRATION) IS A THOUGHT OF REVOLUTION AND A RESTORATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY TO FREE IT FROM THE POISONOUS "GIFT" OF NEO-CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN RULE. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD HELP US !!!!!

Maybe Laura Bush gave George W. a cyanide pill.

The problem is that she would have to explain to him how to use it, since he is too stupid to figure it out on his own.

WRONG. HE IS NOT FROM TEXAS, AND HE IS NOT TOUGH. HE COULD HAVE MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY ON CHRISTMAS BY RESIGNING, AND TAKING HIS WHOLE BUNCH OF CRONIES WITH HIM.

> he's still our President

No he isn't.

He stole election 2000 in Florida.

He stole election 2004 in Ohio.

He's not "a" President.

And I remember campaign 2004 and the subsequent Social Security tour very well: In both cases, only Bush supporters were allowed to attend, not all citizens.

So Bush isn't "a" President, and for about half of America, he's not "our" President either.

Merry Christmas, loyal Bushies.

It's hard to imagine a tough guy from Texas ducking service in Vietnam by getting his Daddy to put him in the Texas Ait National Guard, and then dropping out of that cushy job!

Tough guy, my left foot!

Too bad they all didnt get a ONE WAY ticket to Iraq, Tough guy,my foot. The REAL TOUGHS GUYS and women ARE IN IRAQ and other places in the world where our soldiers are being caought up in this WAR which is a political DISGRACE.

lilarose, being "pro" military does not mean "pro" war.

I didn't know anyone I served with that was "pro" war. Your inference is insulting and unwarrented.

Now, when YOU dedicate your life to service of your country and put your life on the line defending the freedoms you enjoy so much you can ask for a holiday just for you.

Merry Christmas.

Bush doesn't deserve our respect solely because he won an election. Respect is earned; it's not a divine right.

And the "tough guy" bit is fairly laughable. Bush's toughness consists of spending other people's money to send other people abroad to kill other people.

For all you complaining, Im not seeing you doing a better job. Public office is no easy thing for anyone, and there is not one current canidate that hasnt or wont lie to you either.

I wonder if the troops are eating as good as the Bushes did this Christmas.

We have donated July 4th, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, even Labor Day to the military and wars. How about something for the rest of us?

Lilarose,

Something for the rest of us? How about just enjoying the freedom that folks that have served or are currently serving fought and died for! You don't have to be pro-war! being thankful is a wonderful thing. You may want to try it. Secondly, is President Bush the only president to enjoy a tax payer funded CHRISTMAS? I think not! As a retired military member, I appreciate what our troops are doing and I thank them! In short, just be thankful!

Don't you mean admitted alcoholic from a privileged Connecticut family?

I realize a big part of your job is personalizing news, even on something as trivial as this. But please, sticking somewhere near reality would make you seem more like a news organization. Thank you.

Merry Christmas to all.

hey raymond EL Paso,TX man you are right on God bless you for stating the truth. my wish for him biking gear failure caused broken neck of g.w. bush.

Oh lighten up people… The President is still a man with a family. Rock on for him having a nice holiday get together.

lilarose,
What would you like for Christmas? Perhaps another terrorist attack? Three cheers to our military personnel, President Bush and their families! And a very MERRY CHRISTMAS,too!

Tough guy? What is this, satire?

If I had known that a fool like Mr. Bush would be addicted to mountain biking, I don't know whether I would have bothered to develop the sport.

How exactly is this Andover/Yale/son of privilege, with a fake ranch and a string of miserable job failures, a "tough guy?" You mean, bombing a backwards country like Afghanistan, then bombing another stone age country, Iraq, and landing on aircraft carriers makes one tough? Boy, talk about defining toughness down. Merry Christmas, America. Only less than a year of this fake tough guy monstosity.

Perhaps 2008 will be the year many of you finally realize how gullible you have been to have fallen for the myths generated by the President's enemies. The President has a record to be proud of. He continued the 25 year long Reagan economic boom and kept America safe from further attacks. The enemies of freedom no longer have free reign to plan another 9/11 like they did when Clinton was ignoring the threat. The next President, Democrat or Republican will continue President Bush's policies and that will be the ultimate vindication.

Bill gave Hillary a muzzle.

I think it is truly amazing that we are even privy to what they are eating for their luncheon feast. Let us throw a wet towel on this "festive occasion" by remembering the many who have suffered because of the policies of President Bush and the people he surrounds himself with. Like most of our politicians today, he is a self absorbed, self promoting, media hound. I could not believe he actually had a photographer there while he called some of our troops to wish them a merry Christmas. I can imagine him telling the photographer to make sure he gets his best side, if there is such a thing. I just recently heard in the local news of Orange County, California that there has been a 60% increase in homelessness this year and the shelters are filled to capacity. Just a few more victims of the "collateral damage" done by these people who call themselves "God fearing, Christians. This is spoken by someone who believes in Jesus and not just the political "lip service" espoused for gain. What a travesty. Get a grip on what the "new world order" is bringing us to.

Yawn. What a terribly written fluff piece. "Tough guy"- tee hee hee.

Before he was a phony "tough guy from Texas", Bush was a ruff 'n' tuff cheerleader, and a superbly athletic Segway rider

Whether you approve of our President's decisions or not, he's still our President and as all Presidents, they deserve our respect. I wish the Bush family the happiest healthiest Christmas and New Year!!

