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January 12, 2009

Bush Defends Presidency in News Conference
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=218491A:A6F02AD83191E16011A458840CA6A74BC030207A0BD70133&
 
In a wide-ranging news conference at the White House Monday, Mr. Bush
said he inherited an economic recession when he entered office, and is
leaving during a recession 
President Bush talks to reporters during White House press conference,
12 Jan 2009U.S. President George Bush has defended his record in office
and rejected criticism of his economic and foreign policies, as his
administration enters its last days. In a wide-ranging news conference
at the White House Monday, Mr. Bush said he inherited an economic
recession when he entered office, and is leaving during a recession. But
he said he has taken "extraordinary measures" to address frozen credit
markets during his term in office, as the first step towards economic
recovery. Mr. Bush also discussed the conflict in Gaza, again urging a
"sustainable cease-fire" between Israel and the Palestinian militant
group Hamas. But he also repeated his administration's call for the
creation of a Palestinian state. He said the challenge will be to lay
out conditions for two democracies living side-by-side in peace. Mr.
Bush leaves office January 20, when President-elect Barack Obama is to
be sworn in as the country's 44th president. President Bush also
addressed the U.S. economic crisis, saying he will let Mr. Obama dictate
when to seek access to the remaining $350 billion dollars in financial
rescue funds. Mr. Bush said he does not intend to ask Congress for the
money unless his successor requests it. President-elect Obama has urged
Congress to act on the economic stimulus bill without delay, saying U.S.
citizens cannot afford to continue losing jobs while their
representatives engage in a lengthy debate about the economy. Mr. Bush
is leaving office with low public approval ratings, and turns over a
nation at war and in the midst of an economic crisis.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.


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