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WASHINGTON -- First Lady Laura Bush said Wednesday the first couple would be spending their Christmas money on Texas real estate for what she referred to as the "afterlife" - the time when they leave the White House in January after her husband's eight years in office. The couple will be buying a house in Dallas, with plans to spend weekends at their ranch in Crawford."This year, we're going to be very, very careful at Christmas. I suspect that a lot of other American families will be the same," Laura Bush said. "We're going to try to be with each...

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The White House on Wednesday announced its theme for festivities this Christmas, which will be the last one President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush are to spend at the White House. This year's theme, "A Red, White and Blue Christmas," commemorates the "patriotic spirit that unites us as Americans," the first lady's press secretary, Sally Mcdonough, said in a statement. Bush and the First Lady are expected to welcome more than 60,000 visitors this holiday season. The White House has been filled with decorations for the tours, including two 13-foot tall statues of...

Today President Bush was briefed on our progress in stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) around the world. (Fact Sheet: Defending Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism ) Press Secretary Dana Perino: This meeting gives the President the opportunity to talk to the commission about their findings and to share with them more about what he thinks about what's happened over the past seven and a half years …We recognize that there is more to do, but what we have done is provided a really good foundation for the next team to be able to take that...

Today President Bush took part in the 61st National Thanksgiving Turkey Ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. (Transcript) This is my final Thanksgiving as the President. Over the past eight years, I have been given many reasons to be thankful. I'm thankful to our men and women in uniform and I am incredibly proud to have been their Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.) I am thankful for the armies of compassion volunteers who feed the hungry and shelter the poor. I am thankful for the teachers and nurses and pastors police officers and firefighters, and others who serve their neighbors and better...

Outgoing US President George W Bush plans to open a presidential library in Texas and found a Freedom Institute to promote democracy, his wife Laura Bush confirmed to Peru's El Comercio daily. "The President will build a library in Dallas, where we will move to, and a Freedom Institute," she said in an interview published on Sunday, as her husband wrapped up his participation in a weekend summit in Lima by Asia-Pacific leaders. "The institute will give us both the opportunity to work on issues that are very important to us," she said, according to the Spanish-language translation by the...

Today President Bush traveled to Lima, Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. This will be his final trip abroad as President. Traveling with President Bush are Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Press Secretary Dana Perino. The President spoke about the APEC summit in his Weekly Radio Address, which was recorded and released today. (Transcript) This summit comes at a time of serious turmoil in the global economy. It also comes at a time of unprecedented cooperation. A week ago in Washington, I hosted the first in what will be a series...

Today President & Mrs. Bush attended the reopening of the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The museum had been closed two years for renovations. After speaking (Transcript), the President and First Lady joined five new citizens (one of them a US Marine) as they took the oath of citizenship and pledged allegiance to the flag. Today, I'm delighted to congratulate five of you who will be taking your oath of citizenship in just a few moments. Though you are originally from France, Germany, Guyana, Lebanon, and Peru, today you're becoming members of the American family. We welcome...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Touring the White House, Michelle Obama did what any prospective homebuyer might do: Check out the closet space. "I showed her the closets. I showed her all the things that women are interested in," Mrs. Bush told CNN in an interview broadcast on Friday. "But I didn't try to give her a lot of advice. I know she knows that she can make it home, and that's what she wants to do." President George W. Bush and the first lady gave President-elect Barack Obama and his wife private tours of the White House on Monday to get...

First Lady Laura Bush condemned on Thursday a recent assault on Afghani schoolgirls, describing the act as "cowardly and shameful." On Wednesday adult male attackers used a water pistol to spray acid at schoolgirls in Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar, hurting 15 of them, three seriously. "My heart goes out to the victims and their families as they recover from this cruel attack," said Bush in a statement. Kandahar and other large Afghan cities have suffered from a surge of assassinations and bombings by the radical Islamist Taliban movement. Bush commended Afghani women and girls for thriving in a country...

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "So my Administration will work hard to ensure that the next President and his team can hit the ground running. For more than a year now, the White House and agencies throughout the Federal government have been preparing for a smooth transition. We've provided intelligence briefings to the President-Elect, and the Department of Justice has approved security clearances for members of his transition staff. In the coming weeks, we will ask Administration officials to brief the Obama team on major ongoing policy issues, ranging from the financial markets to the war in...

