Posted on 09/24/2005 4:21:23 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: After spending Friday night monitoring the progress of Hurricane Rita at Northern Command HQ in Colorado Springs, President Bush flew to Austin, capitol of his home state of Texas, where Air Force One touched down at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 2 p.m. local time today.
The president met with state and local officals, received a briefing, and spoke at the state emergency operations center. It was the latest in a series of hurricane briefings for the President that began this morning at Central Command.
In Austin, GWB thanked relief workers, saying that Texans take comfort in knowing a lot of people are working overtime to help them.
The President plans to stay overnight in San Antonio, Texas. Aides say he has hurricane-related events in the city in the morning, and also plans a stop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, before heading back to Washington.
A fighter jet was seen streaking over south-central Austin Saturday afternoon as it chased away a small, private plane that wandered into the no-fly zone established for President Bush’s visit, an Austin-Bergstrom International Airport spokeswoman said.
Airport officials could not say if the small, Cessna-type aircraft was forced down or if the pilot would be questioned.
Several Austinites saw the incident when a fighter jet flew circles and popped flares around the plane.
THE WEEK AHEAD: There was no White House press briefing yesterday, and the President's schedule still remains somewhat open due to the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. So the Press Secretary's office did not release a "week ahead" schedule.
The big political event of the week will be on Thursday, when the Senate votes on the nomination of Judge John Roberts to be the next Chief Justice of the United States. He will be confirmed. Political gossip in Washington has it that the President is likely to announce his nomination to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as early as Friday.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: From the Presidential Radio Address, September 24, 2005.
The past three weeks have tested our nation and revealed the strength and resilience of our people. Americans have the determination and the will to overcome any challenge from man or nature. The courageous spirit of America will carry us through any storm, and the compassionate soul of our nation will help us rebuild.
Q But it sounds like a bit of a photo op, one that he'd prefer over playing the guitar at the airport photo op before Katrina.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, let's correct the record on that. There was a reporter from your news organization that was backstage during that event. That was an event to go and thank our troops and talk about the war on terrorism. And it was not an event, as you may have portrayed to some people that are watching this out there by this simple statement. It was --
Q He didn't pick up the guitar while the hurricane was rolling into Louisiana?
MR. McCLELLAN: -- much more than that. The person that was entertaining our troops there presented a gift to the President. So I think you need to make that clear to everybody who's watching this or to your viewers. And it was one of your colleagues at ABC News who was backstage taking a picture of that.
Q It was a very good picture and I'm proud of her, but the question I have --
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, but that picture was taken by someone -- hang on, hang on, Terry -- that picture was taken by some people way out of context. And it was portrayed that the President was simply doing that, and that's not the case, as you and I know.
Q The point was that he was over there and not --
MR. McCLELLAN: As you and I know, I had announced shortly before that, that we were returning the next morning. As you and I know, we had announced the President -- the day before -- all the briefings he was participating in. The President spoke the day before. He spoke that day about the hurricane. So let's just set the record straight.
Q Fair enough. [This was Moran backing down.]
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that's unfair.
Q So the trip to Texas to take a look at the preparations and show support for the first responders is not a photo op? [Different reporter who apparently was too stupid to understand the foregoing exchange between McClellan and Moran.]
MR. McCLELLAN: This is very much something that's in flux. I would describe it the way I did. This is a catastrophic hurricane that is headed toward the coast of Texas, and the President wants to go and be able to see some of the preparations that are underway and thank all those who are involved in preparing for this response. He is the President, and, as he indicated to you all, it is his responsibility when it comes to the federal government's role in these hurricanes. And he made the decision that this is what he wanted to do tomorrow.
Pinging you to the Saturday Dose.
No 1
Toaster winner?
howdy
Thank you
top 10?
I wonder if Gov. Perry could be persuaded to run for President in '08.
So, let me ask this question. Is the President just bone tired of having everyone think that nothiing can get done unless he personally sees to it himself? I would think he would be. I know I am.
Present and accounted for. Thanks for the dose!
While he spoke with Mr. Fritz, someone reached over to shake the President's hand.
In this photo, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff can be seen at right.
Hey - have you heard from your hubby and his troops?
Thank you Mr.President...Texas made us proud!! God bless you!
President Bush, flanked by Judge Wolff, left, and Mayor Hardberger, right, talks to the press after arriving at Randolph Air Force Base.
Amen! God bless Texas and God bless and keep our President!
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