The man so many of us have come to know and love!

The Marine Band, under the direction of President George W. Bush, entertains Saturday, April 26, 2008, during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Saturday night, President Bush took the stage at the 2008 White House Correspondent’s Dinner, his last appearance at this annual event which mixes media bigwigs with celebrities and politicians.

It’s an opportunity for the President to crack a few jokes, get some laughs and generally relax in this very public setting.

C-Span Junkie posted most of the program from the dinner on You Tube. The following is the last seven minutes of President Bush’s portion of the program:

Included in President Bush’s presentation were some snippets from his past performances at the Dinner. You won’t want to miss it.

The best joke was when President Bush explained why the two remaining Democrat presidential candidates were not in attendance: “Hillary Clinton couldn’t get in because of sniper fire and Senator Obama’s at church.”

The real highlight for me wasn’t the jokes, but when the President took the baton and conducted “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in one of the stirring Sousa marches we all know so well.

After President Bush spoke, Late Night comedian Craig Ferguson, a Scotsman who was recently sworn in as a new citizen of the United States had his turn. If you marveled at how unfunny Stephen Colbert was at this event two years prior, you’ll enjoy Ferguson’s presentation. Here’s part one.