Posted on 05/02/2008 5:52:19 PM PDT by silent_jonny
Today President Bush traveled to Missouri and visited World Wide Technology Inc. After a tour of the company, the president spoke about the economy, and what the government should—and should not do—to help. (Transcript)
“If Congress truly is interested in helping relieve the price of gasoline, they would do two things: They would recognize that we can drill for oil and gas in environmentally friendly ways here in the United States, where there are good reserves; and they would build refineries. They would encourage the construction of refineries.Do you know that there hasn't been a new refinery built in America since 1976? No wonder there's constricted supplies.
If you want more of something, in this case you got to build the additional manufacturing capability. And so our gasoline supplies are restricted, as well.
… if we don't allow [ourselves] to explore in environmentally friendly ways for oil and gas reserves in the United States of America, we'll remain dependent in the short-term on foreign oil. And that's not good for us.”
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in London today for a meeting on the Middle East.
President Bush arrived at his home in Crawford, TX, this afternoon where he and Mrs. Bush will stay tonight and tomorrow.
Saturday: President & Mrs. Bush will spend a quiet day in Crawford.Sunday: The President will travel to Greensburg, Kansas to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of Greensburg High School. This visit marks one year since tornadoes devastated the area.
Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto: It's a remarkable story of this town raising itself from the rubble of those tornadoes and doing it in very creative ways. And the President will have an opportunity to talk about the spirit in that town and bringing it back at the high school, which in a lot of ways is the heart of the community.Monday: President & Mrs. Bush will host a Cinco de Mayo dinner at the White House.
Tuesday: The president will make remarks commemorating Military Spouse Day. That afternoon, he will meet with the President of Panama in the Oval Office.
Wednesday: The president will make remarks to the Council of the Americas at the State Department in Washington.
Thursday through Saturday (May 10): President & Mrs. Bush will prepare for and attend the wedding of their daughter, Jenna Bush, at their home in Crawford, TX.
Sunday (May 11): President & Mrs. Bush return to the White House.
(Source)
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: (on what he will do after he leaves office)I'm heading home. (Laughter.) I tell people that, first of all, it's been a huge honor to serve the country, and I'm really glad I did. I thank the American people for giving me a chance to serve. As you can imagine, it's been a remarkable experience.
... I've lived in the White House now for seven and a half years, and the furniture is interesting -- (laughter) -- but it's like a museum. (Laughter.) And there's love in that White House, thanks to a good wife. She's great. Laura is a -- (applause) -- which is one of the reasons this has been a fabulous experience.
You know, obviously, there's some good days and some bad days. I feel so strongly about my principles and my values and I'm an optimistic guy; that what may appear to be really difficult to deal with -- like my buddies from Midland, Texas -- that for me it's just part of the job. Interestingly enough, it is a lot harder to have been the son of the President than to be the President. (Laughter.)
And so it's been a joyous experience. You know, one of the great, really fun things we do is we welcome our pals from West Texas to the White House, and they come to the Oval Office, they're walking around; they say, man, I can't believe I'm here. And then they take a look at me -- (laughter.)
So the first thing is I'm heading home. I came from Texas with a set of values, and I'm going to go home with the same set of values. In order to be making consistent decisions in this complex world, you can't be shifting your principles in order to be the popular guy. (Applause.)
Photo of the Day:
President George W. Bush gestures as he addresses his remarks on the economy Friday, May 2, 2008, during his visit to World Wide Technology, Inc. in Maryland Heights, Mo. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
HI.
Hi and thanks for the ping
Ya beat me!
Howdy :)
President Bush waves as he departs the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, May 2, 2008.
President Bush waves as he leaves the White House in Washington, Friday, May 2, 2008, for a trip to Missouri and then onto his ranch in Texas for the weekend
I love the “wave” pictures!
She beat me by almost a minute 
Hey dear, Do you want my toaster tonight? I do seem to have plenty to last for a long, long time! LOL. I think the last number I saw was 132 but that could be wrong.
