President Obama just gave the best speech of his tenure. It was first time he was president of ALL of America.

I was surprised to hear him say we're all patriots. That must have greatly insulted many of his "'Merica" spewing elites who are so worldly and far above the belittling patriot label.

SAlly V wrote:

As a conservative it seems his speeches were all targeted to his fellow liberals. I was really impressed with this speech. He remarked how when he was elected to succeed President Bush, with all of their differences, how gracious Bush and his team was in ensuring a smooth transition, and that we were all part of the same nation. Obama commented that his differences with Trump were huge (like we didn't know!) but he too would ensure that he and his team would work diligently to keep the democracy and make sure the transition was as smooth as the previous one had more for his presidency. I have never been a fan of this president but this speech was great.

Obama is a 1% elite who's taxes were just slashed in half, and will no longer be responsible for anyone else's healthcare. Why wouldn't he be cheerful? I'm planning a vaca for the spring as we speak!

SAlly V wrote:

As a conservative it seems his speeches were all targeted to his fellow liberals. I was really impressed with this speech. He remarked how when he was elected to succeed President Bush, with all of their differences, how gracious Bush and his team was in ensuring a smooth transition, and that we were all part of the same nation. Obama commented that his differences with Trump were huge (like we didn't know!) but he too would ensure that he and his team would work diligently to keep the democracy and make sure the transition was as smooth as the previous one had more for his presidency. I have never been a fan of this president but this speech was great.

I felt the exact same thing about GWB when he left office. He was an absolute gentleman.

truckdriver wrote:

SAlly V wrote:

As a conservative it seems his speeches were all targeted to his fellow liberals. I was really impressed with this speech. He remarked how when he was elected to succeed President Bush, with all of their differences, how gracious Bush and his team was in ensuring a smooth transition, and that we were all part of the same nation. Obama commented that his differences with Trump were huge (like we didn't know!) but he too would ensure that he and his team would work diligently to keep the democracy and make sure the transition was as smooth as the previous one had more for his presidency. I have never been a fan of this president but this speech was great.

I felt the exact same thing about GWB when he left office. He was an absolute gentleman.

We can only hope Trump will do the same thing......

They are always gentlemen when they serve two terms and law forbids them from ruling anymore.

If they get bounced after the first term they practice a scorched earth transition of power.

FitzyXC wrote:

Blah Blah. wrote:

Just as long as he doesn't steal any furniture when he leaves office.

It's OK, Donald will need some room for the slot machines and life-sized marble sculptures of himself anyway.

Don't forget the Golden Thrones. All paid for by taxpayers and replaced with the old stuff when he gets impeached.

Trump is an idiot wrote:

They are always gentlemen when they serve two terms and law forbids them from ruling anymore.

If they get bounced after the first term they practice a scorched earth transition of power.

There was a long-held tradition of former presidents never criticizing their successors. Jimmy Carter (the worst president ever) put that tradition to rest. He was a very spiteful old fart.

Trump is an idiot wrote:

They are always gentlemen when they serve two terms and law forbids them from ruling anymore.

If they get bounced after the first term they practice a scorched earth transition of power.

False. George Bush Sr. was very gracious to Slick Willy. Google his letter.

Pence/Rice 2016 wrote:

Trump is an idiot wrote:

They are always gentlemen when they serve two terms and law forbids them from ruling anymore.

If they get bounced after the first term they practice a scorched earth transition of power.

False. George Bush Sr. was very gracious to Slick Willy. Google his letter.

The Bushes have always handled everything with class. Very classy family.

SAlly V wrote:

Obama ...would ensure that he and his team would work diligently to keep the democracy and make sure the transition was as smooth as the previous one had more for his presidency.

If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.

Wasn't there a story at the time of the transition from Clinton to W. Bush that Clinton's team took all the W's from the White House keyboards?

Golden Throne wrote:

FitzyXC wrote:

It's OK, Donald will need some room for the slot machines and life-sized marble sculptures of himself anyway.

Don't forget the Golden Thrones. All paid for by taxpayers and replaced with the old stuff when he gets impeached.

And the self-portraits. Can't have enough of those. At least one wrestling a bear would be good. Where will the Trump gift shop setup?

truckdriver wrote:

SAlly V wrote:

As a conservative it seems his speeches were all targeted to his fellow liberals. I was really impressed with this speech. He remarked how when he was elected to succeed President Bush, with all of their differences, how gracious Bush and his team was in ensuring a smooth transition, and that we were all part of the same nation. Obama commented that his differences with Trump were huge (like we didn't know!) but he too would ensure that he and his team would work diligently to keep the democracy and make sure the transition was as smooth as the previous one had more for his presidency. I have never been a fan of this president but this speech was great.

