CNN

oh my gosh! wow! This pictures it tells so much! It tells ...

well ..

actually ...

I think people are reading too much into this picture, especially considering that in the span of said hour, both men probably crossed, uncrossed, recrossed their legs, shifted postions multiple times, leaned in, leaned away.

The only thing we get from this picture is that Obama and Bush did in fact meet in the oval office – which in my opinion is way, way, way to beige

Bush is the gracious existing President. How exciting to see the nations' first black president-elect in the oval office.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!

I forgive you your lack of insight, you MUST BE LIVING IN
A BLACK HOLE, while the rest of us are living on PLANET
EARTH!

OBAMA WAS GIVEN THE RED CARPET? WOW!
=======================================

HOW SOON WE FORGET! I guess REV JEREMIAH
WRIGHT NEVER HAPPENED, THOSE DISGUSTING
SNIPPETS WERE NOT AIRED UMPTEEN MILLION
TIMES ON THE TV ? I guess no one ever accused
Barack ten million times of being a terrorist? I guess
no one ever claimed over and over again that Barack
was a Muslim?

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING? AND JUST WHAT
HAVE YOU BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS?

WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY, YOU ARE JUST TOO SMART
FOR THE REST OF US, WE WILL JUST MUDDLE
THROUGH KNOWING FULL WELL THAT IN SPITE
OF ALL THE BIAS FROM THE MEDIA, ESPECIALLY
CNN,,,,,,,,IN SPITE OF IT ALL, BARACK PREVAILED,
AMERICANS ARE NOT AS GULLIBLE AS YOU AND
YOUR SIDEKICKS SEEM TO BELIEVE!

The happiest thing in this photo is the Oval Office itself: finally freed of 8 years of stupidity, negligence and mismanagement.

Our country's nightmare is almost over!

Obama to the rescue! Finally, some common sense leadership.

Just what this great nation needs!

To all the bitter and angry people posting on here with there continuing rhetoric about Obama.Why is it they just don't understand that along with the terrible 8 years of Bush politics and the continuation of this hatred and bickering is exactly why the people have had enough and all there voices were heard on Nov the 4th.
They need to get over themselves and unite and stand together for the better of this country.My fear is that this will never stop and this will just be the lingering attitude of most of the republican party and they will fight him tooth and nail.
We must unite and pull this great country out of the terrible mess that has festered over the last 8 years.We have a new strong leader that is for change in america and we must give him that chance.He will only be as good as the people that stand behind him.
If we watch his back I'am sure it is in his heart to watch ours.We the people of this great country need to unite and stand up together for america!
Be strong america!

I bet Bush was fidgeting in his chair!

1st strike – nobama paid for the presidency
2nd strike – MSM was completely in favor of nobama, against mccain
3rd strike – over 65 milllion people fell for this obama clown

Thank you hometowndemocrat, Amber, and Sporky.

I especially agree with Amber's point that the same standard should apply to everyone. We should all be setting aside our differences and past misgivings (whether we be democrat, republican, independent, etc) and working together as one people during this dire time of national crisis. The hopes and dreams which the President-elect instilled in us for a better, brighter future will only fully come to fruition with the support and aid of each and every one of us.

Yes great shot...just like how the Oval office looks in the movies. Those couches gotta go! Chair are okay though.

Good luck Obama see you in 2012 Palin for President,

Check out the foreign policy throughout the world ask Bidden your Vice President. it goes hand in hand with the economy. It does not matter whether your a Democrat, Republican, liberal or independant etc: Read Revalations change is coming your in for a suprise? I wish you the very best. I admired JFK I wish he was still alive today?

I say to you pray first, may this country of ours look up he is asking for change! Liderals don't get it? Thanks for reading my message!

does the furniture go when bush leaves, or can it at least be reupholstered and rearranged? surely obama has better taste than that

What do you mean you are tearing out the bowling ally and putting in a half court???

nothing was handed to Obama he,s a very smart man not shaken very easily. They tried every trick in the book. he didnt respond to then. You call that sure footed. think about it he had enough to go at Palin to make her never show her face again. But he told everybody to leave her and her family along.watch the economy rise- and you keep tour job.

Sometimes a picture is just a picture. It doesn't tell us a thing.

I find it funny how some people are already tired of hearing about President elect Obama. Minorities have shown great respect and interest in the last 43 Presidents. (Save #43 perhaps.)

I think the picture is awesome. I am saving all I can get my hands on to show my 3 year old grandson this historical event when he gets a little older and can appreciate it even more that he does now...

Looks like Obama missed his chance. He should have somehow lured Bush out of the office and locked the door behind him so he could get to work right away. Then, Bush could have joined Laura in the residence to start packing their things. I sure hope the nation makes it to January 20, 2009.

Well, i will miss Bush, he was a great president who happened to be a president at a wrong time, there were alot of challenges during his presidency, and he might have chosen a bad team, but i still have respect for him. May his retirement be filled with joy. Obama is another great president lets wait and see what he is going to do. It looks like his team is made up of great people, let me hope they are not going to manipulate him or the other way round. America is the great country in the world we need to see good example. Lots of Love from RWANDA

@ 30-m-PA-Democrat-voted McCain

nice to know you are still ignorant.. a line taken out of context and you are still sticking to it, thats what I like about the crimminally insane and the just plain stupid neither one can learn something new once they have an idea in their head.

@ Please an interesting definition of the red carpet you have but no worries he is ready far more ready than the president who won the last election 4 years ago...

still like the picture.. the world grows a bit everytime we have a peaceful change of power.

