Bush -- wistful, defiant, defensive to end

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President George W. Bush struck a wistful and, at times, defensive and defiant tone at a press conference he called the "ultimate exit interview." "I've had my time in the klieg lights," he said. "You might catch me opining" from time to time, but, he added, he wishes his successor, President-elect Obama "all the very best."  In what is believed to be likely Bush's last press conference as president, he discussed a wide range of topics, including the news of the day (Gaza, the impending stimulus package), as well as reflecting on his legacy and mistakes made. The president's ire went up when pressed about the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina and whether the United States has lost "moral standing" in the world. "Don't tell me the federal response was slow, when there were 30,000 people pulled up off roofs," Bush said. "That's a pretty quick response." He added, "There's more that could have been done, sure." ...( read more ) (link)