A day in the life of President Bush (4/29/06): photos & live thread for WH Correspondents' Dinner)

WhiteHouse.gov & Yahoo News ^ | 4/29/06

[Wolfstar]

Yesterday evening I saw 'United 93,' the riveting film about the heroic crew and passengers of the fourth plane highjacked on September 11, 2001. I heartily urge everyone to see this movie. It's worth every penny of admission. More to the point, the emotional discomfort some might feel sitting in a dark theater watching events unfold on film is nowhere near the horror the 40 passengers and crew experienced that morning.

Shot in a spare, near-documentary style, with almost no background music, this is one of the most remarkable films made by Hollywood since the end of its Golden Era. It brings the viewer into the control tower, military command center and FAA command center, as well as on the plane itself. The perspective is as though you are an inside observer in the various control rooms, and nearly a participant on the plane.

The movie is a work of fiction that does take some small creative license here and there (particuarly since no one knows for certain exactly what happened onboard), but it focuses very tightly on the plane and command/control centers, and uses phone and in-flight recorder transcripts, results of investigations and other real-world material to tell the story as accurately as possible. The film is non-political.

One small bit of creative license used in the film is this: One of the hijackers clips a photo of the U.S. Capitol building to the steering yoke in the cockpit. In fact, we do not know for certain if their primary target was the Capitol or the White House. It is believed one was the primary, and one was the backup target, but the available evidence conflicts as to which was which. In the end, it really doesn't matter because if that plane had been able to strike either one of those buildings, the result for our nation and the world at large would have been catastrophic.

Congress was in session that morning, and the First Lady was among those in the Capitol building. Neither she nor the congressional leadership were immediately evacuated.

At the White House, although the President and some of his domestic aides were in Florida, the Vice President and most of the senior staff were at work along with hundreds of other people who work at the WH complex -- including all of the Secret Service White House detail. Because the VP chose to stay in the PEOC underneat the WH, the complex was never fully evacuated that morning.

Thanks to the heros of Flight 93, a national atrocity of immense proportions was averted. What did happen to them and thousands of others that day was horrific enough, but the heros of 93 prevented something even worse, the near total decapitation of our government. Can you imagine the effect on our President if that plane had hit the Capitol with the First Lady inside?

I thank God for the crew and passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, and will love them forever even though I never met any of them.

In my opinion, every American owes it to them to see this film. Spending a couple of hours in a movie theater is nothing compared to what they suffered. They gave us an immense, immeasurable gift. We surely can give them a couple of hours in a theater. What courage does that take? None, and if we aren't capable even of that, we aren't capable of dealing with what might come our way some day at the hands of the Islamofacist monsters.

May the crew and passengers of Flight 93 rest in the loving arms of the Lord forever. (Obviously, when I refer to the passengers, the Islamofacist scum are totally excluded.)

[Wolfstar]

Pinging you to the Saturday Dose. At about 9:00pm Eastern time, this thread will turn into a live thread to cover the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. The President and First Lady will attend. Photos of the event will appear on tomorrow's Dose.

[ilovew]

hi

[MEG33]

Bump!

[Wolfstar]

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: One of the many temporary memorials at the crash site of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. is seen pointing toward the impact area Friday, April 28, 2006.

Emergency workers look at the crater created when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pa., on Sept. 11, 2001.

As depicted in the film "United 93," the passengers and flight attendants of United Airlines Flight 93 charge down the aisle to reclaim the plane from hijackers.

[Wolfstar]

With no new photos this afternoon, here are a few from the week just past.

President George Bush gets a kiss from his wife during a ceremony honoring the 2006 National Teacher of the Year at the White House Wednesday.

[Wolfstar]

President Bush cuddles two puppies rescued from a pound by Triple R Pets, as he visits Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts in Biloxi, Miss., Thursday. The puppies were adopted by White House staff and were flown back to Washington on Air Force One. Of course, the Puppy-Lover-In-Chief really minded that, now didn't he?! I wonder who spent most of the time playing with them during the flight.

;-)

[Wolfstar]

A short retrospective on the dedication of GWB's restored childhood home earlier this month.

First Lady Laura Bush stands with former President Bush as his wife Barbara speaks during dedication ceremonies at the restored childhood home of President George W. Bush in Midland, Texas, April 11, 2006.

[Wolfstar]

Former President Bush and Mrs. Bush talk to the media in front of the restored childhood home of their son.

[NordP]

Thanks, Wolfstar! --Off to check out a beer in the gazebo, and watch a bit of the Draft (NFL) ;-) before things get started. I might bring the laptop outside later...hmmm.....What a wonderful day to be an American! --Course, EVERY day is a wonderful day to be an American!!!

[Wolfstar]

[Wolfstar]

The day before the opening, the current First Lady toured the home with preservationist Dealey Herndon.

View of the kitchen.

View of the living area.

[Wolfstar]

President George W. Bush's boyhood bedroom.

[bnelson44]

Will it be televised?

[Wolfstar]

Informational plaques at the home in Midland, Texas.

[goodnesswins]

HAPPY DAY....hi, Wolf....Thanks for the pics....I LOVE that green suit! We are heading out to see United 93 in about an hour.....

[ilovew]

*gasp* There were MORE puppy pictures?! He's SO cute and sweet and playful. The puppies are cute too. I can't wait to see him in a tux tonight!

[bnelson44]

Do I see a Bear Book and a Cub Scout Uniform?

[Wolfstar]

Four First Ladies...Barbara Bush, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan.

[Wolfstar]

ALL CLEAR!