Today the President met with his cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House. The President also Discusses the Transition with Employees of the Executive Office of the President on the South Lawn of the White House. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Israel. Pray for President Bush - Day 2976. Enjoy Sanity Island

Laura Bush invites around Obama family From correspondents in Chicago, Illinois Agence France-Presse November 06, 2008 12:16pm MICHELLE Obama spoke by telephone with First Lady Laura Bush today who invited her to visit the White House in the coming weeks, an Obama spokeswoman said. A day after her husband Barack Obama's historic election win, Michelle Obama thanked Laura Bush "for the grace and strength she's demonstrated as First Lady and expressed appreciation for her guidance in the coming months,'' the spokeswoman. "Mrs Bush extended an invitation for Mrs Obama and her two daughters to visit the White House in the...

Today First Lady Laura Bush attended a campaign rally in Shepherdsville, Ky. Yesterday the the First lady attended a First Bloom Event at Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas Texas. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2973 - McCain/Palin--Day 67. On the eve of the election Sarah Palin was in Ohio, Missouri, Iowa and Colorado and will be travelling to Alaska later tonight. Enjoy Sanity Island

Happy Birthday Laura Bush Tuesday, November 4th!

Today President George W. Bush attended the graduation ceremony for Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va The First lady attended a get out the vote rally in in Gulfport, Miss today. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2969 - McCain/Palin--Day 63. Sarah Palin was in Mo and Pa campaigning today Enjoy Sanity Island

Today President George W. Bush met with President Fernando Lugo of Paraguay. The President and first lady Laura Bush attended a ceremony in honor of Theodore Roosevelt's 150th birthday at the White House. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2966 - McCain/Palin--Day 60. Sarah Palin was in Virgina today Enjoy Sanity Island

Today the President Signsed H.R. 7222, the Andean Trade Preference Act Extension Pray for President Bush -- Day 2955 - McCain/Palin--Day 49. The First lady Laura Bush spoke at the launching of the Iraq Cultural Heritage Project at the Iraq Embassy in Washington, she also spoke with Ladies in White during a video teleconference in the Situation Room of the White House. Today vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spoke at Rallies in Bangor Maine and Elon, N.C Enjoy Sanity Island

Today the President met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the White House, the First lady also accompanied him to the National Gallery of Art in Washington and in the the Prime Minister attended a dinner at the White House. . Pray for President Bush -- Day 2951 & Pray for McCain/Palin - Day - 45 Enjoy Sanity Island

Some thoughts on leadership … “When seconds count, instincts and decisiveness come into play. In quick-developing situations, the leader must act fast, impart confidence to all around him, must not second guess a decision - MAKE IT HAPPEN! In the process, he cannot stand around slack-jawed when he's hit with the unexpected. He must face up to the facts, deal with them, and MOVE ON.” ~ Lt. General Hal Moore (Source) “You get it done by making a decision quick, getting to it and getting the thing done. Don’t sit back and let the other guy make a decision that...

President Bush delivered a brief statement about the ongoing economic situation this morning outside the Oval Office. (Transcript) Later, the President was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts as they toured the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The tour focused on protecting oceans and ocean wildlife, which the President spoke about afterwards. (Transcript) This afternoon, President Bush met with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan in the Oval Office. The two leaders then held a video teleconference with Afghani officials and US provincial reconstruction team leaders in Afghanistan. (Transcript) The President also met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in...

In the Words-Mean-Things category, yesterday we got both the Associated Press and CNN distorting the words Laura Bush used to describe Sarah Palin on foreign policy. Worse, the video interview of the First Lady was right on CNN yet on its own Political Ticker blog, CNN still distorted what Laura Bush said about Palin. It makes you wonder if the folks at CNN even watch CNN? On September 24, Political Ticker posted a story by "CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney" headlined "Laura Bush says Palin lacks foreign policy experience" and started the posting out with these first lines: (bold...

<p>In an interview Wednesday with CNN, the first lady remarked that it's fortunate that Republican presidential nominee John McCain has foreign policy experience himself.</p> <p>Still, Mrs. Bush says she has a lot of confidence in Palin. She says the Alaska governor has a lot of good common sense, and the first lady adds that she is thrilled to have a chance to vote for Palin on the GOP ticket.</p>

The President travelled to New York today where tomorrow he will speak at the UN. First Lady Laura Bush spoke at The White House symposium on Advancing Global Literacy in New York. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended a series of meetings today in New York. Defense Secretary Robert Gates spoke to the National Guard Association of the United States' 130th General Conference Vice President candidate Sarah Palin campaigned in Florida yesterday and Pennsylvania today. Pray for President Bush - Day - 2931 & McCain/Palin - Day - 25 Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island

President Bush discussed the economy this morning during a statement he delivered from the White House Rose Garden. He urged Congress to actually do something for the American people this time instead of playing their usual political games. (Transcript) President Bush: This is no time for partisanship. We must join to move urgently needed legislation as quickly as possible, without adding controversial provisions that could delay action. I will work with Democrats and Republicans alike to steer our economy through these difficult times and get back to the path of long-term growth. Joining the President for this statement were Federal...

