CNN

Great. Now it would be nice if Bush took the blame for the Mission Failed.

If there is one good thing about recent history...it's that Bush and his minions won't be writing it. Bush thinks history will be kind to him and his administration. Who knows? His approval ratings could soar into the 30's too. Anything is possible. If history has taught us anything, it has taught us that facts and events speak for themselves when you strip away the spin and the heat of the moment. Fifty years down the road Bush's legacy will speak for itself. There won't be any loyal cronies taking the blame or speaking out in his defense. History will judge. I have a hard time believing history will be kind. My guess is that lousy presidents in the future are going to be measured against the Bush yardstick. Their historical evaluations may begin with "He wasn't a good president, but he wasn't a disaster like....".

Just about the dumbest political move ever, just behind McCain picking Palin as his running mate.

Nice try, but its too late. No need to fall on your sword at this late date.

He's still an Idiot. 7 more days, and thank God.

So, when it looks bad, blame the Aircraft Carrier crew, for the banner. Now that time has past, and the bush reign is coming to an end, tell the truth and say Ok, we did it. I am military myself, and I hate seeing the military being used for politics. Politicians love to take their picture with the military when they need us to look patriotic, then love to lay blame on us when something goes wrong.

Thank goodness this man is going. I don't even know where to begin on what went wrong with Bush (Iraq, Katrina, the economy, GItmo, etc.).The hatred the world felt towards us (especially when I travelled to Europe) was horrible. Finally, the world respects us again- thanks to Barack. See ya George.

How convenient to change the story AFTER the fact. Bush should have stated that "these fine men have accomplished THEIR mission and are welcome back home." Like, yeah, they were trying to say something different. I can believe that coming from an administration that was ALWAYS trying something different. (By the way, we see how all those "trying something differents" turned out.) Bye bye.

And Dubya was SOOOOOO stOOpid that he went along with it without even questioning this guy's judgement? BS!!!!

Does it really matter WHO put the banner up at this point???

The entire administration had been a complete and total failure... and that's how it's going to go down in history as!!

What I would like to see President Bush do during his last interview is take total responsibility for the failures of his administration. Show a little remorse and absolve all his loyal backers and let them know they no longer have to take the blame for things he did. He is after all the decider.

If you watched Bushes news conference, he did take the blame for it....never mentioned another person.

Dear Gott in Himmel... why WHY is ANYONE jumping in front of trains for this fool?!

Whatever Repubs! You are trying to sell it and I ain't buyin.
You've had plenty of opportunity to correct your "so called" mistake but you took credit for it when it looked like it would work.

So sorry... this won't "fly"!

Obama!

So that just confirms that Bush was a puppet and just let everyone else make decisions for him. Did somebody also take the blame for him putting on a pilot suit and acting like an arrogant dictator?

I know for a fact that had the sign worked, Bush would have taken the credit for it, so why can't the reverse be true? It didn't work, so he needs to take the blame for it.

Note to W: Stop whining, grow up, go back to Crawford and leave us alone.

I hate the Bushes. They have denial syndrome, and that denial has led us into the horrible state of the union.

Don't rewrite history, just leave. Yuck.

Doesn't surprise me as an idiot surrounds himself with fellow idiots.....glad Dan Bartlett fessed up. I am sure that looks good on his resume.

Dubya stands for DUMB.

Tick tock already.

It does not matter. We didn't vote for the ex-Bush aide, the country voted for Bush. So the buck stops with him. He knew about the sign, he didn't do anything about it and it was that message that he conveyed. The message that the mission in Iraq was accomplished.

Over four thousand dead soldiers later, we are still waiting for the mission to be accomplished. Thanks for nothing GW Bush.

We will accept that if Bush confesses that he was only a mouth, no mind at work, while Chaney was managing everything, including sending his company to Iraq without a bid, etc. etc. etc.

The mistake was not the banner but the invasion....

