Published: November 10, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
America's Peaceful Transfer of Power: Envy of The World
By Robert Paul Reyes
During the long and bitter presidential campaign Barack Obama portrayed Bush as an abject failure. Obama won in large part by convincing the electorate that if John McCain won, it would be a third Bush term. Bush stayed out of the race for the most part, but he did have some unflattering words to say about Obama on a few occasions.
But when President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama met today at the White House, all the animosity of the campaign was left behind and the men warmly greeted each other.
"Barack Obama and President Bush shook hands and took turns to pat each other's back. Michelle Obama kissed Laura Bush, the First Lady, on the cheek.
Then, from a crowd outside the south portico of the White House, came a noise that has not been heard there often in recent years: cheering.
The 43rd President of the United States and the man who will become the 44th both wore blue ties and dark suits. Shortly before 2pm yesterday, they walked along the colonnade by the rose garden and headed to the Oval Office to talk about pressing policy matters." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5127106.ece
Our democracy is still the envy of the world, we are noted for our peaceful and courteous transitions of power. All is fair in love, war and in a general election, but once the voters have spoken the outgoing administration and the incoming one put differences aside and work together for the good of the American public.
Bush may be one of the worst presidents in our history but he is basically a good man and I'm sure that there will be a smooth transition of power.
I wish Bush a peaceful retirement, and I wish Obama a successful tenure as President of the United States.
Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.
* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze
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