A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 6.29.06

yahoo.com, whitehouse.gov, washingtonpost.com, foxnews.com ^ | Thursday June 29, 2006 | GretchenM

[GretchenM]

President Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a press conference (text and video here) at the White House to discuss the war on terror, defending freedom and democracy, promoting regional security and prosperity in Asia (including North Korea), and enhancing closer cooperation on global economic issues (including Japan now agreeing to open its markets to US beef). This is Koizumi's farewell visit, as he steps down from his position as Prime Minister in September.

President and Mrs. Bush will host an official dinner tonight for the Prime Minister.

Secretary of State Rice continues her G8 Foreign Minister Summit visit in Moscow, before a July 15-17 summit of G8 leaders, to be held in St. Petersburg and hosted for the first time by Russian President Putin.

The US Supreme Court issued its ruling on the use of Guantanamo Bay. Bush told reporters Thursday that he would like to work with Congress to determine whether passing legislation setting up military tribunals is a valid option. Bush said, "The American people need to know this ruling, as I understand it, won't cause killers to be put out on the street. I was told this was not going to be the case … one thing I'm not going to do is jeopardize the safety of the American people."

Twins' News WaPo gossip column: Jenna Bush is reportedly going to take a teaching job in Latin America, potentially leaving around the end of summer. (Barbara recently moved to Manhattan, where she has a job in education programming at Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.)

[retrokitten]

U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps marches across the South Lawn during the official arrival ceremony

That is sooo cool.

[GretchenM]

[GretchenM]

I roared with laughter when I heard PM Koizumi's farewell at the end of the press conference: "Thank you very much," he said, to the American people, "for ... Love Me Tender."

Walking to the East Room for a press conference

[silent_jonny]

I want to see the Elvis stuff.

Me too. The President and PM didn't happen to go a day early, did they ... ???

Oh well :)

[GretchenM]

[GretchenM]

[Kenny Bunkport]

Pres. Bush welcomes the Iron Chef to Washington.

I haven't seen so many Japanese flags since Ichiro played in Oakland with the Mariners.

[GretchenM]

Rice and British Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett

Rice , Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, (Rear row from L) Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema, Canadian Foreign Minister Peter Mackay and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Walder pose for a family picture during the G8 Foreign Minister Summit in Moscow

Putin, Rice and and Canadian Foreign Minister Peter Mackay

[GretchenM]

Canada's FM listens to Condi

With German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

With Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

[GretchenM]

Reprising this since Jenna is in the news today.

[silent_jonny]

RK!!!

How the heck are you? Did you get washed away with all the rain :-/

[GretchenM]

Place settings for tonight's official dinner for the PM (the china commemorates the 200th anniversary of the White House)

[GretchenM]

That's all for now. When photos of the official dinner are available, if I don't get to them first, please feel free to post them.

[GretchenM]

You may be Silent, Jonny, on the other side of that monitor, but I heard you saying, "YES!" when I got to your post at #5. ;-)

[freedom4me]

The President really looks great today. A very good hair day. As for the Prime Minister...well. Bush looks great in black suits...and of course he has the red "power" tie on today.

[silent_jonny]

I think my neighbors heard that "YES!!!" too ;)

So many great photos tonight ... hmmm, which one will be on my long awaited toaster .... :)

[GretchenM]

Oh Dog, I'm so sorry to say that to get a toaster you have to either be first, or be second by ten seconds.

As a consolation prize, I could scan an impression of my new puppy. Would you like that?

[GretchenM]

Hi everybody! Happy Thursday!!!

[GretchenM]

It's very impressive, isn't it? I'm glad someone put the caption up at the WH web site because Yahoo! didn't have an explanation for why we were looking so ... British.

[onyx]

Woo-HOO!
What a treat today!