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]

Thanks

[luvie]

Thank you for all those pictures, snugs! All that in addition to the toaster--I feel spoiled! ;o)

[DrDeb]

I find it so beautifully ironic that the leaders targeted for defeat by the Left (following the LIBERATION of Iraq) have now been re-elected (President Bush, John Howard and Tony Blair -- Aznar doesn't count because he had actually retired before the vote in Spain), while the nefarious anti-liberation duo of Chiraq and Schroeder are going down to ignominious defeat in their respective countries of France and Germany!

Yes, as the President so presciently stated in his first inaugural address (right Mike), ". . . an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm!"

France:
http://decision08.blogspot.com/2005_05_29_decision08_archive.html#111739320977868338 [Scroll down just a 'hair' for the commentary entitled "Weekly Jack*ss Number Twenty-Five: Jacques Chirac"]

Euro falls as markets assess size of rejection
[Guess whose market/dollar is going to benefit from this 'rejection'!]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ft/20050529/bs_ft/be0618ded09311d9abb800000e2511c8;_ylt=AovUvS0w0sH9KxhQCqzfQaus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2amdibDI5BHNlYwNicw--

[luvie]

Do we know how to pick a LEADER or what! Honor, Godliness and heroism trumps apathy and self-love every time!

[snugs]

I hope there were some that you had not already got.

[luvie]

I didn't have any of those! The one that was kinda like the little one, I didn't take. It made him look fat in the face or something. Wasn't a good shot at all. But the others I snagged!

[DrDeb]

"Do we know how to pick a LEADER or what! Honor, Godliness and heroism trumps apathy and self-love every time!"


. . . perfectly stated!!


I'm off to bake a cake for tomorrow . . . will check back later!

[luvie]

Mmmmmmmmm--cake! Can I lick the bowl...I love cake batter! Or better yet can I have a slice of the cake. What kind is it? LOL!

[snugs]

How true Deb Germany did not even give their own people the chance to reject the EU constitution that France have done today. Holland are more than likely to reject it in a few days time. Blair has now to decide whether or not he will give us the opportunity to reject it after the France has as he may feel or say it is not necessary because in its present form it is dead. We in Britain must make our voice heard and insist upon a vote regardless of what happens elsewhere.

I definitely feel that both France and Germany are moving more to the right very slowly and not what you and I know as the right but there is movement.

[snugs]

I love licking bowl especially on victoria sponge or rich fruit cake.

[luvie]

LOL! I am so glad I'm not the only one! I really like cookie dough the best, but cake is a close second--my favorite is lemon cake batter! Yum! Victoria sponge sounds really good! I never liked fruit cake, but my hubby does. It's those candied fruits that I don't like--they neither taste like candy nor fruit!

[Peach]

Happy Memorial Weekend and thanks for the pictures, Wolfstar.

[snugs]

By the way a Britain won the Indy 500 today

Andretti Green driver Dan Wheldon of Great Britain kisses the yard of bricks at the start-finish line after winning the 89th running of the Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, May 29, 2005

Fans holding Union Jacks shout at Andretti Green driver Dan Wheldon of Great Britain near the winners circle after he won the 89th Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, May 29, 2005

Dan Wheldon of Great Britain celebrates on the track with a Union Jack after winning the 89th running of the Indianapolis 500

Dan Wheldon of Great Britain takes a drink of milk after winning the 89th running of the Indianapolis 500

Milking the moment : Driver Dan Wheldon of England poors the traditional jug of milk over his head after winning the Indianapolis 500

Andretti Green driver Dan Wheldon of Great Britain holds a bottle of Jim Beam whiskey as team co-owner Michael Andretti (R) shares in festivities in victory lane after Wheldon won the 89th Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, May 29, 2005

[snugs]

I do not like candied fruit but I like dried fruit or do you call dried fruit candied fruit and candied fruit something else?

[luvie]

The candied fruit that they use in fruit cakes over here is treated or soaked in some candy mixture that makes the fruit shiny and it no longer tastes anything like the original piece of fruit. To me, it is nasty tasting! (hope I'm not offending someone who loves the stuff! LOL!) Now, I do like dried fruit and a cake with that in it wouldn't be so bad.

[snugs]

Dried fruit is what we put in our fruit cake the shiny stuff you mention sounds awful, we do have candied peel which is basically citrus rind soaked in sugary mixture but that is not shiny and sometimes you get glazed fruit on the top of cakes but the fruit inside the cake apart from the candied peel is dried fruit such as raisins and sultanas and currants.

[luvie]

Great pictures of the winner (a Brit! wonderful!)--it was nearly as good as watching it and not nearly as noisy! He looks so young! Wow!

[SoCalPol]

Am listening to Matt Drudge, he just said
VP Cheney will be on Larry King's show Mon.

[STARWISE]

Here's Rummy, saluting our troops at the Rolling Thunder Rally -- fallen, fighting and SO brave .. God Bless ALL OUR INCREDIBLE MILITARY!

A biker stands guard as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, rear, speaks during the annual Rolling Thunder memorial ride at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington Sunday, May 29, 2005. The Rolling Thunder event, coinciding with the Memorial Day weekend, has been focusing attention on POW-MIA issues since 1988. Riders also advocate for veterans' rights.

(I think he was amply protected there .. LOL .. who would mess with that guy? I'm sure he had much more protection that this, though.)

[Wolfstar]

Hi snugs. That's a great shot of Dubya, Laura and Spotty. I never saw it before. He sure did love that little English Springer Spaniel -- and she loved him.