CNN

I hear things about Bush but American people are stupid when 911 happen the country was ready to go to war don't get me wrong one life lost can't be replaced but as time goes on our country starts to cry bring our troops home it's not that easy we fight here are there .the best thing we can is say Thank You to Mr. Bush we have had the best eight years this country has seen in a while lets see how we feel in 4 years!!

Haha, that tickles me a little. I can't help but be at least a little reminded of the so called "midnight appointments" the federalists made to the courts before Jefferson could take office in an attempt, as it turned out, to retain relevance in the future government. Party warfare never changes.

Three words for you Mr. Walker: Bush Derangement Syndrome. This is barely a news story.

Will the next Bailout contestant, "Come On Down"

We have to remember, that through all the lies that brought on the war, OUR so called leader and his aids, brought the deaths of so many of our young soldiers..........all because of lies.

Mr. President, you should hang your head in shame to have caused this.
Remember that old saying, " The buck stops here "

Connie;
don't like personal responsibility, do you? Blame it on the "devil", give credit to "God".......Bush a christian? please, even if i did believe in God, which i clearly don't, Bush's actions over not just the last 8 years, but his entire LIFE are anything but "christian". No good will, no selflessness, only a self-rightous, self-serving bastard.

Mark Holland, I love that liberal tolerance you and your friends share on Christmas. God bless you.

Judy Parker, I totally agree with you. I didn't vote for Obama and I don't think he is going to be the savior everyone thinks he is going to be. However, I will support him and pray for him. It will be interesting to see how public opinion changes after he has been in office for a while.

Bush is certainly not the first president, Democrat or Republican, to make appointments like this during his final days in office, nor will he be the last until this sort of thing is made illegal. How about a national movement to make all presidential appointments illegal after the November elections unless they are necessary due to national emergency. It's time for the People to express their outrage and make our politicians clean up their acts!

I don't think it will take centuries to undo G.W. Bushs' damage, maybe 1-2, as the damage is indeed severe. The world knows what a fiasco this Bush reign has been. I find it hard to believe that Bush didn't lose the first, but especially the second election in a landslide. The fact is that (thanks to Rove) Bush did lose both elections. We all know about Florida in 2000, few talk about the theft of Ohio in 2004. WHY???

He should not be allowed to appoint anyone

I am not a supporter of W. Bush's Iraq and Katrina responses. After spending 8 weeks doing Katrina Gulf Coast recovery effort, and seeing unprecedented "natural" disasters zap the strength of our relief & recovery responders, I am looking for a "silver lining" somewhere. Look at the magnitude of disaster responses still in progress on . We need our National Guard home to help, and you can help via the many orgs available.

The absence of another 9/11 on W's Watch could be to the credit of his directives. We don't know how many terrorists have been stopped by our domestic counter-terrorism forces.

Get bush out of our society!!! Procecute.. imprison!!!

a... nice and deserving retirement...!!!

I will be enjoyed when Bush and his gestapo group will be leaving Washington!!

Robert – you are dangerous to my community, this society, and our country.....and no, that's not something to be proud of, you bit tough man.....

Great Comment Mark, but at least this time the haters are going to be a small minority, rather than 60-70 percent of the country that hates bush. they are sounding so shrill and paranoid that reading these blogs actually soothes my mind and makes me happy. I counted and it's only about 14% of the bloggers that are hating on Obama, most are hopeful. They're going to close comments soon, but it's a greatly decreasing numbers of haters daily on all forums, now it seems like just the true nutballs are left. Let's move forward without them. then they'll have health care for their bitter golden years and be able to afford antipsychotics to keep them quiet

THE MORE THE PEOPLE TRY OR PRETEND TO PUT GEORGE BUSH DOWN, THE MORE WE KNOW THAT HE WILL , NO DOUBT, GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS MEN. PERIOD. THE VERY FACT THAT HE IS ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE ONSLAUGHT THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE TO BARACK OBAMA, BUT, DON'T DARE TO, THE MORE HIS HISTORY IS WRAPPED UP IN THE TIDIEST BLUE RIBBON FOR MRS. BARBARA BUSH THAT ANY TOP OFFICIAL HAS EVER DONE IN THIS WORLD AND THAT IS THAT. HE IS ABLE, NOT CAINE AND STILL, HE IS DOING WHAT OTHERS COULD NOT DO.

None of you bleeding heart cried about this when Bill Clinton did the same thing! I'm betting this won't even make it on the blog being this is CNN.....

It's hard for us "liberals" (ie majority) to ignore the attempted pardon of someone who may be indicted next week for the same crimes bush is pardoning him for, thats a brand new low in US politics brought to you by 43 WPE (worst president ever) But Merry christmas anyway and enjoy the Obama revolution since it is the result of 43 WPE, you helped make it happen by being so insulated close-minded and ignorant.

From Bush Supporter: Domestically, he governed over the greatest economy globally. Home ownership and creation of new jobs sky rocketed. Prices remained stable, i.e. I filled up my gas tank yesterday for $1.42/ gallon. Experienced as a leader some of greatest man made, and natural disasters to include 911, numerous CA wildfires, drought, Katrina, and post the hurricane, headed some of the largest efforts in history to restore not just a city, but the entire gulf coast.

Just what planet do you reside from there, Bush supporter?

The whole world is waiting for this man and his minions to disappear from the scene. He has ruined Americas standing in the world and behaves as if he did some good.

I'm really impressed that people get this serious bout who their president is. No matter what election it is, the vote of Joe Blow means very little. 'W' proved that. It wasn't even a contest between McCaine and Palin and Obama and Biden. My guess is there are people out there in the public who are livid over the results just like there are people who are ecstatic.
But consider this, no matter who the president of the US is, we (mankind as a whole) are still ruining the earth, running out of potable water, ruining the atmosphere, ruining the oceans, devastating the rain forests, killing each other in senseless wars, did you know that a child dies in this world every two seconds due to poverty related causes? The aborted ones aren't included in that figure. The economy world wide is collapsing, and our government is trying to spend its way out of a very serious recession that is quickly turning into a very serious depression. These are scary times. But don't pin your hopes on a man. Not a president. Not a group of politicians. None of these will protect you. They can't. A group of people have to be in agreement to do the most good for all. And they have to be objective enough to set aside their personal preferences for the good of all. All of them, not just a majority, but everyone must be able to do that, or you have contentions. Contentions are couterproductive.
Have a nice day.

Merry Christmas
the hate that is written here on the day the christ the savior was born.
About bunch of sad lonely people. Bush is good man, he loves this country the United States of America based on Christian faith. You people who hate and I mean you people write the word Hate so many times can't even see what that man has done. He is the only president who has helped Africa by giving them billions of dollars to protect themselves from disease, Aids, rape etc and as far as Katrina Bush did everything he could, it was Louisiana stupid governer and the stupid mayor of New Orleans that caused their own problems, but then here we go again the same people who can't help themselves was told to leave blame it on Bush, where is all the money that was sent to New Orleans gone and the people still can't help themselves

I mean after all the Emperor's New Clothes has not done enough damage!

He is the worst ever to reside at 1600 Pennaylvania.

Can this DUCK just get turned into Duck a l'orange!?

THE PREVIOUS COMMENTER REFERRED TO PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AS LAME DUCK AND GOVERNMENT WASTE OR FAT. THE COMMENTER MAY BE RIGHT, BUT, THE FAT IS NESCESSARY, IT MAKES FOR JUICY STUFF THAT WE PAY A LOT FOR, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT COMES WITH THE PART THAT WE WANT, THE LEAN OR HEART PART. PRESIDENT BUSH SPENT CHRISTMAS DAY WITH HIS FAMILY AT CAMP DAVID AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS THE TWELVETH AND LAST CHRISTMAS CAMP DAVID VISIT BY THE PRESIDENT. NOW, HE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO HIS NEW HOME IN DALLAS, WHERE THE UTAH DRIVER HAS DIED FROM HIS OWN HAND AFTER KILLING TWO OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY NEAR DALLAS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION. WHEN MR. BUSH IS IN CAMP DAVID, HE IS THE PRESIDENT, WHEN MR. BUSH IS IN DALLAS, HE IS A WHITE MAN. WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE? THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESIDENCY IS THE WHITE MAN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WHITE MAN IS THE WHITE MAN. SO BARACK OBAMA IS PARTIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE IS PATIALLY WHITE AND THAT IS HOLDING. BUT, HOLDING FOR WHAT? WHILE WE AMERICANS TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT, AFTER SEEING THE MOVIE,
"FBI", STARRING KEVIN KOSTNER FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME, I LIKE A LOT OF OTHERS, BELIEVE THAT JACK KILLED BOTH, LEE AND JOHN IN NOVEMBER 1963. APPARENTLY, THE WORTH OF A WHITE MAN MUST BEGIN AND END AT THE MASON-DIXON LINE. OBAMA IS FROM HAWAAI WHILE HIS WIFE HAILS FROM THE SOUTH. HE SAYS WE HAVE OR SERVE AN AWESOME GOD IN THAT AREA WHERE MICHELLE HAILS FROM, THE SOUTH, THE AREA OF THE WHITE MAN, OBAMA? WHO WOULD KNOW IF YOU DON'T KNOW? MAYBE ORA LEE KNOWS, SHE LEFT THE SOUTH EACH SUMMER TO LIVE IN BOSTON AND IT WAS LIKE SHE BROUGHT BOSTON TO THE SOUTH AND TOOK THE SOUTH TO BOSTON EACH SUMMER. BUT, IT DIDN'T MATTER MUCH BECAUSE DADDY HAD ALREADY PLACE ME IN NEW YORK WITH MARY. MARY LEE, THAT IS AND LIKE WE, ALL KNOW, MARY IS A LAST WORD, LIKE JESUS AND AMEN. SO BE IT.

For those Dims that haven't read the constitution Bush is still the real president, it is his right. Get a life!

For you Rubes that haven't yet realized that Bush all but mangled the constitution.... It was not his right to do so, and we Dims as you call us can finally say GOOD BYE to the worst president history has presented to us. Thank God America came to its senses.

Bush operates on the honor system. We have the honor and he has the system.

Bush the Son is going to do everything in his power to undermine Obama. If there is a Hell then may there be a special place in it for the Bush Administration, Republicans, Evangelicals and Fundamentalists.

Rice is the smarter one she gets a cool appointmnt selection BECAUSE the new president can't get rid of the kennedy center BUT all those other entities can be eliminated through budget and executive directives SURE g.w. can appoint ALL HE WANTS but trust me when I say the NEXT president can and will eliminate ALL of or at least MOST of the these appointees INDEED.

OMG everyone relax! If you have seen presidents come and go in your lifetime, you know that when running for office you have to lie and "couch" your statements. Once in office, you have to consider many things you were not, and could not, be aware of before you got the clearance to know. All presidents start over new when taking office. I hope Obama will do the right thing, even if he gets resistance from his party, the other party, and his "pie in the sky" supporters. None of us has access to enough information to be making these hateful comments. Make no mortal your God. We all have good and evil in us. By the way, where has objective journalism gone? if it has gone away, we are in deep trouble! I will not matter who is in power.

Throwing Christmas biscuits to his loyal dogs. Can't wait until this man is out of office – it'll take centuries to undo the damage he's done.

Please, everyone! If we do not stop this bickering among ourselves we will continue to be a nation who does not respect others or their opinions. We do not have to be like minded thinkers, we should however take the good with the bad and learn from the mistakes that have been made. The last 8 years have not been ideal but it is time to move forward and start healing the past mistakes. If we cannot do this as a nation of individuals then sadly, those mistakes will only repeat themselves. Love thy neighbor as myself.

It is so sad to see these hate mongers mourning the end of division as they see it. Wake up, it is the new dawn and America has decided to seek unity and do what's right by its people. Support unity or be left behind with your retched hearts. History will not forgive you and your likes.

Ahh, peace on earth, good will towards men. Unless you're a whining liberal with Bush dreangement syndrome!!! Lighten up guys, it's Christmas!

Republicans – hmmm – didn't they used to hold political offices? I seem to recall they were a party once.

Any comparison between W and Obama ends with "they both have a nose and 2 ears." George W was NEVER qualified intellectually to hold the highest office in the US – how many examples does one need of his inability over the last 8 years?

Hoping for Obama to fail is just sour grapes – I hoped Bush wouldn't screw so many things up over his 2 terms but hope doesn't always translate to reality.

Obama wants YOU to be a part of this country, regardless of your background. Join in and make this a better place – leave all hate and triteness behind.

I am marking down the days on my wall, just like prisoners do!

19 PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THINK GEORGE W. BUSH IS A GREAT PRESIDENT.

19 PERCENT.

NOW, THAT'S SOBERING REALITY TO SAY THE LEAST.

I Think the camera catching him having a drink a few weeks ago just about sums up his sorry whitewash of that paltry 19 percent.

THANK GOD IT'S OVER. THE END OF AN ERROR.

Bush is one sick S.O.B.

Jeez, a lot of this Bush-bashing is just so out of proportion and irrelvent to this topic and it makes me wonder if the same will happen to Obama if he doesn't keep up with his job as President. Not here to defend Bush or anything but I think its quite unfair to make such slanderous remarks about the President of the United States no matter who is in office.

The person who made comments about no Christmas lights in some part of New York because of the "liberals" is the most hilarious thing I read on this blog. What does not having Christmas lights have to do with the liberals?! What a stretch of his/her vain imaginations.

Republicans are facists. Always have been, always will be.

Re: Retired Military Officer-

With all due respect, there is a difference brtween making honest mistakes no matter how hard you try and deliberately doing whatever you want , whenever you want with little or no regard for the law, the constitution or common, human decency!! His arrogance and own self-importance clouded his judgement and others paid the price!

BUSH SURE HAS SHOWN HIS COLORS. HOW MUCH MORE DAMAGE CAN HE DO TO HIS REPUTATION

BH in main read trollmaster. You cannot have it both ways

What does he have to lose? He knows he will be one if not the worst presidents ever so why not take care of his buddies? He needs to have someone like him! I wish it were Jan. 20th today! Goodbye, W. You are such a loser.

ONLY BUSH WOULD DO SUCH ROTTEN POLITICAL STUNT.

Re: Judy Parker-

I suggest you look up the meaning of integrity and honesty. As for "doing the right thing", attacking a country on the basis of lies, spitting on the constituion, ignoring the plight of those less fortunate during Hurricane Katrina and a plethera of other"right things", I believe that you, madam, are living on another planet or total void of common sense!!

Good For G.W.

All you haters- weep!

I can't wait until this the democratic congress and the new president get into office. When that happens and things continue to get worse, lets see who they blame that on. once again all of you ignorant people blame everything on W when things didn't get bad until Nancy Pelosi and her posse took control of Congress. Way to go Democrats!!!

Not surprised. Bush's administration is over in less than a month, and he wants to ensure his buddies can stick around and be a thorn to Obama's administration. I wish Bush didn't use up all his vacation days so that he could just retire to Texas early.

Same old whining: Anyone who disagrees with Bush "hates" him. Heck, I'd love to sit down and have a beer with the guy. We could chat and he could tell me why he went AWOL while our guys and gals were dying in Viet Nam. That's our commander in chief!

Does anyone here actually think that Bush has done anything on his own? I mean, do you believe that he is actually capable of an original thought?

If you want to stump a Bushie, just ask them what Bush has accomplished. The response will be....silence.

Nuff said.

Way to go Bush.. Why not: 1.. appoint a special investigative committee to determine the proper charges Barney Frank and Chris Dodd for their part in the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fisaco (Congress will never do this) and 2: Pardon the two Mexican border guards now in Jail

Dick from NC

And we all thought that it was Darth Cheney pulling the strings.

Typical liberal moronic statement...what exactly does this mean genius??? (other than the fact that you cannot spell)

Posted By:

Tom Reitano December 25th, 2008 4:18 pm ET

G.W.Bush is consistant if nothing else, he ALWAYS takes care of his own. ( at the expence of the rest of us ).

Wouldn't you know that Pres. Bush would "throw all the curves" that he can think of leaving us and Obama stuck with them for up to six years. We thought we would be shed of those liars.

Couldn't find a suitable post for Heckuva Job Mike Brown?

RememberChange,

A majority might have voted for Change in 2008, but a majority voted for Bush in 2004. "Change," as many seem to worship, won't take effect until next month. Until then, Bush, like every President before him, and like Obama in the future, will use such ceremonial appointments as they are allowed to do under the US Code.

Everyone go eat some turkey and fruitcake. These positions are a combination of ceremonial and resume padders. Nothing in these will dictate or recommend policy or even influence it. Sure, its kind of payback for support but what aspect of Washington isnt. Dont worry, these pals of Bush cant hurt you. Pretty sure Obama will rely on these people when important decisions come up, not....

In fact reviewing this, these are mostly scholarly type advisory boards but if the US Russia Polar Bear committe decides to raffel off Alaska, then I think we should be concerned.

note: several of these have to do with historic related boards, for locations and documents held at the Library of Congress and different presidental library.

