Posted on 04/18/2008 5:58:33 PM PDT by silent_jonny
President Bush spoke this morning at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington. (Transcript)
This has been a joyous week. (Applause.) It's been a joyous time for Catholics -- and it wasn't such a bad week for Methodists, either. (Laughter.)
The president later called Rush Limbaugh’s radio show. Rush wanted to thank the president personally for the moving ceremony at the White House earlier this week for Pope Benedict XVI. (Transcript)
Rush: We're in a presidential campaign … candidates are telling us what's wrong with the country, and that day, you and the Pope brought God to Washington on public property. It was just amazing.
President Bush also spoke at the annual America’s Small Business Summit in Washington. He covered the economy, the need for permanent tax relief and urged the Democrats in Congress—specifically Queen Bee Pelosi—to (again) stop playing politics and vote on the free trade agreement with our ally Colombia. (Transcript)
Democrats are often the loudest voices for more diplomacy and greater sensitivity to our allies. The Colombia agreement is a textbook example of this approach, and yet the Speaker chose to use unprecedented tactics to kill it.
President & Mrs. Bush departed the White House this afternoon and headed to Camp David, where they will be spending the weekend.
Joining the first couple there are the new South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Kim Yoon-ok
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also met with the South Korean President earlier at the Blair House in Washington. Secretary Rice then attended a ceremony at the State Department, marking the 25th anniversary of the Beirut Embassy bombing.
A few weeks ago, the president’s Easter message happened to coincide with the news of Obama’s pastor Jerimiah Wright. President Bush’s words of joy and his unashamed love for Jesus contrasted sharply with Wright’s hate-filled, anti-American “sermons”.
The president’s Passover message happens to coincide with the actions of another left-wing lunatic: former President Jimmy Carter. Carter has spent the last week bashing Israel and cuddling with the terrorist leaders of Hamas, echoing their anti-Semitic propaganda into the nearest microphone.
Again, note the sharp contrast found in President Bush’s message:
Passover, 5768
Then Moses said to the people, "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand." Exodus 13:3I send greetings to those observing Passover.
More than 3,000 years ago, God liberated the Children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and led them on a journey towards the Promised Land. During the holy days of Passover, Jews around the world celebrate this deliverance from oppression and give thanks to a loving God for His many blessings. Passover is an opportunity for Jewish families and friends to gather to read the Haggadah, share the Seder meal, and remember God's mercy through song and prayer. This eight-day observance brings a message of hope and freedom to the Jewish people.
Laura and I send our best wishes for a joyous Passover.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: I can't thank our fellow citizens enough for taking time out of their lives to lift us up for prayer. I have finally begun to understand the story of the calm and the rough seas -- (laughter) -- and I believe -- I believe in my heart of hearts that it's because of the prayers of my fellow citizens.
Photo of the Day:
President Bush and new South Korean President Lee Myung-bak ride in a golf cart in Camp David, Md., Friday, April 18, 2008.
President Bush: This has been a joyous week. (Applause.) It's been a joyous time for Catholics -- and it wasn't such a bad week for Methodists, either. (Laughter.) The excitement was just palpable. The streets were lined with people that were so thrilled that the Holy Father was here. And it was such a privilege to welcome this good man to the United States.For those of you on the South Lawn -- who saw the South Lawn ceremony live, it was -- what an unbelievable -- it was just such a special moment. (Applause.) And it was a special moment to be able to visit with the Holy Father in the Oval Office. He is a humble servant of God. He is a brilliant professor. He is a warm and generous soul.
He is courageous in the defense of fundamental truths. (Applause.) His Holiness believes that freedom is the Almighty's gift to every man, woman and child on Earth. He understands that every person has value, or to use his words, "each of us is willed, each of us is loved, [and] each of us is necessary." (Applause.)
hi
Hi
President Bush: One of the blessings of being the President is I get to see firsthand how people are motivated by the fundamental truths articulated by the Holy Father. I've watched you live out the Gospel through countless acts of compassion and courage. I've joined with you in striving to heed the Scriptures' noble calling: to see God's image in all mankind, and to uphold the dignity of each human being on Earth. (Applause.)Together, over the nearly seven and a half years we've worked to uphold the dignity of human life.
Over the last -- over the last years, my administration has put a stop to U.S. tax dollars funding foreign groups that perform or promote abortions. (Applause.)
We've worked together to protect unborn victims of violence, and to end the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. (Applause.)
We have stood fast in our belief that promising medical advances can co-exist with ethical medical practices. (Applause.)
Last November, scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This is a significant breakthrough, because science -- scientists have found a path that can lead beyond the divisive debates of the past -- and extend the healing potential of medicine without destroying human life. (Applause.)
;-)
President Bush makes remarks at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Friday, April 18, 2008
President Bush: This is a prayer breakfast. And this is a perfect place for me to say how much I appreciate the prayers of the people for me and Laura. I can't thank our fellow citizens enough for taking time out of their lives to lift us up for prayer. I have finally begun to understand the story of the calm and the rough seas -- (laughter) -- and I believe -- I believe in my heart of hearts that it's because of the prayers of my fellow citizens.And today with the trust in the Lord's wisdom and goodness, I offer prayers of my own: for each gathered in the room, for the safety and success of the Holy Father's visit, and for God's continued blessings on our great land. Thank you. (Applause.)
