Farewell "W"

Well, it's finally over. For those who hate him, it's a time of celebration. For those who supported him, it's a bitter-sweet goodbye. As I watched President Bush's farewell address the other night, I couldn't help but think of what it will be like to watch the news at night and not hear the usual babble about the "Bush economy" or "Mr Bush's war."

There's no doubt that President Bush has been a mixed bag for conservatives. He has done some great things: appointing great judges to the Supreme Court; lowering taxes; re-building our military; treating terrorism as a matter of war, not law enforcement; and establishing faith based initiatives to deal with domestic issues. However, the president has done things that I disagree with: No Child Left Behind; Comprehensive Immigration Reform; Campaign Finance Reform; Prescription Drug Coverage for Seniors.

The war in Iraq is without question the most controversial of all the decisions made by the Bush administration. Although I am hesitant to accept the notion that the US should be spreading democracy abroad (such a notion assumes social change should happen rapidly, a notion I do not accept), I realize the President's basis for deciding to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Although it has made him an unpopular president, President Bush decided not to let down his guard and withdraw from Iraq to make things easier for his part politically. Instead, he stuck to his guns and ended up implementing a policy that has led to great success recently in Iraq. If Barack Obama and his democratic allies had their way, the US would have left Iraq a long time ago, dooming it to chaos and destruction. Instead, many of our troops can begin to leave Iraq not for political reasons, but because they have succeeded.

I have found his critics to be quite amusing at times. Many of my friends dislike President Bush, but I would hope they would concede the fact that he is a good man who cares deeply about the people of the United States. I, to this day, still laugh when critics of the president call him "stupid" and "dumb." Yet, most of them would contend that he supposedly fooled the entire world into believing that Saddam Hussein had WMD's...that sounds like a pretty smart guy to me. I also love it when people argue that the president is racist. Really? Why then would he spend billions of dollars to save millions of African lives? President Bush has done more for the continent of Africa than any other president. Yet he gets no credit. No credit for reducing the costs of HIV treatment medication for Africans from $4,000 a year to $125. No credit for combating malaria. Why would a racist president do such a thing? It makes no sense.

Even though I had my disagreements with President Bush, I have never doubted his character and love for this country. Nor will I attack President-elect Obama's character or patriotism. Both men are servants of this great land, and both have dedicated their lives to make it even better. I pray that both can continue to work hard to serve this country.

So in closing, I tip my hat to President Bush. He is a man of character and someone I have respect for. There is no doubt that he leaves an unpopular president, but he stuck to his guns. He did what we elected him to do...make the tough choices we don't want to have to make ourselves. For that, we owe him our thanks and gratitude. As the new president prepares to take office and our brave soldiers continue the hard work over seas, I would ask that you remember the prayer FDR gave on the day of the D-Day invasion:

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.