Posted on 06/17/2006 2:07:54 PM PDT by Wolfstar
President Bush darted across the country Friday to raise more than $1 million for a pair of political candidates, part of a stepped-up fundraising pace aimed at helping the GOP retain its majority in Congress.Bush has been the headliner at 39 fundraisers that have brought in $126 million during this midterm election cycle, with more scheduled in the coming weeks, according to the Republican National Committee. On Friday, the president flew from the White House to Seattle for a two-and-a-half-hour visit to help freshman Rep. Dave Reichert and the state Republican Party raise more than $830,000. Then he was off to New Mexico for a two-hour stop to raise $375,000 for Rep. Heather Wilson.
Monday night, Bush is scheduled to appear before 5,000 donors in Washington for a dinner that is projected to raise $26 million for the GOP House and Senate campaign committees. The numbers show that even though the president may be down in public opinion polls, Republicans are still willing to shell out big dollars to see him speak in person and support local GOP candidates. Both Reichert and Wilson live in districts that voted to make Democrat John Kerry president in 2004.
"The president is in high demand by our candidates across the country," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. "He energizes and invigorates these campaigns like no one else can."
Other famous faces at the White House also have been doing their part. Vice President Dick Cheney has appeared at 66 events that have raised $22 million, while first lady Laura Bush has become much more comfortable on the fundraising circuit after doing very little travel in 2002. She has appeared at 20 events that have raised $9.7 million.
So far this election cycle, the Bushes, Cheney and others have raised $172.5 million for the cause. By the end of June 2002 they had raised $179 million.
Pinging you to the Saturday afternoon Dose.
For those who are curious, typically (though not always) a presidential-level political fundraising trip is paired with a non-political event. The costs for the non-political event are covered by the normal presidential travel budget, while the political portion of the trip is paid for either by the candidate's campaign, or the state Republican committee, or the Republican National Committee, or a combination of those three entities.
Thank you!
Wolfstar, as usual, great stuff!
Love that pic of Air Force One taking off from Kirtland Air Force Base. Almost looks staged.
That is a photo (#3) that must strike fear and trembling into the hearts of the 'Rats ... the President and his trusty sidekick Rove scheming together ... hehe!
Yesterday, an article appeared here on FR (see post here) which demonstrates clearly that Leftist reporters do not have a corner on the market of downright dishonest, despicable hit-piece articles. In post 44 I tried to correct the lies in that article, but it was too late. The damage was already done and the GWB haters were out in force, not only on that thread, but also on talk radio. It was picked up by John & Ken, the loud-mouthed local talk show jerks here in Los Angeles. So, unable to stem the tide, I did something I very rarely do -- emailed the author of the article (which was published BTW in a little podunck rag in San Bernardino, CA.). Here's the text of my email. Don't know if I'll ever receive a reply, but if I do, I'll share it with you:
TO: sara.carter@dailybulletin.com
Dear Ms. Carter,Your article published on the San Bernardino Sun's website, dated 6/16/06, is one of the worst pieces of journalism it's been my misfortune to read.
First, did you contact anyone at the White House to obtain their side of this, or were you intent on doing a stealth hit piece they know nothing about? Your article is so one-sided, if it were a building it would fall over due to lack of structural integrity.
Second, this paragraph in your article is extremely confusing: "In May, all of the Republican House members from Texas traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet the president regarding border security. Bush did not meet with them, however, and former White House spokesman Scott McClellan was sent in his stead."
To whom are you referring in that paragraph? Members of the Texas state legislature or members of the U.S. Congress who happen to be from Texas? If the latter, as I believe is the case, the information makes little sense. Members of Congress don't have to make special trips to Washington. They are there every day of the week when Congress is in session.
Additionally, any member of Congress can pick up the phone and call the White House to discuss legislation. Granted they may or may not be able to speak directly with the president, but opportunities to do so are not terribly hard to come by for members of Congress. In fact, just yesterday, the president and first lady hosted the annual White House Congressional Picnic.
Third, the president has made recent trips to the border and spoken with Border Patrol, as well as state and local elected officials and members of law enforcement. I call the following photos and captions to your attention (from Yahoo News photos):
CAPTION READ IN PART: President Bush speaks to reporters as Texas Gov. Rick Perry, rear, looks on during a visit to the Laredo Border Patrol Sector Headquarters in Laredo, Texas, Tuesday, June 6, 2006.
CAPTION: President Bush, center, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, second right, sit down with U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement officers during a stop at the Cotulla Style Pit Barbeque after Bush's visit to the Laredo Border Patrol Sector Headquarters in Laredo, Texas, Tuesday, June 6, 2006.Why didn't Rep. Poe, the Texas Republican delegation, and the sheriff's group they claim to be representing contact their own state's governor about being included in the events when the president visited Laredo? If planning for the president's trip could not accommodate a meeting, they certainly could have requested that Gov. Perry -- or any of the other Border Patrol and law enforcement officers who did attend -- deliver a letter or message for them. As a journalist, did it occur to you to do this easy research? Did it occur to you to ask these and similar questions so you could write a balanced piece?
The harm your article has done cannot be undone, but perhaps you will consider doing a follow-up after obtaining the White House perspective and asking Rep. Poe some of the above questions.
Sincerely,
The First Lady greets Lydia Hancock, 10, after Mrs. Bush attended a performance at the Boys and Girls Club, Friday in Guadalupe, Ariz.
Mrs. Bush greets a group of young children from the area after she attended a performance of 'Tomas and the Library Lady' at the Boys and Girls Club.
Gov. Bush confirmed this week that he has been approached by the NFL and offered the job as the next NFL commissioner. However, the Governor said that he intends to finish out his term, which ends in January, and he doesn't think the NFL will hold the position open that long. Gov. Bush also said he has no intention of running for president in 2008.
The Roll of Honor at the Mariner's Chapel on the campus of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The book records the names of the Merchant Mariners who gave their lives at sea in enemy action during World Wars I and II.
Just got to the computer, thanks for the Dose! My husband conducted a wedding ceremony in our living room just a little while ago. It was very sweet.
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