The transition to a new president of these United States is about to start. As we go out with the old, in with the new, we asked some residents in neighborhoods in the Mon Valley how they think history will remember George W. Bush. What is his lasting legacy?''

"He will be remembered for all silly words that he would say -- words that were not real words. All the nonsense words and mispronunciations of state and world leaders is part of his legacy.

"I will also remember George W. Bush for his No Child Left Behind mandate that he didn't fund. That added more problems to our public education system."

-- Maria Heddleston, 33, a reading teacher in the Steel Valley School District.

"Most people will remember him for the war in Iraq. He could have stopped it and didn't."

-- Richard Votedian, 68, Munhall, a retiree.

"He's the man who started the Iraq War and made a disaster out of things as far as the American people go."

-- Drew Campbell, 23, Munhall, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in criminal justice.

"They're not going to look at George W. Bush very nicely now. But as time goes on that will change just like it did for President Ronald Reagan.

"When Reagan left office they said he was rotten: He did this, he did that. And then about the time he died everyone started changing their opinions.

"I think we're going do the same thing with President George W. Bush. I think that he followed his heart but was given a bum steer as far as some of the advice he was given. I think when enough time has passed opinions will change.

"They're just starting to like his dad. When he dies they're going to think George the First was a good one and I think they're going to do the same thing with George W."

-- Greg Babyak, 47, McKeesport, a monitor for clinical drug studies.

"History will ultimately remember George W. Bush as a big-hearted, emotional, kind person that took a lot of bad advice along the way. He will be remembered kindly, ultimately."

-- Lew Wargo, 49, Elizabeth Township,

a general contractor.

"I don't know about President George W. Bush's legacy. At this point I'm just looking forward to someone new and different."

-- Pat Van Dyke, 47, West Mifflin, a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

"He'll be remembered as one of the greatest presidents we've ever had."

-- Andrew Marrone, 59, Munhall, retired.

"I think the first six years of President Bush's administration were pretty decent. He's done a great job of protecting the country. But the last two years, since we've had [Democrats] Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in Congress, things haven't gone as well."

-- Dale Spirnak, 56, Munhall, a retiree.

"Very poorly. I think he was a terrible president and these eight years have been very difficult on our country. I think the whole administration has been bad for the United States.

"We lost a lot of our civil liberties. I am so disgusted with the way the administration has handled everything. We have a financial crisis which I'm sure they knew was coming and did nothing to prevent."

Joan Diricco, 76, Munhall, retiree.

"He is the worst president in history. He destroyed the economy and he destroyed this country. The war was uncalled for. He lied about everything. I think he should have been impeached."

-- Mike Horrell, 47, Munhall, who works for a funeral home.

"His legacy is the war, the economy and the gas prices. I don't feel that there is a middle class anymore."

-- Mary Safran, 43, Elizabeth Township,

a social worker.

"George Bush is the man who ruined my life. He took away my health care insurance. I lost my job and wound up with hundreds of thousands of medical bills. I am thankful for the charitable programs, the programs from private citizens that were available to help me get through these hard times.

"I almost lost my home. I did lose my car to repossession. My sister had to move in with me to help take care of me while I was sick and helped pay for the mortgage on the house which I almost lost -- which was our family home.

"I'm so glad he is almost gone. I hope to never hear from him again."

-- Carolyn Jefferson, 57, West Mifflin, who is disabled.