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Posted on 11/03/2004 6:03:02 AM PST by dutchess
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11-01-04...Military Monday |
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 1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar. |
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You're a good person!!!!
I'm just getting caught up reading today's thread......what a day it's been.
I've been killing a couple of my lib friends with kindness, but others I have been absolutely ruthless with!!!!
(((((((Phancypants)))))))
Why thanks!
I'm sure I'll have some run-ins, but I will make them as pleasant as possible!
Unlike some of my liberal friends, I didn't vote because I HATED someone, I voted because I SUPPORTED my candidate.
There's no room in my heart for anger at them...(not to say I don't mind seeing them a little glum today, after all they have been saying about the Prez I love!!)
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2004 - President George W. Bush will remain the commander
in chief of the U.S. military for four more years.
Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry of conceded the election in a phone call to
the president this morning, and was expected to do so publicly this afternoon
in Boston. Bush was scheduled to speak later in the day here.
During the campaign, Bush vowed to continue to take the war to the terrorists.
He pointed to the successful elections in Afghanistan as proof his policy
against terrorists was working.
The next foreseeable major milestone in the war on terrorism is the January
elections in Iraq. Iraqis will elect representatives to write the country's
constitution.
Under Bush, more than 75 percent of the known al Qaeda leaders have been killed
or captured. A number of terrorist cells in Europe, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and
Asia have been disrupted or destroyed.
U.S. military personnel will continue to be an important part of the war on
terrorism. Servicemembers in Iraq will work to train the Iraqi Army, Iraqi
police and Iraqi National Guard. There are now about 110,000 members of the
Iraqi security forces trained and equipped. Officials expect that by the
elections in January, the number of trained and equipped forces will be over
145,000.
Those forces, under the command of the Iraqi interim government, will continue
to work closely with coalition forces to maintain security and extend the
central government into all parts of Iraq, officials said.
In Afghanistan, the United States will continue to work with allies from around
the world to hunt down the remnants of al Qaeda and the Taliban still intent on
stopping progress in the country. Coalition forces are bringing jobs, money and
hope to a region that three years ago was foundering under an extremist,
totalitarian rule.
But the war on terrorism is not just a military operation. Bush also has vowed
to address the problems that lead people to terrorism in the first place. The
United States is working with friends and allies around the world to promote
democracy and export freedom.
The president promised to continue the transformation of the U.S. military to a
force capable of besting the threats of the 21st century.
I'm with you.
This has been authenticated at Urbanlegends.com...
Subject: Bruce Vincent and the Oval Office
To my most special clump of humanity:
I've written the following narrative to chronicle the day Of the award ceremony in DC. I'm still working on a press release but The White House press corps has yet to provide a photo to go with it. When the photo comes I'll ship it out. When you get done reading this you'll understand the dilemma I face in telling this story beyond my circle of close friends. The moment with the President in the Oval Office was incredible. I want to protect the memory because it was an intensely private moment between two men. At the same time I'd like to share it on a broader scale because I'd like others to know what I know about the man sitting at the desk in the Oval Office. For now, I'll just tell it to you folks.
As you know, our efforts concerning the reintroduction of our rural, resource providing cultures to the ever more urbane society of our nation has been honored with an award from the President and First Lady Bush. Nominated by the Forest Service for the first ever Preserve America President's Award was our cultural exchange program Provider PalsT and our restoration of an abandoned CCC built Forest Service ranger station (Raven Ranger Station) for use as a learning center for students from throughout the nation that are now engaged in our cultural exchange.
The award was given at a White House ceremony on Monday, May 3. Guests at the East Room ceremony (the Rose Garden was going to be used but it rained) included Secretary of Interior Gorton, Secretary of Agriculture Venneman, Undersecretary Mark Rey, Chief Bosworth, President's Advisory Council for Preserve America, and others. The East Wing was closed to the public for the event and those who attended enjoyed brunch and live chamber music. Provider PalsT was able to bring members of our board of directors, staff from our partner Communities for a Great Northwest, our Kootenai Forest Supervisor and Forest Archaeologist, and two officials from our major sponsor Ford Motor Company. Thankfully, I was also able to bring PJ and all four children. In the East Room, Secretaries Venneman and Gorton spoke as did First Lady Bush and Preserve America's Chairman John Nau. The First Lady then gave autographed copies of a White House book to award winners in this ceremony and posed for pictures. When the ceremony concluded, the First Lady stayed for a bit in the Green Room and chatted and posed for pictures. She was then escorted outside to meet the President and board a Marine One helicopter waiting to whisk them off to the airport.
For me, however, the biggest event of the day had already happened when the East Room Ceremony started up. While the East Room ceremony was being prepared, the four national award winners and the entities that nominated them were taken to the Oval Office for the official award presentation by President Bush and First Lady Bush. There were eight of us in total.
