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Bush plans to meet with Obama next week

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 6, 2008 01:57 PM

By Joseph Williams, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said today he plans to meet with his successor, Barack Obama, early next week to brief him on pressing issues and ensure an orderly transfer of presidential power -- the first wartime change in 40 years.

Addressing his administration's cabinet and staff on the South Lawn of the White House, Bush also instructed them to cooperate with Obama's transition team, bringing them up to speed as quickly and as professionally as possible, part of what he called an "unprecedented effort" to make sure the nation's executive branch of government "is prepared to execute its responsibilities at all times."

Bush said he'll personally meet with Obama to discuss the state of the Wall Street bailout, the economy and the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I look forward to discussing those issues with the president-elect early next week," he added.

UPDATE: The Obama camp announced that the meeting with Bush will be on Monday.

“Michelle and I look forward to meeting with President Bush and the First Lady on Monday to begin the process of a smooth, effective transition. I thank him for reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanship that will be required to meet the many challenges we face as a nation,” Obama said in a statement.

In the last days of his administration, Bush said, it's natural that staffers would be a bit distracted. "Many of you are anxious about finding a job or a new place to live. I know how you feel," he deadpanned.

Nevertheless, Bush urged his staff to follow his example and sprint to the finish line of his term.

"The American people expect no less," Bush said. When his run ends and Obama takes office, he added, "I will be honored to stand with you at the finish line."

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Looks like Bush is going to leave the WH with a lot more class than the Clintons did. Doubt we'll see reports of juvenile pranks and outright thefts like we did when the hicks vacated the WH.

Posted by nick d November 6, 08 01:15 PM
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George Bush is a good man and has been a great leader.

Posted by Mac November 6, 08 01:42 PM
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The pranks that you mention never happened. If you followed that entire story back in 2001 you'll find that the real prank was the rumors of juvenile antics that the incoming Bush people spread. Who is the classless group now?

Posted by TimberJim-2 November 6, 08 01:50 PM
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Both of you are delusional, especially Mac and I guarantee you'll see the same pranks as we saw back in 2001. Every new administration has had to deal with them.

Posted by adam November 6, 08 01:51 PM
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George Bush been a great leader? You do know that smoking crack is illegal?

Posted by Jim M November 6, 08 01:55 PM
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George Bush would be a great leader of my frat house... Maybe that can be his next job.

Posted by Vinnydunn November 6, 08 01:56 PM
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Actually there were a few but you're right most of the ones reported were completely made up and Bush actually apologized for the false reporting on it back in 2001.

Posted by Adam November 6, 08 01:56 PM
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"Looks like Bush is going to leave the WH with a lot more class than the Clintons did. Doubt we'll see reports of juvenile pranks and outright thefts like we did when the hicks vacated the WH."

It's eight years later and the uninformed are still parrotting the Bush lies. Lies that were debunked at the time by the GSA. Take a moment to educate yourself.

Talk about 'class'. lol

Posted by bosco November 6, 08 01:57 PM
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I suggest every presidenital picture in the West Wing be replaced with those of Rev Wright, Saul Alinsky, William Ayers, Fther Pfleger, Tony Rezko, etc.

Would be a neat prank.

Posted by kevin November 6, 08 01:59 PM
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I would expect Bush to excel at this since he has been an abject failure (War, economy, environment to name a few) with almost every other detail of his administration. Speaking of those "thefts", it was later learned that a single "W" key was stolen and the Bush team immediately went nuts and re-spun it as every "w" key was stolen. I guess this was a precursor to the entire Bush administration.

Posted by John November 6, 08 02:06 PM
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File this one under: The Blind Leading the Blind....Bush hands off to Obama...at least Bush set the bar really low

Posted by kevin November 6, 08 02:07 PM
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Let's see a childish end of term prank (by staffers if true at all)...vs. an outrie lie to justify war, thousands dead for oil...hmmm great leader indeed...

Posted by J V November 6, 08 02:15 PM
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As i remember it there was no transition when the Republicans "took over" they actually refused help in the transition. That was the same arrogance that we had to put up with for 8 years. In my opinion the result was a lapse in continuity in areas of oversite that would make lots people in here so outraged that some liberal would even imply that.

