Thank You Mr. President

In four more days your term in the Oval Office will be over. The past eight years have been quite a ride for the American people and for you. As you leave Washington as our former President, many will rejoice, since your popularity is only 28%. While I have not personally been pleased with all of your actions while in office, I want to thank you for serving as our President.

Your first term of office was marred by the infamous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Your second term was hit hard by the one-two Punch of largest natural disaster to ever hit the United States of America (Hurricane Katrina) and the financial meltdown of 2008. Your administration's reactions to these tumultuous events are the subject of debate and sometime vigorous disagreement among Americans. However, in the long run, history will judge the impact of your presidency - and that is fitting and proper. In the mean time, I, for one would like to say, "Thank you".

Thank you for doing all you could to keep us safe. On September 12, 2001, I'm sure most Americans would have never expected that we would make it another 7 1/2 years with no terrorist attacks on our soil. But we did, and that is not by accident. I believe you and our various security forces have done everything humanly possible to protect the homeland, and to also bring democracy to the oppressed people of Iraq. Some are unhappy with your methods. Many disagree with your reasoning, but I thank you for standing firm in a time of war. My prayer is that the incoming President and his administration will be as vigilant as you were in providing for our national security.

Thank you for appointing excellent jurists to the high court. Associate Justice Alito and Chief Justice Roberts will help keep a balance of reason on the bench, being strict constructionists in their interpretation of the Constitution.

Thank you for your support of the nation of Israel.

Thank you for being a man of faith. Far from perfect, you have still served as an example of God's Grace and life changing power. Your support for faith based initiatives goes a long way toward placing charitable work where it belongs - in the faith community.

Thank you for appearing to be faithful to your wife and the intuition of marriage. The lack of scandal in your personal life sets an excellent example for public figures to follow. It stands in stark contrast to your predecessor, and to a number of elected officials from both major political parties.

Thank you for being "real". Your lack of pretense and your human imperfections helped provide fuel for many comic routines, but in reality, we could see you as a real American. Imperfect. Self Deprecating. Quick with a smile - a joke - or a nickname. While not a "messiah" you were a President who most of us could relate to as fellow Americans.

Thank you for standing your ground when your decisions were unpopular. For way too long, and on too many levels of government, governing by "polling data" has become too commonplace. You may have made some wrong decisions, but you never shirked your duty of making the tough decisions. I believe you did your best to serve us and to protect us. For that we should at least all be thankful.

As you step into the next chapter of your life, I wish you health, happiness, and vindication by historians for your vigilance in the face of danger. May God bless you. Thank you for your service to our nation.