@30-m-PA-Democrat-voted McCain –

I wonder if bitter people like you can shut up and let the man start working before critisizing...the bitterness and bile that you people are still spitting almost a week afefter the election is over is something else.

Grow up and get behind our new president or leave – you DO have that option. Free up your job on the fry bin at McDonalds for someone who can use the money...

The simple fact is you have NO idea where we're headed, except that things are going to change, and people like you are afraid of change. Try stepping out into the light instead of hiding in you mothers basement....

Hey 30-m-PA-Democrat-voted McCain,

I wonder will you get over it and move on!!!!!!!! Bitter, Bitter, Bitter, like young kids!!!!!!!

Love it – Obama teaching Bush his ABCs! "OK, let's go over it again...A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L...."

Ugghh dunno if it's customary in the oval office to look like that but the symmetry of the furniture arrangement would drive me nuts.

Well-said, CA Asian Guy; and kudos to the Bushes for being so gracious to the Obamas (from what can be gleaned from the pictures and post). However, I too was struck by the body language in the Oval Office picture!

I saw a cartoon of this when I was a kid. It was called "Pinky and the Brain."

Super kudos, CA-Asian guy!!

As an Obama supporter I'd like to add to that:

Shame on my fellow Obamaniacs (you know who you are) who are being sore winners! That's not what our President-elect stands for and you'd know it if you read Audacity of Hope.

Let's strive to be better, everyone.

Wow – Obama seems to be doing well thus far. Hopefully he can do something for us. No one else is !!!

It is interesting to me how clearly nervous and ill-at-ease Obama ease compared to Presdent Bush. He is clearly rigid and tense, likely due to realizing that his inexperience and lack of accomplishment is likely becoming evident as he tries to converse without the help of a teleprompter.

What a beautiful room this is! (you paid for it! wink).

Now to make it a perfect picture, all you need is Barack in a smoking jacket with slippers and the morning paper with pipe in mouth (like Ward Cleaver used to do), and Michelle serving coffee and cakes on the presidential china.

I wonder if Michelle is still not proud of her country?

Well said Ca-Asian Guy!! Bravo!

Wow.

The amount of anger on some of these blogs is amazing. Hey don't waste it all so soon. You have at least the next 4 YEARS to rant and you wouldent want to use it before he is even sworn in.

May I suggest that you accept Obama is our next President and move on.

Obama has had the red carpet for him all along – right from the start of the campaign. Everyone went way out of their way to accommodate him. Not like the treatment the rest of the candidates received that is for sure. Bush was certainly not going to give him a hard time – it would make no sense anyway.

Obama will be the leader of the free world soon – hope he is ready.

Obama is on the offense in this pic...LOVES IT!

We are looking at Barack's first photo in the oval office. What a wonderful day.

How ridiculous to think you can read Bush's body language to mean that. Someone who is right handed usually crosses their right leg over their left because it's more comfortable. I'm sure Obama is real open to Bush; proven during the campaign when he endlessly voiced his disrespect for the President. Get real!

Historical photo–I love it.

a picture worth "1600" words

It could be a historical photo with both the best president and the worst president in history.

I voted for Obama because I needed to see some change, domestic policy and foreign. So far, Obama is not bringing in any fresh faces. I would hate to see everyone who advises Obama from a previous presidency. Yes, experience matters.....but so does new approach and ideas.

@ Dave: "Great picture- I love fact that Bush is leaning to the right and Obama is leaning to the left – Awesome!"

Indeed. Funny how sometimes it brings us closer.

I LOVE THIS PHOTOGRAPH!

America, the Beautiful

yuck...redecorate that place...please....it looks like my grandparents' place did 20 years ago

LOL at some of these comments! And yes, this is a GREAT picture!

Cheers to all the republicans who have put aside grudges and are willing to support the new President-elect and willingly work together to save our country.

Shame on all the republicans who are basically being sore losers and bashing President-elect Obama in a non-sensical and counterproductive way. Shame on you bitter, bitter folk.

I love this picture. Barack looks very comfortable.

Obama this Obama that my gosh lets hope he does something for us not just how he crosses his legs.

And the dream became reality! Welcome Mr. President.
nganenu

Wonderful picture, expressing what appears to be a meaningful and freindly conversation. Something else for the world to be proud of the US: The smooth and, hopefully, peaceful transition of power.

Both Bush and Obama ae showing grace, accommotation, and cooperation. The country can sleep a little easier tonight. For that, thank you President Bush.

Interesting, the body language here. Obama's clearly showing that he's open to Bush with his leg crossed in toward Bush. Bush is turning away from Obama, shutting him out by crossing his leg away from him; there's obviously no approval or acceptance from him! Too bad, Georgie. He's movin' in! Make way for progress and some change for the better!

I'd love to be a bug on the wall. Bush surely made some of his trademark blunders, stumbled over words, tossed out remarks or popped questions that hung in the air like the stench of a green cloud.

America has just show he world what a real democrasti mean. Only in America!! I love this country more now then ever.

nice picture... hope to see it changed slightly come Jan 20th... but until that time nic picture...

Great picture- I love fact that Bush is leaning to the right and Obama is leaning to the left – Awesome!

Whatever...I'm already tired of hearing about Obama.

I find their body language very interesting.

Obama – leaning in; leg crossed towards Bush
Bush – leaning back; leg crossed against Obama.

I don't think Bush is very happy....

What a good photo! It looks really good and Obama looks right at home.

barack looks good in there. if you only look at the right half of the pic.