A day in the life of President Bush (5/28/05): photos

WhiteHouse.gov; various news sources ^ | 5/28/05

[Wolfstar]

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush -- and the dogs, of course -- are spending a quiet weekend at Camp David. They will return to the White House Sunday to be on hand for Monday's traditional Memorial Day activities. Today, Saturday, May 28, 2005, marks something of a red-letter day, because Tom Raum of the Associated Press actually reported the following remarkable piece -- a left-handed compliment, to be sure, but a compliment nevertheless. Mr. Raum has covered Washington for The Associated Press since 1973, including five presidencies.

Newsview: Bush's Global Clout Seen Growing

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer, Sat May 28,12:49 PM ET.

WASHINGTON - In the rarified club of world leaders, President Bush has taken his share of lumps. Critics have railed against his handling of Iraq, his perceived disdain for the United Nations and what they say is a swaggering approach to foreign policy.

But Bush probably would not want to trade places with any other head of state.

Nearly all his fellow leaders of the world's big industrial democracies have stumbled. It has left them vulnerable at home and weakener on the world stage.

The president, through it all, is riding what he sees as a strong re-election mandate to trumpet his goal of spreading democracy.

That helps explains why Bush, despite a slip in his approval rating among Americans, may find himself holding the stronger hand when he travels in early July to Scotland for the annual summit of the leaders of the eight major industrialized democracies.

"His counterparts all face ill political winds that make their domestic positions rather precarious," said Charles Kupchan, director of European studies with the Council on Foreign Relations, a private research group. "I do think it puts Bush in an advantageous position."

It is not the best of times be a world leader:

_Britain's Tony Blair, Bush's chief ally on Iraq, did win re-election this month to a third term as prime minister. But he prevailed by drastically reduced margins for his Labour Party, threatening his leadership abilities.

_Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, also a strong supporter of U.S. policy in Iraq, has seen parties in his government coalition lose in regional and local elections. Defeats even forced his resignation, although he cobbled together a new coalition to regain power.

_German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a vocal critic of the Iraq war, has called for national elections for this fall — a year early. That followed his party's crushing defeat in Germany's most populous region. The loss, he said, cost him the mandate he needs to fix Germany's struggling economy.

_French President Jacques Chirac, also a foe of U.S. policy in Iraq, is taking heat for his decision to call a referendum on the European Union's first constitution. It's set him up for what could be a humiliating defeat. Chirac's approval ratings have declined and he faces opposition from within his own party.

_Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin faces serious challenges and demands that he resign. The House of Commons tied on a vote of confidence this month. It took a vote by the parliament speaker to give Martin's minority government a one-vote victory. Canada pledged to tighten its borders after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But Ottawa has declined to send troops to Iraq or sign on to the U.S. missile defense shield.

_Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, finds his popularity lagging after four years on the job. It's down about half from the 80 percent he once enjoyed. Koizumi may be in better shape than his European counterparts. But weighing him down are tensions with North Korea and China, and public concern about expected tax cuts and pension restructuring.

_Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to consolidate power and exercise more control over regional leaders. But his rollback of press and political freedoms, and his pursuit of oil giant Yukos, have drawn international condemnation and clouded Russia's business climate.

Analysts see common themes for the leaders' tough times: high unemployment and slow growth in Germany and France; social tensions associated with Muslim immigration; and a backlash against "globalization" as industries move their operations to low-wage countries.

Bush himself is having trouble on Social Security, judicial nominations and other domestic priorities. Yet, analysts suggest, the president has had a strong run internationally over the past few months — even with the continuing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He persuaded European powers to negotiate with Iran over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. He watched democratic elections and the formation of a new government in Iraq. He successfully prodded Syria to withdraw from Lebanon.

And he is taking an active role in trying to nudge Israelis and Palestinians toward peace.

France's ambassador to the United States spoke recently of the effect of Bush's winning a second term.

"The moment President Bush was re-elected, he extended the hand of friendship and cooperation to the leaders of Europe," said Jean-David Levitte. "Style has changed."

