Posted on 07/30/2005 12:43:30 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President Bush had his annual physical checkup today at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethseda, Maryland. He also took time to meet wounded sailors and Marines recovering at the hospital. The President was found to be in what he described as "pretty good" health following his regular physical exam on Saturday and doctors pronounced him "fit for duty."
Here are the facts and figures released about the President's health:
He's 59, born July 6, 1946
Height: 5 feet, 11 3/4 inches
Weight: 191.6 pounds
Blood pressure: resting, seated 110/64 (below 120/80 is healthy)
Pulse: resting, seated 47 beats per minute (60-100 bpm is normal for adults; 40-60 bpm is normal for a well-trained athlete)
Body fat: 15.79 percent
Cholesterol: High-density lipoprotein 56 (goal is above 40); low-density lipoprotein 100 (optimal is below 100); total cholesterol 178 (below 200 is desirable)
Overall health: The president remains in the superior fitness category for men his age. He was found "to be fit for duty" with "every reasonable expectation that he will remain fit for duty for the duration of his presidency." — statement issued by his doctors.
Since his December physical, President Bush has lost a little weight and gained a few points in his cholesterol level.
His weight fell to 191.6 pouns from nearly 200 pounds seven months ago, and his body fat dropped from 18.25 percent to 15.79 percent. His overall cholesterol level went up from 170 to 178, still well below to the desirable limit of 200.
He exercises six times a week by bicycling 15 miles to 20 miles, working out on a treadmill and an elliptical trainer, and performing free weight resistance training and stretching.
The report by his doctors notes, "The president has a history of activity-related injuries...[that] do not impact his current duties."
He enjoys an occasional cigar, gets his caffeine from diet sodas and coffee, and reports no usage of alcohol.
The report also notes, "The president has not missed work due to illness since his last physical exam."
The President is finishing up some loose ends in Washington before heading out to the ranch for the August recess. He spoke with Northern Ireland political leaders Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley late in the week, hailing the IRA's pledge to end armed combat, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "This is a historic opportunity," McClellan said and noted that the President "coached Doctor Paisley to give the IRA the opportunity to live up to what they said they would do."
President Bush's visit to the Boy Scout National Jamboree in central Virginia was postponed again until Sunday at the request of Scout officials so that they could make appropriate plans for handling any heat problems in the crowd, the White House said today. [The media all but blamed the President because a lot of scouts got sick from the heat while waiting for the President to arrive on Wednesday. However, his flight was delayed due to severe thunderstorms.]
From the "IMPORTANT NEWS OUR MEDIA HASN'T BOTHERED TO TELL US" department:
The following short article is from the English language webside of the Chinese newspaper "People's Daily Online" [link to article]:
UPDATED: 15:36, July 28, 2005
Bush looks forward to meeting with Chinese presidentUS President George W. Bush said on Wednesday that he looks forward to meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao this year and believes the exchange of visits between the two leaders will be of positive results.
Bush made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan in the White House. Bush also extended his welcome for Tang's visit to the United States.
For his part, Tang said that it will be of great significance for the two presidents to have an exchange of visits this year, as it will be very beneficial for dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides and will promote the Sino-US constructive and cooperative relations.
It is in the interests of both China and the United States to further develop the Sino-US relations and it also contributes to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, Tang said.
Tang also delivered a letter from the Chinese president to Bush during the meeting.
In addition to Bush, Tang also met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, US national security adviser Stephen Hadley and US Treasury Secretary John Snow on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua
From the "POSITIVE GWB NEWS OUR MEDIA HAS BURIED" department: President Bush has achieved a number of important legislative victories this year. Following is an excerpt from a Yahoo News op-ed column:
Bush Adds Energy, Trade To Long List Of 2nd-Term Wins
by Jed Graham And Sean Higgins, Thu Jul 28, 7:00 PM ETJust a week ago, President Bush's second-term legislative record looked mediocre and Republicans in Congress seemed unconcerned about defying his command.
But after a few late-night calls by the president...Bush's opponents may be thinking they've once again "misunderestimated" him.
"People have been so anxious to count this president out and to downgrade his potential with this Congress that it's fascinating to see how much really has been accomplished," said Brookings Institution senior fellow Stephen Hess.
House passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement early Thursday morning came as Congress was about ready to seal the deal on an energy bill that's been tied up in the Senate for four years and a transportation bill that's also had a rocky road.
The Bush administration has also turned the economy around from its low point after the 2001 terror attacks:
The White House on Wednesday slashed its forecast for the fiscal 2005 budget deficit by nearly $100 billion after the government raked in unexpectedly large tax revenues in recent months. The Bush administration projected a deficit of $333 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, according to the Office of Management and Budget's midsession update.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Friday that President and Mrs. Bush (and the dogs) will leave for their Crawford, TX, ranch after GWB signs the Central American Free Trade Agreement into law. No date was announced for their departure as of this writing, but the President is giving a speech in Texas on Wednesday.
