Posted on 04/02/2005 1:32:59 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President and First Lady are spending the weekend in Washington. They had no public appearances planned, but did come out together to make a statement about the passing of Pope John Paul II.
THE WEEK AHEAD: On Monday, GWB welcomes Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to the White House. President Yushchenko also will address the Congress next week. WH Press Secretary Scott McClellan said, "The President looks forward to welcoming President Yushchenko to the White House. His election was a landmark event in the history of liberty. And the Orange Revolution was inspiring to all who yearn to be free. So the President looks forward to talking with President Yushchenko about a range of issues. Ukraine is a strategic partner of the United States, in our view. And, yes, I suspect that they'll talk about the importance of supporting the advance of freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe and the broader Middle East region. And I expect they'll talk about our cooperative efforts on counter proliferation, as well."
The rest of the President's schedule next week may be subject to change due to the upcoming funeral of Pope John Paul II.
QUOTES OF THE DAY: At yesterday's White House Press Briefing, Press Secretary McClellan was asked several questions, not about the President and his activities, but about the First Lady. I thought "Dosers" might enjoy Scott's answers to the media's typically rude questions:
Q Thank you. The President joined Mrs. Bush this morning in an event. So far, can you see any impact on Mrs. Bush's campaign to curb gang violence? And how are you going to go about it, especially since most gangs are formed of illegal immigrants --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Mrs. Bush's effort is much broader than just gang violence. Her effort is aimed at promoting positive youth development. It is aimed at helping America's at-risk youth. And this is an important priority for the President, it's one of Mrs. Bush's top issues, and it's something that we will continue to work to address. She has been speaking around the country and we have a number of different programs. The President talked about a number of those initiatives earlier today. The mentoring children of prisoners is one of the initiatives that is important to this effort. And addressing gang violence is also one part of helping America's youth and really changing our culture.
And there are a number of parts to this initiative, but Mrs. Bush really is committed to reaching out particularly young boys who often lack the kind of adult supervision and mentoring that is so needed. And she will continue to speak out about the importance of positive youth development.
Q What's behind the increasing involvement of the First Lady in political affairs -- her trip to Afghanistan, this effort the President gave her in his State of the Union address. Has she come to him and said she wants to be more involved? Has he decided that she's a resource he needs to use more in his second term?
MR. McCLELLAN: She has a great passion for the issues that you brought up. She is someone who comes from a background in education, having been a teacher and a librarian. She cares deeply about the education and development of young people. She has made education a top priority throughout her life and her career. This is something that she personally has a deep passion for.
And in terms of Afghanistan, this is an effort to help advance the rights of women in Afghanistan and to help build an education system that will provide opportunity for all the people in Afghanistan, for men and women. And that's why she is focused so strongly on those areas.
Q You're going to completely ignore the basis of the question, though, that she is certainly more active in the second term than she was in the first?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think -- I think she was very active in the first term, Wendell. She is someone who has made these issues a priority throughout her life. And I think the way you characterized your question, I would take some exception to that, because these are not new issues to Mrs. Bush. These are issues that she has cared about throughout her life. And we welcome her involvement in all those areas.
Q I was not suggesting that she was not active in the first. We are seeing, however, a much higher profile First Lady in the second term, it seems.
MR. McCLELLAN: She's a tremendous asset, and the President knows that. And he appreciates all that she is doing to help our young people and to improve education in America.
1?
Pinging you to today's Dose. Please hold off posting other photos/images until the all clear is given. Thanks.
Thank you.
Thanks for the ping Wolfstar.
Good evening
File photo of Pope John Paul II gesturing from the balcony of his summer residence in Castelgandolfo, alongside U.S. President George W. Bush north of Rome, on July 23, 2001.
Wonderful, thank you.
From June 4, 2004. The The President presents the Medal of Freedom to Pope John Paul II.
From June 4, 2004. President and Mrs. Bush with Pope John Paul II.
From May 28, 2002. President George W. Bush visits the Pope.
From August 2001. President Bush, Mrs. Bush and their daughter, Barbara, are given a tour by the Pope of his country retreat, Castel Gandolfo.
From May 27, 1989. Pope John Paul II presents first lady Barbara Bush with a Vatican Medal as President George H.W. Bush looks at his medal during a ceremony at the Vatican.
From June 6, 1987. President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan with Pope John Paul II, during their meeting at the Vatican.
Link to the transcript of President Bush's statement on the Pope's passing. If photos become available before I go off-line later, I'll post them. Otherwise, I'll post them on this thread tomorrow and reping everyone.
That is laudable. But, is it a private charity of the President or are the taxpayers paying for this.
Sad news this morning not only with the passing of Pope John Paul II.
Australia has woken to the news of the loss of 9 Royal Australian Navy personnel on the Tsunami aid mission in Nias, Indonesia after the Sea King helicopter that were traveling in crashed. Such a great loss for my country. God bless them.
The President and Mrs. Bush sit among children of prisoners, their mentors and administrators yesterday during a rountable discussion at Paul Public Charter School.
Children from the School of Hope hold hands during a visit by the First Lady to Kabul University Wednesday. "The School of Hope" -- what a lovely name for a school in a nation devastated by decades of war. And what a lovely symbol of the new Afhganistan -- one that is now safe enough to welcome the First Lady of the United States.
A man studying to be a teacher stands to introduce himself to the First Lady during her visit to Kabul University.
Our beautiful First Lady Laura Bush listens to Afghan teachers and students at the Women’s Teacher’s Training Institute of Kabul University.
A group of Afghan girls dressed in native costumes greeted the First Lady on her arrival in Kabul.
Laura Bush hands red, white and blue kaleidoscopes to youngsters outside a Kabul bakery.
Here, she teaches young boys how to use a kaleidoscope.
Pope John Paul II shakes hands with former U.S. President George Bush during a private audience at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence, in this April 4, 1997 file photo. Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century and became history's most-traveled pope, died Saturday night, April 2, 2005, in his Vatican apartment. He was 84.
U.S. President George W. Bush meets with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, in this May 28, 2002 file photo.
U.S. President George W. Bush holds Pope John Paul II's hand during their meeting at the Clementine Hall at the Vatican in this June 4, 2004 file photo.
A robin visits.
Barney laughs.
Easter eggs are prepared for the hunt and roll.
Tulips bloom around the South Lawn.
Flowers bloom in the Rose Garden.
The President warms up his pitching arm.
And somewhere the White House squirrels are stealing nuts right under Barney's nose.
Love your tag line ;^D
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush walk to make a statement in the Cross Hall of the White House following the death of Pope John Paul II, Saturday, April 2, 2005.
First lady Laura Bush listens as President Bush makes a statement in the Cross Hall of the White House following the death of Pope John Paul II, Saturday, April 2, 2005.
President Bush, right, makes a statement regarding the death of Pope John Paul II at the White House as first lady Laura Bush looks on Saturday, April 2, 2005 in Washington.
First lady Laura Bush listens as President Bush makes a statement in the Cross Hall of the White House following the death of Pope John Paul II, Saturday, April 2, 2005.
U.S. President Bush pauses as he makes a statement regarding the death of Pope John Paul II at the White House Saturday, April 2, 2005 in Washington.
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