A day in the life of President Bush (7/16/06): photos & news

WhiteHouse.gov & various news sources ^ | 7/16/06

[Wolfstar]

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President and First Lady are in Russia for the G8 summit, which will conclude tomorrow. In addition to attending the group sessions, President Bush held a series of bilateral meetings with key leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and French President Jacques Chirac.

Significantly, the President also had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, which was characterized as "on the sidelines" of the G8 summit. (China is not a member of the G8.)

Here is a link to the White House transcript of their joint press conference held after their meeting.

Here is a link from the article in Kyodo News about bilateral U.S.-China summit.

Regarding the Middle East crisis, the G8 struggled to come to an agreement, but did issue a joint statement. Led by President Bush, who pointedly said that Israel has a right to defend herself, the statement by the G8 leaders said:

The recent crisis "results from efforts by extremist forces [Iran and Syria] to destabilise the region and to frustrate the aspirations of the Palestinian, Israeli and Lebanese people for democracy and peace."

Hezbollah and Hamas, though not named, were ordered to "immediately halt their attacks" to avoid plunging Middle East into "chaos" and provoking a wider conflict.

Israel's right to defend itself was confirmed by the G8 leaders, but they asked Israel to be "mindful of the strategic and humanitarian consequences of its actions."

In other words, the G8 statement closely parallel's President Bush's position. British Prime Minister Tony Blair also said Israel has a right to defend herself, and he accused Iran and Syria of undermining efforts to build a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Here is a link to a transcript of the G8 leaders' complete statement.

THE WEEK AHEAD: Skimpy news today, primarily because the President's schedule has not been finalized for next week.

The President will campaign in Colorado for Republican congressional candidate Rick O'Donnell, who is seeking the seat of Rep. Bob Beauprez, who is running for governor. This open seat is the 7th Congressional District in suburban Denver.

The White House would not confirm the President's plans for next week after he returns from Russia. Ken Lisaius, a White House spokesman, said GWB's schedule for next Wednesday is still to be announced, and he has no public events scheduled for Thursday. The schedule could change, he said.

However, NAACP leaders said yesterday that they were optimistic President Bush would attend the organization's 97th annual convention next week in Washington.

"I am hopeful that he has decided to attend," said Bruce S. Gordon, president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "I cannot confirm that he will be there, but I'm optimistic."

Paul Brathwaite, the Congressional Black Caucus' communications director, who has spoken with leaders planning the meeting, said Bush is expected to speak at the conference Thursday.

[prairiebreeze]

Koizumi is at the Presidents side in most of these photos. Interesting, sending a message perhaps.

[Wolfstar]

Even though Putin can't be trusted politcally, the two men do seem to have a genuinely good personal rapport.

[Wolfstar]

President Bush walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the group photo was taken at the G8 summit. Again, the body language in this photo can give us a glimpse behind the curtain: a wary Putin, and a pensive GWB.

[Wolfstar]

Lots of historical symbolism in this photo: Britain talks past France to Russia while the U.S. President stands slightly apart from the Europeans.

[Majie Purple]

Totally awesome photo of the day!
Thanks for Sunday's Dose!

[jan in Colorado]

Thanks for the pictures and the links!

[Wolfstar]

President Bush during a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the G8 Summit (China is not a G8 member). China and the United States called North Korea back to stalled six-nation nuclear talks, with Washington saying Pyongyang had "no choice" in the wake of UN condemnation of its missile tests.

FYI: Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Yang Hyong Sop, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, July 11, 2006. Yang was on a five-day visit to Beijing. Wonder what they discussed. (Wow, that Korean title is a mouthfull.)

[trisham]

Great pictures. Interesting, spot-on comments.

[Wolfstar]

U.S. First Lady Laura Bush; French First Lady Bernadette Chirac; Sousa Uva Barroso, wife of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso; Flavia Franzoni, wife of Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi; Russia's First Lady Lyudmila Putin; Laureen Harper, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; and Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, pose for a picture during a meeting of G8 spouses in St. Petersburg today.

[Wolfstar]

Russia's First Lady Lyudmila Putin greets Mrs. Bush on her arrival at a meeting of G8 spouses today.

[Majie Purple]

Looks like tis you who gets the Toaster!
:)

[Wolfstar]

The President and First Lady arrive at an informal dinner for the G8 leaders and their spouses at the Peterhof Palace outside St. Petersburg.

Greeting the Putins at the Peterhof Palace.

[Wolfstar]

This is a nice photo -- but again, body language. Putin almost always looks wary, like there's something hidden behind those eyes we should know, but never will.

[Wolfstar]

The U.S. and Russian first couples have dinner Friday evening in St. Petersburg. The photo was released yesterday.

[mystery-ak]

I was on the ME thread....The Dose was up a full minute before anyone posted..I was sure I was 4,5 or 6th....

[Wolfstar]

Mrs. Bush gets a tour of the Pavlovsky Place in the town of Pavlovsk, Russia, Saturday, July 15, 2006. The palace was built in 1782-1786, and the area, then a hunting forest, was given to Paul I by his mother Catherine the Great on the birthday of his first son, the future Alexander I.

[Wolfstar]

ALL CLEAR!

[Wolfstar]

G'day, mystery. You're first today. :)

[snugs]

In that last photo it almost looks as if Angela Merkel is pointing at Chirac whilst talking to Tony Blair.

[mystery-ak]

Come on Lyudmila, start shopping in the West.....good grief!