The the funniest thing about the past 8 years, everytime something goes wrong, it is never the President fault and someone seems to fall on a sword for this guy. So let me get tis straight, he stands on an aircraft carrier points back to the sign and say's 'mission accomplished" and it Dan's fault? What happen to his imfamous statement that he was the "decider"? Either The Bush family is paying alot of money to all of these people who have fallen on swords for GWB or these people must have done some very horrible things that GWB knows about and is using that knowledge to his advantage to get these guys to take the blame for him. WOW!

How convenient that this louse waits until Bush's last week to speak up.

Bush also did not blame Rumsfeld, Rove, or Cheney.......what does that mean?

Is he loyal or afraid to make an EXECUTIVE decision.

Bush listened to a whole batch of moron moves....i wouldn't own up to them either

Did this guy also sign off on having Bush in parachuting gear dropping in to the aircraft carrier as part of a photo op? Because that was much more revolting and offensive than "Mission Accomplished". The banner was just stupid. Having the president play a military commando was ridiculous.

So, whose idea was it for Dubya to strut around the deck in a flight suit? This whole thing was one overdone, testosterone-fueled, make-George-look macho photo op. The only thing missing was the "Dirty Dozen" theme song. My 2 yr old granddaughter (whose dad, by the way, is still in Iraq getting shot at and handling all those "combat missions" that ended) would know better than to put this idiotic banner right behind Dubya in full camera view. GOOD GRIEF.

That is sure "taking one for the Gipper."

That banner should be hanging in a prominent place next Tuesday,one where everyone can see that finally bidding farewell to the Bush administration is"Mission Accomplished".

Originally, Bush said he had nothing to do with the "Mission Accomplished" banner, now an aide in his administration is taking credit for it AND Bush said himself it was a mistake. Just one more example of the series of lies Bush has told over his horrendous presidency.

BUSH STILL IN DENIAL, OF ALL HIS BAD JUDGEMENTS!
1- Cheney as VP
2- Iraq
3- Katrina
4- De-regulation
5- Jobs being Out-sourced
6- 23 Work Visa Programs
7- Not securing the Boarders

Just to name a few!

Keep changing the story and placing the blame until people forget or become too confused to care – it works every time. Now if we can just get them to blame the Iraq war on Clinton.

Kill the scapegoat!
All hail the Bush Legacy!

How many former aides are going to fall on their own swords for this guy? In the real world the guy at the top is responsible for company – and how many people have had to drink the kool-aid so he can look like he was blameless? Bush stood there, and that picture has been out there for 5 years. Only NOW are we calling it a mistake? Saddle up pardner, the stage is moooovin' out

Only a few more days and this butcher of American soldiers and
Iraqui civilians will be gone gone gone. I hope he and his ilk are
tried for war crimes.

These guys suddenly can't backpedal fast enough...you want a pardon, Mr. Bartlett? You might have to get in line behind Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld. Blind loyalty is never good for the country...we need honesty and truth. Bush required subterfuge, illegal acts, and lies in the name of security. Now they are all trying to make the last 8 years seems like a serious of tiny mistakes that were blown out of proportion.

Let's blame the person who is not present anymore. What a cheap shot. Did not the president read the banner prior to walking out onto the aircraft carrier? Wasn't his entrance and declaration staged? He has so much power, in fact, enough power to send thousands of men and women to Iraq and Afganistan to fight, do you mean he didn't have enough power to say, "Take that banner down."? The whole rewrite is a bunch of balogna.

Yes and my neighbor next door broke my TV by wachig it from his own house with binoculars.

I'm starting to think that even that bruise Dana had on her eye (from the shoe throwing incident), was make up.

No matter what Bush helped the country to become terrorist attack free after 9/11 during his tenure. He should be commented for that..

Also he always had American People's interest and he put PEOPLE FIRST!!!

Revise! I don't feel as though Bush makes every single decision a "decider" could make. But he should accept the responsibility of this action. Clearly he could see mission was not accomplished. What a terrrible thing it was having him as president. I don't think the rest of the world respects America. I feel as though the rest of the world fears a fool in office such as we have had for eight years. They take away bankruptcy protection for the average citizen and throw billions at the corrupt bankers and lending institutions. Funny, they don't want to lend that money now that they have it.
America is not safe.