PRESIDENTIAL SCHEDULE: Once again Press Secretary Scott McClellan did not announce a week-ahead schedule. However, I obtained the following from various news reports.

Monday, The President will lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetary and participate in traditional Memorial Day ceremonies and rememberances in Washington.

Thursday, GWB will travel to Hopkinsville, Ky., to speak about Social Security reform. He will fly into Fort Campbell Army Airfield before heading to the Hopkinsville-Christian County Conference and Convention Center. The President last visited Hopkinsville while campaigning for the presidency in May 2000. He last visited Fort Campbell in March 2004 when he came to address the thousands of soldiers who had returned from combat duty in Iraq.

Friday, President Bush will address the Organization of American States on June 6 at the group's annual meeting. The United States has not hosted the General Assembly since 1974. The three-day OAS General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale brings together the foreign ministers from most of the 34 OAS member nations. The meeting will be chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

President and Mrs. Bush will travel to Denmark prior to his participation in the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland. The President's bilateral program in Denmark will take place on July 6th. Denmark is a close friend and ally of the United States, and Prime Minister Rasmussen is a strong proponent of effective transatlantic cooperation.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: From today's Presidential Radio Address:

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, a victory for freedom in which more than 400,000 Americans gave their lives. Today a new generation of Americans is making its own sacrifice on behalf of peace and freedom, and some have given their lives.

In their hometowns, these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are more than names on a roll of honor. They were friends and neighbors, teachers and coaches, classmates and colleagues. Each was the most important person in someone's life; each had hopes for the future, and each left a place that can never be filled.

We mourn their loss, and we honor their sacrifice. We pray for their families. And we take heart in knowing that these men and women believed deeply in what they were fighting for. Christopher Swisher was a staff sergeant from Lincoln, Nebraska, who joined the Army a year after graduating from high school. He was killed in an ambush while on patrol in Baghdad. Sergeant Swisher told his loved ones: "If anything happens to me, I'm doing what I want to be doing -- I'm protecting my family and my home."

Rafael Peralta also understood that America faces dangerous enemies, and he knew the sacrifices required to defeat them. An immigrant from Mexico, he enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after he got his green card. Just before the battle of Fallujah, he wrote his 14-year-old brother, "We are going to defeat the insurgents. Be proud of me, I'm going to make history and do something that I always wanted to do." A few days later, Sergeant Peralta gave his life to save his fellow Marines.

[tommix2]

Snugs, you are amazing the way you have all these pictures at your fingertips. Yes, we have some sheep, but mostly beef cattle.

[altura]

Ha! too right.

It is amazing what passes for a life these days!

But getting the computer back after two days, I'll take it.

[altura]

Yes, you are amazing with the pictures. After lo these many years, I have yet to post one.

People keep helping me figure out and then I keep forgetting the instructions.

[snugs]

Thank you for your lovely words and pictures

[snugs]

We have quite a lot dairy cattle in our area not so much beef but sheep is the most prolific with a local breed "Romney Marsh" Sheep we are only about 6 or 7 miles from the Romney Marsh as you can see the field that these sheep are in as I said only 2 minutes walk from me is very marshy.

[homemom]

I'm enjoying your description of spring, and the antelope . . . it's been beautiful in Nebraska, too. I sat out on our new deck yesterday morning and this morning too; the birds were singing, a light breeze . . . just wonderful how God made our world so interesting and beautiful. We have a flock of wild turkeys who live in the shelterbelt right by our house, but usually see at least some of them several times a day. It's just a joy to be in the country!

[ilovew]

Hey, y'all. I gotta do this quick cuz I'm not supposed to be on this website on this computer. I got a last-minute camp job for the summer. (Yay!!!) I'm leaving for Georgia tomorrow. There's a computer at camp so if I get a chance, I'll try to check in every now and then. I can't stay to see anyone's answers since I'm not supposed to be on here. (Don't ask. My mom's paranoid.) I just didn't want y'all to get worried or anything. I'll try to talk to y'all soon. Bye!!!

