A Good President & A Great Man

Last night President Bush said his final goodbye to the nation he has served for the past eight years. In the speech, he remained strong and steady, continuing to warn against the evils of terrorism and promote his belief that, if given the choice, all people will choose freedom. He defended his media-tarnished record, admiting some wrong decisions but reminding us that he was willing to make the tough decisions. Ever the optimist, President Bush used words of hope when speaking of the future of our country and our new president. He said,

"President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, 'I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.' As I leave the house he occupied two centuries ago, I share that optimism. America is a young country, full of vitality, constantly growing and renewing itself. And even in the toughest times, we lift our eyes to the broad horizon ahead."

I haven't agreed with every decision of the Bush administration. He got some things wrong. But as he leaves office, if I had the chance to tell him one thing, it would be "Thank you."

Thank you, Mr. President for holding your office with honor and dignity. Thank you for the tears that always come to your eyes as you speak of our troops and their families. Thank you for making the hard decisions. Thank you for your courage and steady leadership in the face of mounting pressure and criticism. Thank you for your commitment and your success in keeping my family safe for the past seven years. Thank you for using the most powerful office in the world to aid the most powerless people in the world -- the unborn.

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Thank you for being a good president and a great man. May God bless you and may God bless our country.