For all you Bush haters, I can't wait for Obama's ninth month in office. Let's see how he does after he has walked a few miles in the President's shoes. Sadly, I suspect we will be hit with another attack on the U.S. and who will get the blame for it? For all Obama's promises, he had better deliver or the Bush haters will turn into Obama haters just because it seems thats all they know how to behave. Really sad...

Stop blaming Bush for eveything! Everyone knew what he was before he stole the election! It is the PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR BUSH THAT IS AT FAULT FOR ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT IS TAKING PLACE. If YOU voted for Bush, look in the mirror and say " Im the blame, I am a total clown and misfit and should be publicly shamed"

What concerns me is how much damage can be done in 20 days by the appointment of loyal friends can do in such committees, boards and councils as the Committee of Foreign Policy for Trade and Negotiations; Advisory Council of Historical Preservation; National Security Telecommunications Commission; and so on.

4th Generation Officer: The only difference between you and Al Quida is, at least Al Quida knows what they're doing is destroying America, unlike your utterly pathetic support of a failed destructive president.

And anyone that blames Clinton for 9/11 is really admitting that Bush is incapable of defending America under his watch.

I'm going to enjoy seeing your GOP kind being voted out of existence in the years to come.

I find it interesting that most of the comments posted here are by people who love to bash our current president. I wonder what you will all do when the new president is in office and things don't go smoothly. Probably blame the former president and continue to collect your unemployment. How about we all as a nation, step up and quit blaming a single person and look at our congress, our governors, our mayors and even ourselves. We need to all work hard and live within our means vs. looking for a get rich schemes. living in houses we can't afford, and not taking personal responsibility for our actions. Lets work hard, have faith, and GOD Bless the USA!

It's going to take years to get Bush's scum out of Washington. God help us that he doesn't do anything too rash before Jan. 20th.

1/ 20/09 can't get here fast enough, please for America's sake hurry up 1/20/09.

In response to fourth generation officer. You need to learn history. It's way too late to acquire common sense for you. However, you're certainly not the brightest, your comments, grammar, and spelling confirm that.

Don't worry I'm sure it will all get better once the Obama/Biden abortion machine gets in office. They can make genocide more available and legal and YOU get to help pay for it with your tax dollars. But since they are dumocrats it will be accepted by the sheep on the left...

Our Tax Money Takers?! and adding Karl Rove in it too!!!! You have made Satan look like hello Kitty!!!!

It is the sick hubris of this entity which impels him to continue seeding our government with his fetid array of minions. God rule the day when we shall finally be rid of his detritus.

These appear to be thoughtful appointments of a wide variety of individuals to extended advisory positions.
Many commentators here seem to be disappointed in the Iraq occupation and the downturn in the economy. In my opinion the occupation of Iraq has been very positive. The prospect of a free democracy in the mideast is a worthy goal. It is time for the Iraq people to fully embrace their new political fortune. Iraq can show the rest of the mideastern countries that it can be a responsible neighbor, that it can attract its skilled and professional population to return home, and that it can use its wealth for good purpose.
The US economy and capitalist system has many ups and downs regardless of political leadership. Fortunes can be made both when an economy is building and when an economy falls. As most of the polls have shown the American people have instinctivly agreed that it is best to let companies and institutions fail in order for the economy to grow back to health faster. It is unfortunate that our political leaders have felt the need to try to insulate us from harm with a variety of bailouts. But that is the course we are on and we have to make the best of it. – Best Wishes and Merry Christmas!

I don't know how Bush can even ignore the fact that the majority of Americans hates him so much, and still continue on as the president. If I were him, I would definitely go hide my face under a desk.

Ah, excuse me, but haven't we been bouncing back and forth with Circus Animals leading this country? (Elephants and Donkeys)
And the "Change" was/is where?
Insanity is doing the same thing, and expecting different results.
No doubt, the sad saga will continue.
Stay tuned for the second half of the Recession/Depression Round II.

Merry Christmas Everyone, leave only footprints in the mud, don't build houses in sand, wash your cloths daily, garnor your health and remember our children and the rest is has been spoken for since our inception to the world. Seek Love At Every Possible Moment. Three Kings & Shepherds. Never Forget, We Love You!

Bush has been a great President, but for him Saddam could have been a greater threat with Nuclear weapons than Iran who benefitted from the war in Iraq to build a silent Nuclear Armoury.
The appointments are normal and are within the law ,otherwise he couldn't do it. The only problem is that he forgot to appoint himself on any Board. Ok yes he has to build his own library, so he could sit on the Board. Its wondeful to be a sad president, but he is not a Lame Duck President as the Americans say. What about starting another War in the Middle East before he leaves power? That will put Obama under hell with the Economy ? This guy is impredictible?Have your say?
Pierre Podo

Trying cracking a book once in while instead of playing on your My Space page...his job is to run the Administration. Not the President Elects. When the positons come open they fill them...every Administration has and will continue to do it....that's what we pay them to do.

G.W.Bush is consistant if nothing else, he ALWAYS takes care of his own. ( at the expence of the rest of us ).

I can't stand him but if the constitution says he can he can. At least he is doing the wrong thing within the framework of the constitution this time.

Jan 20th can't come soon enough.

Cheer up Obamaphiles the more stupid things Bush does now the better our guy will look by comparison.

I just hope Bush is too busy making appointments and pardons to start any new wars in the next month.

BTW maybe he could save time and resources by pardoning people and then appointing them at the same time with the same document.

I was under the inpresssion that the yet to be sworn in president,,,,Obama would be the one making appointments to various offices. G. Bush making these appointments at this time seems to be a waste of time,,,,,,what is the point in doing this. Perhaps Bush is not aware that he will be moving out of the white house shortly. It appears that Bush, once again is right on top of things,,,,like KATRINA, Global warming, the economy. Please George,,,,,,,move back to Texas,,,,,undoubtedly the Texans can hardly wait for you.

Now thats what I call a team player...... Jerk!!!

The Federal Government is in a Continuing Resolution. All government agencies cannot spend any money and cannot conduct law enforcement activities. It happens every year and sometimes it takes until June to get our money to do our jobs to protect the United States. It is too bad the general public doesn't realize that the Federal Government cannot govern themselves in a responsible way. January 20th cannot come soon enough. Bush has made the world a much more dangerous place by his lies and inability to do the job we elected him to do. Poor Channey he cannot play president anymore. Did you really think Bush was president. HA HA

BUSH LIED AND OUR SOLDIERS DIED.

God Bless all the soldiers who have gone before us and for their families that can only remember them today on Christmas.

We don't need anything Bush has to offer or his ban of foolish men or women.

Oh boy, more appointments!

Just what we need from the guy who appointed so many genuises in the past 8 years, like "Heckuva Job, Brownie" who made such a "impact" (as in crater) in the Katrina disaster or Paul Bremer III who singlehandedly created the Iraq insurgency by firing the entire Iraq miltary.

Bob (Illinois) December 25th, 2008 2:36 pm ET
Some of these appointments are insulting! What business does Bush have appointing "Members of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee" when he will leave office on January 20?

The man is, and always has been, a jerk.

He is just rewarding his fellows while he can. That's all it is.

We are all paying the price for allowing Bush to stay in office....while we all sipped Starbucks and hoped for a democrat in 08.....the country was murdered by Bush and Cheney. They should be put on trial for all their crimes.

Reading this stuff cracks me up. Just like all the joy when someone, on foreign turf, throws shoes at our, that's right OUR President!!!! I was no big Bill Clinton fan BUT when challenged about something he had done in a bar in The Netherlands, I would not engage one bit as he was MY President. I did not vote for him once but I certainly respected him and he was my leader. HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THE OFFICE AND YOUR COUNTRY WOULD YOU!!!!!!!!!!

I think George W. Bush has done a fantastic job in running our country! He is the first president in a long time that wasn't a "Washington suit" and I am proud of his honesty, integrity, and ability to do the right thing even when it wasn't popular. Thank you God for President Bush!

I don't care if these are merely cushy jobs as "thank you" gifts.

These people were co-conspirators in the murder of 500K people, the displacement of millions, and $trillions in war debt, and in deceiving the American people.

Their next appointments should be in prison!

Bush's ineptness and frat-boy mentality was clear from the beginning, but Rove fed him the buzz words and the Republican base gobbled it up.

Yes, he is as stupid as people think!!! History will prove it... unfortunately it will be too late for the vast majority of his victims, the greatful American Tax Payer.

The reason there have not been any attacks on U.S. since 2001 is the person most of you call stupid, a war monger, and a jerk. He has made alot of mistakes and I disagree with him a lot of the time but he did make my family safe and for that I thank him. I am sure the lot of you never make mistakes or bad decisions.

These are some real intelligent comments

Bush was mediocre at best, Obama will be worse than Carter...but both will be held down by the worst Congress EVER!! Pelosi and Reid should be hung for treason!

Actually, if George's IQ is 130 as reported, then he's probably the smartest president. It puts him right at the top two percent mark, so the people who call him stupid should look closely at their own IQs.

For all those who oppose and hate Pres Bush- your pathetic. Blame alot on Bill Clinton who wanted to pardon political criminals linked to his fundraising rather than worry about 9/11. 9/11 was created on Clinton's watch folks..Anyone of you juggernaughts like 3rd Generation Officers and the like..you would of perfomed worse if President. Orange Cty lady and AW agree with you...And by the way I don't wish Obama failure..he'll simply prove it just watch....Then you will have us Repubs back in office soon...Have a fine American Day!

Bush makes Harry Truman look like a former good president

I didn't see anyone appointed to the National Shoe-Throwing Committee. No room in the budget I guess.

Everyone is saying how Obama is inheriting "w"s mess, thats far I guess. But no one is saying that W inherited the mess the Clinton Admin. left for him. It was there lack of action the lett the terrorist in. After 9-11 what was the sitting President supposed to , nothing ? He do do something but it didnt work out, just like Viet Nam.
Hind sight is always 20/20, if only we would look back at history we might not keep makeing the same mistakes over and over and over.........

Nothing new about presidents making last minute appointments. The Bush list is very short compared to others. At least they won't have to steam clean any cum stains out of the rug in the oval office.

I do like the discourse I often see after these columns, and this will be my first post. However, I am surprised at the number of comments that are based not on fact, but hate (or excitement) with no true knowledge of our nation's history, the law, or why the President is allowed to do certain things. Most comments are not only scarily hateful, but also sadly ignorant. The inherent problem is that you folks likely voted based solely on emotions. While emotions are necessary, I bet that they clouded the majority's judgment because they could not see through their anger. There is a balanced approach to examining our national problems, but we are so wrapped around the faults of one political party or the other. As a final note, Recovered Republican is the latest post, so I will comment about him directly. Go back to the days of our founding fathers (the papers written, among others, by Jefferson and Hamilton) to understand the President's Article II executive powers - especially compared to Congress's Article I powers. You may see both sides of the story, and maybe, just maybe, see the solid argument that impeachment or prosecution for alleged war crimes is tenuous at best. We are fickle as Americans and our memories are short. Take a quick tour through the past 20 years to see a myriad of shortcomings in the Presidency.

After Jan 20th, all these individuals should be moved ot winowless offices without phones, computers, cell phone reception, or even doorknobs! Just constantly flickering flourescent lightbulbs in the ceiling that cannot be reached from the floor.

Purge Washington of all traces of Bush!

I blame Bush for contributing to the mess we are in, but we have to take responsibility for our contributions. Face it Bush ran all the companies that he owned into the ground and we trusted him with our country?. now who is at fault???? He let his friends in business run wild and we did nothing...now who is at fault???? And yes the Dems in congress had no balls, let's hope they grow some now.

Aaron Heinzward wrote:
December 25th, 2008 2:22 pm ET

Those who have trashed President Bush for the last 8 years have hurt the presidency more than any mistake he has.
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What land do you live in? Fantasy LAND? You have obviously been brainwashed by the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity.
I gave Bush a chance to show what he could do for our country, but instead he showed who he really is – a less than intelligent jerk who had NO business being President of our great nation. Shame on us for electing him the first time and shame on the rest of you for voting him in a second time. We all have to live with this mess now and need to start working together.
I am sure Heinzward won't be working with the rest of us.

Bush and Cheney should be hung like Mussolini. (and their few remaining supporters deported)

Replacing Dick and George whose true legacy should be shoveling with a spoon in the desert, looking for the missing weapons doesn't change a thing. The House and Senate are contaminated with old and very heavy wallets. America needs real change!

Yeah, arguing with Bush/Cheney die-hards is like arguing with OJ Simpson family on his hideous crime!

The problem with dumb people is that they don't know they are dumb.
There is no point arguing with them!

But here's an advice for them.... keeping clinging on to your religion and guns!!! And keep touching yourselves the next 8 years... you'll feel better and it's how you could contribute to abortion prevention! And please, please, please keep your hands of kids!

Duhhh… suck it up right-wing/religion/gun-clinging losers!

BTW. I voted for Reagan but not a draft dodger!

Only history can tell what kind of effect Bush had on our nation and the world. You people need to get beyond the instant gratification mentality and understand that we are experiencing the effects of Reagan's, Bush 1, and Clinton's administrations. Shame on you all for believing everything you read in American trash rag mags. Try reading papers in Europe for a more fairly balanced picture of both Bush and Obama. The American media has painted Bush as a villain and Obama as the messiah. Neither perception is accurate–both are fallible humans who make mistakes, as we all do.

I seriously doubt history will paint Bush with the vilificattion some of you have reserved for Hitler, Stalin, etc. Give him the benefit of the doubt you all demand for yourselves, and then try doing the world's hardest job with the newspaper telling you every day how bad you are at that job. A little empathy goes a long way.

He really ought to stop trying to do "president" things.

To: Irritated in Fl

You are out too early.Crawlback into your dark cold hole. Wait there until hell freezes over...then...only then...if you are good, positive and not still haten, you can come out on Groundhog Day and cast your shadow in a more inspiring positive way, alarming us that a new day of Hope is in office!!!!! Stop being Frustrated in Florida. Life is short. Go enjoy your life dude!!!! Merry Christmas.

Good buy to the worst President in in U.S. HISTORY

Merry Christmas to all you bitter people. Bush is so dumb that he got elected twice! If you put as much into working for the future if the USA as you have in the past blaming others for what you perceive as wrong then maybe your outlook will improve. Working for something is always better than bad mouthing something.

George ! you are making Richard Nixon look like a Prince ! good going and good bye already !

That is so wrong. Like we want Bush cronies haunting the halls of government for the next six years. I don't think it's possible for me to become more disgusted with the man.

No wonder he was the black sheep of the family. Once a loser (he never attempted to learn from his mistakes) always a loser. Would have been nice to have him do just one good thing before leaving. He just had to pad his resume with more of the same cronyism. Even his father thinks he is a loser. Wow, what a Christmas he must be having.

Appoint away, idiot boy. Doesn't mean that Obama has to listen to a word that they say or give them more than the power to suggest things. Regardless, this holiday season I'm thankful that our current moron president is out for good. Now Obama has to spend his first term cleaning up the mess he left. George W. Bush – Worst President in history.

Just another reason for the haters to work themselves up. History will determine his legacy.

I love all the lib comments. Especially the anti-Bush military creep.
Mark my word, a revolution is coming and the streets will run red with the blood of the liberal slime that infest this country.

The tree of liberty.... traitors.

To: Orange County Hispanic Woman

Get you stories straight...go learn to read english !.....The republicans ran this country during the Clinton adminsitration up until a year ago....George Bush inherited a balanced Budget thanks to clinton and Gore refusing to play the newt gingrich / Bob Dole game with the budget....this mess is all Republican and George Bush/Dick Cheney....find an american history book and learn something !!!!!

The monitor of these comments must be on holiday break. Usually they cut us off way before now. I'd like to see a follow-up on this...what Obama plans to do. Has Bush just created new jobs for these people who would probably be able to go out and get jobs on their own?

Rich taking care of the rich. Makes me sick!

Bush should be committed,

Anonymous, you are an idiot and your 9/11 comments are the ramblings of your sad little mind. Bush was in office for less than 9 months on 9/11/01. The past 8 years of happy go lucky Billy Bob Clinton and his antics with the fat intern, screwing around on his wife, playing hide the cigar and of course, lying under oath, is what caused the USA to be attacked by thew rat breathed arabs. Never trust an arab, they are camel dung.. Hopefully Clinton and his cronies will one day be tried and imprisoned (better yet, send them to Canada) for the wrongs they did that caused so much death and destruction. Bush sucked as president but Clinton disgraced the country with his shenanigans. He should burn in hell. He probably will along with the idiots like you who protect this scumbag.

Once a sneaky , untrustworthy, bastard, always a sneaky, untrustworthly bastard.

Matt,

The recession began early in Bush's presidency (in the spring of 2001), even if you go past that 03 & 04 were the so called "recovery periods" of the recession. The "recovery periods" which occur after a recession are typically the time where the largest job growth is seen, yet the Bush recovery periods had the smallest job recovery rates of any other recovery period and were slower than any year under Clinton. Bush's best years for jobs were worse than Clinton's worse.