[SoCalPol]

This is one of my way back grandfathers

Children of Thomas Borden and Isabella (unknown):
*John Borden

---

Notes:

he was a yeoman. died before 1469.
wife Isabel, who was possibly the daughter of Thomas SANDER.
children:
John BORDEN (d. c.1469), Henry BORDEN, and Richard BORDEN.
--
In 1450 Thomas BORDEN joined in an uprising known as Jack
CADE's Rebellion in which practically every man in Kent participated. The
whole rebellion lasted little more than two months and included a battle
against King Henry VI's troops on London Bridge. Their demands for certain
reforms in government were given serious consideration, but not fully
implemented for many years.

[snugs]

Wild turkeys wow I am used to farm ones and normally nowadays just the white ones though I do prefer an old fashion brown Turkey which has so much better flavour than the common all garden white Norfolk ones. I believe if you want one of the local ones you have to order them about a year in advance and I dread to think of the price.

[SoCalPol]

A will of my way back grandfather John Borden

Subject: Will of John Borden [b. 1425] of Hedcorn, county Kent, England
>
>
> Surname: Borden
>

---

>
> To be buried in the churchyard of St. Peter and St. Paul there. [Bequests
> for lights in the church.] To Thomelyn, my servant, 40s. To Isabel Seede,
> my servant 20s. To each executor 6d. Residue to Thomas Hovynden, Richard
> Borden, and John Holstrete, my executors, to dispose of for my soul.
>
> My will regarding my lands. To my feoffees, Thomas Phylip, Richard Borden,
> William Ive, John Holstrete, and Robert Hovynden, all my lands and
tenements
> in Headcorn, and they are to permit Benedicta, my wife, to have during
> her widowhood [a place] in hall and kitchen for fire and fiet, with a
chamber
> and a portion of the garden and a cow to be kept on the land. After the
> term of her widowhood she is to have a messuage and lands and her clothing
> and apparel and a one-fourth part of all things in her room, but the other
> three parts are to go to my children and executors. My executors are to
> have until the Michaelmas next after my death to carry out my will, and
> are then to let out the lands at the best price until my son William
reaches
> the age of twenty years, and are to pay £20 to my daughters at the age
> of twenty years, and, if one daughter die under twenty, then her share
> is to go to the other daughter. When William Borden is twenty years old,
> he is to have the lands and tenements, except such as are sold, in fee
> simple; but, if he die within age, then all the lands I had from my father
> or obtained myself are to go to my daughters, in fee simple, except such
> as the feoffees must sell to perform the will. If both William and my
daughters
> die within age, then I give to the son of the above-mentioned Richard
Borden,
> if he have one, all the lands that were my father's, and the remainder
> are to be disposed of for an honest priest to sing in Headcorn church for
> my soul and the souls of Thomas, my father, and Isabel, my mother, and
> of Henry Borden and Roberga, his wife, and of Thomas Sander, for two
years,
> and to buy a silver cross for Headcorn church. [No date of probate.]
>
>

[kitkat]

Thanks for your good words about our President Bush. I live near the border with your country and it is so beautiful, so clean and so wholesome. I can hardly believe the liberals have taken over such a glorious country with such a proud heritage. Keep fighting them, youngtory, it's well worth it.

[mystery-ak]

Thank you for honoring all the MOH recipients.....Lest We Forget..

[kitkat]

"Oh, give me a home where the pronghorns roam....um...doesn't sound right, does it? Sure we know what an antelope is. It runs fast and has horns. Right?

[MJY1288]

Howdy Wolfstar, Thanks for Saturday "Dose"

[snugs]

I now you may not see this but in case you do well done have a great summer look forward to hearing from you when you get opportunity congratulations

[kitkat]

Thank you, anonymoussierra. The picture of the young soldier gently touching the kitten was on my refrigertor for about a year. And there are people who want us to think that our troops are heartless.

[mystery-ak]

hiya Mike..

[MJY1288]

Hi there mystery-ak,

[snugs]

You have probably seen this website but here is the official Headcorn Website as you can see St Peters and St Pauls is the Parish Church

http://www.headcorn.org.uk/

[mystery-ak]

How are you feeling, I hope better..