Apparently eight years has not been sufficient time for Bush critics.

Paying any attention here, Blago? You're in the wrong party!! Go to the party that covers for each other!!

Poor George, he still has no idea how much harm he's done to our great country. He thinks he has no responsibility for any of the problems. He has been and still is completely clueless. He's a lot like Palin, nothing is his fault, just like Palin blames everyone else for her seemingly lack of all knowledge, including the ability of speaking English in sentences.

I guess this little revelation with cause to libs to apologize for all the hatred, right?

Right, did he also make Bush fly onto the ship in a plane? Did he make Bush cry when he announced the "mission accomplished", did he ever, before now say anything to take the blame? I thought, well the most recent LIE, was that the banner was to announce the "mission accomplished" for the ships crew? What ever happened to that LIE? LIARS!!! BE GONE, ALL OF YOU!

THIS IS PURE B.S. AS WE SAY, BIRDS OF SAME FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.
BOTH, GEORGE BUSH AND DAN BARTLETT ARE ACTION LIKE IDIOTS. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO SAY WHO DID WHAT AT THAT TIME. IF GEORGE BUSH WAS INTELLIGENT ENOUGH HE, ONLY HE, SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL WORD AND THE DECISION. WELL WE HAVE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST 8 DISASTROUS, GEORGE BUSH TELLING US HE HIMSELF WAS THE DECISION MAKER, NAMELY HE IS THE DECIDER.
NOW AFTER ALL THESE DISASTROUS YEARS IT SEEMS, BOTH GOERGE AND DAN ARE STILL CONFUSED. ITIS TOO LATE BABY. JUST ACCEPT YOUR DISASTERS, GEORGE, AND GO BACK TO YOUR HOME TO HIBERNATE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
THE LAST FACT WE STILL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM GEORGE BUSH IS THAT HE, ONLY HE GEORGE BUSH, WAS THE MAIN CAUSE FOR THE DEATH OF OVER 4220 OF AMERICA'S BEST MILITARY HEROES WHO DIED BECAUSE OF GEORGE'S MISGUIDED DECISION AND LIES.
YOU AND ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN YOU, GEORGE, WILL BE HISTORY ON THE EVE OF JANUARY 20TH, 2009.

I am so happy to see Pres. Bush leaving office and seeing him in any form or fashion will be to soon for me. Talk about horiffic, that's what we've seen this last eight (8) years. I don't expect to see or hear this message, but at least I tried. The old adage saying still reamins to be true, "The rich get richer and the poorer gets poorer". Things can only improve from here, oh dear please no worser.

OK so what WAS the message you and Bush were trying to make??!!

Bush has not taken any responsibility for any of his actions not once during his entire life. Why would he take responsibility for the banner?

It's funny seeing these Republicans throwing themselves in the fire for the sake of the legacy of Bush. Even if it was Bartlett's decision to put the banner up there... the President was well within his rights to tell them to take it down.

Was it Bartlett that stood there with his cocksure grin and stated it? I don't think so! Whatever, this was one of the more trivial things and the arrogance ran wild on far more important matters always demonstrating a stubborn, bold and belligerent self-indulgent attitude that said 'sc–w you, I'll do whatever I want and say whatever to justify it'. There is no doubt who that was.

Dont worry guys, I mean, The David Gergen types haven't seen Obama do ONE thing in his entire political life and that idiot Gergen treats the guy like he ended slavery.

heres a quote from bush taken from this article: "Clearly, putting a 'mission accomplished' on an aircraft carrier was a mistake," he said. "We were trying to say something differently but, nevertheless, it conveyed a different message."

Now, what I'd like to know is – what message did you THINK you were conveying when you said "mission accomplished"??? mission almost accomplished? one part of the mission accomplished? because if thats what you were trying to say, then why did you say mission accomplished?!?!?!

idiots idiots idiots

6 more days of this stupidity, then we can move on with our lives – FINALLY

Bush et al have told several stories about the banner over the years. Sometimes they say it was not a mistake, sometimes they say it only had to do with the mission of the ship itself, sometimes they blame it on Navy PR officials, sometimes they say someone on the ship put it up without authorization, sometimes they blame low-level White House employees....