Stepping into the Oval Office, each of us was introduced to the President and Mrs. Bush. We shook hands and participated in small talk. When the President was told that we were from Libby, Montana, I reminded him that Marc Racicot is our native son and the President offered his warm thoughts about Governor Racicot.
I have to tell you, I was blown away by two things upon entering the office. First, the Oval Office sense of 'place' is unreal. The President later shared a story of Russian President Putin entering the room prepared to tackle the President in a tough negotiation and upon entering the atheist muttered his first words to the President and they were "Oh, my God." I concurred. I could feel the history in my bones.
Second, the man that inhabits the office engaged me with a firm handshake and a look that can only be described as penetrating. Warm, alive, fully engaged, disarmingly penetrating.
I was admittedly concerned about meeting the man. I Think all of us have an inner hope that the most powerful man in our country is worthy of the responsibility and authority that we bestow upon them through our vote. I admit that part of me was afraid that I would be let down by the moment - that the person and the place could not meet the lofty expectations of my fantasy world. This says nothing about my esteem for President Bush but just my practical realization that reality may not match my 'dream.'
Once inside the office, President Bush got right down to business and, standing in front of his desk, handed out the awards one at a time while posing for photos with the winners and Mrs. Bush.
With the mission accomplished, the President and Mrs. Bush relaxed and initiated a lengthy, informal conversation about a number of things with our entire small group. He and the First Lady talked about such things as the rug in the office. It is traditionally designed by the First Lady to make a statement about the President and Mrs. Bush chose a brilliant yellow sunburst pattern to reflect 'hope.' President Bush talked about the absolute need to believe that with hard work and faith in God there is every reason to start each day in the Oval Office with hope.
He and the First Lady were asked about the impact of the a Presidency on their marriage and, with an arm casually wrapped around Laura, he said that he thought the place may be hard on weak marriages but that it had the ability to make strong marriages even stronger and that he was blessed with a strong one.
When asked what the biggest challenge of the Presidency was, he talked about the daily frustration of partisan politics. 'This from a politician,' he said. He said that when he was elected he promised that he would do in DC what he had done in Texas and that was build alliances and coalitions that bridged party lines in order to move the nation forward. He had quickly learned that there are those in the nation's capital that would rather see the nation dismantled than work together to achieve a common good. That, he said is a bitter and continuing disappointment.
The President talked about the artwork and other items of interest in the room. For instance the desk he uses is the one that was given to the U.S. by Queen Victoria and used by FDR and JFK. In fact FDR had a front panel added to the desk to cover the mid section because FDR did not want the country to know he was in a wheelchair. President Bush laughed and said, "My how things have changed, FDR hid a wheelchair and if I eat a pretzel and get a tingle in my arm it's front page news around the globe." That little desk faux front is hinged by the way, and is the door that we all have seen John John sticking his head from behind in the famous photo of JFK at work.
The President also noted that much of the artwork in the office is from Texas or about Texas. He said that it made sense for him to have it in his office because Texas is part of who he is. He talked about family and place and faith helping to build the person you end up being and noted that the Oval Office reflected who he is. He noted that it would be a mistake to come to the Oval Office and entertain a mission to 'find yourself.' He said that with all of the pressures and responsibilities that go with the job, you'd best know who you are when you put your name plate on the desk in the Oval Office. He said he knows who he is and now America has had four years to learn about who he is. If they like what they see, he may have another four years. If not, then he may be going back to Texas.
After about 30 or 35 minutes, it was time to go. By then we were all relaxed and I felt as if I had just had an excellent visit with a friend. The President and First Lady made one more pass down the line of awardees, shaking hands and offering congratulations. When the President shook my hand I said "thank you Mr. President and God bless you and your family." He was already in motion to the next person in line, but he stopped abruptly, turned fully back to me, gave me a piercing look, renewed the vigor of his handshake and said, "Thank you - and God bless you and yours as well."
On our way out of the office we were to leave by the Glass doors on the west side of the office. I was the last person in the exit line. As I shook his hand one final time, President Bush said "I'll be sure to tell Marc hello and give him your regards." I then did something that surprised even me. I said to him, "Mr. President, I know you are a busy man and your time is precious. I also know you to be a man of strong faith and have a favor to ask you." As he shook my hand he looked me in the eye and said, "Just name it."
I told him that my step-Mom was at that moment in a hospital in Kalispell, Montana, having a tumor removed from her skull and it would mean a great deal to me if he would consider adding her to his prayers that day. He grabbed me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as he said, "So that's it. I could tell that something is weighing heavy on your heart today. I could see it in your eyes. This explains it." From the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a pen and a note card with his seal on it and asked, "How do you spell her name?" He then jotted a note to her while discussing the importance of family and the strength of prayer.
