Posted on 04/08/2005 12:36:46 PM PDT by patent
Not that antiquated.
Q Is that in honor of the Baylor women's basketball team?
THE PRESIDENT: I called, as a matter of fact, on the airplane flying to Rome, I called the coach, Kim Mulkey-Roberts. I had met her before when she brought -- you all saw her, at least if you were on the pool, right, let's see -- anyway, she was with the Midway girls softball team when they came out, the national champs softball team. Her daughter is a player on it, and so she came out with the parents. But she was one excited lady. And she did a heck of a job.
Thanks for that information, deport. He does seem to keep track of the details of a lot of pepople's personal lives. It is a very nice quality.
THE PRESIDENT: I think a walk in faith constantly confronts doubt, as faith becomes more mature. And you constantly confront, you know, questions. My faith is strong. The Bible talks about, you've got to constantly stay in touch with the Word of God in order to help you on the walk. But the Lord works in mysterious ways, and during all our life's journeys we're enabled to see the Lord at work if our eyes are open and our hearts are open. And today -- you can analyze and you can look at the coffin being held, with the sun shining on it, anyway you want. I happen to feel it was a special moment that was part of a special ceremony for a special person. And it helped strengthen my faith. And you can have your faith strengthened on -- you can have your faith strengthened when you stand up at a faith-based initiative and see someone standing up and testify to what their love has done to help a child, or how a child's life has been helped.
My faith gets strengthened when I went to the school the other day and saw the mentoring relationship between a young professional woman and a young kid who's going to go to the seed school where there's a 95 percent chance that kid is going to go to college. And that helps strengthen my faith. So there's, you know, ways -- whether the moment be majestical or whether the moment be a part of just an average -- your average moment in life, you can find ways to strengthen your faith. And it's necessary to do so, in my judgment. There is a -- it's called a "walk," it's not called a "moment" or a "respite," it's a walk. It's a constant maturing of an understanding of a -- and today's ceremony, I bet you, for millions of people was a reaffirmation for many and a way to make sure doubts don't seep into your soul.
Q Mr. President, I know you're not -- you've said -- you've often said you're not consumed by polls, but a fair amount has been written lately about your approval ratings, which in some polls are at sort of a low point. Some polls --
THE PRESIDENT: Some of them were going up the other day.
Q Okay. Well, some say that --
THE PRESIDENT: You can find them going up and you can find them going down. (Laughter.)
Q In general, what --
THE PRESIDENT: You can pretty much find out what you want in polls, is my point. (Laughter.)
Exactly! LOL The President knows the Game being played.
I've learned that lesson, as a governor and President, that the people expect and respect people for setting agenda items and staying focused on achieving a solution to the problem.
Hear that Senators?
THE PRESIDENT: I believe in an independent judiciary. I believe in proper checks and balances. And we'll continue to put judges on the bench who strictly and faithfully interpret the Constitution.
Hmm. Sounds as though the President is backing Delay up. Good for him.
There is a lot of interest, obviously, with former Presidents about, you know, policy, so I had them sit in on our policy briefings this morning with Condi and Steve and the CIA fellow traveling with us -- not this morning, yesterday and the day before, on Air Force One. And then yesterday at the embassy I wanted to include them in. And, you know, we had a -- these CIA briefings a lot of time prompt policy discussions, you know, how is this process going, Steve -- and Condi, now that she's here, both of them were able to bring dad and President Clinton up to date on our strategy in dealing with a particular issue. It's interesting to get their points of view about their experiences in particular countries. It was fun. It was really a lot of fun. I was honored they came.
I've been thinking about this. It would have been interesting to witness 41 observing his son up close in the position, and certainly would have been interesting to witness Clinton responding to a president that takes his job seriously.
By the way, I think when you discuss religion -- on doubt --there is no doubt in my mind there is a living God. And no doubt in my mind that the Lord, Christ, was sent by the Almighty. No doubt in my mind about that. When I'm talking about doubts, I'm talking about the doubts that an individual struggles with in his or her life. That's important for you to make sure you get that part of the dialogue correct, if you don't mind.
AMEN!
Bush's comments about his faith and the Pope remind me of a line from Zell Miller's convention speech: "I have knocked on the door of this man's soul and found someone home, a God-fearing man with a good heart and a spine of tempered steel. "
Bush sure seems to be a manifestly decent, humble and honorable man. It's inspiring and reassuring to have a president who is so comfortable in his own skin no matter how great or small the moment.