Hey Big Ed,

What do you want to bet that the Obama administration will blame everything that goes wrong during his presidency on the previous one? If anything has ever been obvious in the history of the world it is that. The buck will never stop at Obama. It will always slide back (in history) to Bush. LIberals can't govern their way out of a paper bag but they are adept at finger pointing. And it will start the day of the inauguration. So don't (if you have any liberal sense) complain about that argument now when you are so close to using it on a daily basis.

Merry Christmas Aaron H. Go spend time with family or someone you love. You need a break from blogging. Step outside and take a deep breath.

Lets be fair! bush and cheney should have speedy fair trial befor thier hanging

G.W Bush is being blamed a lot of things that he had little to no control over. There is only so much a President can do, he gets blamed for market crashing to people blaming him for when they forget themselves to buy a new roll of toilet paper. There is a lot of blame to go around to congress and corrupt business. Of course there are things that I wish G.W Bush handled differently but much of what has been said on this forum is untrue.

So What! you guys are whiners! The whiners should work for the New York Times!

Bush's Legacy can be summarized in two points:

1. He has been a failure in everything he's done in life.

2. He has never been accountable for ANYTHING in his life.

The legacy continues.....

What a great contrast between Republican philosophy and that of the Democrats. The Republicans believe political appointments are nothing more than rewards for loyalty while the Democrats believe political appointments should be based on competence in the job. Just compare Obama's cabinet with W's.

Flib is exactly right. George Bush has governed with a "screw you" attitude: screw the American people, screw the truth, screw science, screw the constitution, screw the nations of the world, screw the troops, screw Iraqis, screw the best interest of all but a few rich cronies, and with these new appointments screw all effforts to change the way government operates.

So, while we're at it, screw you, Flib.

You are an idiot. Clinton didn't leave us in a recession, he actually left us in surplus with a high level of employment. He may have had a few issues with foreign policy, but 9 months is a good enough time for Bush, who apparently was SUPPOSED to be keeping this country safe, to employ CIA security who looked closer at what could happen and do something about it. THERE WAS NO WAR DROPPED IN BUSH'S LAP! Trust me, Bush perpetuated the war on Iraq all by himself, and never fought back against the Taliban. Seriously, we're supposed to have the best security in the world, and we're supposed to be able to find anything in this world, right? Where the hell are Bin Laden and the WMDs? A 5 year plus war and all we've managed to do is kill Saddam Hussein and piss off the world. Yeah, your Bush has done a great job!

Obama won't be the racial divide of the country. Why would you think that? Because our Black brethren will finally be able to wake up in the morning and be proud of their president? Us White folk feel the same way. I wake up and am absolutely proud of who we voted in as president. And there are no liberal handouts. You have no idea what true socialism is, and I hope you never have to go on Medicare because, guess what…that's socialist medicine! Then you might have to claim that you are, indeed, taking "handouts" from our "socialistic" government.

And to fire people because of their political views is almost as bad as firing people because of their religious views. Why would you fire someone because of a personal belief?

Sounds like you're listening to too much of Limbaugh and his Oxycontin ramblings. I'd recommend a hobby of some sorts to cure you of that. GIRL YOU NEED TO BE IN OFFICE

The comments from the wingnuts, with their incoherent rants, prove that what's scary isn't so much Bush/Cheney but that there are enough idiots in this country to elect them.

At least I can excuse Bush for being a moron who's incapable of making the polcies which have led this country to ruination. The perps-in-chief have been, of course, the Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove troika and their minions. Their lies and incompetence have led us into a pointless war which has cost hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of American lives. Their corruption has enriched their friends while wrecking the nation's economy.

And yet, from the comments, we can see that there are actually humanoids who applaud them, in particular one "Flib," whose Cheneyesque "Screw you fools," is a perfect illustration of the ilk who elected and re-elected (unbelievable!) the worst administration in U.S. history.

The greatest Christmas present this nation can have is the exit of these vermin from the White House, and, if there's any justice, criminal trials. A thorough fumigation of the GOP from Congress wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Oh yes, and while you're at it, Dick and George, take NASCAR America with you, whose stupidity, bigotry and vulgarity inficted you on us in the first place. It's times like this I wish we had just let the South secede.

When Clinton was President, it was "all the President's fault." Now that a Republican is President, it's all the Congress that's been in office since 2007 fault.

Sorry, Iraq didn't start in 2007. And no one dumped the Iraq war in Bush's lap. He made a war out of thin air and imaginary WMDs.

The Clinton years were the best years I can remember. Even so, as a former Republican, I got caught up in the Clinton bashing. Until a Republican became President and showed me what they were worth. Never again.

Love the anti- Bush comments section on CNN – Merry Christmas!

It's shows left wing nuts are the most idiotic fools in the US, and CNN is part of the DNC.

Somebody please tell me were are all these war crimes charges against Bush and Cheney!! It isn't going to happen so live with it!!What happened to those Articles of Impeachment that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid put together just before the midterm elections of two years ago to con you into voting Democratic?? And you fell for it remember?? Some of you are so full of cra.p it's unbelievable!!

This man is completely insane. His whole reich has been about the rich and him buddies. Obama cannot get into office soon enough to stop this idiot!!!!!!!!!!

It is going to take we the people to make sure that Bush and Cheney are punished for all of the distruction that they have done to this country. The outcry must be loud and nonstop as to the fact that these two have committed crimes against humanity and must face a trial in The Hague,Holland or and other place that will make them answer for their actions.

Good Riddence to our Fa King Dictator!!!

Sarah Northern Colorado: Have you ever considered useing that gray matter inbetween your ears for something other than far.ting?? We were in a recession at the end of the Clinton administration because of the three huge tax increases he put on us with his 41% federal tax rate which eventually stopped businesses from hiring!! Dam.n do some research would you??

Anonymous in TX-–

Your last sentence " I think this guy should be taken behind the barn and shot" referring to Obama. WOW!!!!! Let me guess you are a Christian conservative? Sure sounds like it. I hope all the bigots who keep posting horrible and evil things like this remember that Bush created the Patriot Act, and I hope to GOD that President Obama uses all the invasive tools to track you dowm through your IP addresses and puts you in jail for the rest of your lives for threats and treason, that would be AMAZING. ..

Give it up people! Trying to explain the situation to those Idiots that kept a MORON like George Bush and his minions in power for 8 of the worst and most shameful years in our history is like trying to teach your pet turtle to read. They opperate out of a different dimension altogether!

For Danny Spirit....You're obviously another brainwashed fundamentalist with a view as wide as an ants rectum.

Merry Christmas everybody!
The best gift for our beautiful U.S.A. is the end of the Bush Administration.

We can begin again to restore America's reputation as the great, good and generous nation that it is.

I hope we have learned that it is an enormous mistake to put a person with a terrible intellectual defect in the office of the President. May we never do it again!

GOD BLESS US ALL!

I wish the next 26 days could elapse in 26 seconds.

Bush and Cheney should have been impeached long ago for violating Constitutional limits on executive power. Good riddance to the lot of them! Bush will surely be remembered as one of the worst, and stupidest, Presidents in history, who has done immeasurable damage to the standing of our country in the world. As a 3rd generation military officer and fiscally conservative former Republican, I had hopes for his administration. I have never been more wrong.

Sometimes I really wonder if this guy is really as dumb as some people claim him to be???

He should appoint some nice jailers, thats who he'll be spending the rest of his life with.

When will this torturing murderer be thrown behind bars?

Christmas would be the perfect time to do it. Peace on earth can't begin until the world's most powerful warmonger pays for his crimes.

The last gasp of a lame 'duck'! He is the most pathetic twit to ever represent America and Americans.
On to a bigger and better future with the man who looks, talks and acts like one. Mr Barack Obama, President Elect of the garand old, USA!

Bush by getting installed president achieved something he couldn' achieve on his own – a pension!!!

Same for Condi Rice who disdains the very Affirmative Action that got her the Provost chair at Stanford without the usual vetting or tenure requirements!!!

President-elect Obama – first order of business is prosecution of the entire Bush Cabal, especially the PNAC crowd for crimes against the World and America!!!

Hey Matt,

Let's say "W" inherited the begining of a recession when he first took office. Who are you going to blame this collapse on? George Washington? "W" needs to become a man and take responsibility for his numnerous mistakes, slips in judgment, lies, broken promises and trashing of the Constitution. If "W" were a Democrat, you would be blaming lost dogs on them. Do your own thinking. Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter should not be doing your thinking for you.

Nobody freakin' cares!!!

Did anyone really think he would go away quietly. This is just another way that he found to give the American people the finger. This guy is like that relative we all have, who comes for the holidays and then doesn't want to leave. He is the gift that keeps taking.

We just have to face the fact that there are conservative morons out there who will continue to drink the Bush Kool-aide until the day they die. Facts will not sway them. Reason will not cool their rhetoric. Reality has no place in their lives. We can't shoot them, and we ignore them at our peril, as they last eight years have shown. Teach your children to be open minded and honest, I think this generation of voters has pretty much done all of the damage it can.

Flib – Even though this president will be remembered as the worst we ever had, you still defend him with inane arguments. You are proff why inbreeding is illegal.

George "Dubya" was the worst president this country has ever seen. Obama, God bless him, is being left with an enormous sh!t pile to clean up. I hope he and his team have the wear-with-all to deal with it.

History will judge Bu$h, it won't be kindly.

Some of these appointments are insulting! What business does Bush have appointing "Members of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee" when he will leave office on January 20?

The man is, and always has been, a jerk.

What are you doing, George? We know you are capable of making plenty of mistakes up to the very end of your presidency, for instance, the recent withdrawal of a pardon. So, don't bother. Go play with Barney!

To the moderators of this site: Question- You have posted comments from people calling Pres. Bush "the biggest piece of crap to live in the White House" "King Dufus" "a war criminal" etc etc YET my comment from over 2 hours ago is "awaiting moderation"?! HUH??!!

"""but he is a man with principles,""" what does principles mean. This brain dead president doesn't understand what it means to lead a nation. He was a drunk until 41 years of age, and has a pickled brain. Principles don't mean a thing unless you use them right. In 2009 Bush and his croonies will be tried for all the illegal stuff they did, under the name of being King George. So the future will tell where Bush stands in the nation.

Send these thugs to jail. It is too bad we do not have the ancient English tradition of Star Chamber just for these thugs.

Fib needs to have is/her head examined. Yes Bush is responsible for this mess. It is called Iraq, cutting taxes for the rich, deregulation, and overspending. These appointments do not mean a thing! He is on his way out! No, he is not the best Prez we have ever had! Where have you been for the past 8 years! His decisions and that of the then GOP lead Congress/Senate is responsible for this mess! I see you are still in the denial stage. Pity. The rest of us are in the reality stage.

Bush, who noone has actually listened to for several years now is a clown. And Cheney is a despicable human being. For those who voted these two nimrods in twice – THANKS FOR NOTHIN.....you, along with this joke of an administration have failed this country!!!! You have absolutely NO place to insult Obama when it was you idiots that got us into this mess in the first place!!! Now go try to conjur up some more scandals regarding Obama and leave the big boys to clean up your mess...

1/20/09 cannot come soon enough!

How can he appoint people at his administration twhich ends on January 20th?

Can't he just hand over the reigns to Obama already!?!?! He's like the unwanted uncle that won't go away....enough already.

His Legacy: A True Snake Oil Salesman with no regard for the people of the United States.

Absolutely, worst president of all time...and yet for some reason...I feel sorry for him. But he's done just about as much damage as you can do in 8 years, time for him to get back to Texas.

If it is at all within his power, I hope President-elect Obama finds away to fire them all when he comes to power, or perhaps eliminate or marginalize such committees. Bush was not elected king nor was his term supposed to be life-long. His cronies need to move on. The voters have spoken and do not want his hangers'on hanging around. trying to continue to control what they have already done too much damage to. I have no problem with Obama deciding that an individual Republican is worthy to be appointed by himself to serve in some compacity that serves his administration. The only thing I want to say to George Bush is "Good -bye!"

Everyone opposed to Bush on this site is flat out hateful. Us who oppose Obama can't say he's ugly w/out being called a racist. You need to rethink who you call a radical - when you point a finger you have several pointing back!

Why is W Bush doing this? Because he is still the President for another month. And whoever said that he has been the worst president ever doesn't know a thing about US politics. Clinton appointed people and pardoned prisoners before he left and Bush had to deal with his crap and irresponsibilities. I bet Barak Hussein Obama will do it worse. I hope and pray he doesn't turn this country into a Socialist government and ultimately Communist. Just wait and see, his "changes" are not clear. What would you all democrats do if he wants to eliminate capitalism (which is what makes America the best country in the world) and wants to change the system to his obvious ideas of Socialism?? Lots of unknown crap and abuse of power!! You all democrats think Obama is the perfect president ever, just wait and see....Bush has made some mistakes, but he hasn't been the guilty one on all the mess. Don't forget Congress made a lot of decisions during these past 8 years and they were all Democrats! Or should I say Democraps....??

Those who have trashed President Bush for the last 8 years have hurt the presidency more than any mistake he has. Your awful criticism has made it okay for anyone around the world or here to spit all over the sacred office. Congratulations you selfish, arrogant liberals!

I am very much agreed with ANONYMOUS-TEXAS

PhilT is right. The appointments are nothing. As he said, we should be focused on putting the people behind bars who used lies and deception to start a war, enrich their friends, endanger the country and the world, hand the enemy the best propaganda gifts of all time and incidentally get thousands of America's finest and tens of thousands of non-combatants killed, disfigured or disabled (mentally and physically) .

Go, Georgie, go. G.W. Bush has, without question, been one of the best presidents this country has ever had - a man of principle, instead of a man with his finger in the air trying to figure out which way the popular winds are blowing. He's been smart enough to say: "Screw fads, and screw fools" , and govern from an ideology that is second to none. I, for one, wish he could have four more years. Blaming him for the economy is about as stupid as hoping that Obama can fix it. Any good economist will tell you that jobs and bank accounts have little to do with Washington politics. Only a fool would believe it does. But then, as George would say: "Screw you fools."

Robert S.
You need to learn your facts Bush did in fact inherit a recession. While it's true Clinton left a budget surplus-which well all acknowledge Bush wasted-Clinton also left Bush a recession. The two can be mutually exclusive; the housing bubble that was feed by ultra low interest rates, the dot com bubble completely burst, and the overall economy shrank in his first year. 9-11 likewise cause sever economic hard ache and if you bothered to read the bipartisan 9-11 reports you would know that the blame was split between the past administration and the Bush administration. Talk to any economist, the recession began in the twilight of Clinton's administration.

Message for John Drew. Why don't you just go away. President Bush is still the president for another few weeks whether you like it or not. After a few weeks of Obama, he will have his many critics, too. It goes with the territory. Now, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Bush is determined to ruin this country beyond recognition. Every incumbant in Congress should voted out for not moving to impeach him. Bring back the pillary & stockade – I've got a few dozen or so shoes I'd like to throw!

For those disrespecting liberals simply because we do not enjoy the un-American policy of spreading death and killing our soldiers for the sake of corporate profits, let it be known that many of us are Christians who celebrate life, unlike yourselves.

Yeah nonoy, it takes a man of real principle to get Daddy to wrangle a spot in the Alabama!!! National Guard and then not even have the intestinal fortitude to even serve during war time.

Just leave Mr. President. Just leave! Alas...have you not done enough damage to this country?

RE:Jim Anderson Gresham Oregon – I honestly feel sorry for people like you, you are so brain washed and full of blind hatred and obedience you honestly don't know that you don't know. It's people like you and your kind that have ALREADY destroyed America.

jimboy its ovouis your a bush supporter, go read the facts about 9/11 go read the facts about =The fact is, Bush inherited a Clinton surplus, turned it into the biggest deficit in U.S. history, and left us a near depression economy as he waltzes his drunken buttt back to Texas where he belongs. Are you sure your real name is;not Rush Limbaaahaaa

Let me see what the priorities are? Isn't fixing the terrible economy the first priority? Instead Bush goes ahead and makes all these appointments and doesn't do much for improving the economy. What a lame buck President we have with no priorities except for his selfishness.

I would like to know how many hours each of these postions requires and what the compensation is. If they have to work for their money, it's one thing. If this is just a payoff for party loyalty, that's another.

I just had to comment on an earlier post from 'nonoy'.....you're an idiot!

Why should we not expect anything less from an administration that has abused its power since inception. History will not be good to this President or VP. Please go away George.

Look, this is the way it's done, so everyone just get over yourselves. Why get your boxers in a bunch about it? 6 months from now, no one will even mention this.

Every President makes end-of-term pardons and appointments and, in the end, it's just fodder for pundits and whiners. Remember the "outrage" over Clinton's pardons? And where all that went (nowhere)?

Try a little context: which of these pardons and/or appointments even approaches the historical significance of Ford's pardon of Nixon?

There are 26 days left in the present admin's term. We'll be fine. (Remember when there were 26 days til Christmas...and here we are!) There will be an orderly, peaceful transition of power (something we should all take pride in) and after, Obama will not destroy the world, the nation, Christianity, or life as we know it. After all we survived Bush didn't we?

