Bush cowers in the White House

From a mole...

WASHINGTON, Nov 4, 2008 (AFP) - "Vastly unpopular US President
George W. Bush cloistered himself with family and friends as America
voted Tuesday, privately invoking God's blessing on whomever
succeeds him, his spokeswoman said.
Bush hosted a dinner with relatives and close aides, celebrating
US First Lady Laura Bush's birthday in a White House dining room
with a dinner ending with coconut cake, press secretary Dana Perino
said by email.
"The president gave a toast at the start of the dinner thanking
those present for all the work they've done and for their
friendship. He ended by saying, 'And may God bless whoever wins
tonight,'" she told reporters.
He also gave the first lady, who was turning 62, "a pair of
beautiful earrings," before members of the group settled in to watch
election returns from the residence section of the presidential
mansion, said Perino.
"The president believes tonight is a night to appreciate the
strength of our country and our democracy, as citizens from all over
the country exercised their right to vote today, after a historic
campaign," she said.
"The president is committed to a transition that is as smooth as
possible, a process that has been under way for many months, and as
soon as we have a president-elect we'll be able to do even more on
that front," said Perino.
She did not mention by name either of the rivals to become the
44th US president -- Bush's chosen successor and fellow Republican
John McCain, or Democrat Barack Obama.
Bush endorsed McCain in a high-profile public White House event
in March, but the Arizona senator has mostly fled from the
incumbent, who is vastly unpopular with US voters.
In recent days, Bush has barely appeared in public -- and then
sometimes only for seconds as he walked from his Oval Office to the
Marine One presidential helicopter on his way from the Camp David
retreat.
Perino has blamed the heavy workload from the global financial
crisis, the war in Georgia, or recent hurricanes, while
acknowledging that Bush was mostly a burden for McCain.
"The Republican Party wanted to make this election about John
McCain, and that's appropriate," she said Monday.
Bush "realizes that this election is not about him," but
"remains hopeful that John McCain will pull it out," she told
reporters.
"But he also is realistic about the political environment that
we're in."
"This president has taken on really big issues, and he's been
tested in many ways, and this is a president who has done big
things. And often when you do big things and you make tough
decisions, they're not popular," said Perino.
As early returns came in on Tuesday, Bush congratulated
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Indiana
Governor Mitch Daniels -- the president's first budget chief -- on
their victories, said Perino. "