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.

[Wolfstar]

The First Lady is greeted by the Charge d'Affairs of the U.S. Embassy in Jordan, David Hale, as a member of the Jordanian armed forces salutes upon her arrival in Amman.

The First Lady being introduced to Jordan's Tourism and Antiquities Minister Alia Bouran.

Waving as she steps off the plane. Note the seal of the Department of the Air Force, which is her official escort for the trip. Although the plane certainly is one from the presidential fleet used for Air Force One and Air Force Two duty, as a non-governmental official, the First Lady does not have a seal of her own.

God bless the security detail protecting her on this trip. Make their eyes sharper and their reactions quicker, and please keep Laura and all those traveling with her safe.

Waving before getting into her limo.

[Wolfstar]

Talking with reporters aboard her plane enroute to Jordan, Laura said her husband should have been interrupted during his biking trip last week to be told that the White House and Capitol were under an emergency evacuation. (PS: I agree.) By the way, that photo on the wall behind Laura is of her husband waving as he disembarks Air Force One.

[Lemondropkid31]

Wow, have a great time!!!

[snugs]

Toaster winner

What kind would you like?

[snugs]

Hi ya Phancy how are you keeping?

[Bahbah]

Oh, you guys will be so jealous. I heard Fox earlier announce the President was arriving back at the WH so I stopped to watch. He was waving at the rope line but he sensed me smiled and waiving so he just turned and gave me a big smile and a waive...no, really!

[Wolfstar]

ALL CLEAR! More from the First Lady's trip tomorrow.

[Bahbah]

he sensed me smiled

LOL, that would be "smiling." My English fine, how youse?

[Wolfstar]

Wow am I first?

Hi. You sure are -- and on a day with lots of great pics to see.

[Lemondropkid31]

I want a Purple one with Miss Beazley on it.

[Miss Marple]

Grissom AFB is in INDIANA!!!

[Wolfstar]

How come he's never in my area !!! :(

I know how you feel. I live in the greater L.A. area, and he rarely comes to California, let alone to L.A. Then on those rare occasions when he does come here, it's usually on a work day and I'm stuck in the office. Sigh.

[Lemondropkid31]

There is a picture on Yahoo with the President holding Miss Beazely after he got back from the college.

[snugs]

OK back in a while

[kellyismetal]

but i keep forgetting, he lives at my house !!!

[Wolfstar]

Whoo-hoo 1st time I've made top 20

Chuckle -- you shouldn't count my posts where I'm putting up the pics, pinging people and such. You're top 10 for sure.

[snugs]

Is Laura emotional in these photos or are her contact lens giving her problems?

[Wolfstar]

Good evening, snugs. I heard somewhere that Blair has proposed awarding the UK equivalent of our Congressional Medal of Honor to one of your soldiers. Can you share anything more about this with us?

[Wolfstar]

He was waving at the rope line but he sensed me smiled and waiving so he just turned and gave me a big smile and a waive...no, really!

Ain't it grand to have such a rich fantasy life [snicker and big wink].

[Lemondropkid31]

I was thinking that mabe she still has some jet lag.