Oh, btw, Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, Happy Holidays, etc. Think I'll grab some turkey or something and rant some more tomorrow (thanks, fred).

Good Job, President Bush... Kind of tired of hearing about all the words of Obama and his naked chest in Hawaii, who gives a crap..can he lead? That's the question....? First 100 days will tell...

Of course, invoke "God" to protect us from the 'Obama socialist state'. Yawn.

Can we start genetically modifiying humans now so they can be less susceptible to neotard/religious propaganda in the future?

To Anonymous – Texas:

You are an idiot. Clinton didn't leave us in a recession, he actually left us in surplus with a high level of employment. He may have had a few issues with foreign policy, but 9 months is a good enough time for Bush, who apparently was SUPPOSED to be keeping this country safe, to employ CIA security who looked closer at what could happen and do something about it. THERE WAS NO WAR DROPPED IN BUSH'S LAP! Trust me, Bush perpetuated the war on Iraq all by himself, and never fought back against the Taliban. Seriously, we're supposed to have the best security in the world, and we're supposed to be able to find anything in this world, right? Where the hell are Bin Laden and the WMDs? A 5 year plus war and all we've managed to do is kill Saddam Hussein and piss off the world. Yeah, your Bush has done a great job!

Obama won't be the racial divide of the country. Why would you think that? Because our Black brethren will finally be able to wake up in the morning and be proud of their president? Us White folk feel the same way. I wake up and am absolutely proud of who we voted in as president. And there are no liberal handouts. You have no idea what true socialism is, and I hope you never have to go on Medicare because, guess what...that's socialist medicine! Then you might have to claim that you are, indeed, taking "handouts" from our "socialistic" government.

And to fire people because of their political views is almost as bad as firing people because of their religious views. Why would you fire someone because of a personal belief?

Sounds like you're listening to too much of Limbaugh and his Oxycontin ramblings. I'd recommend a hobby of some sorts to cure you of that.

All presidents do this...
Bush has been a dismal failure in every aspect of the job of president.
And much of that was due to his partisan appointments and decisions. Remember?
Heck of a JOB BROWNie??
Why were the US attorneys fired??
Who outed Plame?
Few presidents have been as inept and partisan as Bush.
While "all presidents do this", Bush should not. He's done enough damage to this country. He should just leave.

I hope Obama can fire every one of them at 12:01 PM on January 20, and will appoint his own, more suitable replacements. Bush has ruined this country with the poor appointments he's made over the past 8 years, and we should not have 6to put up with any more of them-ever! This is REALLY dirty pool!!!!

How much more damage can this clown do?

Apparently a lot.

This desperate attempt by the failed and sorry Bush admin will be met with final opposition by the forces of Good. The important thing to remember is that an enlightened American is going to be President soon. Bush is to be relegated to the sorry pages of history when he joins the failed president's club. Obviously I am no fan. God Bless America.

If any of these appointments come with a salary, this is simly wrong. If they are unpaid positions, o.k.. But having public money to continue to line the pockets of these good for nothings, as Rice is simply wrong!

BEST BE CERTAIN, BUSH WILL GIVE TO US

UNTIL THAT LAST SECOND. NO SURPRISE HERE.

Bush Supporter,

We've waited almost 6,000 years for the Messiah to come. Thank you for recognizing that He finally has come.

Merry Xmas

"Helloooooo….PRESIDENT Bush has the power to do his JOB until Jan 20th. You may not like him but you should still respect his position and title until it is OVER. This is America, not Africa. We have a listory of respect and decor for our leaders."

In my opinion we as Americans have the right and the privilege to question our president, and to be able to do that means we can change how tings work and make him accountable to what he dose. As poles have shown, most in this USA do not agree that president George W. Bush has done a good job, I personally didn't like how he handled situation, promptness of dealing with them, or the appointed people he put on them for most of the harder situations he has had to deal with..... that being saide it is x-mas and i will stop there

This seems more of a move to gain a few more friends, which doesn't close the gap compared to his unpopularity. The idiotic comment by anonymous from Texas is why we're so backwards now, especially after these last 8 years under the current regime. If we have any hope moving past these last eight years, we need the kind of risk and bold changes being put forth by President Elect Obama.

Hooray for a change in direction, leadership, and how the rest of the world views the U.S.

Since these are recess appointments, they stand...they don't need to be confirmed. This usually "upsets" congress since they don't have a say but there's nothing they can do to a lame duck president.

Bush didn't have this war "dropped in his lap"...he pursued it with vigor and the Bush administration fed Colin Powell FALSE information to convince the UN that we needed to go to war. Clinton didn't leave us in a recession...he actually had a budget surplus and got the deficit down to a manageable level. Bush used up the surplus and created a deficit that our kids and grandkids will be forced to deal with.

Sometimes you simply need to look at the facts and not just spout the party line. I understand party loyalty but remarks that are blatantly false makes a person appear to be uninformed.

I'm not sure how Obama will fare, but with respect to the economy, the market, unemployment, etc...it's almost like taking over a losing sports team...there's no where to go but up.

Happy New Year everyone!!

dont screw the country up with anymore of your appointees!!!!!!

jan 20 cannot come faster

These are cushy payback appointments with no significant power. Basically a payoff for loyalty – distasteful but not very impactful. But seriously the Bush apologists need to give it a rest. GWB was the worst President of the Modern Era and possibly the worst this country has ever seen.

Anonymous in Texas: Living proof that our public education system has failed.

The reign of Education, Justice and Reason, which always has and will forever stand and triumph against superstition, ignorance and irrationality, HAS risen upon this land!

Get Ready!

ANYTHING this administration does is suspect. That's all I'm saying....

This is all politics. It is a big "Thank You" to all the politicians and buddies who have bit their tongues over the years to let "W" run this country into the ground. After all we all know that most of these people are not quite as bad as Bush himself.........or are they worse for being smart enough to know what he was doing was wrong and not standing up?

Either way, we have almost rid ourselves of this ignorant evil man.

@Fred.Your gene pool is the reason for the worlds demise.

Some of these comments are just way too far off the radar.

"Why the HELL is BUSH still appointing ANYONE. ?! This is NOW the OBAMA Admin., Georgie!!!" Uh, no it's not. Bush is still the president. The vacancies happened during his term. The sitting President appoints the new members of these boards if the vacancy occurs during his administration.

"Our successive generations are already going to have to shoulder the immense financial burden of the recent economic crisis brought about, in part, by governmental neglect and incompetency in regulating financial institutions and ignoring the obvious build up of the real estate bubble and its implications." And all of that could have been stopped had a Republican not been able to appoint someone to the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center.

"That village idiot should not be able to appoint anybody to anything what a joke. We need a complete over haul of our constitution and bill of rights so these dictators whether they are republican or democrat or what ever cannot do as they darn want to." We need to completely change our system of government, including the first ten amendments to the Constitution, to prevent the President from making political appointments to the Polar Bear Commission?

"What a jerk. The biggest abuse of power in history..." Making a political appointment that he is entitled to make is the biggest abuse of power in history? Really? Poorly thought out war against a nation that never attacked us, illegal wiretaps, and secret CIA prisons all pale in comparison to this blatant grab for power on the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation.

Also, calling these posts part of the Bush Administration is technically correct, but a bit misleading. If you look at most of these appointments, they have to deal with matters that are not political and do not impact the nation as a whole. I mean, it's not like Bush got to appoint Obama's Defense Sec... Oh wait, nevermind.

I'm as ready as the next guy for the Bush Administration to end. I voted for President-Elect Obama and have the highest hopes for his success. But the irrational anger, name calling, and extreme positions evidenced in these posts points to the real problem in this country. Our real problem is the inevitable polarization of the debate that leads to few results and bitter entrenchment.

Unless, of course, you're just trolls. If so, carry on.

I hardly think appointing trustees at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center will have a devasting impact on our country's future...

To Anonymous – Texas: Barbara, get away from the computer...

Actually all these committees and councils look like an extreme case of pork barrel politics. What is the significance of abolishing all of these positions, other than possibly a few additions to the unemployment lines? Do the costs really justify the benefits provided?

Most of what you see here is a bunch of mean spirited left leaning Buch wackers. If the media treated Bush the same way they treat Obama you would be singing a differant brain washed tune!

Hey Fred are you saying christians are losers? If it weren't for the christians you jews would all be dead by now.

Just when you think he's done all the damage possible, he comes through with yet more.....someone needs to take the pen out of this crooks hand

Sure Bush may have prevented any attacks on American soil after 9/11. Can't prove a negative.

But 9/11 happened on his watch. No spinning or revision of history will change this fact. I suspect the very persons posting here in support of Bush cried Bombs for Monica when Clinton went after Bin Laden several times. Where is Bin Laden by the way? Almost seven and a half years later and still no sign of him. Good job George.

As for claims that Obama will create a racial divide, the only divide that will exist is the one that will be allowed to exist. Sound like Texan is gearing up to do everything he can to stoke racial hatred.

and btw ***Jim Anderson Gresham*** we AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE any terrorist attacks.

did GW's low expectations rub off on you ?

we pay entirely too much money in taxes to have crap like that happen AT ALL.

and are you serious when you say bush made SOME mistakes ? are you even paying attention ?

r

Remember that Bush is one who "SOCIALIZED" the banks and the mortgage industry. Bush and the republicans have so badly handled the first six year they had control that we now have a BLACK president. Obama can't destroy anything. Bush and Cheney already did. They destroyed our faith in our intelligence agencies, our credibility in the worldwide community, families of our misused military, our economy ................... etc.

Bush was not a bad President if you consider the recession Clinton left us in, the war that got dropped in his lap 9 months into his presidency. You people think we've had it bad the last 8 years? The liberal left is gonna screw up so much stuff now that our country is getting back on its feet.

Unemployment is going to remain high because of the liberal left's handouts on welfare, and Obama's socialist views will cause so much unrest in the american people its not even funny.

His presidency is going to lead to the racial divide of this country, you watch and see.

My solution, anyone in my office that supported Obama that I know about………..is the first to lose their job if I have to make job cuts………

Sounds fair to me.

This guy should be taken behind his barn and shot.

"The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them,"Yes George we are talking about you and the crimes you have committed starting with the 9/11 crime you committed.

After reading the majority of these comments, maybe our country should be re-named the United States of Bigotry. This is ridiculously sad- as a college student about to graduate next year and enter the "real" world, I have low expectations for the people of this country and it saddens me greatly. I only hope 2009 is better, if possible.

anonymous-Texas

Are you kidding me? Bill Clinton did not leave Bush any war. If anything Bush's father left Clinton a war... and not even that... it's more like Bush sr. left Bush jr. a war. And what are you talking about when you say recession?! Clinton left us with a multi-billion dollar surplus with one of the highest employment rates in U.S. history.

You are your right-wing B.S. can take your ignorance somewhere else.

and your solution to job cuts.... that's Fascism just so you know.... and I'm not kidding... that is the definition of a Hitler-esque government.

just re-reading some of the comments,
looks like people (R) cant just let GW go. they still think hes a great leader (somehow) and cant face up to the fact that they got what they deserved in 2004. They got GW just being the Jack*ss all of us Dems knew he was from the start.
...and some advice for the future –
ANY politician that gives you slogans like "drill baby drill" and does little more than bad mouth the opponent will only yield another empty suit like GW. anyone who insinuates they will overturn rowe v wade is also selling you a bridge. (how did it work out for you the last 8 years ? – rowe v wade is still here. bush didnt even scratch it )

time to get with the 21st century people.

chanting USA USA USA just aint enough anymore. we cant just sit on our laurels ( defined as: "To be satisfied with the degree of success one has already achieved and to refrain from further effort." such as world war II and leave it to beaver lifestyle) wont cut it.
we need to become a great nation again ( YES that does mean that I think we are NOT one now, not by my standards – I think USA should be at the top of education and everything else for that matter.

now we have a president who SEEMS to careabout us, not just his cronies. lets see what happens.

r

I wish I could serve on the US Russia Polar Bear Commission, but I'm not from Alaska. I'm from Arizona. Is there a cactus commission? I live next to cactus. I know what they're thinkin'. You betcha. Anyone see what's coming next? Could we please have 2009 before we have 2012?

The dog guarding the hen house, not the retired one, is the one responsible for the hens.

Clinton did the same in his final days- this is nothing new! What are all you Bush bashers going to do for the next 4 years! I'd suggest reading some history books- if you can find an unbiased one. Maybe study up on Chicago politics to view corruption at its best! Just wait-you'll see it unfold, if the media covers it.

The Declaration of Independence was signed by the 55 richest white men in America and the government they founded has always worked in the interests of the richest white men in America. That does not change whether the Democrats or Republicans are in power.

Although I agree that Bush is probably the most damaging president we have ever had, I can't get worked up about these small-scale political paybacks he is attempting to push through during the Christmas news blackout.

I remember that Clinton on his last day in office became the only president in history to pardon a fugitive from justice. The fugitive, billionaire Mark Rich, had fled the country to avoid prosecution for his violaton of the embargo against Iraq. He gave the Clintons at least $400,0000 dollars in campaign contributions prior to the pardon. He also donated to Clinton's presidential library but those amounts have not been disclosed. Clinton still draws a salary from contributions to his library.

The pardon was so dirty that Clinton's own pardon crew would not touch it. He brought in someone else to prepare the papers at 3am on his last day in office without the knowledge of his own staff.

If you think either political party cis ommitted to your well-being, I suggest you take a look at Howard Zinn's "History of the American People."

To say that Mr. Bush has been the worse president ever for our nation is simply an understatement. He's been called all the names that afloat from anger and frustration; from idiot, to criminal, to nightmare;arrogant, incompetent, jerk,imbecile,corrupt, disgusting, and many more. These are only a sample of them and reflectingsentiment of an entire nation.

But is to be blame for the elected? We the people who elects these idiots amongst and over hundreds of the bright, knowledge citizens.

We have in our nation some of the brightest intellectuals of the world; possibly the most of them. From scientist to Nobel prize recipients in many disciplines; nevertheless, for years now we elected to the presidency men like Reagan, a real fake from Hollywood Cowboy movies to the White House, a running vice-presidente that couldn't spell potatoes. I could go on and on and you reading probably voted for some of these incompetent idiots. Your face was stuck to the tube for foottball instead tuned to the future of your nation.

People abroad laugh at us and see us like idiots because of our choices for the highest public servers. Our own ignorance is projected in many ways; from our arrogance and ignorance to our international policies of State to our local politics.

We've become a nation of the 'uneducated'; the whole world knows that. A high schooler from the poorest nation does better than our average high school student in our nation.

Only a few bright minds, ironically many immigrants, seem to be on the right track about educating themselves for the bleak future.

If education is an adornment is prosperity, and a necessity in hard times, like Aristotle stated in Helenic times, we'll need the educated and capable for our returning to economic and social prosperity again, if it ever happens.

We've irresponsibly mortgage the future of our children and grand-children unbeknown to them. Wars and politics destroyed the Roman empire; we're tracing Rome.

We're electing to public office the incapable. We wasted our best years; from the 50's to now and recovering will be difficult, if not impossible for at least 10 years before another economic cycle to shines again for us.

How and when we don't know yet, and extending the inefficiency of our current policies appointing those who followed for 8 years the same path is un acceptable, yet nobody is protesting.

I hope the new administration, envisioning a better presidency, removes the appointees selected by Mr. Bush.

Yeah, i would like to call him a few names out of the frustration of my heart, but deserves my respect for he still represent this great nation i love.

Let's E-mail our State Reps and ask them to take action in removing these appointees. Let Mr. Obama lead the way to a better future giving him the benefit of doubt for now.

To this point "W"'s appointments, presidential pardons and executive orders are relatively minor in nature. Wait until you see what the worst president we've ever had dumps from his destructive bag of tricks during his few remaining days in office.

All you idiots that think just because the congress is democrat controlled it is their fault you need to go back to school. They only have real power if they can counter the veto of the president which they don't, so wake up and smell the roses it is bushes fault and will always be the idiots and those of the same ilk that have done our country in includung you dummies.

I love the comments about Bush inheriting a Clinton recession.

The fact is, Bush inherited a Clinton surplus, turned it into the biggest deficit in U.S. history, and left us a near depression economy as he waltzes his drunken buttt back to Texas where he belongs.

Bush is still president and can still exercise his duties. He may be the most unpopular president in US history but he is a man with principles. On the other hand, the new president -elect Obama is a man without principles whose only 'vision for change' is to change his mind when it suited him. For those of you who who elected Obama , God save America for we are now going to be a socialist state....

Thebiggest mistake the american voters made is still making us pay jan ,20 2009 I hope it come today DEC 25,2008. My christmas hope

I can't believe you folks are getting so worked up about some appointees to the Alaska-Russia Polar Bear Commission. Next, someone will screwm for impeachment for an appointee to the President's Office of Peanut Butter Viscosity Regulation Oversight.

Will there be a formal ceremony for the appointments? Instead of shoes, perhaps folks could be there with rotten eggs.

