A day in the life of President Bush (and RBC tribute) 8/20/05; many photos

WhiteHouse.gov; various news sources ^ | 8/20/05

[Wolfstar]

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: Following is and excerpt from the AP story published just a few minutes ago on Yahoo about the President's bike ride with Lance Armstrong. (Click the link on the headline below to read the whole article.) The two Texans have been friends for years, although Armstrong's politics are Left of center.

Armstrong, Bush Ride 'Tour De Crawford'
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
3 minutes ago

WACO, Texas - It's no yellow jersey, but President Bush on Saturday presented Lance Armstrong with another shirt to show off his biking experiences — a red, white and blue T-shirt emblazoned "Tour de Crawford."

The leader of the free world and the world's biking master rode for 17 miles on Bush's ranch for about two hours at midmorning. Bush showed Armstrong the sites of the ranch that he calls "a little slice of heaven," including a stop at a waterfall midway through the ride.

They were accompanied by a small group of staff and Secret Service agents and a film crew from the Discovery Channel, Armstrong's Tour de France sponsor, which had exclusive media access for the ride. Footage was shot for a program on Armstrong to air next week.

At the end of the ride, Bush gave Armstrong and the rest of the riders the T-shirts, which said "Tour de Crawford" on the front in Western-style rope script and "Peloton One" -— a reference to the densely packed group of riders in a race -— on the back. Bush also gave them red, white and blue riding socks with the presidential seal on the inner ankle.

After the presentation, Duffy said, they posed for pictures and the president announced, "OK, let's go swimming." Armstrong and the rest of the group were invited to stay for lunch.

THE WEEK AHEAD:On Monday, August 22nd, the President will make remarks to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention that's being held in Salt Lake City, Utah; open press. He will remain overnight in Donnelly, Idaho.

Tuesday, there are no public events. However, he will remain in Donnelly for some fishing.

Wednesday, August 24th, the President will make remarks on the war on terror in Nampa, Idaho. And then he'll return to the ranch that night.

DUMB MEDIA QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: From the press gaggle conducted by assistant WH press secretary Dana Perino on Thursday. Note how the print and broadcast media seem annoyed that they don't get to cover the bike ride. Of course, most of them haven't seen the sunny side of a bike ride since they were kids (if then), and would be unable to keep up with GWB and Lance Armstrong. And they all hate the Texas heat. But they're annoyed anyway.

Q What are the coverage plans for Lance Armstrong's visit on Saturday?

MS. PERINO: It is closed press. The White House will release a photograph. Discovery Channel has an exclusive to tapes and video.

Q So Discovery Channel is doing filming?

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q I can't hear a thing. That was Lance Armstrong?

MS. PERINO: Lance Armstrong will be here on Saturday to --

Q That's closed press?

MS. PERINO: It is closed press.

Q No pool, nothing?

MS. PERINO: No pool.

Q They're going to be biking entirely within the confines of the ranch. Is that true?

MS. PERINO: That's my understanding, yes.

Q And Discovery Channel has an exclusive what? How are they doing that?

MS. PERINO: To shoot some video.

Q Can you repeat what -- I couldn't hear Dick. Your understanding is what about the biking?

MS. PERINO: He asked if they riding within the confines of the ranch boundaries, and I think that's true.

THEME -- SALUTING DICK AND LYNNE CHENEY: On September 11, 2001, a scene Hollywood has enjoyed portraying many, many times met real life in deadly earnest as a Vice President of the United States rose to face and help manage an immense national crisis.

In contrast to typical Hollywood characters, however, the real Vice President on that dark day was anything but the politically correct figure tinsel-town always chooses for it's fictional VP. Dick Cheney was -- horrors! -- a graying, balding, sixty-ish, overweight, white male Republican from deepest fly-over country. He was also a former heavy smoker with a history of heart trouble. As such, he was anathema to the Left.

Yet on 9/11, Dick Cheney was rock-steady, calm, and able to draw on one of the most impressive resumes ever brought to the vice presidency. It was as if his entire life had been forged -- indeed, spared several times -- to prepare him for his service to the nation that singular day. We should all humbly thank God for giving us this quiet, reserved, resolute, great man in our time of greatest need. He is one of the most historically significant vice presidents in our history other than those who went on to become presidents.