President Bush received updates on Hurricane Ike throughout the day. Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto: He's very comfortable that Texas emergency management authorities are doing everything they can. They have a very strong team down in Texas for dealing with the hurricanes. Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with the residents in the affected areas. The President encourages all the residents of Texas to listen to the guidance they're getting from their local emergency management authorities. And if they're getting direction to evacuate, to do it quickly; but just to pay very close mind to their personal safety and listen...

NEW YORK - Elizabeth Banks, who portrays Laura Bush to Josh Brolin's George in the upcoming film "W," considers the first lady an underrated beauty. "For some reason, I don't think people appreciate just how beautiful a woman that she is," said Banks, sitting pretty in a party room at Manhattan's Gramercy Park Hotel, where Women's Health magazine honored the 34-year-old actress' October cover Monday night. "I think it's partially just because I think she needs a mini-makeover — but if she were wearing super stylish Phillip Lim dresses and had long, blond hair, I think you'd really be stunned...

President Bush participated this morning, in a briefing on Hurricane Gustav, and to discuss energy Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island

Cindy McCain (L), wife of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ), and U.S. first lady Laura Bush appear in front of a screen appealing for relief for victims of Hurricane Gustav at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota September 1, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)

The President spent today in Texas where he recived updates on the progress of Hurrican Gustav returning to the White House later in the day. First Lady Laura Bush spent the day talking to delegates at the RNC with John McCain's wife Cindy. She also did a few TV interviews as well in which she praised John McCain choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. The First Lady and First lady hopeful talked about the hurricane and efforts that are in palce to assist people affected. Pray for President Bush - Day - 2909 & McCain/Palin - Day -...

Before the 2008 GOP Convention adjourned for the day, First Lady Laura Bush introduced a video about Hurricane Gustav relief efforts, with statements by governors of four Gulf Coast states. She and Cindy McCain encouraged delegates to support recovery efforts.

In an interview with Fox News from St. Paul, Laura Bush warns the media about potential blowback and overt sexism regarding Republican vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin. When questioned about whether Laura Bush thought that Sarah Palin would face sexism from the media the way Clinton supporters claim that Hilary Clinton did, Bush responded by saying, "I think that's a possibility," as reported by The Politico. Bush also goes on to warn the media, "The other side will have to be particularly careful. because that’s something we all looked at." The First Lady went on to express pride in John...

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Cindy McCain will participate in the National Park Service First Bloom Service Event on Monday, September 1st at Civic Fest in Minneapolis, MN. Monday, September 1, 2008 MINNESPOLIS, MINNESOTA WHO: Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Cindy McCain WHAT: National Park Service First Bloom Service Event WHEN: Monday, September 1, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. CST WHERE: Minneapolis Convention Center 1301 2nd Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55403

Today the President visited CIA Head Quarters in McClean Virginia where he was briefed on terrorism and the Russian-Georgia conflict. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2892 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended a meeting about the Russia-Georgia conflict at the Fort de Bregancon residence in Bormes-les Mimosas on the French Riviera with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright speak to reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon. First Lady Laura Bush addresses Edna Karr High School students to promote...

Today was the the President last day at the Olympics he attended some of the swimming events and also attended a practice baseball game between China and the USA before flying back to the States. Upon his arrival at the White House he very shortly thereafter spoke in the Rose Garden regarding the the ongoing conflict involving Georgia, Russia, and the Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2889

The President, First Lady and their daughter Barbra were in Thailand today and then travelled to Beijing China where they will attend the opening of Olympics tomorrow. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2885

Today the President and the First Lady and their daughter Barbra departed from Washington DC for a trip to Asia which will include a visit to the Olympics in Beijing. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2882

Today the President met with a gave a joint statement with Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani at the White House The President also met with members of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program in the East Room. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2875 The First Lady attended and spoke at the Fifth Annual Reading First National Conference. The gathering was at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mets with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the State Department.

Today the President and First Lady attended Tony Snow's funeral, the President made a wonderful speech about how special Tony was and I have chosen these words to be the quote of the day as the content does much in putting things into perspective. We may get tied up on the minutiae of life but Tony Snow showed where our priorities should be never compromising his beliefs but always bearing in mind what was important and treating the rest with good humour and a smile. After attending the funeral the President travelled to California to view some of the damaged...

On Saturday the Vice President had his annual checkup. He also taped a tribute to Tony Snow which was aired on FNS the following day.Click here for the transcript.Click here for video of the interview On Saturday the President and First Lady returned to White House where the President spoke about Tony Snow.Click here for transcript and link to audio and video Today the President made a statement on the 10th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act and discusses Outer Continental Shelf Exploration.Pray for President Bush -- Day 2861 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Jordan's Foreign Minister...