All that exists in nature is lyrical in its ideal essence, comic in its existence and tragic in its fate.

W was never lyrical, nor comic........perhaps the last part will be true.

you liberals, those of you who are haters, must be forgiven. i just came from a town of haters-ithaca new york,-and there wern't even christmas light up. What dreary lives you all lead. God Bless!

The Bush War Profiteer Company lives on! Does anyone have the tracker symbol for this company? I need to invest in them.

All presidents make these appointments near the end of their terms. It's political payback. There is no issue here.

The real issue is W, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, etc. should be tried for crimes against the citizens of the U.S.A. The lies and misuse of power from this administration is despicable and will hopefully haunt them the rest of their lives, though I doubt they are men of conscience.

CNN, I think you have some more explaining to do regarding this article. Others besides myself have questions. Why is he doing this, and can Obama UNdo it?

Can Obama reverse these appointments? CNN should answer that question in their report. Nothing like good ole cronyism in Bush's last days. So the taxpayers pay the salaries for these plum jobs and nobody in the new administration will listen to them, will they? So what's the point? Another big waste of taxpayer money, Thanks Bushie!

Jim Anderson Gresham Oregon – I honestly feel sorry for people like you, you are so brain washed and full of blind hatred and obedience you honestly don't know that you don't know. It's people like you and your kind that have ALREADY destroyed America.

9/11 TRUTH

Would anyone explain to me why building # 7 went down at the world trade center, Look at all of the people who died at the world trade center, Go talk to the people of New York who have illnesses due to the 9/11 Thanks again George Bush and family

1 more thing....everyone blames the big business for the economy going in the crapper...but reality is it is them and all those people who got a 250k home while only making 30k a year...We all need to live within our means and now people are learning that things were to good to be true. Good thing Bush gave tax cuts and I was able to save more of my hard earned $$ so I can get by in these tough times.
Now that my taxs will go up to pay for all the Democrats and Obamas plans(and they will go way up for everyone who actually works for a living) I will need every penny.
Dont get me wrong...I am a Republican but Obama was elected president so good or bad I will support him and stand by him. I like that he is young and smart. it is just some of his policies that I do not care for. I do however, not think that he is the chosen savior as most Democrats do. Now that Democrats rule the land they think Champagne and Cavier will flow freely in the streets....But who is going to pay for all of it?

Nice John,

More lies from rethugs like yourself. Obama DID release his full birth certificate, that's why the supreme court has turned down cases challenging his right to serve as president. How about you form a thought independent from the Rush's butt.

Paul,
The house and senate have been controlled by the repugnicans for 8-10 years. Now you say the democratic led senate ( the last 2 years ) is at fault...I don't understand how intelligent people can see what has been happening the last 8 years and still stick their heads in the sand and blame the democrats for everything. Dubya bankrupted Texas and then, the United States of America. Sorry he is moving back to Texas....I agree with the Dixie Chicks

Obama should have his attorney general direct federal agents to spread out on January 21, and perp-walk Bush, Cheney and all the other thugs that have been destroying the environment, constitution, and economy for the past eight years straight to jail. Some right-wing Bush appointed judge can let them out later. That is, unless Obama wants to use Bush's policy of suspended habeas corpus to keep them there forever. That's what should be done.

Right now Bush is only appointing these people, they still have to be confirmed by the House and Senate which don't convine until January 6th. Also Once Obama gets in there he may have the power at that point to make appropriate changes

Condoleeza Rice is a concert-level pianist – good pick for the Kennedy Center. I have never supported Bush, but I don't see any problems with these appointees. Obama has plenty of other appointments to worry about, so Bush is probably helping him out – most of these boards and commissions look pretty non-partisan to me. Please note that Rove wasn't appointed to anything (I'd be against that!), one of his deputies was.

26 more days and Bush continues to work at his biggest accomplishment: worst President in the history of the United States.

The record is so clear.

I dislike this president as much as anyone. His failure is historic in size. I think that he will be remembered, well secured in the bottom 10 if not the bottom 5. But, lets separate the Hyperbole from the reality. To call this the most corrupt action of a president in history is an insult to those corrupt politicians who have occupied the office. Compare this to Nixon? Please.

This is just party loyalty appointments. Nothing unusual to see here.

January 20, 2009!!!! A date that will live in history! And by the way, a date that just can't come soon enough to salvage what precious little is left of this nation's honor after this bunch of "me firsters." Infantile.

Wake-up America!! This is more evidence that modern society in this nation has allowed Washington to play with our tax dollors any way they please. Bush has produced more wealth than any president in history. To bad the wealth is for his contributors, friends, family, and lobbyist. I pay tax dollors for service that I am not receiving. But pork
seems to be more important than human beings by these moderm day politicians. Greed and power is what motivates them. They have what you and I pay taxes for but don't get. Hospitalization, education,
for there kids, safe neighborhoods, nutritious food and decent housing. Bush is just another example of Americans turning A blind eye to whats really going on in this country. Don't blame Bush. The fault is with all of us. Demand better!!!

Made a mistake. Carter DID give away the Panama Canal, which we built.

To CNN:
Why have a story with no background information? You didn't tell us the history of these appointments? You didn't tell us if these appointments require congressional approval? You didn't tell us if the President-Elect could reject theses apointments ?

CNN, get back to real journalism and give us some facts not just HOT BUTTON headlines! PLEASE COME BACK TED TURNER!!!!

I can't help but think most of you who have commented are obama jock sniffers. These appointments are done by each outging president.

Bush haters, you need to realize that the mideast is and was a hornets nest that was growing angrier by the day. Children were being indoctrinated to hate America. G.W. made mistakes but I am thankful that he put a stabilizing force in a region that cultivated people to hate you and I so much that they would blow themselves up trying to kill us and our kids. It will be decades before he is judged correctly. I can compare this hate Bush mentality to day traders. They need gratification right now and only see the immediate future.

...at least these are positions that dont seem to be able to hurt anyone. Im sure the advisory positions will have all their advice taken with a grain of salt by the new administration.

r

Nice decision making on that pardon, "W". Never in history has a pardon been rescinded yet W does it on the way out. I bet they fear that more indictments are coming for that guy, but they'll keep the donations, thanks. He's actively commitiing the crimes he's being pardoned for!!! Unbelievable

Bush the worst President in history? Only if you take Carter and other off the list.
Grow up.

Sorry, but Carter negotiated with Castro to bring Cubans to the US who happened to be serving jail terms. We had some problems because of that. He also did not "give away" the Panama Canal. That turned out OK, just Carter's blind luck. And what about the Iranian fiasco? Also, Bush did not ask his young daughter what she would do in a nuclear crisis. Then CARTER had the nerve to say that Bush was the worst president we had ever had. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Now we can LET IT GO!! Save your backbiting for the end of Obama's term.

What a waste...

Obama should be making the decisions now. This Bush guy has been a lame duck President since the day he took office, with Cheney and his PNAC cronies ruling by fear and corruption.

Don't think for a second that We the American People have forgot about all of their involvement in 9/11.

Soon, there will come a reckoning the likes this Country has never seen, with all of these fools being brought to justice for the crimes they have committed against America and the World.

On this Holiday, I wish for Peace and Justice.

The Kennedy Center Board pays nothing, nada – you Bush-haters are all psycho

Add this as another reason for the president-elect in any year be sworn in the day after the election!!!

OK, I'm Jewish. What are the rest of you losers using as an excuse to be ranting about political nonsense on Christmas Day? Have some turkey or something – you can rant tomorrow.

these knucleheads who keep bringing up Obama's birth certificate are certifiable..there is no way federal matching funds would have been allocated without vetting his birth, and once done it is irrevocable. stop working this angle and go back to Ayers, we've almost forgotten about him..LOSERS

Bush was not a bad President if you consider the recession Clinton left us in, the war that got dropped in his lap 9 months into his presidency. You people think we've had it bad the last 8 years? The liberal left is gonna screw up so much stuff now that our country is getting back on its feet.

Unemployment is going to remain high because of the liberal left's handouts on welfare, and Obama's socialist views will cause so much unrest in the american people its not even funny.

His presidency is going to lead to the racial divide of this country, you watch and see.

My solution, anyone in my office that supported Obama that I know about...........is the first to lose their job if I have to make job cuts.........

Sounds fair to me.

All of these comments are such a refreshing display of goodwill on this Christmas Day. Everything GWB does is a crime against humanity
to most of you. I'm betting many of you would also be the first to decry
"hate speech" when someone stated a position opposed to yours.
Lets see if CNN lets this comment go through.

It makes no difference to me what Clinton did as far as justifying liar Bush. Neither was a credit to the office. I do care that Bushie is doing everything he can to continue his fraud on the taxpayers well past his administration. What I want to know is when there will be indictments of Bush,, Cheney;, Rumsfeld , Wolfowitz, et al. Crimes should be punished, regardless of who or what the involvement. And while we are at it, G.H.W. was no angel.

How many more surprises up his sleave ? !

...... or , did he do America a favour by bringing everyone together and
' salvaging ' the Consitution which was being destroyed by the
of the Oklahoma Bomber and the Militia's ?

My initial nausea on G.W. B.'s election has gone through considerable introspection and at times comes up with the thought that , perhaps , he took on ' all the sins ' to which the society was beginning to degrade ? ! ..... a bit of food for thought !

Here in Canada (that's North of you guys haha) the same things happen all the time. You need to keep it in perspective and see that if your man was in power and appointing his friends in the same situation you'd think it was great. I hope you all protest as loudly in some years when Obama does the same.
Merry Christmas!

RE: Bush and Cheney should be in prison for all they have done to this country and the world. Bush has no business appointing anybody to anything.

Bush and Cheney should be court marshaled just like our military men and women have been why are these criminals any different, these two criminals were the ring leaders behind the war that should have never happened. They created 9/11 to hide the truth of war, all in the best interest of their personal GREED. The 9/11 deal is the biggest lie ever told to the American public and here we sit with our hands in our pockets doing nothing. The bush family has made all Americans look like fools as they are.

Just go away, George, JUST GO AWAY!!

At least you could compare Bush's appointments to Clinton's as a comparison so people would be able to make their own conlucions on what is traditional for out going presidents.
Try to be a little fair, it is Christmas.

Thank you President Bush for appointing these wonderful and talented people to these positions. Your leadership and commitment to freedom is appreciated by those of us that understand the challenges you faced during your term. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

All you claiming Bush is the worst president should not fear. give Obama a chance. In four years we will probably be missing the Bush years.

Is everybody here daft? Every President in history does this? As one writer mentions below: some of you ought to brush up on both your history and civics!

I am no fan of this man, but the sheer ignorance of these Bush haters make the rest of us Obama supporters look like a bunch of uneducated morons.

I'd say that 95% of these commenters apparently are even more imbecilic than the current Commander in Chief... and that's saying something!

How does compare to Clinton's appointments? You don't mention that. Try to be a little fair.

I beg to differ with the American sourpusses.

Mr. Bush kept us safe post 911 attacks. Engaged and defeated Al Qaeda in Iraq and Afganistan. Iraq today is more stable than recorded in modern history. Iran, and South Korea once a credible threat, now stand silent.

Domestically, he governed over the greatest economy globally. Home ownership and creation of new jobs sky rocketed. Prices remained stable, i.e. I filled up my gas tank yesterday for $1.42/ gallon. Experienced as a leader some of greatest man made, and natural disasters to include 911, numerous CA wildfires, drought, Katrina, and post the hurricane, headed some of the largest efforts in history to restore not just a city, but the entire gulf coast.

Despite all of this – you turn a blind eye and instead and at the time of any adversity to your cushy lifestyle, pursue those greedy wicked politicians (Frank, Dodd, Rangel, Pelosi, Reid), who have raided the taxpayer coffers,and who now pretend to stand as those who would save this great nation. Good news, your messiah has come!

Helloooooo....PRESIDENT Bush has the power to do his JOB until Jan 20th. You may not like him but you should still respect his position and title until it is OVER. This is America, not Africa. We have a listory of respect and decor for our leaders.

It is too bad the shoe did not hit him. Al Zaidi (my apologies if I misspelled his name) is infinitely wiser than George the Inferior. It is sad when one who speaks the truth is tortured while in custody, when one who ruins and loots two countries is allowed to go free, write a book, and ensure his failed policies continue to be carried out by appointing his minions. Sad indeed.

What a Bastard!

Every time a President is phasing out we go through the same out-cry. In my opinion the out-cry is rightful in that it is unbelievable to me that in this country for some strange reason for this short moment a politician is given the same powers at that of a monarch. It makes no sense to me what-so-ever, appointments of friends and advisers to on-going positions, pardons and last-minute declarations circumnavigating every other check and balance in our system. I mean, what is a 'pardon' ? A Oh! moment of "the law was just wrong on this one!!

However little I approve of President Bush, these procedures have nothing to do with him. It has to do with parts of our political procedures that belong in the past (if they ever belonged anywhere in our society at all).

Anyway, let's get rid of them! Does anyone out there care for these presidential opportunities to exercise extreme powers?

I believe President Bush is still President. Yes... I just checked... he is. He's kept this country safe for over 5 years, despite the roll-over liberal's wish for the contrary. President Bush, you appoint as mahy people as you wish, just your low-life predecessor did in the autumn of his administration. The difference is, Mr President, is that these people are probably all honorable people. I hope to run cross paths with you some day in a store, so I can tell you just how grateful I am for your dogged determination to keep American safe and not to cowtow to the gutless bleeding-hearts here and around the world. I wish you hadnt teamed up with the free-spenders, but thats a seperate issue that at least we are free to have.

Have any of you actually read the list of appointees? Most of the 'appointments' are fairly meaningless. For example, Condoleezza Rice isn't being appointed to be Secretary of State again – she's going to be on the Board of Trustees for a theatre. That's not exactly a position of power.

Yes, some of those appointments might have some slight influence over matters of policy, but let's face it: most of those mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.

America does not approve of George Bush. We think him unworthy of the office, something he has proven over eight years. Many wish he were impeached. Some criminally prosecuted. Most simply want him to go away quietly. That is why the idea that this guy is still making decisions and appointments that will last beyond his term leaves most of us feeling abused and at the mercy of an idiot.

Good grief, people, you're making it sound like he's appointing supreme court justices and cabinet positions with days left in his term. These positions are hardly important in the grand scheme of governing. It's just a way for him to thank the people that worked for him, nothing more. Quit drinking the haterade, your time is coming.

I just love the way Republican's posting on here justify these appointments by saying, "Clinton did it, and that was a real abuse of power," to paraphrase a few.

When you appoint people that were a part of the WORST ADMINISTRATION EVER, would you really want these sycophants on any board of trustee's or committees??? This is part of the political servile landscape that is ruining America. People who will say or do anything for political leaders and be rewarded for it. Bush might as well go and pardon Scooter Libby, he fell on the sword for Cheney and did exactly what he was told to do, obstructing our justice system in the process but who cares, this political sycophant deserves to be pardoned.

Then everyone will just shake their heads, say they can't wait until Bush is out of office, and rant on message boards, and Republicans will just say "Clinton did it, and that was a real abuse of power," to justify it, over and over.

Just what we need, a dysfunctionality coefficient going forward.

This is symptomatic of the disease that affects Washington and all elected officials, doesn't matter who did it before or whose doing it now. Political patronage is wrong, a strong message needs to be sent to all elected officials of all parties. You are public servants, not kings, lords, nobles and such, stop serving your own special interests and agenda;s and start serving the best interest;s of this country!!

Hey Republics!

You always contend the "W" has kept us safe since 9/11/01. Did you happen to forget that he became President on 1/20/01?

I think you also forgot that Republics controlled both houses of Congress from 1995 to 2007. I think that was about the period of time the economy was set up to go to heck in a handbasket.

You and "W" have done more damage after 9/11/01 than any terrorist or terrorist group could have ever imagined doing to our country and its residents.

Republics and their elitism has produced a near depression right about now and it certainly looks like it is very similar to when another Republic, Herbert Hoover, was in the White House.

It will be amazing to read in the future that "W" was so much worse for our country than Hoover ever was, and he was a fairly poor President.

Now don't go out there and talk highly of the first Republic President. He did something that not even "W"'s dad did after he secured Kuwait, he freed slaved in a foreign country (Confederate States of America).

Lincoln couldn't free slaves in the United States of America in 1863 because they were already free.

Lincoln was dead before the Confederate States of America was abolished and slavery in that country was gratefully elimated.

Slavery is wrong no matter what part of the world it is still practiced in.

G.H.W. Bush secured Kuwait for the rulers of that country, but he did nothing to end slavery in that country.

And to think, G.H.W. Bush sent American Troops, many of them African American into Kuwait, where many African Americans still serve and slavery continues.

Talk about hypocracy within the Republic party!

