Posted on 04/29/2006 3:20:36 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President and First Lady have spent a quiet day in the White House today prior to attending the annual correspondents dinner this evening.
President Bush joins the reporters who cover him tonight at their annual Washington banquet, the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.Bush has attended every correspondents' dinner since he took office, and he says he's looking forward to this one. The White House isn't saying what the Bushes are planning for this year in the way of Washington humor. Last year, the first lady interrupted the president's after-dinner speech with one of her own, lampooning her husband's cowboy pretentions.
The president's after-dinner speech is traditionally the evening highlight. Comedy Central's pretend pundit Stephen Colbert serves as this year's host.
In a comparatively quiet news day, the follow items are getting the most play on Yahoo News:
Bush backs English-only anthem
BY KEN HERMAN
Cox News ServiceWASHINGTON — President Bush, adept in Spanish and the host of next week's annual Cinco de Mayo event at the White House, took a firm no-Spanish stance on Friday when it comes to "The Star-Spangled Banner.''
"I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English," Bush told reporters, "and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."
Bush Speaks Out Against Boycott Over Immigration ReformPresident Bush has spoken out against a planned economic boycott next week protesting proposed immigration reforms for millions of illegal immigrants.
Many businesses across the nation are expected to close as a demonstration of support.
Bush says he supports "comprehensive immigration" reforms but he is “not a supporter of boycotts.” The President said "most Americans agree that we've got to enforce our border."
Meanwhile, fears of deportation raids are spreading across the nation, keeping many illegal immigrants away from work.
Thousands of illegal immigrants stayed home this week amid rumors of immigration roundups that federal officials say were unfounded, leaving some industries scrambling for workers.
Construction and agriculture were among the industries most affected.
Katie A. Edwards, executive director of Florida's Dade County Farm Bureau, said nearly a third of farm workers did not come to the fields this week.
In lighter news, the President's father addressed the annual Acadian Ambulance luncheon Friday in Louisiana.
Former President Bush Visits Lafayette
by Marcelle FontenotFormer President George H.W. Bush captivated the audience at the annual Acadian Ambulance luncheon Friday afternoon. The former president praised the people of this area for their response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. President Bush also said through the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, $125 million was raised for hurricane recovery.
"It was a deeply rewarding task for me..." Bush says. "We were motivated in large [part] by the dedication during in the aftermath. A lot of people were surprised to see [us] working together...in fact Barbara still calls us the odd couple." President 41, as he is commonly called, says he is extemely proud of his work...but admits he is most proud of seeing his son as President of the United States.
"People ask me what's harder, you being criticized or your son. By far it's is my son. You know how it is when your son is called out at home plate when he's actually safe, it just makes you mad."
Former President Bush says he's served his country and has stepped away from the political arena, and says the titles he holds now matter most.
"That's father, grandfather and husband."
THE WEEK AHEAD: Just as an aside, I'll be interested to see how incoming White House Press Secretary Tony Snow handles announcements of the President's week ahead schedule.
— May 3: The President welcomes German chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House
— May 4: President Bush meets with the President Vazquez of Uruguay
— May 4: Vice President Dick Cheney travels to Lithuania, Kazakhstan, and Croatia
— May 6: President Bush delivers the commencement address at Oklahoma State University
ALSO UPCOMING:
— May 11: President Bush delivers the commencement address at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, MS
— May 21: Former President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush are the commencement speakers at the George Washington University in Washington, DC
I think I'll stay up and watch the rerun of the President.
That was a HOOT!!
Laura looked like she was about to cry.
Do you blame her....he spent 20mins insulting her husband....I would have stood and screamed at him....that's one reason I'm not in politics......
ROFLMAO!!! Good one.
'This guy is such a bomb we should drop him over Iran'
ba-doom-boom.
Too funny.
LOL - I wonder how many younger Freepers have never heard of her! Sheesh - I'm OLD!!
I'm trying to read Ann Compton's lips, she's talking to Colbert. Looks like at one point she said "you have to know..." I'd say she was giving him a polite postmortem.
I think Tom Cruise doing a promotional speech for Scientology would have gotten more laughs.
HAH! Another good one.
We have better comedians on FR than they have at the WHP dinner.
not only was he just plain BAD, he was insulting to boot...nasty even
What a waste of time (after GWB's speech.)
Good night!
Neither to I. If it was me, I have walked out after the first two minutes of that mess.
YOUARE FUNNY, AND YOU ARE LOVED!!!
Skunk Baxter???
I don't know he was only on for a moment.
BTW did you know that Baxter actually attended one of those war game sessions at the Pentagon.
The guy thinks outside the box.
Who is that?
At least the company was good! Good night all.
Cheers - Dinah
there was nothing funny about him at all...i would say he was insulting and taking personal digs at President Bush under the veil of comedy
We just got home at the end, and missed most of it. Was it just Colbert who was horrible, or was it all that bad (except for our President)
Yes, he dis'd the President, the First Lady, the Administration, the Press Corp, McCain, ....he didn't miss one person. What a jerk.
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