A big thanks!
Posted on 05/28/2005 3:32:36 PM PDT by 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 GrowingBy 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.
Hi, You came close to bouncing out your PM if it
wasn't for Clinton's gal pal jumping ship.
I think many up your way are seeing the light and
hope you can get a Conservative PM soon.
Sometimes we do, sometimes not. I'm just finishing up a book about the 1918-19 Spanish influenza pandemic. The things I'm learning about Woodrow Wilson are immensely frightening. He was, quite literally, our nation's first -- and so far only -- dictator for awhile.
BTW, did you know that the pandemic hit Canada hard? The author discusses some of what happened in Labrador. About a third of the population of Labrador died. Amazing.
Thanks, but today's Dose belongs to the Medal of Honor recipients -- and to that sad little boy, David, who made me cry.
Hi, radiohead. It's springtime now. We've had several days of rain and the prairie is green as far as you can see. The birds were singing early this morning, and the bird songs I remember from my childhood were everwhere. It is good to be home again after more than sixty years away. Springtime is beautiful in the Puget Sound area too when it stops raining and the lush vegetation grows so fast. Hope you are getting rested after your long grind.
Thanks for the dose. The media is to blame for the hatred of President Bush! I am so angry after reading about the high school yearbook! I am so fed up with these damnable lies the left has gotten away with!!!!!
Can you put the UK on your list LOL 12 - 13 years minimum of a Socialist Government is just awful to contemplate
Beautiful tribute! Thanks!
Here is the photo I promised you which is to do with GWB's speech re stem cell etc the children are products of the adoption embryo project snowflake
Good evening Tommy your description of your countryside sounds wonderful
antelope all over too. Do you know what they are? I think they are properly called pronghorn too.
Also isn't this early warm for you. Sounds like good
beach weather.
I don't remember if I ever mentioned another one of my Kent
family lines (my great grandmother Burden which was originally spelled Borden)
My Richard Borden b. 1595 in Headcorn, Kent
he and his wife came to Rhode Island in early 1630s
and my line from him went on to New Jersey.
I can trace back to my grandfather Henry Borden in 1300s
in Headcorn, Kent. I have copies of their wills during
that time on down and other history.
So Kent has alway a special place to me.
Sounds like Ricky wants none of yapping dogs.
From the earlier photo you posted, he looks like
a sweetie.
The yearbook incident IMHO shows the immaturity of these students and also one wonders if the original publishing of the year book was allowed because the adult staff enjoyed the swipe at the President and then they realised that it would cause a lot of trouble and so pretended that it was a genuine mistake to let it be printed with that caption.
Can you put the UK on your list LOL
For sure you are on my list for a Conservative PM
The sooner the better!!!
this is old photograph total classic my thank you
Hey your family came from all around me Headcorn is only about 30 minute drive from me if that and at work we use an export packer from Linton which is not far from there and it is just down the road from where my parents both came from Maidstone which is the county town of Kent.
The name Henry Borden sounds familar to me was he a big land owner?
mee-eeee-eeeeeee-eeee-ee:}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}me-eeeee-eeeeeeee-ee-ee:}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}me-eeeeeeeee:}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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