However, all Presidents end up getting cocooned, whether they like it or not. It's a danger of the office, and something President Obama is going to have to deal with (and hopefully overcome). - Ontario Emperor

+1 The Other Brian. The lack of class is sad. - ChiliMac

I don't think W was aware how many people actually hated him until quite recently. I have a feeling he was surprised that only 22% of Americans actually like him. - Victor Ganata

I don't like Bush but there is such a thing as manners and decorum. Booing is pathetic and lacking in class. Sorry. - Sally Church

I agree Sally. He had a hard job to do and he did what he could. Give him some respect. - Just Katie

8% of the people approve of congress and they as a whole get treated better. - Jason Shultz from twhirl

That's because that 8% applies to the legislative branch as a whole. If you look at each individual Senator and Representative, pretty much all their approval ratings are >22% - Victor Ganata

True, but if I had my way, I'd usher the whole bunch to the door and start fresh. And, I would implement term limits. but, that is if i had my way and i don't. Besides, when you as a group, have only an 8% approval rating, then doesn't that signal you're doing something really wrong? - Jason Shultz from twhirl

People wonder why things are so partisan. well this is a good example. How about a little blame on the congress, if you have a real need to blame someone. Real mature. - Joe K

Liberals are proud of their country for the first time. And that's sad? That's twisted. - Victor Ganata

I noticed that they also sang "Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye" as Bush was being flown away from the Capitol - Scott Beale

Bush sucks, but I don't agree with booing and throwing shoes. Emotions are just really high right now. It could have been worse. - Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)

I agree, Sean. - Carmen wBabby

...not cool... - JA Castillo

I wouldn't say that I am proud 'for the first time,' but this is a big moment in American history. Sometimes we can forget all the reasons to be proud, and it takes something big to remind us. I wish people would not be disrespectful, though. He might have done a bad job, but Bush was still our President. His time is done, now, and we can move on. If you believe, as I do, that Obama is going to be a force for change, then start by letting go of the vitriol you have reserved for Bush. It won't help. - Bren

Can we stop talking about Bush yet? - Ken Sheppardson

Its not about being proud its about being classy. Thats stupid to boo the man...its like when a rookie hits a home run and goes ape-shit, the vets always say "Act like you've done this before." Same goes for here. No need for this stuff at all. - Mike Flynn

Bush protected this country from terrorist attacks. People often dont get recognized for what did not happen. How much he prevented we will never know. But he did a hell of job and did not deserve being boo'd. No one does... except Hitler. I would boo at Hitler... maybe Osama Bin Laden to. - Justin Oberman

agree with all above stating that anyone that did boo has zero class - especially considering the class and respect that Bush has shown during the transition. - David

Yea, I didn't like the guy either, but booing him is uncalled for. Who are YOU to boo anyone? You're not the president and you'd probably suck at it. Armchair presidents. Sheesh. You still don't deserve booing. - nateritter

It's true. Hating Bush won't help change the country for the better. Time would be better spent undoing all the damage he did and looking forward. - Victor Ganata

Get over it. Move on with life. Jeeze. - nateritter

concur with the 'act like you've done this before' comment. Thankfully it's not the booing ass-necks who get to run the country. Obama seems pretty classy - Bren

Wasn't going to jump until that last one from Oberman. The boos are unnecessary, but let's be clear. Bush didn't protect us from terrorist attacks. 9/11 and the anthrax deaths happened on his watch. - Tim Trentham

On one hand, I do buy into the 'united' message, but on the other hand, no I don't. We're factions. - Eric Rice

Still, I can't help but marvel that we're in a country where you have the freedom to do such a thing. - Victor Ganata

We're factions because politics for so long thrived on divisivness. People telling people that they were being screwed and that they should vote for them so they can get what's coming to them. - Jason Shultz from twhirl

Trentham. Are you privy to his daily briefings? We will never no what was or was not prevented but after 911 he was on ball with that. He did some good and for that he should be respected. I think 911 was brewing way before he came into office. - Justin Oberman

I didn't vote for Obama and disagree with some of his policies, but I still give him respect as president. - Joe K

That makes no sense. Give him credit for things we have no evidence for, but let him walk on the one thing that was definitely screwed up? I'm done with this thread. - Victor Ganata

Let's remember that Clinton had the chance to take out bin laden and didn't. - Jeremy

Liberals booing at Bush is just one of the small reasons why I remain an Independent and why this election made me a little bit more conservative. - Justin Oberman

We voted as a country to let the Bush lead us. Kicking him as he leaves doesn't bring honor, respect or resolution to any of us. That we stoop to this kind of pot-shot at this kind of a event and tradition blows my mind. We are collectively pathetic for allowing it to happen. - Brad Hogenmiller

Victor. Thats not what I was saying. Its hard to articulate it in such a forum of blips and sound bytes. - Justin Oberman

It's disrespectful, and almost as disrespectful as Bush has been to this country, and it's citizens, for the past 8 years. Nobody has ever made as much of a mockery of the office, and this nation, before. - Nick Shue

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics." - Jason Shultz from twhirl

The disrespect is on both sides. Has everyone forgotten McCain's withdrawal speech when everyone booed him when he mentioned Obama? It's not just liberals who have hard feelings. I really hope that some of these wounds can be healed over the next 4 years. I hope we can all move back toward the middle. - Lindsay

Are you all hypocrites? Serious question...why? cos you say this was a bit disrespectful...yet you tune to watch all the mudslinging during election time! wow! Why is it different in any sense..thought it was ALL mudslinging? - Rob Sellen :o)

A house divided can not stand. The American people, we the people, are divided now. With people on both sides intolerant of those who views they differ with. People on both sides thinking they are superior to those they disagree with. There is no common bond among us, only distrust and hatred. - Jason Shultz from twhirl

I won't move back towards the middle until GWBush is tried for treason. I honestly believe him to be a traitor to the Constitution, and brushing that under the rug won't help reconcile anything. - RudĩϐЯaЯïan

Rob... yes but that does not make it right. Thats why I stay an Independent. Jason is on ball. Obama said its not a red America or a blue America its the United States of America. To bad most of his supporters dont think so... at least while they are on national TV. - Justin Oberman

Jusitin... wha you mean "make it right"? i never said it would... I just said you have to be a hypocrite to moan about it. :o) - Rob Sellen :o)

Rob just meant that its ok to point out why we should not be booing even if we have boo'd befor or are a party of the system - Justin Oberman

Easy to boo, harder to accept fact half the people booing probably voted for him 4 years ago. How many others said florida ballot count was fair? Painful fact: He is us, just not the best part (shudders). - susan mernit

"the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human hearts." - Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago (1973) - Davee

Bush was bad, but not so bad to humiliate him in front of the entire world... Though the shoe throw might have already done that. - Noah

A good riddance of bad rubbish - Rebecca Schlachter