I wonder what their story will be tomorrow?

One thing is for certain - George W. Bush will never take responsibility for it, or for anything else he and his crew bungled over the years.

Good riddance, W. Your presidency was an absolute disaster.

Of course! It couldn't have been George's idea!

Can we please just spray some pesticide on all the Bushies!!

George Bush is to accountability as "mission accomplished" is to Iraq.

There's always some smuck to stand in and take the blame after the fact with the GOP.
What it comes down to is the Bush "propoganda machine" blew it bad.

The Banner may have been a mistake by someone else. But Bush himself, said that major combat opperations in Iraq where complete on the USS Abraham Lincoln. That is just one of the many blunders Mr. Bush made in his long, long, eight year term.

Bring on president Obama!!!

sure- weak journalism- par for the course-keep it up

Loyalty? Yeah, good luck with that.

Good, now that blame has been properly affixed with who hung the sign, maybe we can move on to the fact that the ship was actually immediately off shore and was turned so backdrop was open ocean and of course appeared to be 'underway to war'. He really misses the point when it comes to his 'errors'.

Nice of you to fall on the sword Bartlett, run along now to your high paying lobbyist job, water under the aircraft carrier. 6 days and this nightmare will be over.

let's get this right – nothing has been his fault – not a thing...this man has not accepted responsibility for any one of the horrible blunders that happened on his watch. this is the same man who let Americans drown in an AMERICAN city. shameful. go away.

I wouldn't feel bad. Obama hasn't even taken the oath and all the David Gergen idiot types are already talking about how Barry Hussein has saved the world...have you seen the market Gergen? Idiot

Maybe it was Bartlett's fault too that they went to war on a whim and without a plan. Maybe Bartlett was also behind the push for the volunatry do-it-yourself oversight and follow-as-you-please regulations that trashed our enviroment and economy. And why did Bartlett push the president to arrogantly ignore the Geneva Convention and even our own constitution? Man, this guy Bartlett is really evil, isn't he?

G. Bush has been letting other people cover for his failures, take over his responsibilities and answer for his mistakes ALL HIS LIFE, starting with opting out of serving in Vietnam AFTER he so ardently supported it while in Yale. This was all well-documented back in 2000. He is the very difinition of Chickens-t....and by the way...so are the people who voted for him twice!!

How nice. Bush didn't throw Bartlett under the bus. But why did the WH try to foist the banner as an action taken by the carrier's crew as a way to deflect criticism? Way to let service members take the blame for a political decision. But that's nothing new for this administration.

OK, lets ignore the banner you say should have read:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THIS SHIP

and read the text of the speach "end of combat operatons" and the rest.

If Bush worked as hard at his job as he has re-writing his legacy, Bin Laudin would be in jail, no financial crisis, and New Orleans would be thriving.

History will be written by historians no matter what you try to write.

Bush is such an idiot, he doesn't even realize his own failures! The actual banner was not a mistake. It made reference to the end of military operations there. The old government was basically toppled. Mission accomplished. His real failure is not pulling all of our troops out of Iraq at that time! The vaccuum would have been ugly but we would have succeeded in removing Saddam and pushing Iraq toward democracy. Instead we stayed. The conditions are just as ugly, Iraq is closer to Iran than ever before, armed groups are everywhere, democracy is no closer, we are no safer and now barely any positive significant thing has been accomplished. Worst. Ever.

What!? Dan Bartlett is an analyst with CBS. Where is the liberal media?

I kind of thought a news "ticker" would be a place for fast-breaking stories. Yet today it has had two (at least) stories about Sara Palin, who lost an election more than two months ago, and now this tripe about a sign hung on an aircraft carrier nearly seven years ago.

Maybe you should rename the "ticker" and call it something more fitting.

I suggest "Non-News."