For better or worse, love him or hate him, if President Bush is operating within the rules of his position and the office it represents, then what more ought to be said about it. Some of us may not agree with it and deeply dislike it to the point where we relish poking holes in his policies, appointments and impending legacy (whatever this may be), but one thing is certain: we must surely learn to tolerate his decisions until January 20th, 2009 arrives. Hopefully, the President elect will not become so consumed by fixing the mistakes so as to become ineffective as the new president. It will be interesting to see how our historians and political scientists will observe and write about the change of leadership and its impact on one's ability to govern, and its impact on one's legacy arising out of hindsight.

would you expect anything less from the biggest pile of crap that ever walked in front of the White House(?)...much less lived there!

The sad thing is when things get worse, and they will, Obama will get blamed. Bush has made such a mess of our nation that we may never recover. I don't understand why anyone would want to be president following the Bush regime. Obama is either really up for one of the biggest challenges any US president has ever had to face, and believes he can fix things – or Obama is simply insane for wanting such a job.

@ Griff & THE OLD TIMER that is on the other blogs. You two should

be on someone's couch. Yall got it bad. Its a shame you two are

going to die being bitter over things that you cannot control. What a

way to have lived. I really feel sorry for you.

So much for the party of inclusiveness and freindship and tolerance. I am really glad that on Christmas Day there are forums like this one so that the haters from the Democratic party have a place to spew their venom thus allowing the public can see them for what and who they are.

I (and many other patriotic Americans) sincerely hope that Barak Obama can get rid of as many of these Bushistas as possible, and begin to heal the nation Bush has worked so hard to destroy. Hopefully many of them will also be investigated and tried for their corruption. Including Bush, Rumsfield and Cheney, who definitely belong in jail.

the fact that we are spending billions and walking around scared, being spyed on, kidnapped, et al, proves that the terriorist are winning! thanks george for making america a third world country!

All you Bush bashers out there , just wait until Obama has his perverted way awhile, you will forget all about Bush

It is unfortunate that Bush has never received the respect he deserves. The man came into an office full of baggage from Clinton. That nasty baggage fell open during his administration and he has received blame for it (mortgage crisis happend because of Clinton feeling the need for everyone to be able to get one – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – lest anyone forget!) 911 could have happend under any President, and Bush handled it the way I would expect a President too – "Don't Mess with the USA"! I wish everyone who bashes him had to be in his shoes for a day, so they could realize what a difficult job he faces each day. I think you would quickly shut your mouth and be glad that you have your 8a-5p job and not that of the President. I am glad that he is looking out for some of his valued employees and has found positions for them to continue working for the Public in areas that their interest or expertise. Happy Holidays!

Can anybody out there say, "Marbury v. Madison"?

Regrettably, this is what lame duck Presidents do – no matter their skill, their party or their popularity. He's not evil for doing it. People try to still be "nice" to them in order to obtain appointments, etc. I am sure Clinton, Bush, Sr, Carter, Reagan, they all did this.

The problem with these appointments is our total lack of faith in Bush's ability to choose capable people. One after one they have proven not to have the ability or intellect to perform their jobs. Rice is top of the list. So to have them appointed past the term of the incoming administration means that ineptitude will outlive Bush and Obama. That's something the country did not need.

Its amazing how utterly uneducated the Obama moron backers are.

Bush's term ends January 20, 2009,

Its's December 25, 2008.

Basoc subtraction yields a difference of ..... 26 earth days.

Obama, the logo president elect does not become President until he is sworn in at that time.

Get over yourselves and keep watching Oprah.

'Jim' wote:

But this story is not as important as the one below it that The Chosen One is having turkey and ham today!

Think about, Jim.......Every elected official is a 'Chosen One', but I understand where you are coming from........PURE HATE!!!!

Peace and Blessings,

Larry

I dont think Americans truly realize the damage Bush has inflicted on the country. I can't believe he allowed torture. That is just unbelieveable.

Lets cut those terms short and replace them all with prison terms. And let us not wait until after Jan 20.

Well, what he didn't do with the Pardon List, he's certainly doing here and with our tax money....It would be interesting for someone to figure what we're gonna be paying all these jokesters over the term of their appointments to these "committees" and what-have-you's.

Yes I may not agree with this, however Clinton appointed Emanual to the Fannie May board at $231,000 a year. You can see what happened to that and now he is chief of staff. That housing crisis is not without some blame and if I am correct the Democartic contol legislative branch chose to ignore all the warning signs. Reality is that both parties saw this coming and power is why we are where we are today as a country. It is impossible to believe that this adminstration and this do nothing legilative branch did not see this approaching. Foreclosures grew 24 months in a row and we heard nothing. We have committees in both houses who along with the adminstration said nothing. The shame is that we have a two party system that conveniently lets us blame either one. We need to stand up and realize we are allowed to be pawns until we unite and vote them all out. We don't need flawed leadership built on party success we need real leadership built on truth and honesty. No one and I mean no one is innocent of this disaster and the sooner we stop blaming and look at the facts the sooner we flourish as a country.

Throw SHOES at Scrub! What a low life he is.

E Simmons..What are you talking about, this transition team. All Obama is doing is making his cabinet mostly old Clinton cronnies. Is this the CHANGE that we should expect? Already showing himself to be a politician. Nothing new, just a different name and party affiliation. Not bashing Obama, because I will support him since he will be president, but don't think that it is the allmighty coming to power. 99 percent of politicians are the same. Scheming and coniving. As for the bankrupting comment, you may want to read up on the "sub prime mortgage" scheme and see who pushed for the loans to happen. It was not Bush, but two different Democratic presidents.

President Bush has the right to grant pardons and make appts. until 12 noon, Jan 20th. I hope he appoints hundreds of people to block B. Husseins tax increases, spending increases, defense cuts, etc.

Merry Christmas everyone!! PEACE on Earth .. especially to all the commentators ranting here!

Everyone just wants a reason to shout at Bush. If the story had been Bush saves a bus full of handicapped kids from falling off a bridge into a freezing river and gives them all toys for Christmas. People would still call him corrupt. He is just one man. If this country is where it is, it's because of the Democratic controlled congress and all the people in the U.S. who don't open their mouths and take action. It's easier to criticize someone elses actions than your own inaction. He was an awesome president. Made mistakes like every other president. But ALL THE PAST PRESIDENTS get to make these appointments. His administration is over. He is just taking care of friends so that they still get a paycheck and have a future. Like I said ALL PAST PRESDIENTS DO THIS!

We certainly shouldn't be surprised for a moment by Bush's action; his entire eight year reign of terror has been all about helping his buddies. It's the Republican way of doing business....and always has been.

But for Bush to do this at Christmastime shows just how completely tone-deaf the "born again" Prez is to the spirit of the holiday....

WWJD? Not this.

If you think Bush was so bad, you ain't seen nothing yet. Wait to your buddy Obama gets in there. God help us all.

The comments that people make here show how ignorant they really are. Claiming Bush is making these appointments to further his policies and further his agenda....or abuse of powers comments. You people are really stupid. These appointments have nothing to do with power or to carry on his policies. These are panels and groups that do nothing to influence real govt policies. These appointments are basically handed out to these people to "thank" them for their support during his tenure. Every president does this when they leave, just like every president does the "pardons" routine. I am not the biggest fan of Bush, but I support him because he is President. Just like I did not vote for Obama, but will support him because he will be president. Too many of you morons have such blinding hatred for Bush that you do not see straight. Since we are on that subject, I love how the very same people who trashed Bush the last 8 years, are the first one to be upset if someone says anything negative about Obama. You should have seen this day coming, the next four (or eight) years, there will be much bashing of Obama. People pointing out every single mistake he makes, every mis pronunciation of a word..etc...... just like YOU did to Bush. get use to it, or toughen your skin.

Nice to see that all the lefties are beside themselves YET AGAIN for the President (still) doing something that is basically an outgoing custom. I am not waving the Bush flag here, but I do find it humorous that everyone who is posting for the immediate removal of the appointees by the incoming president was most likely up in arms (or at least the equivalent, for all you anti-gun freaks) about Bush appointing new federal attorneys. Get over it, you will have your president to defend (from critics) for the next 4 years, good luck and and MERRY CHRISTMAS

ALL HAIL SATAN!!!

What a distinguished group of – - – cronies.

Goes out just the way he came in, illegitimately, and surrounded by clackies and incompetence.

How much do these jobs pay?

Great!
Keep everything as toxic and misguided for as long as humanly possible!

I think the majority of American people have the right to their dislike of this lame duck President. He has run his government like a monarchy. He is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands Iraqi citizens and thousands of American troops in a vanity war. Three thousand more died in New York on his watch. He has contempt for Habeas Corpus and the privacy of the US populace. The economy has plunged into near, if not already there, depression. I could go on an on. Pundits raked Clinton over the coals for this pardons and appointments. The media as always ignores Bush doing the same thing. Republicans pay more for silence than the Dems.

These appointments, along with the number of political appointees who have taken government jobs, are intended to ensure a continuation of Bush policies. The man and his party are arrogant infiltrators, whose tentacles wind around and throughout the government. They intend to perpetuate the divisive and fearful atmosphere that allows them to wield power and control most of the activities and financial resources. Most Americans are so involved with trivial, petty things and entertainment, that they forget their real responsibilities in our democracy. This is what has provided morons like Bush and devils like Cheney the opportunity to laugh all the way to Texas and the Wyoming banks. President-elect Obama will need all the support and patience he can get from us citizens, if he is to be even partially successful at reversing the damage these two SOBs have done to our country.

Unbelievable! Please quite the sniveling. If you think President Bush's appointment of individuals to positions such as the Polar Bear Preservation Committee or the JFK Performing Arts Committee are bad politics, then you are hopeless as a human. You must have some worth.

when bush ducked and avoided being hit by the shoes in iraq his wife laura was not surprised after all george was a natural athlete this statement was not challenged by our great media this is the main reason bush has gotten away with all the crap over the last eight years why are the media so afraid to really go after bush even now

One can disagree with another but the use of hatred, profanity, etc. is uncalled for - in a true sense it reflects upon the character ot the person using such viscious statements. After that has been said, history will show that President Bush was not only an effective Presidnt but one who made bold decisions and will be recognize very favorably in the future. Very few Presidents have been confronted with so many difficult problems and whether you agree or disaree with his decisions, he stood firmly and let the spectators take their best shots. History will reveal his wisdom and his character – not those who attack those in command He was a player not a spectator - so let's give him the credit he deserves.

Get over it. All presidents do this, and Obama will do it too at the end of his term, only then you will applaud and say way to stick it to the next republican administration.

I wonder if their is any law where people can really sy what is on their mind about this man after he leave the WHite House. He most certainly will go down in history as the worst President in history.
People should think what another 3 years in Afganistan and Iraq will do to our economy.
Everyone except the English have deserted us in Iraq and Nato is nothing but a paper Tiger.
The only thing that is going to save the world is for all the nations that have nuclear weopens to get together in one military and economical
organization and enforce peace throughout the world with nuclear
if necessary.

That means, even he leaves the office, his people still stay in government for next 3 to 6 years. What a jerk and shameless. No wonder he tried put his personal council into Supereme Court and failed. Totally put personal interests first.. It these people have contribution to the successful policy, then I have no problem on this. But it is plain rewarding his own people using public position.

It is time for all of you to quite being such snivelers. If you think President Bush appointing a person to the Polar Bear Preservation Committee or the JFK Performing Arts Committee are terrible moves, then you are hopeless as a human.

Where are Rice and Rove on the list? Why are their "appointments" not listed? I can't wait to find out. I actually think they have done quite enough "service" for their friend, Mr. GM.
Please go away soon! I'm done now!

OMG! Is there something that we are missing here? Is this a manipu-
lative move or what. What is the significance of announcing this on Christmas Eve? I smell a stinking motive rat here!!!! Can't wait to hear the Obama/Biden comments!!!!!! I will keep my shoes on my feet until I get a better understanding on this...if the news turns out to be bad, perhaps he should duck again! I'm serious..lol..lol.

Are all the republicans that blind? Do you guys understand when to bring in common sense and see for yourself what Bush has done?

Stop and think please, people that vote straight anything should have their voting rights revoked, it's stupid, irresponsible and childish at best.

At least I hear different views from Democrats. Repubs are just a binch of retards, especially those that support Sarah Palin, come on do you really think she was ready to be VP? If you say yes, go shot yourself and your family and make this world a better place!

Enough already! The new congress should strip Bush of all future government benefits (retirement & healthcare coverage) as well as all secret service protection. Perhaps a censure just for good measure.

Is it just me, or are the people complaining the most, the ones who know the least about how government works? There are honorary appointments and pardons that every president makes in the final days of office. The president doesn't cease to be the president after the election in November. We make this transition in administrations every 4-8 years. Why are the Obama supporters having such a difficult time with this? The country doesn't stop needing to be run until your guy is sworn in! It will be interesting to see President Obama's perspective of the office from the other side.

But you know the good Christian goes to church and probably sits in front. What would Christ say about him, not much good I believe.

He is president. RESPECT THE POSITION, even if you dislike (or worse) the man. Showing your disresepect to the current administration does nothing to support the new and simply shows your raw ignornance. Thank goodness we are in a free country, or else you fools would be in serious trouble. Men and Women have died for your right to be an idiot and you're insulting the commander and chief!

You Bush haters are pathetic......Obama is the worst president in history and he hasen't even taken office yet... He bought the Presidency..

Bush. Worst. Ever. Period. 26 days and counting, until ... "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!"

We all know W knows how to push the envelope. He's proved it to us over and over. We, as a country need to put politics aside and focus on what we need to do to get our country back. We need to get over this repubican democrat thing and work to do what's best for the country. And no, I don't have all the answers. I'm thankful this country appears to have gotten past the whole race issue.

it is funny to me the nutty liberals want me a conservative to love obama and give him a chance yes like you bums did with w bush get ready we will do the favor back to the thug obama big time this man is playing president and to have the most corrupt person hillary clinton back what a joke this woman has never ever told the truth in her whole sordid life and for get the pimp bill clinton pimping all over the world for money for his ex rated library what nuts both clinton's really are don't forget dog face chelsea

Georgie B. has the right to make the appointments, but given how badly he's messed things up, you'd think he'd have enough of a sense of shame to slink of quietly.

I like the think that the right to make these kinds of appointments is an earned right and that terrible presidents would know better. But I guess that's Bush in a nutshell – he's been an unethical idiot for 7.75 years, why expect something different now?

It is really scary to read some of these posts. Hatred for Bush is so great it apparently has impaired some people's ability to read and understand the English language. If you actually read what jobs these folks are being appointed to; in terms of real influence for national policy issues...they amount to nothing! Talk about knee jerk reactionairies!

BUSH SHOULD APPOINT CHENEY TO JAIL along with his BUMCHUM RUMSFELD

And what will Rice's salary be for the Kennedy Center Board?

What on earth qualifies Rice for a job at Kennedy Center? But now it makes sense why Rice was emcee at this year's event... I guess that qualifies her to be on an arts council....

WHAT A JOKE

Are these appointments valid beyond the end of his term? I somehow don't think so...

and thank you Kevin Alexander for the nice Christmas message.
Yes, we do forget to embrace our differences of person and opinion.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, too!

Happy New Year, Everybody!

USCommonSense: Instead of politely chastising your fellow citizens with "history lessons" try and remember... the vast majority of us voted for change. Not more of the same old dogma, masquerading as a lesson from you. Precedent is not enough to imply these appointments are right, or sound. Bush is practically retarded, and only ever seems to cause harm and catastrophe. He should probably stop actively sticking his nose in the business of the American people for the next few weeks.

You voted for him. You got him. All past & present eight years worth,and baby boy "Jeb" is (florida's favorite son) coming up fast in florida's next senatorial race. You know,(well you should know by now) after two years in office he'll pull an Obama,and run for president with a populist female (being vetted as I write) well versed in todays political prose by his side,and win hands down. The "Dynasty's Trilogy", will be locked and loaded, Toot-Fini! PS. Be careful what you wish for America,...

Paul Wanker, our country has been in decline for 8 years. The "Democrat Senate" you refer to has been in office since 2007. You can't tell me that the problems of the last 8 years started in 2007.

re: Freenlovinit

I was free before Bush, I will be free after Bush. I owe him nothing for my freedom. What he has done, is "energize" the base of the fundamentalists enemies of the US. And those beheadings never would have happened if we didn't go to Iraq (which was the opposite direction from where Bin Laden went). With Iraq, he dug a hole, and he filled it back up as far as I'm concerned.

MUUUUUUCH TOO EARLY TO APPRAISE OBAMA AS BEING A BETTER PREZ, WE BEARLY KNOW THE MAN.........................

Who does he think he is? Making appointments that could last for as much as 6 years? The lame duck just keeps getting lamer and lamer. No wonder he can't sell his book rights...NOBODY cares. They just want him out of office where, hopefully, he can do no more harm. It is going to take decades to clean up the devastation the current 'leader of the free world' (what a joke) has reigned down upon this country.
Why could he just keep his mouth shut for 26 more days?

how nice of Bush to take of all his henchmen while the country goes down the tubes.

Bush just proved that he is a jerk with no peers. I hope historians not only show his administration a failure, but that the man has no peers as far as arrogance, ignorance and incompetence goes. The man is an absolute moral and ethical failure. Merry Christmas, world.

