Posted on 05/21/2005 2:18:17 PM PDT by 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.
I think that would be the Victoria Cross, and that would be a high honor, indeed.
If I knew how to post a picture, i would post that one from Yahoo
Somebody please give me the code for pictures please
No, according to the C-span schedule, President Bush will be speaking LIVE tonight at a banquet for White House Photographers (I think)---read it earlier...
Hopefully, there will be a live thread...
Notice the stairs say "Grisson ARB." I don't know what ARB means, but I knew it couldn't be Grissom AFB. But I really just used it as an excuse to poke some fun at the recent run of media mistakes and fraudulent stories.
Yup! That is it :O) Cute picture
I heard the commencement speech (almost turned it off, but glad I stayed tuned). GWB began with some wonderfully self-depreciating remarks about the benefits of learning English language and grammar and that the graduates could see how far skills in those areas got him. There was much good-humored laughter.
I don't know how anyone dislikes this man. There are few in the public eye who would make fun of themselves when they are in the spotlight.
Hard to say, but I think she seemed momentarily overcome by her heartfelt push for womens' rights in the Muslim world.
Thank you for the pictures---I watched the speech today, it was typical President Bush, he made THEM the heroes, not himself.
BTW, how is the new job?
Also, those that think this is a "political coming out" for Laura, better realize that she has as much political history as Hillbilly did, during the Clinton years...but, Laura is a good person, as well as a good "politician".
Yes, I think you're right. And it would be a very high honor.
How did the crowd react to him? Yahoo said he had a mixed reaction, but I don't trust them.
I'll send you instructions for posting photos via FReepmail in a little bit.
He's go to have something to do tonight while his wife's away. ;-)
Ok, thanks! I had them once, but lost them.
Oh! How cute!!!! Thank you!!!
An exceptionally cute photo. Thanks again for letting me know it was out there.
Give me a little bit to catch up with the comments, and then I'll FReemail you those instructions.
Do you mean the Victoria or George Cross?
Ok, not a problem. Just whenever you get a chance.
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