The 'mission' that was accomplished was to get Daddy Bush's face off the sidewalk leading into the Bagdad hotel so people could walk on it (bottom of the shoe insult). When they rushed Bagdad there was a clip shown on TV of the soldiers breaking up the tiled image with hammers. Then the clip was never seen again. WMDs? Baloney!

Yeah, sure....nothing is Bush's fault. He was only following orders.

Jeez! Bush "endears loyalty from people" like Mr. Bartlett. Maybe you're loyal to him, but as for the majority of us who are not beltway insiders, we cannot say goodbye to him fast enough.

Now, if only we could say goodbye to the disasters he left behind just as quickly....

7 more days and America's mission will be accomplished. Thank God and grayhound. He's out of there.

Dumbo Bush still doesn't understand he is responsible and accountable for everything that happed on his disastrous watch.....

Once again the Bush team is trying to spin their way out of an arrogant and huge public mis step. To their last day they continue to insult the intelligence of the american public. he even said at the time that major combat operations have been successful and we are victorious.

There is no way the president or his staff did not try to convey that the Iraq was "mission accomplished" in spite having over 140K troops in harms way at the time

How does he explain the "bring em on" statement, when confronted by the press about the course of the war shortly after the "mission accomplished" statement.

Please get these guys out of D.C asap.

Who cares whose fault the banner was? That "mistake" was so minor compared to Bush's other "mistakes" that the banner shouldn't even merit commentary in the news. Bush has already solidified his place in history as the most wreckless, fiscally irresponsible president in United States history. Bush has left this country worse off than he found it in every conceivable way – the federal government's budget deficits are an imminent, looming disaster, the military is overstretched and unable to meet any new threats that might arise, American foreign policy is in shambles. In 50 years, the verdict of history will be in, and Bush will be remembered as one of the worst presidents ever, right up there with James Buchanan. Good riddance. Unfortunately, Obama has given me no reason to hope that he will be any better.

Oh Yeah Right!!!!!

Easy to take the blame now that the banner greatly helped him get into office another term and destroy the U.S. for four more years. Another pathetic, arrogant politican.

So, who paid for the banner- the ship or the White House? For years, the president has been dodging this question, while implying it was not done by his staff. Now we find that it was. Why did the President disemble?

Very interesting....but stupid

And a ventriloquist put the "bring 'em on" words in dubya's mouth?

How long is this irrelevant whench going to be in the media. Any more only validates her claim that someone really gives a hoot

THE BIGGER MISTAKE IN THIS TRAGEDY IS OURS.

WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE LET A BUSH

ANYWHERE NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE. AFTER ALL THE FIRST

BUSH WAS A DUD & THE SECOND ONE PROVED TO BE A

GINORMOUS DUD & A DIVIDER OF NOT JUST THIS NATION

BUT THE WORLD AS A WHOLE. HIS LEGACY IS UTTER SHAME.

Now if CNN had the same integrity and would admit that they were extremely biased in reporting the 2008 election that would be good.
CNN owes this nation an apology for taking sides and supporting Obama under the umbrella of journalism.

I am glad to see that this Ex-aid is not a coward like our media.

THIS SPEAKS TO THE IGNORANCE, AND ARROGANCE OF BUSH, AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM IN HIS ADMINISTRATION. FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS, HE, AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE LED THIS COUNTRY DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE ARE TRAVELING ON TODAY. I JUST HOPE THAT OBAMA DOESN'T INHERIT THE BLANE FOR BUSH'S MONUMENTAL FAILURES. BUSH WAS FAILURE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, AS A CEO, A OWNER OF A BASEBALL TEAM, AND AS A GOV. AND NOW AS A PRESIDENT. UNLIKE HIM, I THINK THAT HE OUGHT TO GET A STRAW HAT, AND GO SIT ON A BEACH SOMEWHERE. "OUT OF SIGHT, AND OUT OF MIND".............

Maybe the aide will take the blame for Iraq, Katrina, prisoner torturing and all the other Bush disasters. They were all acts of God and no one is really at fault.

It's nice that one of Bush's staff is falling on his sword for his former boss.

But as Harry Truman wisely observed, "The buck stops here."

I believe that it is time for W to take responsibility for all of his actions, not just those that had good results.

