After all the ups and downs (mostly downs) of the last 3+ years of the Bush administration, sometimes it’s fun to take a look back (link via senate Underground) :

In an East Room ceremony, Vice President Dick Cheney administered the oath of office to several dozen White House staff members. The oath is not unlike the oaths Bush and Cheney took Saturday, committing the oath-taker to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic,” and “bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

After the oath was administered, Bush told the staff ? and 100 or so family members on hand ? “You all are here because you have my full confidence.”

“Today, everything is so promising and new,” the new president said. “I’m hoping the day will never come when any of us take this place for granted.”

Bush warned that he expected his White House staff to meet the highest ethical standards, avoiding not only violations of law, but even the appearance of impropriety.

“We must remember the high standards that come with high office,” he said. “This begins careful adherence with the rules. I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries [that] define legal and ethical conduct.

“No one in the White House should be afraid to confront the people they work for over ethical concerns, and no one should hesitate to confront me as well.”

Bush told his staff that he sees civility as a central part of the required behavior of White House staff. “There is no excuse for arrogance and never a reason for disrespect toward others,” he said. “I expect each of you ? to be an example of humility and decency and fairness.”

You read that right…”even the appearance of impropriety.” Bush may not be our smartest president, but he might just be our funniest.