Posted on 04/22/2006 2:26:40 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: For a change, a pleasant, even delightful and funny story from the Associated Press about President Bush. An AP reporter accompanied GWB on what the reporter described as a "lung-busting" mountain bike ride this morning in Northern California, and later filed this report (unfortunately no photos were up on Yahoo as of 1:00pm Pacific time):
Bush Takes Muddy Bike Ride on Earth Day
By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press WriterLAS POSADAS STATE FOREST, Calif. - President Bush marked Earth Day with a lung-busting mountain bike ride high above Napa County wine country, dodging ruts that sent several of his riding partners crashing into the mud.
The president spent Saturday morning with a small pack of riders in a foggy redwood forest about 90 minutes north of San Francisco. He relished the swampy conditions on parts of the trail in this remote state-owned tract, leading his partners repeatedly through huge puddles and streams running high after weeks of heavy rain.
"I still ride the mountain bike primarily to help settle the soul and to burn off the excess energy one gets when you're living life to its fullest," Bush told an Associated Press reporter who accompanied him on the ride.
"We're able to enjoy the beauty without really disrupting the pristine nature of the place," the mud-splattered president said after the 65-minute ride. "It's a classic way for mankind to enjoy God's gift. Plus, we get some exercise."
The ride started at an elevation of about 1,700 feet above sea level and dropped steeply for several miles, prompting a bit of anxiety in the president. He is not accustomed to the sustained drops and climbs of California's mountains, having ridden mostly in the Washington, D.C., area and on his ranch near Crawford, Texas.
Bush settled into a steady rhythm on the way back up — an ascent he said pushed him to near his physical limits. His heart rate monitor-wristwatch reported he achieved a maximum heart rate of 176 beats per minute — just off his maximum, 183.
When a fellow rider spoke up from behind him, Bush said between grunts, "Can't you at least act like you're breathing hard?"
Asked at mid-climb whether he still lifts weights, Bush replied good-naturedly but pointedly, "Don't talk to me." A moment later, he answered in the affirmative.
"I don't spend a lot of time chitchatting," Bush said after the ride. "But I get great pleasure in riding with a group of people, and afterward we shoot the breeze and have fun and laugh and go about our way."
The president set the pace throughout the ride, with four Air Force men, a White House legislative aide and Secret Service agents tightly bunched behind him. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., began the ride with the president, but he quickly sensed he was not up for the rugged terrain and fast pace. He peeled off and pedaled solo.
"I'm used to riding in the flats," Lungren said later.
A long convoy of SUVs and off-road vehicles rumbled behind the group, carrying medics and security agents with machine guns.
One of the bicycle-borne agents had mapped out the route, and he was the only person who knew where to turn when the road forked. Bush, however, made plain he was in charge. "Drop back," the commander in chief ordered the agent, with a thumb over his shoulder.
The president explained later that he cherishes both the solitude and the social aspect of mountain biking.
"Generally when I ride it is the one time when I feel alone, even though I know people are behind me," he said. "I ask people a lot of times not to be in my line of vision because all I can see straight ahead is, you know, space."
Often, he said, when he is riding with his usual group near Washington he plugs headphones into his ears and cranks up his iPod, "and it's like I'm alone."
[WOLFSTAR's NOTES: (1) Rep. Dan Lungren is a former California Attorney General and candidate for governor. (2) President Bush is going to be 60 in July. (3) GWB's comments about his need to have some time to feel alone underscore something I've come to believe ever since Hurricane Katrina hit last year. I believe the President is understandably experiencing a bit of burnout with the job. Six years of the most ugly, intense, divisive politics, massive terrorist attacks, war and natural disaster will take their toll on anyone, no matter how strong. He needs the support of those of us who are loyal to him more than ever.]
THE WEEK AHEAD: From Press Secretary Scott McClellan's press gaggle aboard Air Force One on Friday.
Monday, President Bush will give a speech on his immigration reform proposal in Irvine, California. On his way back to Washington, the President will attend a congressional reception in Las Vegas for Jon Porter.Tuesday, the President will be making remarks on energy in Washington, then participate in the presentation of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the United States Naval Academy Football Team.
Wednesday, GWB will make remarks to the 2006 National and State Teachers of the Year at the White House. The First Lady usually attends this event, although she has been on the road a lot lately to campaign for Republican congressional candidates, as well as to continue promoting her youth initiatives.
Thursday, the President will travel to Louisiana and Mississippi. He'll be participating in a National Volunteer Service Week project in both states.
Friday, the President will meet with the President of Azerbaijan at the White House.
Saturday, GWB will attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington.
UPCOMING EVENT: Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark will visit with the President at Camp David, Friday, June 9th. A statement released by the White House said, "Denmark is a close ally in the war on terror and a valued partner in advancing freedom around the world. The President looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Rasmussen to Camp David."