NOW IF BUSH CAN FIND ANOTHER IDIOT TO TAKE THE

BLAME FOR THE WHOLE 8 YEARS OF UNTEMPERED GREED,

DISLOYALTY TO NATION, COMPLETE DISHONESTY, BRAKING OF

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL LAW, BIGOTRY, COMPLETE

DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY & OTHERS,

RAMPED FRAUD & UNFATHOMABLE INCOMPETENCE,

HE MIGHT HAVE THE LEGACY HE THINKS HE DESERVES.

NO THAT WON'T WORK EITHER. AFTER ALL HE IS THE "DECIDER".

Check out the book, The Brilliant Thought and Strategies of George W. Bush: From Diapers to Rashes. Hilarious!

While I don't doubt that there were a number of idiots in the room when these things were happening, Bush's attitude at that time was that the mission WAS accomplished. The staff took their cues from him.
So, fall on your sword, Mr. Bartlett, but you were only a small part of the problem.

Since we get to keep beating this dead horse . . . Dear Mr. W, It was your fault, you call the shots, you saw the banner, you did accomplish your mission. You just don't want to say what the real mission was.

Wait a minute! The original story (and used for a long time) was that banner had nothting to do with Iraq. The Navy put it up to congratulate the carrier from returning from it's Mission. Are the Bush people lying?....Again?

Did Dan Bartlett also sign the contract on 9/11 ?

Good then we have someone we can throw in jail.

Some people think Bush is an idiot. I dont' but I do think he is sly like a fox. He managed to break this country and the people did not even know what was happening. They were just so proud they had a Republican in office. Never checked to see what he was doing to the tax payers. Now we are here and he is set up for life. Sound fair to you? I am so sick of hearing someone say, well it was not Bush's fault. Well who was in charge??????????????

Frankly from what I have heard about this administration, no action was ever taken by any member that was not approved or blessed by either the President or the Vice President. So unless Bartlett was hung out to dry after the fact it was approved prior to going up.

At this point, it does not even matter! It does not change the way things were handled and the way Bush will be remembered!

Weren't they claiming that the banner was "purely coincidental" at the time?

Is this "confession is good for the soul" week?

You certainly didn't think GW Bush would take the blame, do you. He doesn't accept responsibility for anything. Nothing is his fault, just everyone elses.

Good riddance President Albatross.

Whats his excuse for Katrina, an un needed war that killed 100,000 Iraqis and how many Americans and how much of my tax dollar was GIVEN to Iraq to pay them off and not shoot our soldiers and Dubi????? How MUCH money went to Haliburton and built Dubi. I NEVER want to see Bush again on my television!!! AND I was a republican for 40 years!!!

No matter how they try to explain it away this gross "Mission Accomplished" episode will be forever linked to this President. So will all his others episodes he would like to talk his way out of. No wonder people throw shoes at this moron.

re: "Still, Bartlett credited Bush Tuesday for not blaming his staff for the misstep. "[That's] why he endears so much loyalty from people like myself and others who had worked for him," Bartlett said."

LOL!!!
Bush gets credit from his own administration for not holding anyone in his administration accountable for their incompetency!

What a joke.

Yeah, yeah – if it took this long to fess up – how much are you getting for taking the fall?

nearly six years later he pretends to fall on his sword?
how lame is that?
who's paying him and how much?

What no bush bashers out there!You aren't going to say anthing . That is not true it was his fault he is to blame for everything in this world. Blah Blah Blah atleast one person takes the responsibility and don't put the blame on someone else.

We are all humans and make mistake. Who among us can say that they are perfect? None but God.

May the Lord continue to bless President Bush and his family.

Yeah, sure. I believe you about as much as I believe our current, and soon to be booted president!

Yes it did send a wrong and costly message!!!
The "Arrogance" against a people, religion and beliefs is what the USA needs to overcome.

THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE. ATLEAST FOR YOUR CONCIENCE. WE KNEW ALL ALONG YOU COULD NOT BE TRUSTED. YOU OR ANY REPUG. THAT IS WHY YOU LOST BIG TIME.

