A day in the life of President and Mrs. Bush (5/21/05): many photos

WhiteHouse.gov; Yahoo News Photos ^ | 5/21/05

[Wolfstar]

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: While his wife was traveling in the Middle East, President Bush addressed the 2005 commencement at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., today. Bush gave his first graduation speech of the year addressing the Christian liberal arts college.

PRESIDENTIAL SCHEDULE: White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan gave the commencement speech at the University of Texas, his alma mater, on Friday. So no week-ahead schedule was announced. (If I find anything while scanning the WH website tomorrow, I'll post it on the Sunday thread.)

The President will welcome German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to the White House for a meeting and working lunch on June 27, 2005.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: From the President's commencement speech at Calvin College today.

The immigrants who founded Calvin College came to America for the freedom to worship, and they built this great school on the sturdy ground of liberty. They saw in the American "experiment" the world's best hope for freedom -- and they weren't the only ones excited by what they saw. In 1835, a young civil servant and aristocrat from France, named Alexis de Tocqueville, would publish a book about America that still resonates today.

The book is called "Democracy in America," and in it this young Frenchman said that the secret to America's success was our talent for bringing people together for the common good. De Tocqueville wrote that tyrants maintained their power by "isolating" their citizens -- and that Americans guaranteed their freedom by their remarkable ability to band together without any direction from government. The America he described offered the world something it had never seen before: a working model of a thriving democracy where opportunity was unbounded, where virtue was strong, and where citizens took responsibility for their neighbors.

Tocqueville's account is not just the observations of one man -- it is the story of our founding. It is not just a description of America at a point in time -- it is an agenda for our time. Our Founders rejected both a radical individualism that makes no room for others, and the dreary collectivism that crushes the individual. They gave us instead a society where individual freedom is anchored in communities. And in this hopeful new century, we have a great goal: to renew this spirit of community and thereby renew the character and compassion of our nation.

[DrDeb]

I received a brief e-mail from her this morning . . . she was excited -- the weather in Ohio today was absolutely beautiful. [She indicated that everyone got quite emotional at the rehearsal dinner last evening and was hoping that it wouldn't be a precursor for today; of course, I think it's a law somewhere that mothers MUST cry at the weddings of their children . . . goodness, I cry at the weddings of virtual strangers!!]

[snugs]

Was it today he got married ?

[CaliforniaRichGRL]

I liked the comment that Susie lady said about saturday nights W being 'Mr. Excitement'...hehe He sure looked good tonight!! As always. As the days go by he just keeps getting better looking with age...so does Laura.

[snugs]

Thanks for saying that because I could not hear what he said I turned the volume up after that but I missed that punch line, that was a good one again so was the one with the photo when he referred to them as numbers of future Presidents. A real hoot.

[mystery-ak]

Yes....Eric is now a married man...

[Fudd Fan]

As the days go by he just keeps getting better looking with age

Yowzah! Think I need more fans, Dr.Deb?

[mystery-ak]

Im sure OWF and her hubby were in tears...I know I would be.

[snugs]

She was quite a bouncy character Susie at first I thought a bit goofy but I think she must be one of those very enthusiastic type of people.

[snugs]

I better post it had I not

[txrangerette]

Late to the thread, trying to catch up with reading. Sorry if this has been said, but I saw Laura's speech this afternoon on C-Span. There was a BUG flying around her face for almost the entire speech. She was trying daintily and surreptitiously to keep it away from her eyes, nose and mouth. Just an awful situation which she handled well, considering. That is what you are seeing in the pics. They correspond exactly to what I saw her doing when the BUG got especially pesky.

[ilovew]

Oh, yeah, I read that on foxnews.com, I think. It mentioned a "pesky fly". I thought it was kinda funny that they referred to it as pesky. Maybe they're not so fair and balanced, huh? Lol.

[JustaCowgirl]

DARN IT!! I missed the whole speech. Can't believe I missed the Cheney part. Hopefully they will replay it tonight.

[snugs]

I think this calls for the industrial air conditioner

[Fudd Fan]

So that explains it, thanks.

[Fudd Fan]

Hope they do replay it, Cowgirl, you are in for a treat if they do!

[Fudd Fan]

Why thank you snugs, you are a wonder. Don't know if I'm ready for that giant air conditioner, but I guess it's possible!

Seriously, I think the reason that W is so gorgeous is his inner peace. And Laura too!

[kitkat]

***The immigrants who founded Calvin College came to America for the freedom to worship,...***

I am SO glad Dubya used his speech today to remind the libs that freedom of religion played an enormous part in the founding of this country, especially since the libs want us to throw that freedom away.

Thanks for the Dose, Wolfstar, and thanks for the beautiful quote.

[GretchenM]

I did see the certif, and loved it. ;-)

The storms seem to have gone away for the time being, thankfully. No rockin' heavens today, altho' the weather has been quite variable throughout the day. That was an ugly marathon.

[JustaCowgirl]

Me too. I can't believe there wasn't a live thread. Woe is me.

[snugs]

You would have enjoyed it I particularly liked the bit where the VP walks out of the room away from his photographer I bet there is more than a grain of truth in that one.