Hi!
THE PRESIDENT: Hey, Rush!RUSH: Mr. President, I can't thank you enough for calling. I'm gratified you took the time, sir. How are you?
THE PRESIDENT: Any time. Thanks. I'm doing great.
RUSH: I have to tell you, something stirred in my soul, Mr. President, during the welcoming ceremony earlier this week at the White House for Pope Benedict, and I've been moved by it ever since. The US Army Chorus and Band
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.
RUSH: The Battle Hymn of the Republic, I've been playing it over and over again. That ceremony, sir, was -- we're in a presidential campaign, and by definition, a presidential campaign, candidates are telling us what's wrong with the country, and that day, you and the pope brought God to Washington on public property. It was just amazing. I just wanted to thank you for it, because it was so uplifting, it was so timely. The facial expressions on both you and the pope during The Battle Hymn of the Republic were just priceless. I just wanted to take a little time to thank you for it because it didn't get much media coverage, the hymns and the song by Kathleen Battle. But it was just tremendous.
THE PRESIDENT: I wish you were there, because the spirit on the South Lawn was alive, and it was a fantastic moment. You know, it was great. I think there were about 13,500 people.
RUSH: It was the largest welcoming ceremony in the history of the White House.
THE PRESIDENT: Ever. And it was really interesting to watch people's expression during the ceremony, and particularly when His Holy Father got up to speak. There was this unbelievable respect, and everybody hung on his every word, and it was beautiful, and you're right, the Army Choir was just fantastic. I wish all Americans could have seen it. You're kind to say thanks. It was a great honor for me, and it's what you expect for the president to do, and that is to welcome a world figure, such as the Holy Father, in such grand fashion.
RUSH: Well, your remarks were excellent as well.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you.
RUSH: Your humanity, of course, makes you leave yourself out of this, but your remarks were superb. The whole day, that whole ceremony, what was it, 45 minutes? You know, it was bang, bang, bang, but it was just powerful as it could be. And I played that song all afternoon on the program, got more phone calls from people who were inspired by that.
THE PRESIDENT: That's great.
RUSH: So it was a great day, and I personally wanted to publicly thank you for doing it, because it stirred my soul this week, it really has.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you're a good man, and I can't thank you enough for your kind words, and look forward to seeing you up here in Washington again. I'll buy you another meal when you're up here.
RUSH: All right, I'll take you up on that.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Rush.
RUSH: Have a good weekend. President Bush.
Thanks!
I was just reading a short blurb, with the emphasis on how the President works out every day. A staffer’s email said “If POTUS can find 20+ mins a day, surely I can!”
The article went on “The prez described his morning routine this way: Wake up early, read the Bible for a while, then work out.”
I know he also pushes the spiritual “exercise” as well.
President Bush shakes hands with U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Donohue as he arrives to speak at the 'America's Small Business Summit 2008' , Friday, April 18, 2008, in Washington
Guess what photo I would like for my toaster when you get the time. :)
President Bush: … the Speaker of the House recently changed House rules in the middle of the game so she can put off a vote on the Colombia free trade agreement.… The obstruction has another consequence. Congress is signaling to a watching hemisphere -- people in the hemisphere, our own neighborhood, are watching to see how the United States Congress reacts to our friends. They're wondering whether or not America can be trusted to support our friends.
They had an editorial in The Washington Post the other day that summed up Congress's message this way: Drop dead, Colombia. Well, the congressional leadership's decision to turn its back on Colombia is especially hypocritical because Democrats are often the loudest voices for more diplomacy and greater sensitivity to our allies. The Colombia agreement is a textbook example of this approach, and yet the Speaker chose to use unprecedented tactics to kill it.
Leaders in Congress have made a serious error. It's a serious error for economic reasons and it's a serious error for security reasons. They have -- it's not too late, however, for them to get it right. This week a long list of senior officials from Democratic administrations, and Democrats from previous Congresses signed a letter urging Congress to approve this agreement this year. And they wrote, "We feel that the treaty should be considered as soon as possible, and that any obstacles be quickly and amicably resolved." I couldn't agree more. I urge the leaders in Congress to reconsider their position and recognize the stakes at hand, and approve the Colombia agreement as soon as possible. (Applause.)
President Bush: The purpose of good policy in Washington should be to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of the country. You can't make somebody an entrepreneur from government, but you can create an environment which encourages risk-taking, enables people to keep more of what they earn, let somebody stay more in the shop than in the courthouse, helps people help their workers.… And this is what defines our country. It's the spirit that makes America so unique and so great. And that spirit is found in the room.
And our -- the role of government is to never stifle that spirit, is to encourage the spirit, reward the spirit, and always pay -- and always remind our citizens that we are a vibrant and prosperous and hopeful nation, because we are a land blessed with vibrant and hopeful people. God bless you, and thanks for letting me come by. (Applause.)
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