The vice presidency is a largely ceremonial office endowed under the Constitution with only two official duties, president of the Senate and replacement if the POTUS becomes incapacitated or dies in office. Thus, Vice President Cheney could have left Washington on that day, but he didn't. He could have gone to the secure bunker deep under the White House and stayed out of the decision-making loop, but he didn't. He could have worried more about his own political and personal future, and his own family, but he didn't. Instead, he stayed in the White House, manning the National Presidential Emergency Operations Center, working closely with the President, and coordinating the response in the nation's capitol. The Vice President on that day was incredibly brave, selfless and heroic. No matter what the moonbat Leftists say about him, Dick Cheney deserves every respect and honor our nation can bestow.

Secretary of Defense Richard B. Cheney was awarded our nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush. He may not be eligible to receive it again (don't know if they award it more than once). So, as the 4th anniversary of 9/11 rapidly approaches, the Dose takes this moment to thank Vice President Cheney and his wonderful wife, Lynne, for their long service to our great nation.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Excerpts from "The Wisdom of Choosing Dick Cheney," by Gerald R. Ford and Bob Dole, Op-Ed piece, The New York Time, Monday, July 31, 2000 (entire Op-Ed can be found at the Ford Library with this link: www.ford.utexas.edu/library

...we are delighted by the selection of Dick Cheney to help implement Mr. Bush's inclusive vision. Ironically, the shrill reaction of some Democrats to the Cheney nomination only confirms the timeliness of Governor Bush's pledge to restore civility to Washington.

Like Dick Cheney himself, most Americans evince a basic fairness. They know decency and character when they see it. They also recognize a manufactured controversy when it spills across their television screens. Political labels aside, such voters share a bipartisan disdain for the sterile name-calling that has crowded honest debate off the political stage. And debate, after all, is what a campaign should be all about. The honest airing of our differences, not the poisonous rhetoric that demeans even as it disillusions.

If experience counts for anything -- and it ought to -- the Bush-Cheney slate is one of the most abundantly qualified in memory. As the youngest ever White House chief of staff, Mr. Cheney displayed the qualities instinctively recognized by Governor Bush and most fair-minded voters: a towering intelligence and probity, razor-sharp judgment, and a seriousness of purpose that is the antithesis of modern political spin. Yet there is much more to Dick Cheney than his resume. We know him as a man of conviction, whose principles include respecting others with whom he differs. He has adversaries but no enemies.

Mr. Cheney also represents an unconventional choice, if only because of the transparent merit which motivated his selection. This alone makes him a refreshing alternative to the usual electoral calculations. He was selected less because he could help Governor Bush get elected than because he could help a president Bush govern. And to do so in a way that will help restore popular respect for tarnished institutions.

[Wolfstar]

The Vice President re-enlists 30 service members at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 7, 2004. He was in Afghanistan to attend the inauguration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Vice President Dick Cheney with troops in the Viper Dining Facility on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

[Wolfstar]

Inauguration Day, January 20, 2005. For more years! President George W. Bush shakes hands with Vice President Dick Cheney during the 55th Presidential Inauguration swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2005.

[Wolfstar]

OK SNUGS, TURNING IT OVER TO YOU.

[Wolfstar]

OK, am I first?

You certainly are...grin and congrats.

[Wolfstar]

Hi, Gretchen. The President will be out and about some next week, so there will be fresh photos to post.

[snugs]

Thanks Wolfie, here we go

Regarding the photo of the day, lovely one Wolfstar, here are 2 more taken at the same time, IMHO these 3 photos are amongst the best taken during his time as VP maybe he had a sympathetic photographer that day.

The following photos and comments are in response of the ones that Wolfstar has already posted some are at the same event that she has posted a photo and others are from a similar era or situation.

[Wolfstar]

The last picture in #11 looks like a WW2-era photo;

The black and white, yes, but also the uniforms still strongly resembled the unis from the 40's.

[snugs]

This photo has a very interesting caption and was taken in November 1976 just after he was appointed as President Ford's Chief of Staff obviously later on his family decided that "their first priority" was politics as well hence that in the late 70s Lynne and indeed the girls were both out on the campaign trail with him in Wyoming when he ran for Congress. As you said in your introduction I also believe his whole life was forged for that dreadful day in September 2001 even back in the 1970s fate intervened in Dick Cheney's career or as I prefer to believe, it was in God's providence that he career in politics did not end with the Ford Presidency and therefore he was indeed in the White House on 9/11

Also note as per your introduction he was indeed a heavy smoker in those days, as one can see both from the ashtray full of butts and of course he has a cigarette in his hand. In 2005 of course this would be considered as a non politically correct photo.

