President Bush’s Final Press Conference

George W. Bush gave his 47th and final press conference this morning. He was seemed misty eyed about his two terms as well as incredulous when asked about controversial aspects of his presidency including the government’s response to hurricane Katrina, and the U.S.’s declining moral standing in the world.

He sometimes meandered off course to make his point. For example, when asked about what he would do with his retirement, he began by joking he wouldn’t spend it on a beach with a big straw hat and Hawaiian shirt, then talked about what it means to see the security briefings each morning.

If 47 sounds like a low number, it’s because it is. President-Elect Obama has held thirteen press conferences so far. We’re likely to see his tally break in well under a year if his pace is similar after he takes office next week.