So, let me get this right... a White Hourse Communications Director decided that it would be "macho" to declare the Iraq war "Mission Accomplished" and PRESIDENT BUSH said, "yeah, yeah. That's the ticket. Mission Accomplished! Yeah, Yeah." Bush is dumb AND dumber.

Another fool that has bought into the legacy that Bush 43 is trying to create for himself.

I wonder how much prodding it took to get Don Bartlett to agree to make that statement.

The buck never stops with Bush. Only 7 days left until that awful smell leaves our capitol.

So, let me get this right: A White House Communications Director decided that it would be macho to declare the Iraq

OH WHO CARES, IDIOT!!!!!!

If anyone remembers at the time, the Bush administration lied to the nation saying it was the Navy's idea to put the "Mission Accomplished" sign up.

This was the first indication that a Ministry of Propaganda had been set up. The first steps taken towards setting up a police state

Great. Only took six years.

But wasn't it bush who flew in in the F18? No need to fall on your sword for Bush Mr. Bartlett. The banner was bad enough, but the grandstanding was way worse. Bushe's actions were like celebrating after hitting a home run, then finding out the ball went foul.....

Thank you, Dan, for not stabbing President Bush in the back like others who have worked for him. You and Ari Fleischer need to get together and write a book about how good Mr. Bush was. Can't hurt.

He's still an Idiot.... 7 more days

DAN YOU ARE THE MAN. NOW CBS MUST BE CAREFUL WITH DAN IS THE MAN IN THE VAN.

I remember what a man-crush Rush Limbaugh had for Bush at that moment and him mentioning that banner specifically. Will he air a retraction now?

It would have been better for Bush to admit the mistake, then to have the sacrifical lamb take the blame. Gee-–doesn't a president have a mind his own?

Excuses excuses. Doesn't mean I'm going to give the man a break. Stupidity is as stupidity does.

Bush admits to the obvious errors and then he lines up a flunkie to take responsibility for his error. Make no mistake, Bush cares very deeply about his legacy. Problem is, you can't spin disaster.

Given the scope of damage inflcted upon this country by Bush, I think who was responsible for hanging the stupid banner is the least of our problems. Besides, only a small number of people thought "something" was accomplished at that time anyways and those people dont count as they probably still believe it.

So Dan Bartlett likes a boss who covers up the subordinate's error?

Well, this just shows you what a bright spark we've had all this time running the country.
The banner does however ring true now for us Dems...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED now we have a much smarter man to run this country.

Wait, let me get this straight, the President of the United States of America had no say in what he said, where he said it, or what he said it in front of? Can you possibly cop out any more?

Bush and his people are so shameless. No matter how they try to spin the truth now Bush will go down as the worst president in American History.

How noble of Dan to fall on his sword.They dont call him "The Pear" for nothing.

I think that the third congress will not get much pubilicty cause of obama and biden !

No amount of scapegoating and placing blame on aides will negate the fact that GW Bush is incompetent – definitely the worst president ever. Good riddence.

Thanks for reminding me guys...again! LOL!!!

Nothing is going to change the reputation of the WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY, nothing.

Oh give it up already!!! Bush's entire presidency hinges on blaming someone else or someone trying to come to the rescue and take the blame!!! It's Bush's and Cheney's fault ...period!

Stop taking bullets for Bush!...even if Bush did not put up the banner himself or OK it, he said "mission accomplished" in that same speech on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

to answer your question our presdient bush has sucessfully acomploished any task than presdient clinton or late presdient bush we got saddam hussain and when 9/11/01 broke out it was time for us to go to war cause like isreal we didn't know what day what year those planes whe're going to crash like isreal didn't know that they where going to be bombed and they had only one person to blame and that was our presdient george hw bush and while they are still blaming him those yeller belly cowards they don't look to the future they look to the past!