When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery and the prognosis. I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an earlier cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery.
He said, "If it's okay with you, we'll take care of the prayer right now. Would you pray with me?" I told him yes and he turned to the staff that remained in the office and hand motioned the folks to step back or leave. He said, "Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer." As they left he turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was prepared to do a traditional prayer stance - standing with each other with heads bowed. Instead, he reached for my head with his right hand and pulling gently forward, he placed my head on his shoulder. With his left arm on my mid back, he pulled me to him in a prayerful embrace. He started to pray softly. I started to cry. He continued his prayer for Loretta and for God's perfect will to be done. I cried some more. My body shook a bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed by asking God's blessing on Loretta and the family during the coming months.
I stepped away from our embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the tears I'd left on his shoulder, and looked into the eyes of our President. I thanked him as best I could and told him that me and my family would continue praying for he and his.
As I write this account down and reflect upon what it means, I have to tell you that all I really know is that his simple act left me humbled - and believing. I so hoped that the man I thought him to be was the man that he is. I know that our nation needs a man such as this in the Oval Office. George W. Bush is the real deal.
I've read internet stories about the President praying With troops in hospitals and other such uplifting accounts. Each time I read them I hope them to be true and not an internet perpetuated myth. This one, I know to be true. I was there. He is real. He has a pile of incredible stuff on his plate each day - and yet he is tuned in so well to the here and now that he 'sensed' something heavy on my heart. He took time out of his life to care, to share, and to seek God's blessing for my family in a simple man to man, father to father, son to son, husband to husband, Christian to Christian prayerful embrace.
He's not what I had hoped he would be. He is, in fact, so very, very much more.
I love that, I read it before and my eyes teared up.
We have a man with True Faith and Trust in the Lord!
Prayers put him over the top!
I didn't realize how long it was until I posted it! Thanks for reading it anyway!!
You are right. Our prayers can strengthen President Bush daily. I truely believe that it was the prayers of everyone that helped this to be a history making election.
Good post.
ELECTION DAY 2004 proved a banner day for Republicans, who scored
victories from top to bottom on the ballot - from the White House,
where President Bush won a second term, to Senate and House races,
where the GOP added to its majorities. The electoral process itself was
one of the big winners, as Americans voted in greater numbers than they
have in decades. The projected vote total was more than 120 million
people, or about 60 percent of eligible voters.
PRESIDENT: Sen. John Kerry phoned the White House to concede defeat and
congratulate Bush, who was leading in both the popular and
electoral-vote tallies. Bush was expected to make a victory speech
after Kerry addressed his supporters in Boston. As the Monitor went to
press, Bush reportedly had won 51 percent of the popular vote and 254
of the needed 270 Electoral College votes. Twenty 20 more were expected
in Ohio, where provisional ballots remained to be counted. But Bush's
lead there appeared too large to be overcome. Independent candidate
Ralph Nader was a nonfactor in the election.
SENATE: Republicans, who began Tuesday with 51 of the chamber's 100
seats, appeared in position to up that total to 55. The South was
particularly kind to the GOP, giving it projected wins in closely
watched Florida as well as in Louisiana, North Carolina, and South
Carolina. The most significant GOP victory came in South Dakota, where
former US Rep. John Thune toppled minority leader Tom Daschle, a
leading Bush critic who joined the Senate in 1986. Daschle's defeat
marked the first time in 52 years a Senate leader was ousted.
HOUSE: Virtually all candidates for reelection were returned to office
except in Texas, where a GOP-led redistricting effort paved the way for
the defeat of four Democratic incumbents. If Wednesday morning's vote
margins stick, Republicans could wind up with 233 seats (compared to
the 227 they previously held) to extend their control of the House to
12 years.
GOVERNORS: Democrats won six of 11 races, but Republicans recaptured
statehouses in Indiana and Missouri, where Bush scored solid victories.
In Indiana former White House budget director Mitch Daniels defeated
Joe Kernan (D), who took over last year after the death of Gov. Frank
O'Bannon.
BALLOT MEASURES: On a day when voters in 34 states considered 163
proposals, 11 states overwhelmingly supported banning same-sex
marriage. Californians approved spending $3 billion of taxpayer money
on stem-cell research. Arizona approved a crackdown on illegal
immigrants. Montana became the tenth state to legalize the use of
marijuana for medical purposes.
WORLD ON BUSH
Choosing their words carefully, senior government officials in France
and Germany pledged to work with a second Bush administration because
"we have lots to do on current crises" and "we all have to contribute
to ensuring that the situation in Iraq stabilizes."