AMEN!
I would not be surprised if Bush converts to Catholicism in the future...
Happy belated birthday, you young thing you!!!!!
I love President Bush. I am so glad that he leads our country....and represents us abroad.
This man is truly a gift to us from God, is he not?
Thank you for the ping, Miss Marple.
BUMP to this interview.
That was an awesome piece to read! Thank you for posting it. President Bush is such a remarkable man.
fascinating.
find later bump
As Jeb did. Would be a very sensible move.
Thank you for thinking of me, Miss Marple.
I so enjoyed this read, that I shall go
off to bed now with a warmed heart and a
smile on my face.
Can't locate a thread here that shows the
time of tomorrow's royal nupitals, but if
it occurs during the night time here, I
shall miss watching.
But, nevertheless, there is a certain -- there's got to be a certain realism about how fast things can possibly happen, given where different nations have started from.
Now, I will continue to press forward on encouraging democracy and reform in every nation, because I believe that is the ultimate strategy to defeat the terrorists. In the short run, we'll continue to find them and work with nations to find them and share intelligence to find them, bring them to justice. In the long term, the spread of freedom and democracy -- democracies reflecting the nature of the people and the history of those countries will mean that generations will more likely grow up in peace.
%%%%%
8:29 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Listen, were you there in person?
THE PRESS: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: One, I'm really glad I came. There was never any question I would come. Last night we hosted a reception at the embassy for many of the leaders of the Catholic Church at home, and they were very grateful that I came, and Laura came, and Dad came, and President Clinton came, and Condi came, as well as others. And I told them, to a person, that it's such an honor to represent our country at a ceremony honoring a truly great man who is and will always be a great historical figure.
I knew the ceremony today would be majestic, but I didn't realize how moved I would be by the service, itself; by the beautiful music. I was struck -- as an aside -- struck by the fact that the sound was so clear in this huge facility. It was as if we were inside the cathedral listening; and the voices were so pure. I thought the homily was really good. We were given an English version, fortunately -- if you haven't read it, maybe you've seen it? Yes. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautifully done. I was struck by the response of the crowd. And I think it's interesting to note the moments where the crowd responded. One in particular is when His Eminence spoke to His Holiness's relationship to the young of the world, and there was a great outpouring of enthusiasm for that line. And then I think the thing that struck all our delegation most intensely was the final scene of the plain-looking casket -- one of three, by the way; lead, wood and wood -- being carried and held up for the seal to be seen, and then the sun pouring out. This will be one of the highlights of my presidency, to have been at this great ceremony.
So off we go to home, now.
Q Your predecessor suggested that the Pope would leave a mixed legacy, even though he was a great man. Since you differed with him on the war to such a great degree, do you also think it will be a mixed legacy?
THE PRESIDENT: I think Pope John Paul II will have a clear legacy of peace, compassion, and a strong legacy of setting a clear moral tone.
---snip---
Let me make sure I go back to the first answer on His Holiness. I said -- I think my answer was, is that -- what did I say?
Q I asked if you thought it was a mixed message, and you said, "I think John Paul II will have a clear legacy of peace" -- THE PRESIDENT: A clear and excellent legacy, if you don't mind adding the word "excellent." Q Clear and excellent. THE PRESIDENT: Yes. In other words, a strong legacy. I wanted to make sure there was a proper adjective to the legacy I thought he left behind. It was more than just "clear."
MR. McCLELLAN: You said "strong," too, in that answer.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay.
Q Yes, you said, "strong legacy of setting a clear moral tone."
THE PRESIDENT: Fine. Okay, good.
---snip---
Q When you sat there surrounded by that incredibly array of world leaders and looked forward to the kind of spread of democracy you're talking about, is there something about just that assemblage there? Who did you talk to? Who did you see? And did it strike you that this was a remarkable ability to pull together such disparate people?
THE PRESIDENT: I was most attentive to the ceremony, itself. And was amazed by the size of the crowd. We came walking out of the grand stairway and it was a very inspiring sight.
Q And the flags.
THE PRESIDENT: And the flags and the statues and just -- yes, the bishops and the archbishops and different leaders of the churches right across the way from me. Of course, the cardinals -- you know, a handful of whom I know, have gotten to know quite well and admire greatly, by the way. So that was pretty well my focus there.
When I first got there -- when Laura and I first got there, we shook hands with the folks around us. Obviously, Jacques and Madam Chirac were right next door; I spent some time visiting with them. But everybody there was - there wasn't much chitchat. There was intense focus on the ceremony.
