President Bush made a rare public appearance last night, speaking to the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan at Lake Michigan College. According to reports by the Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press, his prepared remarks and answers to audience questions were wide ranging. Bush refrained from criticizing his successor, saying he found it unhelpful when former Presidents weighed in on his decisions. "I wish him all the best," Bush said, striking a very different tone than many of his supporters on talk radio. He didn't mention Dick Cheney, but he did defend harsh interrogation techniques. "I made a decision within the law to get information so I can say, I’ve done what it takes to do my duty to protect the American people,” he said. “I can tell you, the information gained saved lives.” He also touched on the economy, saying a significant contributor to the recession was a "lack of responsible regulation" of lenders. He also raised concerns about North Korea. "You can’t conduct diplomacy unless you have leverage," he said, cautioning that the U.S. shouldn't be too soft in its response to the recent nuclear test.

 Bush said he misses flying on Air Force One and having his meals cooked for him (neither he nor Laura enjoy cooking). He spoke wistfully about both the inspiration and difficulty of his meetings with families of the fallen. But his biggest applause line of the night was in response to a question about his legacy. "Well, I hope it is this: The man showed up with a set of principles, and he was unwilling to compromise his soul for the sake of popularity," Bush said, to cheers and applause.