I felt the exact same thing about GWB when he left office. He was an absolute gentleman.

To be fair Bush wasn't handing the keys over to an unknown entity who may or may not declare war on a country that tweets a mean comment about him.

trying to Remember wrote:

Wasn't there a story at the time of the transition from Clinton to W. Bush that Clinton's team took all the W's from the White House keyboards?

Payback for Bush senior's prank in 1993. But no proof either occurred. Seems to be a tradition kept quiet.

++++++++++++++

Bush Unconcerned By Reports of Pranks

Aired January 27, 2001

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush, meeting with a bipartisan group of governors, says his administration is not focused on what some Clinton-Gore staffers may have left behind.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There might have been a prank or two, you know, maybe somebody put a cartoon on the wall, but that's OK. It's time now to move forward.

WALLACE: But at the same time, the Bush White House says it is informally documenting what happened. And so, what are Clinton staffers accused of doing before Bush aides arrived? According to Republican sources, Ws were removed from computer keyboards, signs, such as the Office of Strategery, were tacked on doors poking fun of the president's malapropisms and phone lines were cut, according to the Bush team, but not by workers who were busily repainting and recarpeting the White House.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY DESIGNATE: Well, I don't think that the people who are professionals who make it their business to go and prepare a White House for new arrivals would cut wires.

WALLACE: But some former aides in the Clinton-Gore administration in essence say show me the evidence.

MARK LINDSAY, CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ATTORNEY: I have not heard one person who has been able to come forward and speak and say it on the record that they actually observed these things.

KIKI MCLEAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I guess what I'm concerned about is frankly that what may have been a prank, while perhaps immature and inappropriate, is all of a sudden being blown into something that maybe it's not because no one's saying exactly what it is. They're just leaving the air of it hanging out there.

WALLACE: Further, former Clinton-Gore staffers say when they arrived in 1993 they found offices in disarray, Bush-Quayle bumper stickers taped on desks and phone extension labels removed. But Republicans who worked in that departing administration say they know of no such acts of mischief.

C. BOYDEN GRAY, FORMER BUSH OFFICIAL: I remember that period very, very vividly. It was a difficult period, as it always is, both going in and coming out, and I'm not aware of there being any pranks that were foisted on the incoming crew.

WALLACE: While transitions are always difficult, political observers say this one has been compounded by the bitter feelings following the post-election battle.

WALLACE: And Mark Lindsay, President Clinton's head of administration, also tells CNN that he walked through the White House right before the hand over and saw not one instance of vandalism. Other Clinton aides are accusing the Bush administration of playing politics with what may have been a few isolated and minor pranks. The Bush team for its part is not responding to that charge. Aides are indicating this story is over as far as they are concerned -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kelly, all the talk of pranks sort of brings me back to high school. I start remembering a lot of the jokes we played. Is all this attention sort of taking away from the more important issues facing the administration right now?

WALLACE: Well, the Bush team doesn't think so. I mean it says it is looking forward, not back. It is trying to put as much attention as possible on the President's first week and his education reform agenda, and that is why when questions surfaced about some presidential pardons, as well as some gifts President Clinton and the First Lady may have received before leaving office, the Bush White House pretty much had no comment.

As for these alleged pranks, in the middle of the week the Bush team was saying it was cataloguing what happened, but wouldn't reveal what it found to the press. It seemed just yesterday the Bush team backed away even more from that, saying this cataloguing is just one person in his head putting together, keeping track of what has happened.

So clearly this new White House is trying to move forward and saying what happened in the past is in the past. Their eyes are on the weeks ahead -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly Wallace live from the White House, good to see you. Thanks a lot.

WALLACE: Absolutely.

trying to Remember wrote:

Wasn't there a story at the time of the transition from Clinton to W. Bush that Clinton's team took all the W's from the White House keyboards?

Yep. The Clintons vandalized White House property except for the stuff they stole.

Blah Blah. wrote:

Just as long as he doesn't steal any furniture when he leaves office.

I don't know if you're trollin' or you really think this way. I have never understood how much hate people have based solely on party affiliation.

He is my fav.

Donger wrote:

Blah Blah. wrote:

Just as long as he doesn't steal any furniture when he leaves office.

I don't know if you're trollin' or you really think this way. I have never understood how much hate people have based solely on party affiliation.

What do you mean by this? It's not trolling, or thinking a certain way. (Or hate for people based on party affiliation.) It's just a facetious comment based on the (somewhat?) well-known story about the Clintons taking a lot of furniture and other stuff from the White House when they left.