Yeah, Right, Whatever

Today, we bid farewell to President George W. Bush. No, I didn't always agree with him, but he did his job to the best of his ability, and history will show him to be a far better President than the MSM views him today.

According to the Constitution (remember that little document?), this is the President's job:

Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Let's see... Commander in Chief of the military (check). Grant pardons and reprieves (check, but not enough). Make treaties (check). Appoint Ambassadors, judges, Cabinet members, etc. (check). Receive Ambassadors (check). Inform Congress of the State of the Union (check). Take care that Laws are faithfully executed (check). Commission Officers (check).

President Bush (43) has fulfilled the obligations of his Office admirably.

Like I said, I don't agree with many of his decisions. He ended up being a tad less conservative than many of us hoped he would be. His fiscal policy... well... stank. His military policy, at times, wasn't aggressive enough. Crisis management was not always his strong suit (although the Katrina aftermath was as much a local and state failure as much as a federal problem, if not more so).

On the other hand, he did other things right. We have not been attacked on our soil for over 7 years, thanks in part to his policies. He defended Life while enabling research (although I'm not happy with federal money going for anything other than the Common Defense and a few other necessary items). Tax breaks put money back in the hands of all Americans, not just a select few. He nominated some great men to the Supreme Court. I could go on.

Here are a few golden moments:

At Ground Zero:

At the World Series:

The Purple Fingers:

Goodbye, Mr. President. We will miss you.