Could that nerve damage have come from the carpal tunnel surgery?
Given some optimistic economic reports lately, the press (so desperate for a “recession”) has been forced to change their tune.
This was reflected in the questions from today’s press gaggle aboard Air Force One with Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto:
Q The analysts were expecting a loss … Q Let me try it a different way. If the economy is in a recession, does it suggest a mild recession? Q Some of those numbers are going up. The stock markets are doing a little better. Even junk bonds are doing a little better. Do those numbers make you alter your forecast for the second half of the year? Q Do you -- critics though -- do you expect to hear from critics -- Q Is the President cheered by these numbers?
Tony Fratto: We always expect to hear from critics.Q -- use the "R" word, the "recession" word? Do you see them as being a little premature saying that?
Tony Fratto: Look, I mean, our critics -- the critics out there have been pretty irresponsible with their language, not only in talking about a recession. We have people like Chuck Schumer talking about the Great Depression. Well, I can tell you, my dad was around during the Great Depression and he would have loved to have seen 5 percent unemployment instead of the 20 percent or 25 percent unemployment that we saw in the Great Depression. So there's been some irresponsible chatter from people like Chuck Schumer and others.
President Bush walks toward Air Force One with Air Force Col. Eric Snadecki, 316th Wing Vice Commander, Friday, May 2, 2008, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland
President Bush waves to a group of spectators as he exits Air Force One, Friday, May 2, 2008, in St. Louis. The President is in town to tour the World Wide Technology Inc., a systems integrations company
President Bush, right, is greeted by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, left, and Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, as he exits Air Force One, Friday, May 2, 2008, in St. Louis. The President is in town to tour the World Wide Technology Inc., a systems integrations company
President George W. Bush, seated next to Jim Kavanaugh, right, CEO and co-founder of World Wide Technology, Inc., is shown some of the company's products during a tour of the facility Friday, May 2, 2008, in Maryland Heights, Mo. President Bush also addressed employees and invited guests on the benefit of the stimulus package for the nation's economy. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
"Hey, the Dose is up!"
I’m absolutly sure W’s people won’t steal the silverware or trash the place like the hill-billy trash that left in Jan ‘01.
President Bush: So we're getting economic news. There's a lot of data beginning to move. On Wednesday the -- they talked about the fact that the economy in the first quarter grew at 0.6 percent; that's the same as it grew in the fourth quarter of last year. That's not good enough for America. It's positive growth, but we can do better than that
I am going to miss him so much.
Hey thanks for the ping. Wow, didn’t realize the President’s daughter’s wedding was so soon. Haven’t been keeping up with much lately. Hope it is a lovely occasion.
That’s forsure
silent_jonny: THANK YOU for the photos and the insights (i.e., your comments and the President’s quotes/schedule) — AWESOME!
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MUST VIEW . . .
PRESIDENT BUSH TALKS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AT A MARYLAND HEIGHTS COMPANY
You will find LOTS of great video here [BTW: The President is at his best in the townhall format!]
http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=145439
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MUST READ . . .
BUSH UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS CONTINUE TO BEST CLINTON YEARS:
The Unemployment Rate Dropped in April.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/05/bush-unemployment-numbers-continue-to.html#comments
President Bush: Let me talk about energy very quickly. I'm fully aware that people are paying dearly at the pump. The other day at a press conference I said it's like a tax; it's a tax on you. The more that gasoline goes up, the more you're paying -- the more you're paying for the pump, the less money you have in your pocket to spend for your family. I will tell you it's taken us a while to get in this fix, and therefore it's going to take us a while to get out of the fix.But I want to remind you that an energy policy that basically prohibits America from finding oil in our own land is an energy policy that has led to high gasoline prices.
AMEN!
Sigh, me too. Especially considering our choices for the next four years. BLech
Thank goodness he's saying this---repeat, repeat, repeat!!!
