A Real Mea Culpa

Dear American People,

I sorry and embarrassed. But most of all, I am deeply sorry.

The past six years were some of the worst in the US’s two- hundred-thirty year history. Following the 9/11 attacks, I subjected US citizens to unacceptable government intrusion, foreign wars, failed economic policies, and a poor response to the Katrina natural disaster. The climate of fear and my administration’s general incompetence disrupted our government from taking proper courses of action.

Words cannot express how truly sorry I am for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that I caused over this period. This is especially saddening because the US was founded on the promise of bolstering humanity and serving as an inspiration to the world. Over the course of my administration, I have failed to deliver on this promise.

I am committed to you, the American people, and am taking immediate corrective steps to regain your confidence in this administration. We have begun putting a comprehensive plan in place to provide greater transparency and also improve US policies to garner more widespread support among other nations. I am confident, as a result of these actions, that the US will emerge as a freer, more stable country that is widely admired, not despised, for its actions.

Most importantly, I have decided to finally abide by the US Constitution and the Bills of Rights—my official commitment to you of how we will handle government actions going forward—including the return of First and Fourth Amendment protections, as well as Congressional approval of all wars.

You deserved better—a lot better—from your president over these past years. Nothing is more important than regaining your trust and I hope you will give me this opportunity to give you back the great country that I, while at the helm, have diminished.

Sincerely,
George W. Bush