Actually Mark, a president has the power to pardon and while you could argue that some past pardons have been immoral or unethical, they have not been abuses of power. Bush has abused his power repeatedly beyond the outlined authority he was given. Oh and Paul 'Wanker', the senate has been democratically run for only a short period and hate to break it to you, things were headed in a foul direction well before that, even since Reagan. The supposed 'trickle down effect' only works if the premise that the majority of people will live beyond selfishness and greed and give back to the community on their own is fulfilled. Alexis de Toqueville once pointed out that America is so successful because it doesn't require the government to solve community problems and to help the needy. This is slipping away and in the wake of Christmas, I hope everyone can find ways to become more involved so we can avoid the need for a big government all together.

Even on Christmas, the ignornant Bush haters continue to post! ALL Presidents before leaving office make appointments to various committees etc Again, ALL Presidents do this! If you're going to hate, even on Christmas, at least know what you are talking about. It's unbelievable how totally uninformed and uneducated some of the posters on this site are. Anyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Who does he think he is? Making appointments that could last for as much as 6 years? The lame duck just keeps getting lamer and lamer. No wonder he can't sell his book rights...NOBODY cares. They just want him out of office where, hopefully, he can do no more harm. It is going to take decades to clean up the devastation the current 'leader of the free world' (what a joke) has reigned down upon this country.
Why could he just keep his mouth shut for 26 more days?

The leeches try burrow in for the dry season

This guy just disgusts me. As if the world needs any more reasons to think we're all hypocritical selfish fools. Just amazing. Yeah, Merry Christmas America, here's some more of the same.

To the gentleman who referred to President-elect Obama as The Chosen One: Yes, HE WAS CHOSEN, by the VOTERS. Merry Christmas. It's going to be a long 4 years for you but maybe you'll learn something.

How little so many know of American history

Are these PAID positions (...or just "honorary" type positions)?

Can Obama dismiss (or ask them to resign) on an individual basis?

Or perhaps he'll have to eliminate / close down the entire commission and then re-establish it with his own appointments. (Which doesn't seem to be in holding with Obama's character).

Is it just me or does Obama striking anyone else as being too "right centrist"? I was expecting {hoping} for a president a little more leftist-leaning.

BTW, THE DIXIE CHICKS HAD IT RIGHT ALL ALONG !!!

HE IS JUST TRYING TO ENSURE THE FAILURE OF THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION BY APPOINTING HIS AND CHENEY'S CRONIES TO TWHART ANY KIND OFAPPOINTMENTS OF DECENT, INTELLIGENT, AND PROPER PERSONS TO THESE KEY POSITIONS.

BUSH'S APPOINTMENTS ARE BLATANT ATTEMPTS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO IN WASHINGTON TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.

The Gov of Illinois and pres. Bush have something in common: Appoint when you know that you have 2 weeks left or no moral autority. He could have done this 8 years ago! Now, these Kings of Mosul, Ambar, Bacuba and Bagdad are all over!

THAT IS A BILL OF ABOUT $3-5,000,000 THE

AMERICAN TAX PAYER HAS TO PAY FOR

INCOMPETANT MORONS MCDONALDS WOULDN'T HIRE.

Stop bashing Democrats like Clinton. We would not be in this mess
if this guy called Bush lost the elections as he did but won illegally. To me GW deserves no mercy, he should have been impeached. You idiot Republicans get a life and lay low for four years because you destroyed this county.

OF COURSE. OF COURSE. OFF COURSE!
"ZIMBABWE IS MINE", Robert Mugabe

Dont worry. Nobody is going to listen to his appointees. They have had eight years of running or ruining the country. We're tired of them.

Wait until he pardens everyone in his adminastration for anything they may have have done during the last 8 years. It's coming folks

People, please do me a favor – just so I know that you know what you're even talking about, because I seriously doubt you do –

1. Tell me exactly which policies of W's that have caused you so many problems, and which one's have hurt the country. I need to know if you can even name ONE – with no googling!!! Because, I seriously doubt it.

2. Tell me exactly which proposed policies of Obama's that are going to make you so dang happy – what exactly has he said that he's going to do that has made you into a firm believer? I haven't heard much of anything from him or his camp other than corporate branding and key words.

Please don't be "those people" that like to give your two cents if you have ZERO clue what you're talking about. If you do, my apologies. But I'm afraid that for you to be taken seriously, to be taken as more than a media zombie with a penchant for being dragged onto the coolest new bandwagon, you're going to have to prove it.

You don't like George W. Bush - the current President of the United States?

I hope you like what you are going to get with a new 'socialist' administration headed by an individual who does not meet the Constitutional qualifications to hold the office of the President.

I feel sorry for you who have been so brainwashed by empty rhetoric, but you voted for an ineligible candidate and you deserve exactly what you are going to get.

Don't blame me . . .

I can't believe how vitriolic and hate-filled these comments are. Please, try and have a little respect for President Bush. You may not agree with everything he's done, but he was elected by a majority of people four years ago, and he still is our President.

What's the problem? He still is the President. He can do what he want's. Doesn't matter what you libs think.

U.S. Common Sense sense of history like prescott bush being censored by congress for his business dealing with A. Harriman, the financial arm of the soon nazi craze, and then king george the first bush as the cia leader, who established noriega's, hussein's, and let's not forget the Silverado S&L snafu of the younger bushs

please see both sides of the pictures and weigh the greater of evils

I am no Bush fan, to say the least. However, even though his administration has done serious damage to everything about our country, I think everyone needs to let him leave in dignity. It's the office of the president that should be respected in my mind – mainly for the sake of those who are currently serving in dangerous places.

Thousands have sworn to follow the orders of the person sitting in that office. We really don't want to diminish the importance of that oath. Let's restore decency to our government and our national dialogue. Let's let the man leave in dignity. Please.

The comments left on this post are further evidence of the failures of our government schools. First off, look at what these appointments are for: The Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees and the US-Russia Polar Bear Commission. If we could put aside our talking points and unadulterated hatred of this man for one moment, maybe we would realize that this isn't that big of a deal. These types of appointments are common for an outgoing administration.

I guess the truth doesn't fit into the template for polarized America. "Everything the other guy does is an evil, overreach of power." I feel bad for Obama.. I wouldn't want anything to do with this electorate.

Well, he is still the president (only a few more weeks, thank goodness!), and this is a job that needs to be done. We sit back and make judgements, but it's likely that some of these appointments might have been discussed with Obama. Who knows?

Remember when "character" didn't matter? Character was a personal attribute that people tried to ensure was evident in the President. Many people said it didn't matter and people should stick to the issues. Well I would suggest we all begin to look and evaluate this trait very closely and stop saying and thinking that party lines are the basis for morality. Dems vs. Republicans. First, corruption and immoral behavior are part of the same string. Second, neither party has a lock on perfect behavior. We could write a book on Dem corruption and chapters are still being written. We could write a book on Republicans too. When we look back on one of the greatest Presidents, Lincoln, we are reminded of his honesty and leadership, not his party line.

Can someone explain this to me.....weren't "midnight appointments" like this essentially made illegal with Marbury vs. Madison? How can presidents continue to do this?

HE GAVE IT US FOR 8 YEARS.

WHY NOT A GOODBYE ONE.

AFTER ALL, THESE ARE THE MORONS THAT

DID SUCH A GREAT JOB FOR US ALREADY?

WE WON'T EVEN KNOW FOR YEARS

HOW MUCH DAMAGE HE HAS DONE.

You sound like the same idiots from a little over eight years ago that were belly aching about Bubba Clinton and his shenanigans. Grow up, get over it- move on.

Wierd how you who are Obama'ed forget the role the leader of Fannie-Mae had in the Clinton administration, sucking all of us for hundreds of millions of dollars, getting rich on our economic losses. No, Clinton didn't appoint people who made Billery rich and I am sure Obama won't either. Let's see how Obama handles Israel getting attacked on Christmas day. We'll know where his loyalties lie soon.

Mr. Benedict Arnold sociopath Bush must have his way and set the stage for a Rublicant Comeback!!!

You are all whiners, get a life.

Obvious examples of the need to downsize government.

Did you idiots not read the story? Look at the appointment positions. They are nothing. They do not affect anything. They are just lame appointments to mundane positions. Read the whole article before you jump on the comment link and start emitting your stupidity. I feel dumber having read some of the comments that you fools posted. Merry Christmas.

This is no surprise and has been reported on for several weeks.

Same thing happens at the end of every Presidency.

Bubba did the same thing, and he pardoned enough folks to get $500M donated to his library/foundation.

Hurrah, this is a smart move to ensure the democrats dont destroy the hardwork that republicans have done.

Why is everyone upset. It doesn't matter. If Obama doesn't want these people in those positions then they will be FIRED!

The old man is lonely, so he have to be doing something at the Whitehouse by appointing paople to carrying at his agenda when he leave office....what a joke....

We will miss you George (in the comedy Jokes)!!!

I'm no fan of bush, but I think people that are posting started flipping out because of the headline without reading the actual article. my guess is this is a regular thing at the end of a president's term, similar to presidential pardons, though I can't remember what Clinton was doing while his team was on their way out. Most of these appointments appear to be to advisory boards or scholarship committees. my gut reaction when I saw the headline was to freak out a little as well, but i'm pretty positive these appointments won't make any difference to anything.
the only way for democrats to screw this thing up would be to act like republicans have the past 8 years and root out anyone with dissenting opinions. Obama ran his campaign to end the politics of us vs. them and bringing the country together to deal with the problems facing it. the best solution isn't a republican solution or a democratic solution, but an american solution that draws from the best side of both.
maybe i need to just shut my mouth and let folks sort this out on their own, but it always irks me when right after democrats finally run a campaign that seems to transcend the old partisan bickering of the past, supporters of that campaign go onto their favorite new websites and start posting more 'dwell on the past nastiness' without obtaining all the facts. some of you are the reason why republicans hate us so much.

I met this appointee Israel Hernandez at an overseas trade fair a few years back, and he appeared to be nothing more than a 20-something political flunkie from Texas with thin credentials for the post he was holding with the Department of Commerce. Bush is such a partisan jerk.

He really does want to be the most hated President ever.

The Democrats need to focus on eliminating the increase in Americans on the unemployment list, and decrease the high increase of bringing in foreign labor! This is causing a serious economic problem that a Democrat President should eliminate by the Democrat Congress, especially in California. Our illegal alien population needs to be decreased more this year than the previous years, and our Immigration enforcement needs to continue increasing, or we will never get out of this economic catastrophe!

Bush is a total TOOL. I can't wait til this moron is out of the White House. His last 8 years of mismanagment have brought our country to the brink of ruin.

The most arrogant living genration...

I guess its a farewell kiss from a Dog!!!

What next President Bush, how about another war before January 20, 09

Calling him the worse president, a jerk how in the world can you say that? I will laugh my head off when this so called Obama destroys this country worse than ever. Obama is going to be the devil of the American way. George W Bush did make some mistakes, but atleast he has the back bone to stand up for what is right for America. We have not had another Terroist attack on US soil. He has done his Job and let him appoint who he wants. Obama is appointing people that not everyone likes also. It is politics!

Is everyone talking about King Dufus?

Well, the ones he appointed are probably the ones
that won't need blanket pardons. That will be coming
next. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Rove etc will walk away from
all the crimes, misdeeds they have committed to our country
and the American people.
Hopefully the ones we are stuck with can be sent to the mail
room because of downsizing.
He has made the position of president a sham.

quit whining u bunch of liberals...... bush is the president NOW......if u want legit concerns try finding out why obie won't release his full birth cert?..... kinda like kerry w/something to hide?.....

"We're all in the crapper, and it's all thanks to the senate, which is democrat run."

Yeah, everything that's wrong with this country happened as a result of the Senate's activities over the last two years. That has to be the dumbest thing I've heard yet. You Republicans will believe anything, won't you?

Um, guys...?

These committees are do nothing paid nothing who cares posts. I mean, really? Who cares?

Wake up you left wing loons. George W. Bush is still the President of the United States of America. Mr. Obama is not the President; having resigned his seat in the Senate, Obama is not even a Senator. Obama, at this point in time, has as much governmental power as I do – which is none. Keep your panties on – you have just under a month to wait before you take control.

I see that no conservative view points were posted here..big surprise. NOT. Is this new with Bush? I doubt it. If Clinton had done it, you libs wouldn't be saying a word..enough already.

What will Obama do before the end of his term ?

Where is information on what these positions pay? I am sure Condi doesn't work for peanuts.

Bush makes people like Robert Mugaby blush. Just leave us alone.

Hey you guys, he's the President until Obama gets sworn in on the
Quran.
Since Obama refuses to prove he's a natural born citiizen
he still won't be president, only a pretender.

He made 4 year appointments to the advisory committee on trade policy & negotiations, the number one cause of this recession and job losses in the US is our trade policy, looks like he doesn't want us out the recession for another four (4) years, I guess you can blame the new president then.
Bush has hurt this country far worse than Osama bin Laden could ever dream of.

Go away baby Bush, you are irreverent.........nobody is listening to you.
You are one terrible president. What's your shoe size? I would like to send you a Christmas present. Good Riddance and thanks for nothing!!!

by the way folks, checke your facts. Look at who Clinton appointed and gave pardons to. Bush pales in comparison.

It is good to get rid of a president that has a 2 digit IQ

Not a Bush fan, but please...

Obama is going to have 'Way Bigger' problems to take on than appointing representatives for the US/Russia Polar Bear Commission or the JFK Center for the Performing Arts.

Let it go, will you, people?

This arrogant, small-minded man never ceases to amaze. His contempt for the American people knows no bounds. Thank God the nightmare of George W. Bush is almost over.

Obama will just have to 'un-appoint' them.

This is just more of Bush's enriching his friends at the publics expense.

So what's new.

Worst President in history. That has already been established.

But like all the 'white collar' criminals on Wall Street and those in our government who were suppose to be protecting the publics interest -but didn't- he will also get away with his crimes without being held accountable.

Again...so what's new.

I can only imagine that those who elected him into office feel no shame of guilt for putting him into the position where he could do the damage he did to this country.

Welcome to the 'new' America, where greed and self indulgence is rewarded, and hard work is punished.

To Anonymous – Fairy Duster??! Wouldn't that be Barnie Frank? The author of our current economic disaster?

For those Dims that haven't read the constitution Bush is still the real president, it is his right. Get a life!

Like it or not, the American public elected Bush for the full term. It is absolutely his right to exercise options as the law permits.

Whether or not people like the George W Bush "brand" is not important. Part of what comes with electing a president is his right to control this "brand" within legal limits. Afterall it is his legacy on the line that school kids will be reading about for years to come.

I am sure that Obama will exercise these same options.

good job!!

I agree Bush made mistakes but we have been kept safe for seven years. How would you like to live in a situation like Israel. You fear for your life just going out to the grocery store or getting a cup of coffee. I believe most people won't realilze this until the next major terrorist attack occurs. It has been PC to call him a liar, abuser of power, etc. If this was truly correct, the Democrats in Congress would have filed impeachment charges a long time ago. The reality is that they didn't have any facts to back it up. For those of you who are critical of Bush invading a country that didn't invade us, check the facts. FDR attacked Germany without being attacked. Kennedy attacked North Vietnam withouth being attacked. Truman attacked North Korea without being attacked. Clinton attacked Bosnia/Serbia without being attacked. All Democrats. Where was the Democratic outcry then.

One more thing for Obama to undo. The ones that are stupid enough to hang around after Bush is banished should have to endure as much abuse as possible, before they either quit or are forced into retirement pastures.

I am trowing all my shoes at his face. What a Jerk

Yeah it's almost over, Now we get to face watching our
country turn into a socialist 3rd world country.
At the hands of a Kenyan no less.

CNN needs to do a better job of reporting. The common man (me and everyone else who has commented so far) wants to know how appointments made by a lame duck president for people to serve "in his administration" extend into the term of the next president. It's an obvious question, so please answer it! Don't just vomit press releases onto your website; do some reporting!

Bush is so desperate to leave his mark on Washington, he'll even put the skids to all the supposed goodwill for the transition.

It was bad enough that he and Laura wouldn't let the Obamas move into the house traditionally used for an in-coming president and his family. The Bushs had guests that simply had to stay there. All that was just personally nasty.

But now this?! Tying a stone around the neck of the incoming administration, despite promises of working towards a smooth and gracious transition?

Worst president in history, and possibly the most immature = W.

What a scum bag! This Bush guy will always be known as the worst president in the history of the U.S. He is nothing but a piece of trash. Born again piece of crap.

I think that this just shows what a despicable, insensitive, and outrageously egotistical individual Bush is! I hope that the Obama administration can immediately reverse ALL of these appointments upon taking office.

I suppose that since Bush is the most disliked president in history with the lowest approval rating that he figures he can do whatever he wants since it can't lower his rating much more. Or maybe it is just his way of getting even for the likelyhood that he will go down in history as the biggest spending, least liked, and most reviled worldwide.

