Posted on 07/22/2006 5:08:22 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President Bush is at his Crawford Ranch today. Originally scheduled to be there through Sunday, the President will leave early tomorrow, arriving in Washington at about 2:40 p.m. Upon returning to the White House, the President will join Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Saudi officials to discuss the situation in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. They will meet with Saudi Foreign Minister and the Secretary General of the Saudi National Security Council, Saud al-Faisal and Prince Bandar.
Here are excerpts and links to two representative news articles about their diplomatic efforts.
Pressuring Hizbollah, Iran, Syria key: Bush
By Patricia Wilson
Sat Jul 22, 3:35 PM ETCRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Saturday launched a round of diplomacy on the crisis in southern Lebanon, saying the United States would urge Arab leaders to help pressure Hizbollah as well as Syria and Iran.
With U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heading to the region on Sunday, Bush telephoned Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to discuss how to help the Lebanese people caught up in the fighting between Israel and Hizbollah.
Bush, spending the weekend at his ranch in Texas, and Rice will "strategize" about a diplomatic solution with Saudi officials at the White House on Sunday afternoon.
The president also telephoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.
Rice to seek pressure on Iran, Syria: Bush
Sat Jul 22, 2:49 PM ETCRAWFORD, United States (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said that one of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's chief goals on her upcoming Middle East trip would be to try to isolate Iran and Syria.
Bush also urged Israel to exercise "the greatest possible care" in avoiding civilian casualties as it pounds targets in Lebanon in an effort to wipe out the Hezbollah Shiite militia that has been firing rockets into Israel.
At the same time, Bush blamed Hezbollah for touching off the crisis and said in his weekly radio address: "I believe sovereign nations have the right to defend their people from terrorist attack, and to take the necessary action to prevent those attacks."
On the cultural front, President Bush will meet the 10 finalists of this year's American Idol contest this week:
President Bush invites Idol contestants to White House
Winner of this season's American Idol contest, Taylor Hicks, and the other nine singers will be visiting the Oval Office next Friday, the president's communications officials revealed.
It marks the first time contestants from the hugely popular show have received a presidential invitation.
Hicks won the 2006 American Idol on May 24 after 63 million votes were cast, compared to the 59 million Bush received in the 2004 election. To be fair, the Idol audience is allowed to vote more than once.
The White House visit coincides with the "American Idols Live" tour, which will be stopping in the U.S. capital July 28.
Hicks does have a connection to the White House. Susan Whitson, Laura Bush's press secretary, taught Hicks ninth grade English at Hoover High School in Birmingham, Ala.
THE WEEK AHEAD:
_ Monday, the President will make remarks at a naturalization ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Later that day he will attend an RNC reception at Evermay._ Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Iraq will visit the White House and there will be a joint availability.
_ Wednesday, President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki will travel to Fort Belvoir, where they will have lunch with military personnel and their families. That afternoon, GWB will go to Charleston, West Virginia, to attend a Capito for Congress reception.
_ Thursday, the President meets with the President of Romania in the Oval Office. Later he will then make remarks to the National Association of Manufacturers.
_ Friday, the President will meet with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair. They will also have a joint press availability. Later, GWB will participate in a photo opportunities with the Top 10 American Idol finalists, and another with the 2006 Boys and Girls Nation delegates.
_ Sunday, there will be White House tee-ball game. The teams are from the Challenger League, which allows disabled children to enjoy tee-ball. The teams are Thurmont Little League Civitan Club of Frederick Challengers, from Thurmont, Maryland; and Shady Spring Little League Challenger Braves, from Shady Spring, West Virginia.
EXTENDED SCHEDULE: The President plans to travel to Crawford Thursday, August 3rd, and return to Washington Sunday, August 14th. The President (and many of the leading administration figures) have been and will continue to campaign vigorously for Republican candidates around the country. Next month, President Bush will attend a campaign rally and fundraiser for Lynne Swann at the Eden Resort Inn, Lancaster, PA. The event is scheduled for Aug. 16. Mr. Swann is the Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania.
MS. PERINO: Yes -- on Tuesday, they (Maliki) will meet in the Oval [Office], and then they'll have the joint press availability. Working on location. I encouraged them to have it outside in the Rose Garden, especially if it will be 100 degrees, so you all will have to sit out there. Just kidding. It probably will be inside, in the East Room.
While were on the subject of skewering the press, they make it so easy sometimes. One NEDRA PICKLER, an Associated Press writer, put her name to the following:
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - President Bush is about to come face-to-face with the one man who has his voting record beat.Hicks won the most recent season's contest May 24 after 63 million votes were cast for him in the season finale. That's more than the 59 million that Bush got in 2004, a record in any U.S. presidential election. Although, to be fair, voters can cast more than one ballot on "American Idol."
American Idol fans will quickly note one major factual error, and folks who closely watch (and remember) election returns will catch the other.
1. At the AI finale, host Ryan Seacrest announced that a total of about 63 million votes (rounded up) were cast. The total was not just for Taylor Hicks, but was split between Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee. AI does not reveal the split or vote totals for each contestant. However, information on various forums claimed the percentage split was 60-40. Assuming Hicks got 60% of the 63 mil, he would have received some 37.8 million votes. A handsome total, yes, but nowhere near what John Kerry got, let alone more than President Bush's record.2. Speaking of that record, Ms. Nedra Pickler (odd that the 6th place AI finisher this year was named Kellie Pickler...hmmmm) got her facts wrong about GWB's total votes, which were around 62,000,000 last I checked.
Media reports are often littered with factual errors -- even in relatively innocuous stories such as this one. Something to keep in mind. Not only do reporters often have their own agendas; not only do they usually tell you just part of a story, slanting it to suit their templates, but their stories often have factual errors. So it pays to exercise a healthy verify-then-trust skepticism about press reports.
Hi.
Pinging you to the Saturday Dose -- hope everyone is keeping cool on this very hot day.
IBTP?? :)
OMG! I am EARLY!
Thanks for the Saturday Dose, Wolfstar. Looking forward to it!
Same here...a photo used with an unrelated caption. The photo was ID'd as having been taken on July 20.
I'm glad he's getting a chance to get back to his beloved ranch for a while. He certainly has been busy, plus he has soooo much on his mind. Damn the congressional democrats for making his job that much harder!!!
The Vice President tours the “Warriors Walk,” a living memorial of Eastern Redbud trees dedicated to the fallen soldiers assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
At a rally for the troops attended by Vice President Dick Cheney at Fort Stewart a soldier from the Army’s 3rd ID holds up a message to mom for photographers.
Thanks for the Sat Dose!
Thanks for the dose and as always your great info on the coming week(s).
Hello yet another toaster for you - how are things?
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