But Russian
President Vladimir Putin and foreign leaders whose nations support the
US in combating terrorism expressed clear approval of his reelection.
Putin said he "can only feel joy that the American people ... made the
most sensible decision."
Similar sentiments came from Polish President
Aleksander Kwasniewski and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer. Italy's Silvio Berlusconi said a "continuation of Bush ...
makes things easier for us."
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom
spoke of Bush's "friendliness" toward his country as being "very
great."
Leaders of Islamic nations withheld immediate comment, but
across the Middle East most people who were asked for their views
expressed disappointment and dismay.
[ISRAELUPDATE] US ELECTION REACTION IN ISRAEL - David Dolan - Jerusalem
Israeli political pundits say the country's leaders are heaving a quiet sigh of relief today after the apparent Bush-Cheney victory in the close US presidential election. For Ariel Sharon, the result reinforces his contention that his proposed evacuation of 25 Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria will be enough to satisfy the Americans that Israel is carrying out its part of the Road Map peace plan. However, Sharon's supporters acknowledge this may change if a "responsible" Palestinian leadership emerges when Yasser Arafat finally passes from the scene, or is otherwise removed from power. Meanwhile a senior aid to the Palestinian leader expressed regret today over Bush's seeming triumph, saying the Middle East would have been better off if a new man had occupied the White House.
More importantly for Israeli political and military leaders, the US election result virtually guarantees that the small Jewish State will have the full backing of its main international ally if the government orders its military forces to remove the menacing Hizbullah missile threat from Israel's northern border. Such action—which many expect to come before the Gaza withdrawal next year—could easily spark a clash with Hizbullah's Syrian masters, if not with the radical Shiite militia's main regional backer, Iran. If so, Sharon is now assured that the US would likely come to Israel's aid if necessary, which many felt was not a certainty if the liberal "internationalist" Senator had become Commander in Chief.
A related issue is Iran's threatening nuclear program. Israeli leaders are said to believe that George W. Bush is much more likely than John Kerry to order US forces into action if he becomes convinced that the extremist Muslim country is about to deploy nuclear weapons in the next four years. Indeed, they noted that Bush basically said as much in a Fox News interview with Bill O'Reilly, broadcast in the US and Israel on Monday. Israeli leaders consider Iran to be by far their most threatening regional enemy.
Government leaders have also hinted that they trust Bush far more than Kerry to pursue the war against Islamic terror groups and states that support them. They were less than convinced that the Massachusetts Democratic candidate would vigorously carry on this "necessary struggle." Many senior government and security officials questioned some aspects of the US-led war against Saddam Hussein, especially the stated expectations that most Iraqis would enthusiastically welcome Western military forces, and that a functioning democracy was likely to rapidly emerge in Iraq. Still most are said to think Bush is the best man at the helm as US troops enter the looming battle over Fallujah, which many expect to be a pivotal campaign that will probably determine the future of the fractured country, located just 300 miles east of Israel.
Edit/Delete Message
Maggie Malone here, on Special Assignment for Miss Billie, cruising around today and recording some reactions from a few Finest Freepers ---
My first encounter was with Temple Owl:
"Are all youse guys as happy as I am??!!"
Next was our very own deadhead:
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"Am I happy?
hahahahaha
"Can'tcha tell??"
Catching up with Texagirl4W for her response,
"My BIG SMILE tells it all!"
Miss Pippin was next:
"Gloat? Me??"
"Well, maybe a little..:))"
The Mayor was in his typical fine fettle:
"Yup - prayer and hard work is the only way
to V-I-C-T-O-R-Y --"
mrstank stumbled in through the door
exclaiming:
"I can't believe I stayed up ALL NIGHT!!"
And lastly, our jwfiv briefly traded his foxy self in
to make this comment:
"Puttin' on my 'Happy Cat' persona --"
WHATTA GLORIOUS DAY IT IS INDEED!!
Love your post. LOL
Glorious, sing glorius, one keg of beer for the four us and we will drink it al,l. Happy days are here again.
Adorable post, dear Maggie! Oh, what a wonderful day this has been!
We and all military and those dear to them and friends can rest better, knowing Kerry will NEVER be the Commander-in-Chief over them.
We can sleep well this night, knowing our Lord heard our prayers for America --
For any who did not read what mrstank posted at # 186, **PLEASE** read it to see the measure of the Godly man our President is!
The post at #186 was beautiful, and just what I have learned to expect from a man with such a huge heart for the underdog and the ones in mourning.
Yes, I talked to my son, and he was very releived that "sKerry wasn't elected". I can't imagine what the rush to the exit there would have been among our brave men and women if that coward had become (shudder) president! But my heard soars at the fact that this long election season is over and the right thing was done and our guy is still in charge!
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