McClellan said the President looks forward "shedding the coat and tie" at his more casual ranch home. Although the first couple will spend most of August in Crawford (a tradition throughout his presidency), GWB plans to travel to seven states from the ranch, and hold at least 10 events. The President's first August day trip will be Wednesday when he will travel about 150 miles up the road to the Dallas suburb of Grapevine. GWB plans to speak to the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative-leaning, bipartisan group of state lawmakers and business leaders.
On Thursday, the President will host Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at his ranch.
The date of the President's return to Washington has not been set.
In the meantime, reporters assigned to cover the President during August are not happy. The following sentence is from AP's news release about going to the ranch: "Despite the stifling heat, Bush typically likes to spend time outdoors when he's at his ranch, doing things like clearing brush and riding his bike." [Snicker...and the reporters get to stand around melting like the Wicked Witch of the West while all us good Munchkins get to laugh our you-know-what's off...chortle...]
QUOTES OF THE DAY: Our "unbiased, professional" White House press corps in action, from Scott McClellan's press briefing yesterday. I don't know who the nasty reporter with the attitude is in this exchange:
Q Senator Frist said today that there were supposed to be 78 stem cell lines after the August 9th decision, and there's only 22 available today, and some of those have degraded to the point that they're not useful. So how do you square those numbers?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I just pointed out -- because what you can do from those stem cells that are available is derive additional lines. And that's why I pointed out that there's 600-some lines that are already being used right now. There are an additional 3,000 more that are going to be available for this kind of research. The fact of the matter is, we're still in the early stages of the research.
Now I want to back up, because I do think it's important to talk about the accomplishments. Maybe you don't want to talk about it, because a number of people in the media were saying just two months ago...
Q [Interrupting] Don't start with that.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, let's start with that.
Q Don't take me on like I don't want to talk about it. That's ridiculous. You want to make your statement, make your statement. I was asking you a specific question on a specific issue, and don't try to turn this into a screed about the media. [Wolfie's question: Who is this nasty excuse for a human being?]
MR. McCLELLAN: Then don't make a broad statement, like you did.
Q I corrected myself. I meant on this issue.
MR. McCLELLAN: Of course you don't want to talk about it, because you don't want the American people to hear about the great progress that we're making on the legislative front.
Q I thought I heard your opening statement pretty clearly.
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sure you'll be reporting on it later tonight.
Q Watch the broadcast tomorrow. [Wolfie's retort: Yeah, like I have nothing better to do than sit around and watch you spew your bilge.]
In this exchange, Scott is talking to a reporter whose first name is Les, but I don't know who Les is:
MR. McCLELLAN: Les, go ahead.
Q Scott, The Washington Post this morning reports that, "Many days, no doubt, he" -- that's you, Scott -- "he harbors his own desires to finger his feelings about reporters." (Laughter.) That's what they reported. And my question is, since The Post also reports that, "The President suddenly thrust his right hand into the air and extends a finger," White House officials yesterday said it was his thumb. Could this be interpreted as the traditional thumbs-up signal, or is it a mistake to confuse the President's thumb with his middle finger?
I have a follow up.
MR. McCLELLAN: Les, okay, I found all this kind of preposterous...
Q [Interrupting] It was in The Washington Post.
MR. McCLELLAN: ...and the story that was run there. Clearly, if you look at it and if you were there, you would recognize that the President was giving a thumbs-up. Someone in the media had asked something to the effect of, how does it look on the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and the President gave the thumbs-up.
I don't know how someone is trying to divine my inner thoughts, but despite some of the back and forth that we engage in today and other times, even with people like David -- (laughter) -- I have great respect for the job that you all do. And you all -- you all know the way I deal with you all and I know the way the President acts. And that's -- it's just preposterous to make that kind of suggestion.
Good prayer and thank you.
Isaiah 54:17 Amp
W and Barney, one of some really great photos on this thread.
Those photos are adorable! I've followed your posting of marvelous photos for some time--how do you get them? I'm always amazed.
Cheney, W and Rumsfeld--what a fantastic trio--charmers all!
Most of my photos come from Yahoo and the White House Website also from news articles which sometimes have photos with them.
Also the Department of Defense and State Department Website also have photo galleries.
The pic in post #17 is absolutely the BEST! Thanks bunches for posting the pics and for the info.
When they ever find a spot to show the President's speeches, we're lucky to see them once and most fortunate to see them twice, but hillary was on repeatedly last night. She was also scheduled to be on last weekend (didn't look). Guess she'll be on every Sunday from now until 2008 and about 4 showings each time.
You're most welcome. Isn't that an awesome photo? One of the very best ever of GWB, I think.
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