I wanted to note if for the faithful participants on the Dose who have followed GWB's career so closely all these years. As for me, this milestone makes me melancholy.
Yes, you put it well. With me, it's that I have my opinion, it's probably not going to change, and I understand other people are the same way about their opinions. There's room for all of us, and getting nasty about it doesn't solve anything. This must be the wisdom that comes with age.
Then you sound like a person after my own heart. :)
At least there's some benefit that comes with age. ;-)
"Then you sound like a person after my own heart. :)"
Awww :) Thanks!
bttt
**Instead, I thank him for his service to the country and the President we both admire so much**
That was worth repeating.
I think I heard that Lance Armstrong is going to run in the NYC marathon.
Yes he is, unfortunately for US. But I sincerely believe that history will show that he will have been one of the greatest presidents we've ever had. I am so privileged to have seen two such presidents in my lifetime - Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. God bless them both!
Thank You!
I'm no art critic, but it looks like that sculptor didn't get GWB's forehead exactly right. It looks more like a Paul Begala forehead. But I love the sentiment!
:)x 2!
Excellent Dose tonight, Wolfstar.
Your insight into the presidential pets is inspirational.
I cannot factually verify the accuracy of their respective positions, but the contact information is correct and made easy for all of us to e-mail our senators and other senators as well.
Please PUNCH HERE!
He did not capture dubya in the bronze, I am not impressed with the likeness.
Did you see anything about THIS? It's on the opening screen on aol. I am spitting MAD.
Spokesman Denies Rice Leaked Defense Secrets
By MATTHEW BARAKAT, AP
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 22) - Condoleezza Rice's spokesman on Saturday branded as "utterly false" a lawyer's claim the secretary of state leaked national defense information to a pro-Israel lobbyist charged with receiving and disclosing such information.
The assertion came as a federal judge granted a defense request to issue subpoenas for Rice and three other government officials in the trial of Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, the former lobbyists with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee charged in the case.
"The claims by these defense lawyers are utterly false," Rice's spokesman, Sean McCormack, told The Associated Press.
"The secretary is the most careful person in the handling of classified information and she absolutely did not convey classified information to either of these individuals," McCormack said.
Prosecutors also disputed the claim.
Defense lawyers want a judge to dismiss the charges because the lawyers believe the case seeks to criminalize the type of backchannel exchanges among government officials, lobbyists and the press that are common in Washington.
During Friday's hearing, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III said he is considering dismissing the entire case because the law used to prosecute Rosen and Weissman may be unconstitutionally vague and broad and may infringe on freedom of speech.
Rosen's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said the testimony of Rice and others is needed to show that some top government officials approved of disclosing sensitive information to the defendants and that the leaks may have been authorized.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin DiGregory said Rice "never gave national defense information to Mr. Rosen."
The issuance of subpoenas does not automatically require Rice or anybody else to testify or give a deposition. A recipient can seek to quash the subpoena.
The judge also granted subpoenas for David Satterfield, deputy chief of the U.S. mission to Iraq; William Burns, U.S. ambassador to Russia and retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni.
"Each of these individuals have real-life dealings with the defendants in this case. They'll explain what they told Dr. Rosen in detail," Lowell said. "On day one, Secretary of State Rice tells him certain info and on day two one of the conspirators tells him the same thing or something less volatile."
The indictment against Rosen and Weissman alleges that three government officials leaked sensitive and sometimes classified national defense information to the two lobbyists, who subsequently revealed what they learned to the press and to an Israeli government official.
One of the three government officials is former Pentagon official Lawrence A. Franklin. He pleaded guilty to providing classified defense information to Rosen and Weissman and was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
Franklin has said he was concerned that the United States was insufficiently concerned about the threat posed by Iran and hoped that leaking information might eventually provoke the National Security Council to take a different course of action.
The indictment against Rosen, of Silver Spring, Md., and Weissman, of Bethesda, Md., alleges that they conspired to obtain classified government reports on issues relevant to U.S. policy, including the al-Qaida terror network; the bombing of the Khobar Towers dormitory in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U.S. Air Force personnel; and U.S. policy in Iran.
Lowell said it is impossible for Rosen and Weissman to determine what is sensitive national defense information when they are receiving the information from government officials who presumably understand national security law and therefore would not improperly disclose national defense information.
The World War I-era law has never been used to prosecute lobbyists before.
04/22/06 09:28 EDT
Thank you for the pictures of Barney!!! Love that dog. I still miss Spotty. I love White House pets and feel very bad for the poor, unfortunate ones who belonged to the Clintons.
Hi ilovew. We all love an honor our troops, as well we should. But we should also realize people like Scott McClellan also serve, frequently in thankless positions putting in long, grinding hours.
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