Seeing you mention November 1989 it is interesting how history has panned out over the years the previous month saw Dick Cheney swear in as part of his Defense Secretary's duties the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff who of course later on would become Secretary of State in the first Bush Administration - General Colin Powell

[snugs]

Seeing that jacket that Dick Cheney was wearing during the gulf war in 1991 reminds me of one that he has today which shows that both his tastes and fashion comes full circle

Talking of things coming full circle during August under George W Bush Press Conferences are often held at his home in Crawford Texas likewise his father held them in August at his residence in Kennebunkport the familiar figure though in both photos is of course Dick Cheney

11th August 2005

8th August 1992. IMHO this photo show actually how very little Dick Cheney has changed over the last 12/13 years yes got slightly older looking, maybe put on a bit of weight and lost a bit more hair but considering his health issues and the tremendous responsibility I think he has aged gracefully and in fact is probably a lot fitter than many people believe he is.

[Wolfstar]

Hi, radiohead. Glad you like the photos. I like the historical perspective on his long and very significant career.

[snugs]

I notice that there is a jump from 1992 to 2000 in photos because of course you are majoring on his political career and of course during the Clinton Presidency Dick Cheney was for the majority of that time in the private sector (Chairman and CEO of Halliburton in Texas where he re-established his links once again with the Bush family but this time the son not the father). Lynne Cheney in fact was part of Governor Bush's educational team.

Here is a photo of Dick Cheney whilst with Halliburton

The following day after the announcement that Dick Cheney would be George W Bush running mate in the 2000 election they appeared together in a campaign stop in Casper Wyoming Dick Cheney's home State. Here is a photo of him taken whilst his wife Lynne introduces him at that event.

Here is also a couple of photos from the RNC2000 the first is Kate sneaking a quick kiss from her granddad and the second one of him carrying her out from the convention centre at the end of one evening. You do not often see him carry the grandchildren yet when you do he seems to pick them up with such ease and familiarity which to me indicates that in private he probably does carry them around more than in public.

Lynne and Dick Cheney on Stage RNC2000

[SoCalPol]

You asked about plank holder.

Believe those are crew members on a ship at its
commissioning.

[Wolfstar]

Good evening, LUV W. I was so delighted to see those new photos of Barney and Beezie that snugs found for us the other day. Now we're all going to have to keep our eyes peeled for new of the Discovery Channel episode with the bike ride.

[snugs]

I love that photo of VP taken after taping Meet the Press in December 2000 which is quite incredible that it was only photographed about 10 days after he left hospital having suffered his 4th heart attack

Leaving the George Washington Hospital 24th November 2000 with his granddaughter Kate, the way Kate is smiling is so sweet and although I am sure she does not realise it seems to be showing relief that her grandfather is OK and fit to resume his work in assembling the transition team.

That is interesting seeing Dick Cheney at the Economic World Forum in Switzerland in January 2004 just over a year later his daughter was the US representative at the Forum in Jordan (21st May 2005)

[Vic3O3]

I think the term 'plankowners' refers to the first crew of newly commissioned ship of the Navy.

[snugs]

Here are a couple of photos from the base ball game in Ohio where he threw the first pitch

Preparing to pitch

Pitching

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for posting that presidential address, Liberty.

[snugs]

Seeing the photo of Dick and Lynne with baby Richard (which was my wallpaper for the best part of a year - I am currently having a change. I cannot but help thinking how proud the VP is not only is this the first boy in the family since Dick and his brother were born but this is the fourth grandchild and I would think he had almost thought he would never have a male grandchild. From what I understand and read at the time they had known for quite a few weeks that the baby would indeed be a male child. The VP's daughter Liz the baby's mother must be an extremely fit women she worked almost up to the birth of the child on the relection campaign and also accompanied her parents to Ronald Reagan's funeral when quite heavily pregnant and once Richard was born she was back at her desk at the Bush Cheney Headquarters within 10 days and back on the road with her father a couple of weeks later as this photo testifies

The whole family were much in evidence at the RNC at the beginning of September. One interesting fact here the Sunday was in fact Dick and Lynne Cheney's 40th wedding anniversary and of course typical for this family it was celebrated by attending a rally in New York which signalled the opening of the 2004 RNC. They had had a family party over the weekend in Washington.

On Stage at RNC2004

[snugs]

Once again family members including grandchildren were in evdidence at the VP debate in Cleveland Ohio in October 2004 - love the way Kate is looking at her aunt Mary and the grin on the VP face he knew he had done a great job that evening

[Wolfstar]

Wonder how the ride really went.....hope he converted Lance!

Not likely. But then again, not everything has to have a political aspect to it. Today it was just two long-time buds doing a friendly 17-mile bike ride. Makes me tired just thinking about it.