The headline on the conservative blog, Townhall, stormed: “Book to Smear First Lady’s Sex Life.” Radar magazine proclaimed: “On the gossip front, the novel doesn’t disappoint,” adding that its steamy and lurid scenes were “sure to send the White House into a fury.” MSNBC.com called the sex scenes “too graphic to reprint.” The cover of this fantasy version of Laura Bush’s life, “American Wife,” is alluring, a woman’s shapely figure in a white gown, with white opera gloves and a diamond ring. The author is not Anonymous, or Eponymous or Pseudonymous, yet there is the air of a “Primary Colors”...

On the last day of the G8 Summit in Japan, President Bush met with China’s President Hu Jintao (Transcript), India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (Transcript) and Republic of Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak. The President then delivered a statement as his final G8 Summit came to a close. (Transcript) You know, oftentimes in the political process people talk big, but they never follow up. And so one of the key ingredients of these recent meetings was all of us need to be reminded that when we say we're going to do something, we got to do it. And so accountability is...

On the heels of two best-selling books, (Prep, The Man of My Dreams), young, Iowa-trained author Curtis Sittenfeld is about to release her most controversial book yet—a thinly veiled novel based on Laura Bush's life that is sure to send the White House into a fury. Published by Random House next fall, American Wife tells the story of Alice Blackwell, a quiet librarian whose husband Charlie becomes the bumbling president of the United States. It is, in short, a fictional examination of the life of the First Lady that mingles real facts and incidents with the author's imaginative, fanciful, sometimes...

The President is attendig his last G8 meeting of his Presidency which is being held in lakeside resort of Toyako on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido. Pray for President Bush -- Day 2854

President Bush held a meeting this morning in the Roosevelt Room on the Midwest flooding Transcript President Bush meet this morning in the Oval Office with General Dan McNeill, Former Commander of the International Security Assistance Force Transcript President Bush honored Black Music Month in the East Room Transcript President Bush and First Lady Laura attended a wake for journalist Tim Russert at St. Albans School in Washington, DC Enoy your visit to Sanity Island

The President and First Lady continued their visit to United Kingdom today spending part of the day in London and then travelling to Northern Ireland before departing for Washington. There were some serious meetings where the Presdent was assure that Britain would continue their support and in fact would increase troops in Afganistan. The relationship between Gordon Brown and the President seemed more relaxed than at any of their previous meeting. On a lighter level the President and First Lady visited an integrated primary school in Belfast and the First Lady also visited the British Museum earlier in the day...

The President and First Lady were in France this morning and attended the morning service at the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Paris. The First Lady visited the Marie Antoinette Exhibit at The Grand Palais. Later in the day AF1 flew into Heathrow where Marine One took them on what is about a 10 minute flight to Windsor Castle where they landed on the East Lawn where they had tea with the Queen and Prince Philip. According to FNC George W Bush is only the second President to have been afforded the honour of an invite to Windsor...

President & Mrs. Bush met today with Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican. The pope treated the president to a rare tour of the Vatican Gardens, a spot where popes pray privately and only special guests are allowed to stroll. First Lady Laura Bush toured the Mattei Palace in Rome and met there with students in the American Study Center. The first couple then boarded Air Force One and traveled to Paris, France. During the flight, Mrs. Bush participated in a rare press gaggle with reporters on the plane. “Hey everybody, how are you all? Good to see you.” (Transcript)...

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - First Lady Laura Bush spoke candidly for the first time about the presidential race on Monday, saying she admired Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) "endurance" and that Michelle Obama's controversial statements had been misconstrued. "I know what its like to run those campaigns, to be the candidate and how very difficult it is both emotionally and physically," The first lady said in an ABC interview while in Slovenia with President George Bush for a summit with European leaders. "It's a huge endurance, process of endurance, and so I'll have to say I have a lot of admiration...

Today the President is in Italy continuing what many believe is his farewell European tour. He met with the Italian President and Primeminister plus attending a round table meeting with Italian entrepreneurs who have spent time working with U.S. companies in Silicon Valley. The First Lady and Secretary of State attended a conference at the Kleber international centre in Paris after which the First Lady travelled to Rome to attend a plenary session at the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome. Defense Secretary Robert Gates attended a NATO defence ministers' meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels

The President spent the day in Meseberg, Germany with Chancellor Merkel. They had meetings and held a joint press availability before the President continued on to Rome. TRANSCRIPT Mrs. Bush was in France for a four day visit.