Posted on 04/02/2005 1:32:59 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President and First Lady are spending the weekend in Washington. They had no public appearances planned, but did come out together to make a statement about the passing of Pope John Paul II.
THE WEEK AHEAD: On Monday, GWB welcomes Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to the White House. President Yushchenko also will address the Congress next week. WH Press Secretary Scott McClellan said, "The President looks forward to welcoming President Yushchenko to the White House. His election was a landmark event in the history of liberty. And the Orange Revolution was inspiring to all who yearn to be free. So the President looks forward to talking with President Yushchenko about a range of issues. Ukraine is a strategic partner of the United States, in our view. And, yes, I suspect that they'll talk about the importance of supporting the advance of freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe and the broader Middle East region. And I expect they'll talk about our cooperative efforts on counter proliferation, as well."
The rest of the President's schedule next week may be subject to change due to the upcoming funeral of Pope John Paul II.
QUOTES OF THE DAY: At yesterday's White House Press Briefing, Press Secretary McClellan was asked several questions, not about the President and his activities, but about the First Lady. I thought "Dosers" might enjoy Scott's answers to the media's typically rude questions:
Q Thank you. The President joined Mrs. Bush this morning in an event. So far, can you see any impact on Mrs. Bush's campaign to curb gang violence? And how are you going to go about it, especially since most gangs are formed of illegal immigrants --
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Mrs. Bush's effort is much broader than just gang violence. Her effort is aimed at promoting positive youth development. It is aimed at helping America's at-risk youth. And this is an important priority for the President, it's one of Mrs. Bush's top issues, and it's something that we will continue to work to address. She has been speaking around the country and we have a number of different programs. The President talked about a number of those initiatives earlier today. The mentoring children of prisoners is one of the initiatives that is important to this effort. And addressing gang violence is also one part of helping America's youth and really changing our culture.
And there are a number of parts to this initiative, but Mrs. Bush really is committed to reaching out particularly young boys who often lack the kind of adult supervision and mentoring that is so needed. And she will continue to speak out about the importance of positive youth development.
Q What's behind the increasing involvement of the First Lady in political affairs -- her trip to Afghanistan, this effort the President gave her in his State of the Union address. Has she come to him and said she wants to be more involved? Has he decided that she's a resource he needs to use more in his second term?
MR. McCLELLAN: She has a great passion for the issues that you brought up. She is someone who comes from a background in education, having been a teacher and a librarian. She cares deeply about the education and development of young people. She has made education a top priority throughout her life and her career. This is something that she personally has a deep passion for.
And in terms of Afghanistan, this is an effort to help advance the rights of women in Afghanistan and to help build an education system that will provide opportunity for all the people in Afghanistan, for men and women. And that's why she is focused so strongly on those areas.
Q You're going to completely ignore the basis of the question, though, that she is certainly more active in the second term than she was in the first?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think -- I think she was very active in the first term, Wendell. She is someone who has made these issues a priority throughout her life. And I think the way you characterized your question, I would take some exception to that, because these are not new issues to Mrs. Bush. These are issues that she has cared about throughout her life. And we welcome her involvement in all those areas.
Q I was not suggesting that she was not active in the first. We are seeing, however, a much higher profile First Lady in the second term, it seems.
MR. McCLELLAN: She's a tremendous asset, and the President knows that. And he appreciates all that she is doing to help our young people and to improve education in America.
Original caption that goes with the photo of baby Philip.
Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne became grandparents today, for the fourth time. Philip Richard Perry was born at 11:02 a.m. at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., July 2, 2004. He weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces. His parents are Liz Cheney and Phil Perry, the daughter and son-in-law of the Cheneys.
Thanks take care hope you get all your errands done.
Thank you for the truly marvelous pictures. And after these last, sad days, thank you for Barney!
God Bless Pope John Paul II
Checking in, Wolfstar. Thanx for the Saturday dose.
Good evening
And baby ducks, too.
A disfunctional mother duck has laid her eggs in the little center near our house. She chose an flower bed that children walk by all the time to go to a gymnastic center. I feared for the eggs, but so far, they are fine.
She sort of becomes invisible when she lies on them.
The domestic partner went and got some wild duck food and put it near her.
She is a full block from the nearest pond. So, how the heck is she gonna get those babies over there when they hatch?
And I can't even watch because I always have Bubba.
He wants to retrieve her (says something about it being his destiny)
Thank you, Wolfstar, for your wise comments, and also for the dose today.
I am not Catholic, but certainly held Pope John Paul II in high esteem. I pray that the church will find a worthy successor.
Thanks again.
What amazing photos of our president and our pontiff!
You can view the President's remarks on the passing of the Pope at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050402-4.html
President's Statement on the Death of Pope John Paul II
The Cross Hall
4:02 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Laura and I join people across the Earth in mourning the passing of Pope John Paul II. The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd, the world has lost a champion of human freedom, and a good and faithful servant of God has been called home.
Pope John Paul II left the throne of St. Peter in the same way he ascended to it -- as a witness to the dignity of human life. In his native Poland, that witness launched a democratic revolution that swept Eastern Europe and changed the course of history. Throughout the West, John Paul's witness reminded us of our obligation to build a culture of life in which the strong protect the weak. And during the Pope's final years, his witness was made even more powerful by his daily courage in the face of illness and great suffering.
All Popes belong to the world, but Americans had special reason to love the man from Krakow. In his visits to our country, the Pope spoke of our "providential" Constitution, the self-evident truths about human dignity in our Declaration, and the "blessings of liberty" that follow from them. It is these truths, he said, that have led people all over the world to look to America with hope and respect.
Pope John Paul II was, himself, an inspiration to millions of Americans, and to so many more throughout the world. We will always remember the humble, wise and fearless priest who became one of history's great moral leaders. We're grateful to God for sending such a man, a son of Poland, who became the Bishop of Rome, and a hero for the ages.
END 4:04 P.M. EST
Oh my gosh...I've never seen that picture of the Cheneys with their grandson! Isn't he the cutest thing?!
Very good pictures.
Sometimes I still ponder what might have been.
I just imagine Teresa Heinz coming out with a few gems regarding the passing of Terri Schaivo and Pope John-Paul.
Shudder.
The love and compassion seen in President and Mrs. Bush cannot be put on...it is real.
Hiya!
Add to that a full body-racking shudder!
I love the way the VP is looking at his grandson who incidently is the first male to be born into his family since himself and his brother so he is a very special little boy in many ways.
Indeed real I have just noticed on the White House Website that GWB has instructed flags to be flown at half mast.
"""President Bush Orders Flags Flown at Half Staff in Honor of Pope John Paul II
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
As a mark of respect for His Holiness Pope John Paul II, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on the day of his interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty ninth.
GEORGE W. BUSH """""
I saw that too, snugs.
A very honourable (a little Canadian spelling for you) and respectful gesture.
As I am English I spell it that way as well - have not seen you recently Judy hope all is well with you and yours.
Troube is we've had so much rain and I've had so much comfort food..........LOL.....tooooo much comfort food.
I'll keep my opinion to myself, lest I be banned.
oz, condolences to the great nation of Australia in the loss of these brave warriors. Americans salute the great courage of Australia's military men and women, in the defense of freedom as well as on missions of compassion.
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