Thank God we only have to suffer through his (and Chaney's) rule of terror and incompetence for less than a month and then the country to begin to heal and rebuild. PEACE ON EARTH to everyone!

In terms of putting a criminal in jail, why isn't Obama being put in jail? DId he not try to negotiate leaving Iraq with their leader when he was not yet elected (for those of you in Rio Linda, that's prior to election day). By the way, was Obama born in the US? Can we please see the birth certificate? Seems like a simple request, yet no one will do so to address this once and for all.

How can the president make new appointments with only a short time left in office?????? What is he trying to prove??

He's only doing this out of spite. He's going to pay for all he has done.

Don't get to upset, every president has done this after their time was about up. Obama will also do it just wait and see.

It is just another presidential abuse, they all give pardons and appointments at the end. Bunch of crap, but you don't see congress trying to prevent it do you. Ever wonder why?

Of course Bush took care of his flunky – Condoleezza. What was she going to do for a job if Bush didn't appoint her to some Board?

They are both such losers!

Waaa! Waaa! Waaa! Get over it! Like Clinton didn't do this kind of stuff and like your precious Obama won't do it too! Bunch of babies!

He is still President until Jan. 20th and has every right to appoint whomever he wants to these positions. Every President does it at the end of their terms. Oh that's right, liberals only remember the last 8 years, and only if it is something negative about the Bush administration. I for one, will give Obama a chance, which is more than democrats did with Bush in 2000.

Good on Bush, the next idiot won't be able to appoint scum!!

who do these "advisory boards" advise? If the president, Obama should simply undo all of them and structure them as he sees fit. Part of his cleanup after Bush.

So are taxpayers going to be paying for these appointees?

Bush....What can I say. He has pursued his "special" interests at the expense of his country and citizens. I am ashamed to admit that I voted for him during his first term. Even as his days in power winds down, he is still abusing his power. We need a spiritualy fit leader. Someone who does not bend to the seduction of greed and power. Someone with true integrity. I don't believe that integrity and politics have ever been seen in the same sentence. We are in a world of change. Things are in the first stages of change. It usually gets worse before it gets better. All of this turmoil is the signs of change and growth for the better.

This should be the first list of people to be fired as soon as Barack O. is sworn into office. What pompous arrogance Bush has displayed for 8 years, displays today, and no doubt, will display for the next 3 &1/2 weeks...

Well done. The president doing his job and setting a good example for the incoming president. Paul needs to revisit a non-liberal indoctrination school and reexamine presidential history. President Bush will be remembered as the president who did his job in protecting his country, no matter how many so-called journalists in the liberal news networks try to protray him. In my opinion, we'd all be dead if either of the other two (ahem) individuals from past elections had been voted into office.

This man is out to prove to all the world that he is the worst president in American history, although that issue is not in doubt. Enough, already!

Paul Walker,

This isn't an abuse of power, unless you are saying Bill Clinton and those that preceeded them also "abused power' with these type of appointments.

Sick n tired,

He is President until January 20th.

Seriously, you two need to get beyond your blind hatred and brush up on your history.

You hit it on the nail. I do not approve of his policies but he's EXACTLY what the terrorists and crazy EXTREMISTS needed. I didnt appreciate them one bit when they beheaded an American in Iraq, earlier in the war. If you think W is crazy, those nuts out there ARE worst.

WHAT A JERK AND " THEY LIVE AMONG US". SOMETIMES I THINK THAT THIS MAN COULD NOT FIND HIS A$$ IN THE DARK USING BOTH HANDS .

....what???? i second paul walker...what a jerk! its bad enough that we'll still be affected by his bad policies he made over the last 8 yrs, no matter what obama does...but now hes appointed more jerks to office???

Paul, take a good look at your democrat buddies. I'm sure you'll see worse abuse of power. We're all in the crapper, and it's all thanks to the senate, which is democrat run.

Paul Walker December 25th, 2008 11:06 am ET
What a jerk. The biggest abuse of power in history and the worst, by far, president in history.

Nothing like a chip on the shoulder to obfuscate reality. Clinton's last minute pardons of embezzlers, money launders, and other felons define the term abuse of power.

Why would bush appoint anyone for 3-6 years when he only has days left in office. I'll tell you why, because he wants to make sure that HIS WAY is still being PUSHED upon everyone well after he is gone. I think Obama should be the one to appoint anyone if anyone needs to be appointed. Thats like making my ex-girlfriend in charge of MY WELL BEING for MY FUTURE.

What is everyone thinking will happen over this. UNSEEN and BEHIND THE SCENE action is whats going to happen. Just like 911. And nobody STILL has the balls to do anything. WAKE UP AMERICA.

Pork for Christmas? Ho, ho, ho!

Not that I'm completely approving of all the President has done, but I think it's interesting how we so often think the last or more recent presidents are either the best or the worst in history.

That being said, and politics aside, Merry Christmas! Hopefully there is still the possibility that at least on one day out of the year humanity can put aside their enmity of one another and cherish the life God has given us. As a Christian I believe that's what Christmas is ultimately about. Beyond the traditional meaning of Christmas, there should also be a subtle reminder for those who choose to celebrate the spiritual meaning of the holiday that two thousand years ago God laid aside his frustration with the depravity of man, and chose to do something about it by becoming one of us. Some might think that to be a fairy tale, but I think if spirituality or the supernatural is to mean anything, then Christmas is a perfect example of what is possible that can completely blow our minds.

Ok, I didn't intend to write a novella here, I guess I just embarked on a positive rant. Oh, and if you don't happen to celebrate a spiritual meaning to Christmas, have a Happy Holiday season. I think it's highly ironic that the one time of the year when we should definately ignore petty arguments is the one which we argue about the most – Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays...

So for the sake of not offending either party... Merry Happiness!

He's been far from a great President but "the biggest abuse of power in history?" He's appointing people ot scholarship boards and performing arts centers. Who cares? Obviously you do.

Appointing people to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board is the biggest abuse of power in history? Hitler might have something to say about that.

Every President does it. Who cares!

Most of these are likely from the Roberts university because they won't have the education needed to make it on their own in the real world.

Ummm... Isn't he leaving...a bit presumptuous I think. ...He may be just oblivious considering how he handled the shoe-thrower incident ... or it may be total disregard for Americans when you consider his approval ratings and the election.

The lame duck quacks. Disappointing, but you really can't be too unhappy. Almost every prez has done it before, from Adams on up.

That village idiot should not be able to appoint anybody to anything what a joke. We need a complete over haul of our constitution and bill of rights so these dictators whether they are republican or democrat or what ever cannot do as they darn want to Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri.

Where does he get the priviledge to appoint anyone to anything in a new president's administration? Is this just a stunt so that Obama may have to relieve them of their duties if he has others in mind? I don't get it!

Who cares?

I find it amazing that people approve of this primate.

I couldn't agree more. Bush and Cheney should be in prison for all they have done to this country and the world. Bush has no business appointing anybody to anything.

We all knew he was inept, but now he shows that he is a pandering, devious, political schemer.

The Bush/Cheney era will be remembered not only for bankrupting the world's largest and strongest economy, killing thousands of our brave troops needlessly, and now for abusing it's power in the twilight of its term. The past election was an unequivocal dismissal from office by the american people, you'd think they would finally see the wizard of Oz and get a brain.

If these appointees have any moral character they'll decline the appointment in deference to the incoming administration. I think the transition team has proven that if a candidates is right for a position they will be appointed regardless of political party affiliation.

hopefully Obama will appoint a prosecutor and send this traitor to jail.

Bush is so disgusting. I can't wait until he fades off into the Texas sunset. It won't be SOON enough.

But this story is not as important as the one below it that The Chosen One is having turkey and ham today!

Let me get this clear in my head.
President Bush is making a whole bunch of appointments lasting around 4 years instead of letting President Obama??
Is this a "right "thing to do?
Am I missing something?

Another example of this poorly trained, boorish dog of a poiltician marking more territory.

does the crap with this guy never end.... more cronies and ideologues, trying to stack the deck toward his fairy tale vision when its so clear the country disagrees with him, how much more bad can this guy do? its a good thing he has been universally accepted as an idiot for the last year or he'd start another war, I cannot wait till this idiot is back in his village in texas, I have never been more disgusted!

Exquisitely put Paul. Succinct, to the point, and right on the money.

wheres my appointment...i need a job also....

Strong ego and weak brain-power – 25 days after today. Can't wait for him to be gone. Worse than Nixon.

Paul, I couldn't agree more, and the last thing we need is his leftovers serving for another 6 years!

And the Stink of The President Reject goes on!

Maybe these folks should refuse the appointment and see if President Obama will do it instead.

I didn't know that you knew every priesident that we have ever had. Now that I know you have, you must be right and really old

When you think you are rid of these crooks, here they pop up again. If only Obama had the guts to investigate these people and charge them for all the crimes they have committed, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that.

For a man so desperate to go down in history as a great man, this guy sure can shoot himself in the foot. I suppose next he's going to get the White House painted the colors of the Texas flag.... what an absolute dolt.

whats next? King George of the USA – permanent king

Carl Rove?

OH SUCK IT UP and DEAL WITH IT!!!!! I would rather President Bush appoint individuals who will actually DO something for the people rather than pardon a gaggle of felons at the 11th hour like President Clinton did who would continue to prey on the public.

Are we sure he is leaving office next month?

Relax Paul Walker, its Christmas, you can at least get over your anger for one day.

Are you frigging kidding me?

I don't like the man at all, but I am pleased that Condaleeza will be on the board at the Kennedy Center. At least she is an accomplished artist and not merely a partisan administrator like SOOOOooo many other members of that board.

I'm not too sure on how things run with this "government", but since they are appointed can they be unappointed? OMG I hope so.

Every president does this. Get over it and stop Bush bashing.

Dont they really mean these terms only go to next January when Obama replaces them?

Political hacks keep on working, appointed by the worst president in American history. Why on earth would he want his legacy to continue? Is he even more stupid than even the public imagined?

Is it common to start appointing people to be in your administration as you are on the way out? Just wondering!

Got to keep some adults around while the children play.

Sounds like a lot of "payback pork" was being served at the White House for Christmas instead of ham or turkey.

The important thing is that the "big turkey" will be gone in January.

Go away baby Bush, you are irreverent.........nobody is listening to you.
You are one terrible president. What's your shoe size? I would like to send you a Christmas present. Good Riddance and thanks for nothing!!!

The last desperate act of the village idiot before he returns to the village that may not claim him.

What a jerk. The biggest abuse of power in history and the worst, by far, president in history.

Why and how is this Lame Duck able to appoint these people to serve AFTER HIS TIME IS UP? More road blocks for Obama to deal with to be sure! Typical Bush obstructionist tactics!

What is the purpose of these appointments? Please advise.

Further "burrowing" by a corrupt and incompetent president to ensure that President Obama faces the most difficult circumstances possible during his first term. What a coward.

What a jerk. At a time when our country needs bipartisanship from its leaders and an end to pork barrel, self-interest politics, this imbecile appoints people to these jobs as political favors. When will our government wake up and recognize that our country is teetering on the brink of extinction as a "superpower" and world leading nation and heading towards a 3rd world country? Our successive generations are already going to have to shoulder the immense financial burden of the recent economic crisis brought about, in part, by governmental neglect and incompetency in regulating financial institutions and ignoring the obvious build up of the real estate bubble and its implications. Our regulatory agencies administering the banks failed to perform their oversight over highly risky mortgage lending practices. The "ballout" put taxpayers' money into banks and other companies like AIG without any oversight or preferred ownership stakes that favored the taxpayers (just look at what a savvy investor like Warren Buffet did in lending to GE as an example of what we should have done).

Why should we expect anything different from one of the worst Presidents and administrations in over 100 years? It is none too soon to watch this moron riding out of Washington to Texas. Good riddance.

he should have waited and let a real president appoint them.....,

Does this mean Obama will have no control over these appointments after he is in office? Or...are these just people that will serve Bush wherever he ends up? Or... is this just another instance of Bush's arrogance?

The NIGHTMARE is almost over. Looking forward to the words ex-president george w bush

Why the HELL is BUSH Still appointing ANYONE?!?!?!?

This is NOW the OBAMA Admin., Georgie!!!

LET IT GO!!!!

Put this Criminal in Jail!!!!

This is more crap from Bush that will need to be undone as soon as he is finally out of office. He's just doing political favors for those who helped him and lied for him.

I didn't see what he did with Rove.....Maybe appointed him the FAIRY Duster?

He just won't go away, will he?

This maniac needs to be impeached before he can do more harm and then indicted, charged, convicted and punished for ALL his crimes. He AND all his administration. – NOW

cd

It's hard to tell if these positions are particularly powerful, but nevertheless, it seems like a disrespectful move to appoint 24 people to new 3-6 year positions only weeks before the new president (elect) begins.

Kind of like letting Karl Rove keep a post office box at the White House.

Eight years of wreckage doesn't seem to be enough for this subhuman. He now has to squeeze in, every last bit of damage he can. He won't go away and we'll not be rid of him on 1/20/09 - his "legacy" will continue to sour the earth for decades.

Appointments and Bailouts and I'm struggling to pay my mortgage.

Let's face it, if the Worst President of the United States is doing it, it can't be good. At least the Obama team has a convenient list to work through to remove all these appointees at the earliest opportunity. Will the Bush Disaster ever end?

great for those that served the country well...a job well deserved!

Glad to to he is creating jobs for someone. No if any of us common folk could get an appointment to a 4 or six year term to tide us through the Bush depression we would all be set to ride it out.

I wonder what these positions pay?

Cronies.

Nice that W has handed out some nice stocking stuffers this year. Hard to believe he had time to shop, what with all the time spent doling about $750,000,000,000 to the banking industry, packing for the move back to Texas, locating a good ghost writer for his book deal, etc.
This is a drop in the bucket of warm tobacco spit mixed with pork which the federal government is currently using to feed the banking/financial elite, but it is still just as immoral and amoral.
How much will Condi be paid to sit on the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and how much time will she spend performing those duties? We have about as much chance of finding that out as of receiving an accounting from the bailout banks of what they did with the billions they received. Merry Christmas indeed!!

He is Looney !

Are these going away presents?

How is this remotely legal? He gets to keep his cronies around even after we told him and his party to GTFO?

Something here just feels like a backhand to the American people. Kind of a middle finger for not letting him do whatever he wants and us just smiling like good little texans.

This man is a sadist determined to throw everything he can at President Obama as an obstacle because if Obama succeeds, Georgie will truly look like dog stuff!!! He has cared only for himself and his buddies from day one regardless of the affect upon our nation. Benedict Arnold has lost his place as America's greatest traitor to Georgie "I sold America" Bush!!!

So what else is new. You're doin a heck of a job GW.

THIS MORON IS STILL TRYING TO MESS THINGS UP. GEORGE BUSH SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON GETTING ALL THE DRUGS SAFELY OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT.

All of whom will be tossed overboard as soon as "Captain Idiot" gives up the bridge on the "Good Ship Lunacy" and an intelligent human being takes over in January!

THE END CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!

ANYONE OUT THERE UP FOR A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED TEXAS "SHOE THROWING CONTEST" TO SEE HIM OFF?

I'll bet there are a few BILLION people out there that would just LOVE to slap this fool upside the head!

I don't understand this at all. What is the purpose of doing this when Bush will be gone. Does Obama have to keep them. Perhaps Bush is not as lame (lame duck) as we thought?

Gotta love how sleazy our system of government is. Reward those that have failed. No wonder our country is in the toilet.

This is just not right. Is Bush trying to cram these committees with his supporters so Obama's administration will be weaker? If so...

Stop already!

Isn't it enough to have left this country on a dump heap than to appoint more stewards of your failed policies and despicable ideology?

Its the epitome of hypocrisy that the man who is supposed to represent the highest moral values of our country continues to exhibit the lowest ones.

26 days, 1hour and 20 seconds left to go. But who's counting..?

hoping obama can overturn these political hack appointments. they all should be subject to dismissal. bush knows no shame. these appointees have all prospered under or in the bush administraion and to reward them further is just so wrong. but it is typical bush.

These kinds of appointments should be outlawed! It is a disgrace that a President has the power to 'reward' his people even though this presidents policies were flawed. It would seem to me that these peoples policies would be flawed also..so can we look forward to less than admirable policies for these organizations? I truly believe that the new president should be in office no later than 3 weeks after the election...this would help to elminate pardons and appointments.
How bout Obama working on that issue also?

George W. Bush hasn't done anything good for our country in the past 8 years. What's the big deal about these appointments?

Why? He is leaving, This does not seam right

This is where there is waste and fat in our Government. You might think that idiot Bush would not add more fat to our bloated Government, but after 8 years and the economy in ruins, the deficit at historic highs he decides to make it even worse! Obama should immediately act to fire these people and do away with these wasteful positions. One last thing...I hope Bush chokes on his food for New Years day!

why...because he hasn't caused enough damage?

A desperate attempt to keep up the control of making bad policies for our country. Sad and frightening.

CAN THIS LAME DUCK, DO THIS?

Bush has become so completely irrelevant.

and i'm lovin' it.