Posted on 02/04/2006 2:38:00 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush are spending the weekend at their ranch in Crawford, TX. They will return to Washington on time for President Bush to participate in the swearing-in of new Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke at the U.S. central bank in Washington.
The Fed said in a statement that the ceremony was scheduled for 10 a.m. (1500 GMT). Mr. Bernanke's acceptance remarks will be his first public comments since he took office. Former Chairman Alan Greenspan, members of Congress and the cabinet, and agency officials were among the invited guests, the Fed said. Fed Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson was slated to administer the oath of office.As is common practice in Washington (with all except the Constitutionally mandated presidential and vice presidential swearing in ceremonies), the public ceremony for Mr. Bernanke follows a private, official swearing in that occurred last week, shortly after he was confirmed by the senate.
Mr. Bernanke, who was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday to replace Mr. Greenspan, is serving a four-year term as chairman that ends on January 31, 2010, and a full 14-year term on the Fed's board that expires on January 31, 2020. The Fed said President Bush's attendance would mark only the third visit by a president to the headquarters of the Washington-based Fed board.
The Federal Reserve's imposing headquarters on Constitution Avenue opened on Oct. 20, 1937, and President Franklin Roosevelt spoke at the opening. President Gerald Ford attended the swearing-in of a Fed board member, Philip C. Jackson Jr., on July 14, 1975.
Iran:
Yesterday, President Bush discussed the Iranian nuclear issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone, White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters. Both leaders have a shared concern about Iran developing a nuclear weapon under the guise of a civilian program, the press secretary said. President Bush reiterated his support for President Putin's recent initiative under which Russia would conduct uranium enrichment for Iran, provide it to the Iranians for peaceful nuclear energy uses and take the spent fuel back after it had been used, according to McClellan.The United States along with the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- Britain, China, France and Russia -- along with Germany and the European Union recently decided to ask the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council over Iran's nuclear program. Today (2/4/06), the IAEA board did vote to refer the matter to the Security Council. In response, Iran's president today ordered the resumption of uranium enrichment and an end to snap inspections of its facilities. Tehran also said a proposal by Moscow to enrich uranium in Russia was dead.
"As of Sunday, the voluntary implementation of the additional protocol and other cooperation beyond the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has to be suspended under the law," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a letter addressed to Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Javad Vaeidi, deputy head of the powerful Iranian National Security Council, said there was no "adequate reason to pursue the Russian plan.""Commercial scale uranium enrichment will be resumed in Natanz in accordance with the law passed by the parliament," Vaeidi told state television in a telephone interview from Vienna, Austria. Natanz is Iran's main enrichment plant.
The Russian government had proposed that Iran shift its plan for large-scale enrichment of uranium to Russian territory to allay world suspicions that Iran might use the process to develop a nuclear bomb.
Uranium enriched to a low degree is used as fuel for nuclear reactors. But highly enriched uranium is suitable for making atomic bombs.
Twenty-seven of 35 member nations on the International Atomic Energy Agency board voted for referral, reflecting more than two years of intense lobbying by the United States and its allies to enlist broad backing for such a move. Cuba, Venezuela and Syria voted against, and five members abstained.
After years of opposition, Russia and China backed the referral last week, bringing support from other nations who had been waiting for their lead.
But in return, Moscow and Beijing demanded that the Americans — and France and Britain, the two other veto-wielding Security Council members — agree to let the Iran issue rest until at least March, when the IAEA board meets again to review the agency's investigation of Iran's nuclear program and its compliance with board demands that it renounce uranium enrichment.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: From the Presidential Radio Address, Saturday, February 4, 2006:
Generations of risk-takers, inventors, and visionaries have made America the world's most prosperous and innovative nation. Just 25 years ago, most Americans used typewriters instead of computers, rotary phones instead of cell phones, and bank tellers instead of ATMs. Today America is at the doorstep of even more technological advances. But we cannot afford to be complacent. We're seeing the rise of new competitors, like China and India, who are making great strides in technology. In response, some people want to wall off our economy from the world. That is called protectionism. The American people should not fear our economic future because we intend to shape our economic future.To keep America the world's most competitive and innovative nation, we must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity. My American Competitiveness Initiative will encourage innovation throughout our economy and give American children a firm grounding in math and science.
THE WEEK AHEAD:
Monday, the President will participate in the swearing-in ceremony for Chairman Bernanke to the Federal Reserve, as noted above. Also on Monday, the President and First Lady host a social dinner in honor of the Dance Theater of Harlem.Tuesday, the President will make remarks to the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Next week the President will be focusing on the budget. He will discuss the importance of moving forward with a fiscally responsible budget, and of continuing to build upon the economic growth record he has achieved.
Wednesday, the King of Jordan will visit with President Bush at the White House. Also on Wednesday, the President will sign the Deficit Reduction Act that just passed.
Thursday, President Bush will make remarks on the global war on terrorism, in Washington. He will also meet with the President of Poland.
Friday, he'll make remarks to the House Republican Conference, which will be meeting in Cambridge, Maryland.
As we renew the promise of our institutions, let us also show the character of America in our compassion and care for one another.
A hopeful society gives special attention to children who lack direction and love. Through the Helping America's Youth Initiative, we are encouraging caring adults to get involved in the life of a child -- and this good work is being led by our First Lady, Laura Bush. This year we will add resources to encourage young people to stay in school, so more of America's youth can raise their sights and achieve their dreams.
1st post?
yOOOO hOOOO ;)
Pinging you to the Saturday edition of the Dose.
yEEE HAWWW! :D
Top TEN. Bush Rocks.
Thank you!
President Gerald Ford chats with recently named White House chief of staff Dick Cheney outside the White House in this Nov. 7, 1975.
Central Intelligence Agency directors William Colby, right, and George Bush appear before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill, April 1978.
Presdent Gerald Ford, flanked by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, left, and and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, right, holds his first post election cabinet meeting in the White House in this Nov. 5,1976.
Look closely at the expressions shared by GWB and RBC.
Shaking hands with Sen. John Kerry. The body language of the two men speaks volumes.
Back in the day WJC and his sycophants ran around looking for his legacy. President George W. Bush has no such problems. His legacy will resonate for generations.
The following article is from the Animal Planet website.
Heroic Dog Among Guests at State of UnionFeb. 1, 2006 — Former U.S. president Harry S. Truman famously observed, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."
President George W. Bush took that maxim one step further Tuesday, inviting a famed German shepherd to his State of the Union address.
The five-year-old canine captured the hearts of Washington policy hacks when he was separated from Air Force Technical Sergeant Jamie Dana when he was injured in a roadside bombing in Iraq. Military practice forbade Dana from adopting his canine comrade, as the dog was still considered a highly trained military asset.
But after their plight hit the headlines, Congress passed, and Bush signed, a new law lifting the prohibition on adopting dogs before their working lives were over.
The Air Force then let the adoption go ahead.
Rex's work in Iraq included searching vehicles at checkpoints and scouring buildings for booby traps and explosives.
The pair was riding in a Humvee vehicle together last June when the bomb went off.
Both Dana and Rex were listed as guests in First Lady Laura Bush's box by an official White House press release.
It was believed to be the first time an animal had been allowed into the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives to hear a president in action.
How true. I think our Danish friends are learning just what a threat the Islamofacists are to freedom-loving peoples, even freedom-loving Scandinavian socialists. : )
I can remember Reagan and say that because of him, my son didn't have to practice running to the school's fallout shelter or hide under his desk in fear of the Russians like I did. Because of George Bush, our children and grandchildren will know they can go into a food court, get on a bus, and live their own faith without being blown up by Islamofascists.
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