Q But what it represented, to have that many people --
THE PRESIDENT: No, I understand. I believe that is part of the power of Pope John Paul II. And he was such a believer in freedom. I saw Lech Walesa, for example. I was struck by the number of Polish flags that were in the crowd.
You know, what was really interesting, there were some signs urging that His Holiness be made a saint.
Q Now!
THE PRESIDENT: "Now," yes -- "subito." You know, I really didn't reflect that much on the politics of the moment during the ceremony. I was more -- I thought a lot about Pope John Paul II. I mean, here's a person who has shown that a single individual can make a big difference in history and that, in my judgment, he received his great power and strength from the Almighty.
Q Just to follow up on that, Mr. President, a couple questions about the Pope. One, I noticed at one point you had your glasses on and you were following along -- I'm not sure if you were looking at the homily at that point or maybe, did you have one of those guides that --
THE PRESIDENT: I did. It's hard to follow -- my Spanish is not very good -- (laughter) -- nevertheless, it is decent enough to pick up sounds that then can help me follow the Italian.
Q Had you ever been to a Latin mass before; I imagine you've been to an English mass? [President and Mrs Bush went to Mass in DC on the day the Pope died. Did this reporter forget that so quickly!]
THE PRESIDENT: No, never been to a Latin mass.
Q The other question was, we never had a chance to -- you talked about a lot about what struck you from this ceremony. We never got a chance to talk to you about, by contrast, how you were struck by the wake, if you will, when you went through the other night. How do the two ceremonies -- you know, different kinds of emotions in the two?
THE PRESIDENT: I felt -- I mean, obviously, we were surrounded by a crowd at the wake, but I felt -- when I was kneeling there, I felt -- I'm trying to think of the right word
-- "alone" isn't the right word, because I was aware of people, but felt much more in touch with a spirit. I really did. I was very much -- felt at peace there, and was prayerful. And at the other ceremony, it was probably just because of all the sights and sounds and majesty and colors that, you know, I felt more like a spectator than a participant, but more of a spectator.
Q You knew him personally, I mean, to kneel there and see his body after you've met with him so many times and had -- I mean, that must have been quite powerful and --
THE PRESIDENT: My relationship with Pope John Paul II was a very good relationship. He was such a gentle man and at the end of his life he made his points to me with his eyes. The last visit, as you know, he was pretty physically -- he was struggling; and, yet, his eyes twinkled, just real clear. Much of the communications was done by paperwork, which --
Q Did he speak English?
THE PRESIDENT: Some, but it was hard to really understand him, because he was struggling. That's why it's really interesting for people to note that there was a lot of testimony -- and in my remarks I tried to witness that, as well -- that his struggle at the end of his life and the dignity with which he struggled was a clear example of Christ's influence in his life.
I was honored to see that firsthand. He's one of the great vigorous leaders -- mountain climber, educator, instructor -- who then had to struggle using the very tools that enabled him to be a vigorous teacher, outdoorsman, freedom fighter, and, yet, nevertheless, he still could communicate clearly through eyes which were, you know, crystal clear. And I remember the Castel Gandolfo, when Laura and I went to visit him. And he took us out on the balcony -- the Castel overlooks this fantastic lake, it's a spectacular lake -- and he was much more conversant then. I think it might have been my first trip?
Q It was 2001.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Right before or after Genoa, the G8 in Genoa. And he had a sparkle, he really wanted to show us this beautiful setting. I would define Pope John Paul II as a clear thinker who was like a rock. And tides of moral relativism kind of washed around him, but he stood strong as a rock. And that's why millions -- one of the reasons why millions came to admire and love him.
I was asked by some of the leadership of the Church, was I surprised at the turnout? I said, not at all -- because millions, from all religions -- millions of Catholics and millions of others admired his strength and his purpose and his moral clarity.
Q How did the Pope struggle with his health at the end of his life and his example throughout his life strengthen your own faith?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know, it is as clear example of Christ's influence in a person's life that he maintained such a kind of hopeful, optimistic, clear point of view amidst struggles -- in his case, physical struggles. And that's -- a lot of Christians gain great strength and confidence from seeing His Holiness in the last stages of life.
If you are kind, athletic and thrifty
You will live till at least the age fifty
If you let the wine pour
You will clear the three score
To reach eighty, use rum in your stiff tea
lol ... cheers, Annalex!
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