Posted By ahna,Appleton,WI : December 25, 2007 12:59 pm

Sorry, I could not disagree with you more. People and Presidents earn my respect and this man has done nothing to earn the respect of the American people.

He's our President for one more year.
Then he can sing that old Kingston Trio song "Greenback dollar" back in Texas…

It's even harder to imagine a moron from Connecticut shopping for a pocketbook.

President Bush isn't from Texas. He's from Connecticut.

OH BLAH DEE OH BLAH DAH…. PEOPLE
DYING SO THAT THE WHITE HOUSE CAN HAVE
FUN.

Thank god this is the last year we have to deal with this moron in the whitehouse. This is the worst leader ever!

Gee, it's so warm and wonderful that Bush can spend the holidays in the loving company of his family, while thousands of families and children have to go through another lonely Christmas without thier mommys/daddys who are miles away fighting Bush's fight. Yep, Gotta love the irony..

The tough guy is from New Haven, not Texas, and was a cheer leader in college, with Pom Poms. Then he dodged the draft.

I see all the liberal coolaid drinkers got an extra supply of the stuff for Christmas. Try laying off the stuff for a while…open your minds to alternate views for once. Doesn't it get tiring to spew the same childish nonsense over and over again? It sure is tiring hearing it…how about some intelligent diacourse for once?

Raymond, I am still bemused as to how the left has successfully used disinformation techniques, such as their "tax breaks for the rich" mantra, which apparently still resonate in simple little sheep-like minds such as yours.

Never before have so many paid so little (or nothing at all, if not getting free money back) in taxes.

Please show us the data that confirms that the rich are now paying a lesser share in the nation's tax bill. It just ain't so, and repeating it over and over doesn't change the fact…

He's not really from Texas though is he? Born in New Haven and attended Phillips Academy in Andover. He's an east coast prep school softy and not the tough Texas guy everybody thinks. I can very well imagine him getting those things for his wife….. as opposed to say, a lasso.

When will Ed Henry stop being so obsequious towards Bush? 'Tough guy from Texas' — the guy grew up in Kennebunkport, was a cheerleader, and cowered in a bunker on 9/11!

Tough guy? Would that be the same draft-dodging, coke-snorting coward whose daddy got him out of every fix he ever got himself into?
"Tough guy" –in another life, maybe.

typical CHRISTmas comments by hate-mongoring regressive,repressive and repulsive LIBERALS.

God Bless the President and his family. Enjoy your time off and get ready to lead in '08. Mr. President, thank you for having the moral courage and fortitude to do the hard thing. I know that you are not perfect…and I never expected you to be. You are human and have emotions and sometimes those emotions can cause us to do irrational and irresponsible things. Regardless, you have made me proud to be a Republican and to have voted for you twice. Thank you for your convictions and the character to carry them through regardless of what your detractors opine about. Remember, Mr. President, that you are God's ambassador and you represent Him. He has allowed you to lead and you are to lead with Biblical authority. I realize that you have to appease the "religious" masses today, but remember that you are an "ambassador for Christ" and it is to Him you will give an account. I hope and pray that you seek His counsel when making decisions. Merry CHRISTmas and God Bless.

Well at least it wasn't full of money like the gifts he gave Halliburton, Iraq, the dictator in Pakistan, tax cuts to the rich, etc. etc.

Who cares what materialistic gift he gave his family? Not sure how he sleeps at night, but we do know that he'll be nice and warm when he spends time mountain biking (THANK GOD!!!!). I'm just thankful that this is really one of his last Christmas' in the White House. Now THAT is something to be thankful for.

Give us a break. Bush led us into the Iraqi war by deception, costing thousands of American lives, and has misled America on numerous issues and legislation. He has no credibility left and we're just counting the days until he's gone. Who cares what the first family gives each other for Christmas? They've given us a future of debt and ill-will around the world that will last for decades!

it should have been his resignation for dereliction of duty.

bush should be impeached for failing to close the borders and opening the country up for a potentail attack.

why doesn't he care about the law?

He is preparing for his Lame duck year. I am sure he is like the rest of us and can not wait for it to end. It sure will be different to have some one who can think on their feet and play well with others. Good bye ole whats your name.

I'm surprised she didn't give him a bag of pretzels, or a hunting trip with VP Cheney. Cuz he hasn't been a very good boy!

For those of us reading this…please tell us what kind of handbag it is…perhaps a picture of it!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the First Family and to all ! Godspeed President Bush in his travels overseas next week.

Tough guy from Texas? I think you mean spoiled rich frat boy from Connecticut.

A "tough guy" from Texas? Who wrote this? Karl Rove? Merry Christmas!

Cheap Bastards

silver tray! what a great gift.

VIVA BUSH

What concerns me more than the Bushes taxpayer-funded Xmas at Camp David is the wall-to-wall military coverage CNN is playing today. Not all viewers are pro-military, pro-Iraqi war. We have donated July 4th, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, even Labor Day to the military and wars. How about something for the rest of us?

Whether you approve of our President's decisions or not, he's still our President and as all Presidents, they deserve our respect. I wish the Bush family the happiest healthiest Christmas and New Year!!