Bush stated in the "Mission Accomplished" speech that this was the end of major combat operations in Iraq. "In the Battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." Bush later claimed it was the crew of the ship that requested the banner and later the Navy requested it , while the White House admitted they made and hung the banner.
Similarly, Bush blamed "a few bad apples" for Abu Ghraib. He failed to say that those bad apples were Bush, Cheney and John Yoo – instead Bush blamed the soldiers.
He may not blame Bartlett and his staff for this – but Bush had no trouble blaming the soldiers for his mistakes. What a terrible commander in chief. Goodbye Bush.

Look like the "Mission Accomplished" banner was right. Can't think of one war the US has been in that went better than this one. Their has been less death in this war than any war run by the democrats.

So, the major mistake of this stick-pile of an administration was merely the public relations packaging of it all?

The president puts a lot of faith in how historians might judge his administration in decades to come. My guess is that they'll have a few hundred more errors, extra-constitutional actions, and outright criminal activities to add to Mr. Bush's rather short and self-serving list.

"We were trying to say something differently but, nevertheless, it conveyed a different message."

Or possibly it was just another in a long line of lies and misinformation spread by the Bush/Cheney/Rove team. The unrepentant Bush/Chaney/Rove team that has now denied any responsibility for the erroneous intelligence manipulation that got us into Iraq, the complete failure of the federal government to rescue the city of New Orleans in its time of need, and the blame game surrounding the use of torture. They can only hope that President-elect Obama is good to his word "to only look forward."

I eagerly wait Obama's first "Mission Accomplished" moment. And I hope all the left wing nutcases out there give Obama the same understanding, respect, and deference they gave President Bush. I know I will............

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! THE DEMS WIN AND YOU ARE FINALLY GONE. HAVE A NICE LIFE.

No Bartlet, you and Bush were stupid enough to actually think the war was won. I hope that when Bush is imprisoned for war crimes and crimes against humanity that you'll go to jail with him. Without Laura there, he's going to need a girlfriend.

Can we use that banner when he leaves the White House? The message it sends will be clear, and true! He's finally gone!

Two Towers, Two wars, Two terms, Two Idiots; Too little, too long, too late.

Wars, towers, foreign Policy, natural disasters, torture, constitution, bill of rights, world image, american pride, jobs, economy, housing market, national debt, corruption, no child left behind.

You failed in everything you touched Bush. Good Riddance!

I am not a Bush Fan, however I never held this against him. I was always thought that the "mission accomplished" banner was for the ship and its crew rather than the war as a whole. I think Bush got a raw deal on at least this one.

What the EX President will never understand is true presidential responsibility of command !

When an officer in command hits an ice burg , he should not blame a midshipman !

Bush obviously never learned this during his time with the Air NAtion Guard !

And please please Mr President, , refer to Coast Guard helicopter drivers as Pilots, they are OFFICERS !

All the more reason to NOT listen to a word Dan Bartlett says.

I grow more and more amazed that people are trying to make it sound like Bush's 8 years as POTUS were somehow not a complete disaster for the people of the world.

I'm sick of people falling on their swords for Bush. He's the worst President ever and the history books will say so.

Mission Accomplished you screwed up.

At this point I don't think it matters who's mistake this was, it clearly was a mistake. However, I doubt that there was another message that they wanted to convey. Someone saw this as a perfect photo-op and didn't look forward to how this would appear if the war continued for another six months, much less for another six years.

This was to be typical of this administration: never mind the future, think only of today.

Don't you think it was media spin that made this look bad? I doubt that without media exposure this story would have had such an impact. But then the media never admits being wrong on anything!

He blamed the Navy when criticized at the time it happened.

Mission accomplished alright. That man that don't even know me gave me 300 dollars on his stimulus plan. I am going to miss him.

I wonder how much he got paid off for taking the heat for this? How could it not have gone through a review process that got signed off by President Bush?

A day that will live in infinity.

Scooter Libby never went to Jail. Seems as if the Buck stops over there! Never made it up to the commander in chief just to an aid? The poor guy let the past go.

To hear Bush admit a mistake is like listening to a murderer apologize for using a knife instead of a gun.
He doesn't want to question the mission – just the message the "mission accomplished" banner conveyed.

bush that was the least of your mistakes.