WASHINGTON (CNN) - It's a position that John Quincy Adams once called downright pathetic: that of a former president.
After all, the process of relinquishing the most powerful job in the world isn't an easy one, especially given the American public's notoriously fleeting attention span and penchant for paying little heed to once-prominent political figures after they exit the public stage.
As the days dwindle until President Bush joins what Herbert Hoover called the "most exclusive trade union in the world," the unpopular commander in chief appears decidedly enthusiastic about embracing a lower profile, recently declaring that he's more than ready to forgo the limelight.
Although ex-presidents in Adams' day quickly descended into obscurity after their years in the Oval Office, today the transition away from serving as the leader of the free world is high-profile, potentially very lucrative and, above all, a difficult job in itself.
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From CNN Politics
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At least Bush wasn't a flip-flopper like that John Kerry.
Dallas gets the village idiot back, America get a competent President, it should be a win/win for everybody, but I would have to move.
Memoirs? Glad Laura has that elementary education degree, she can help him with the crayons!
I frankly don't care where he goes or what he does. Just go away George! You've done more damage to our nation than you'll ever imagine or admit to.
Good riddance to the worst president of my lifetime – and considering I was alive during the Reagan and Bush #1 years, that's saying A LOT.
Hey, just a little over 40 days and ole' George will be hanging out at the Ball Park watching his beloved Rangers.
What a coincidence! "...the unpopular commander in chief...recently declaring that he's more than ready to forgo the limelight." We too can hardly wait.
JACK DEBROT, ARE YOU STUPID OR WHAT, BUSH-WACK HAVE NOT KEPT US SAFE.....AND WHY ARE THERE 1.9 MILLION JOB LOSES.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT A DUMB MAN IN OFFICE
HE NEEDS SOME OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BRAINS AND KNOWLEDGE.
WHY IN THE H-E-L-L IS THIS MAN STILL IN OFFICE, HE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED SO PRESIDENT OBAMA CAN DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET AMERICANS BACK ON TRACK.........................
Yes Jack, thanks Pres. Bush for allowing the most fatal attack in U. S. History and then showing the world how bad we are, we invade a country that had nothing to do with the attack. THAT'LL SHOW'EM. DON'T MESS WITH POTUS.
Perhaps it will be made even more difficult now that he has admitted–at the end rather than when it was relevant–that he made mistaken decisions (like going to Iraq based on faulty intelligence) and having squandered the wealth of the country he is responsible for the depression we're now in–and will be remembered as Hoover II, a failed presidency of a little man who was never qualified to be president.
Bush was born with a "silver spoon" in his mouth and NEVER understood or cared about average Americans. The man is incapable of understand or even caring!!! Just sooo glad he is going! AND I was a republican for 40 years but NO MORE!!!! The man has destroyed my faith in what ever was a republican party!!! It has become the party of radical right wing uneducated nut cases!!!
Who writes these things? John Quincy Adams is the only president to become a member of congress after he was president spending the last 17 years of his life in the House. I guess you can call that obscurity but a quick fact check would give you all the information.
If I was him I'd retire on that sweet ranch. I wish I had a ranch like that.
As long as his stupidity can only affect him and those that chose to be near him let the fool mess up everything – just don't let him near a government ever again.
Just go away for good, Georgie. I hope we never have to hear about you again. Your presidency was an absolute, unmitigated disaster in every single respect, which anyone could have predicted from your long history of failing at everything other thing you attempted. I think you should take a good long look at the last eight years and ask yourself if you had America's best interest in your heart when you stole the election in 2000. If, after that, you still think you did the right thing and that you were the best man for the job, then you are simply delusional.
Thank you President Bush for keeping America safe; after President Obama read the intel I am sure he appreciates you too. It is hard to please some people
He never lead, it shouldn't be hard to leave the office. He won't miss the respect most leaders have, he never had it.
Bush, Rove, Cheney, cannot remake the legacy as they are attempting to do. There are just too many facts; too many incidents; too many mis-steps that are factual. There are 4000 families without loved ones....you really cant just smooth that over with pretty spun wording. The entire world....not just America....lived through this stuff....."the man who almost brought down America"....can you smooth that out? It is a vain and sad thing that his final moments in office are being spent working on how he looks rather than trying to help us save our country....and THAT is the truth about Bush....he cares more about how he looks rather than what is happening to our country. He could try, in these last moments, to do something positive for us....but instead they are locked up in the white house trying to figure out who to twist the facts so he doesnt look like the worst man on the planet.....
Mission accomplished!!!
Two mismanaged wars; the government in ruin, abuse of power, damage the USA credibility and reputation, torture, abandoned Americans stricken by disasters, brought the world economy to it’s knees.... way to go GEORGE!!! What a legacy. Have a great life MR BUSH….
Clinton basher@4:42- you and your comrades are the ones to blame for our current situation – with all your brilliance your good intentions have landed us at hell's door step – hope your are happy and suffering more than any other Americans as a result of you obviously poor judgement. This man is incompetent, stupid, self centered and a self absorbed egomaniac and your vote put him in office.
Thank You preseidnet bush for the last 8 years of service to our country, hope the best for you after you leave the white house, and god help us all for the next 4 years!
@ Jack debrost, new york, new york......... 9/11 HAPPENED ON HIS WATCH! AND THE WAR WITH IRAQ HAS ONLY SERVED TO ....
1. BANKRUPT OUR NATION
2. HELP RECRUIT MORE TERRORISTS!
KEEP US SAFE???????? HELL NO.
Isnt a "flip flopper" essentially someone that changes their mind? Is that really such a bad thing? If certain facts come to light that would make one change their position on something then by all means flip and/or flop.
Or are you saying that once you've made a terrible decision, it shows weakness to admist that one was wrong?
The navigation system point directly to a war crimes hearing where they will ship his stupid lying behind to jail along with Dick Cheyney and the other masterminds, I mean liers of the WAR!
NO PARDON FOR THIS GROUP!
He has no shot at redemption. Hopefully he will just fade away so we can move on after eight years of stupidity and a poor choice of friends.
have a good life president bush and family.