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.

[snugs]

Wow you certainly have a history it is great also that it is connected with my own area. My second cousin works in Headcorn at the dairy she is the night supervisor.

[snugs]

Good evening Mike how is the pain?

[snugs]

Here is another site which you may find interesting if you have not already come across it

http://www.curiousfox.com/history/kent_3.html

[SoCalPol]

Thanks snugs for the Headcorn link. It has been a long
time since I have checked those sites, looks like more
has been added. Am bookmarking this, thanks.

[MJY1288]

Still quite sore, There will be no breaks for me tomorrow, we are taking the Grandkids to Hershey Park, I should need a wheelchair by 3;00 PM tomorrow afternoon :-)

[MJY1288]

I'm OK, it's 5 feet from the heart :-)

[DrDeb]

Thanks for posting the DOSE tonight . . . what a wonderful photo retrospective!!

Hubby is spoiling me tonight . . . He took the kids to a graduation party by himself so that I could stay home and relax abit -- what a guy!!!

[snugs]

?

[mystery-ak]

LOL.....years ago when I injured three lumbar discs...my two boys pushed me around Kings Island in a wheelchair....I was almost healed but could not walk the whole park....I feel your pain...

[DrDeb]

You will find more video of the President's visit to the Naval Academy at the following link:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2005/05/bush-speaks-at-naval-commencement.html

As Gateway Pundit indicates, "You will feel comforted to know that our nation is in good hands after watching this video clip!"

[NOTE: You will find a brief overview of the event by clicking on "President Bush at Naval Academy video here"]

[MJY1288]

That's an old saying when someone is injured. When ever I cut myself at work, I always tell anyone who cringes at the site of blood on my hand or arm, I always say, "It's 3 feet from the heart, so I'll be fine"

Or if one of my employee's hurt themselves I tell them to quit whining, you're gonna make it, it's 3 feet from the heart :-)

[snugs]

I had not heard of that expression before but I guessed it had to be someting along those lines.

Hope you survive your visit OK

[MJY1288]

I pity anyone with back injuries, I hurniated 3 disks in my lower back, in a near crash, back when I was Drag Boat Racing. I sucked it up for the rest of the racing and afterwards my back went into spasms, I never want to go through that again. I refused to let the Doctors operate on my spine, they wanted to put stainless steel braces on my first 4 Vertebras, I said NO WAY

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you good friend:}}}}}}}}}

[radiohead]

Hope you are getting rested after your long grind.

I have been a total sloth. I cleaned my room, have been watching terrible B movies on the SciFi channel and playing computer games. I have tried to do some reading but am just not in the mood.

Maybe tomorrow I should try to get out of the house and go down to the waterfront. Then again, maybe not. : )

Glad to hear you are doing well.

[MJY1288]

Thanks, I'll be OK, I'm better than I was yesterday, and I was on my feet all day today. After staying up 'til 4:00 AM, I got up at 8:00 AM and cut our 2 acres of grass, weed whacked and then made Potato salad, deviled eggs, and cooked chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs and bratwurst on the BBQ for 9 of us this afternoon for a family cookout. My wife hates to cook, so I do the cooking

[mystery-ak]

I hear you...my three discs were hurniated and they wanted to do surgery too...I refused also and did therapy and a lot of pain meds...I will eventually have to have surgery, but I'll wait til I crawl into the doc's office...LOL

[mystery-ak]

I watched the Naval Academy ceremonies live...I hope I can watch the ceremony Monday at Arlington.....if you ever get a chance, if you haven't already...take your kids to Arlington to watch the changing of the Guard...they will never forget it.

[snugs]

My goodness what a schedule I thought I was bad enough going to bed at 5.00am and getting up at 10.30am.

Must try to get to bed by 4.00am this morning LOL.

Have a great time look forward to details later.

[MJY1288]

I went to a very good Chiropractor and he worked with me for several months and things were much better, but I've lost a lot of turning motion, I can't turn to the right very well anymore, but I can turn very far to the left, it's because when the disks herniated, the vertebra's twisted and they don't line up anymore. I would pull or agitate those nerves about twice a year and be in major pain for a week or two at a time. I finally went to a Chiropractor that focused on my neck, he told me that the spine was like a venetian blind, if you only pull on one string the blind gets off kilter. if the spine is off kilter than adjust the strings at the top of the blind.

I let him crack my neck a few times and he yanked and pulled on my head, and the used some kind of electric shock device on my neck. For days after he first cracked my neck in this machine, it sounded like sizzling bacon in my ears. That was 4 years ago and I haven't had any back trouble since