President Bush: Those are some of the things on my mind. I've got a lot on my mind, by the way. (Laughter.) Getting ready to march down the aisle. (Laughter and applause.)What I thought I'd do is answer some questions, any question, any topic. I've been around long enough to dodge them if I can't figure out the answer. (Laughter.)
“Wow, didn’t realize the President’s daughter’s wedding was so soon. Haven’t been keeping up with much lately. Hope it is a lovely occasion.”
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If you want to know everything there is to know about Jenna’s upcoming nuptials, visit the following thread [FYI: The thread is maintained by an unabashed supporter of both Jenna and her father!]
http://www.wideawakes.info/community/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10245&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
President Bush: Yes, sir. Everybody gets nervous. I used to hate to ask questions in class. (Laughter.) Then they'd call on me. (Laughter.)Q … outside of the economy, what do you see as your single biggest domestic challenge through the end of your term?
President Bush: The biggest domestic challenge is to protect America from attack. That's the biggest domestic challenge. (Applause.)
I wish I didn't have to say that. You know, it's -- but that's reality. The President doesn't have the luxury of dealing with the world the way he wished it was. My job is to do everything I can to rally forces to protect you.
And I never thought I would be a war President; never wanted to be a war President. Didn't campaign in 2000 saying, I'm going to be a war President. The interesting thing about life is that sometimes you get dealt a hand you didn't expect -- oftentimes you do. And the question isn't whether you get dealt a hand, the question is, how do you play it? And here's how I'm playing it.
… I expect the Congress to give our professionals all the tools they need to protect you … There must be some in the country who don't believe that the enemy is a threat. I just completely disagree with you. And I would remind people, since September the 11th, a day which affected me deeply, there have been a lot of attacks on innocent people by extremists who use murder as a tool to advance their ideology.
The government -- and this is -- the reason I say it's the biggest domestic challenge is because it's our most important responsibility. There's a lot of important issues, but protecting the people is by far the most important thing. It's the thing I think about the most. This is a different kind of war, and it's hard for some Americans to get their hands around it.
Hi folks. Just thought I’d stop by and say ‘hi.’ I’ve been busy writing a paper for a journal and dealing with the end of term stuff, multiplied now that I teach 2 classes (yes, I know, some people have real jobs...).
It still surprises me to look out the window and not see snow. Man, what a winter! I may need therapy.
I hope everyone is well.
President Bush: (speaking about the FISA bill that Pelosi and her minions refuse to vote on)All I'm asking for is the Congress to provide liability protection for patriotic companies that are serving to help you. And yet we can't get them to do it. They're not going to let it vote. They passed it out of the Senate ... and they buried that bill in the House of Representatives.
And this is bad for America. I'm telling you, if you expect me to do my job, you better make sure Congress gives our professionals the tools. And we can do this, by the way, in a way that I promise you guarantees your civil liberties. We just shouldn't be extending the same liberties ... to a bunch of thugs that want to murder the American people. (Applause.)
Q If anybody asks you, I'm Japanese.President Bush: And American?
Q Yes.
President Bush: Well, then you're American first.
Q That's right. Good point. (Applause.) And I ask this partly because I'm hungry, but your thoughts on rising food prices?
President Bush: Yes, thank you. (Laughter.) By the way, that's a polite way of saying, hey, man, how about cutting it short. (Laughter.)
President George W. Bush waves as he boards Air Force One at Lambert-St.Louis International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri, May 2, 2008.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives at Downing Street in London for talks on the Middle East with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Friday May 2, 2008.
President Bush waves as he boards Marine One after arriving at the Texas State Technical College Airfield, Friday May 2, 2008, in Waco, Texas. The president will spend the weekend at his ranch in nearby Crawford, Texas.
Who give rat** about Gordan Brown thanks to victory by Boris Johnson he is PM without power Tory b***hslap him his Labour Party like Rick James smacking Charley Murphy like a b***h
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