Posted by Liberal majority November 6, 08 02:16 PM
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Sounds like a meeting of the mind may take place.

Posted by jet November 6, 08 02:43 PM
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You know, just when I thought I would never find anything about George Bush funny, someone says, "George Bush is a good man and has been a great leader".

TOO Funny!

Posted by MD November 6, 08 03:03 PM
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No 1, you understand that all of those "stories of pranks" were completely made up by what you call the very civil Bush WH...

Posted by Jay V November 6, 08 03:12 PM
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Bush will show Obama where the Presidental toliet is. Obama can just take it from there.

AC

Posted by Aleister Crowley November 6, 08 03:15 PM
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Bush looks like he's had it with that job.

Posted by JimR November 6, 08 03:21 PM
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It is a sad day when republicans are so desperate to find anything to be proud of that they will make excuses for this draft-dodging, coke-sniffing, son of privilege. Ex-President Bush Sr (former head of the CIA) and Dick "No bid contract to Halliburton and I'll collect later" Cheney, the Saudis and the evil spinmaster Karl Rove found the pliable, spineless frontman they needed to do their bidding. Why haven't they found Bin Laden after 7 years? Because the existence of a boogie man is just what they need to scare and distract the people from what they are doing to rake in billions in oil profits. How is the oil supply in Afghanistan? Not great. What about Iraq? And while everyone was hiding under their desks during orange alert after orange alert the Bush/Cheney/Rove mafia was dissolving the constitution, illegally tapping your phones, destroying the economy and taking the enormous surplus that Clinton left us and turned it into a massive debt and the worst economic and housing crisis since the great depression.
And Bush/Cheny/Rove were protecting us on 9/11? So who allowed those planes to be hijacked in the first place? Thanks a lot for the protection.You're a swell guy George. Respect must indeed be earned. Do you respect child-molesting priests just because they are in the church? Didn't think so. This president's environmental record, longtime denial about global warming,exposing a an undercover CIA agent to punish her truth-telling husband, sending good American boys and girls over to Iraq without proper body armor, allowing honorable soldiers to languish UNRESPECTED at the Walter Reade hospital, mortgage crisis based on letting lenders run roughshod exploiting Americans with dreams, etc.
We don't really need to go on do we? They are criminally negligent and did an absolutely horrendous job of taking care of the people of this country. No wonder he was emotional today. Maybe just for a second it dawned on him what he, his father and Dick Cheney have done.
He doesn't have to pretend to be a Texan anymore to win votes. He can slink back to Kenebunkport, Maine and teach Barney some new tricks.
For shame George W. Bush for disgracing the White House and abusing it for your own personal gains.

Posted by Proud American November 6, 08 03:54 PM
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The lies we are living out with Bush will not compare the lies we will have to find a way to push this Country through the next 4 years.

Posted by Deacon November 6, 08 04:09 PM
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My take on Bush: He did what he thought was right and more or less ignored feedback. There was one interview with him ( a 1 on 1) that really showed his view. Unfortunately it wasn't a balanced view. Expect there were too many around him that had an agenda. Powell seems to have left due to this. While not as bad as Nixon, he certainly is leaving a mess behind. The $700B bail out doesn't seem to be well thought out either. One of the reasons Obama may succeed is found in his comment on pick for VP, he mentioned that he wanted someone who would challenge him (rather than just agree). My suggestion: stop wasteful spending in goverment, figure out how to exit Iraq, have a plan for Afganistan.

Posted by American November 6, 08 05:16 PM
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BUSH LE GANÓ A AL GORE, Y DISCUTÍAN ENTONCES QUÉ HACER CON EL SUPERÁVIT. HOY DEJA UN TENDAL DE INEQUIDADES, GUERRAS, TROPAS, EL DÉFICIT HISTÓRICO, LA CRISIS MUNDIAL. LAS MENTIRAS DE LA GUERRA QUÍMICA. EN FIN......SUERTE OBAMA!!!!!!


BAHIA BLANCA, ARGENTINA.

Posted by CARLOS LARROSA November 6, 08 09:27 PM
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