A day in the life of President Bush (8/5/06): photos & news

WhiteHouse.gov & various news sources ^ | 8/5/06

[Wolfstar]

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush, and the dogs, are vacationing at their Crawford, TX, ranch for the next couple of week. However, no president is ever truly on vacation. Today, through White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who is at the ranch, President Bush issued a statement saying he is pleased with the draft UN resolution regarding the war in the Middle East. Here is an excerpt from the widely circulated AP story:

Bush Happy With Draft U.N. Resolution
By NEDRA PICKLER, The Associated Press
Aug 5, 2006 12:11 PM (46 mins ago)

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush has signed off on a draft U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at ending fighting in the Mideast and is "happy with the progress being made," his spokesman said Saturday.

But the president knows there could be a long road before violence stops, White House press secretary Tony Snow said.

"I don't think he has any delusions about what lies ahead," said Snow, accompanying Bush on his vacation to his private ranch.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley arrived at the ranch Saturday to consult with Bush as the full Security Council began discussions on the agreement reached by France and the United States.

The draft calls for Hezbollah to stop all attacks and for Israel to stop "offensive military operations." But it would allow Israel to defend itself if attacked.

Israel, backed by the U.S., has insisted it must have the right to respond if Hezbollah launches missiles against it.

In an important, but largely overlooked domestic story, Congress sent a major pension overhaul bill to President Bush yesterday for his signature. Here's an excerpt from the story on ABC News:

Congress Sends Major Pension Overhaul Legislation to President Bush
By JIM ABRAMS

WASHINGTON Aug 4, 2006 (AP)— Congress passed major pension legislation designed to assure American workers, including millions of baby boomers nearing the end of their working careers, that the pensions they have been promised will be there when they retire.

The Senate, in its last vote before adjourning for a four-week summer break, approved the 900-page bill that compels employers with defined-benefit pension plans to meet their funding obligations and seeks to prevent companies from terminating plans and shifting the financial burden to the taxpayer. The House passed the bill last week.

PRESIDENTIAL VACATION SCHEDULE: From the White House press gaggle by Tony Snow.

The President's day today: he got up early, received his national security briefing, recorded the radio address -- which is about border security and immigration. Then he went out and did some brush-cutting and trail-clearing, followed by a bike ride, and will be doing other vacation relaxation sort of things for the rest of the day.

The week ahead has more of the same, through Wednesday. On Thursday, the President will participate in a tour of Fox Valley Metal-Tech, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he will make a statement on the economy. While in Wisconsin, the President will attend a 'Gard for Congress' reception in Oneida, before returning to Crawford for the rest of the vacation, such as it is.

On the 11th, he'll attend a Republican National Committee reception and barbecue at Broken Spoke Ranch in Crawford. Then he'll spend Saturday in Crawford and return to the White House at a time to be determined on Sunday, the 13th.

The president plans to return to his ranch near the end of the month for a few days. But that trip is scheduled to be interrupted with other travel away from Texas, including a visit to the Gulf Coast to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

[lysie]

Oh my. What a kind man. He tries to please all.

[Wolfstar]

GWB and boys from the Cleland Elementary School Young Gentlemen's Club.

President Bush at Clarke Street Elementary School in Milwaukee, Wis.

[Wolfstar]

March of Dimes Ambassador Justin Lamar Washington donates one dollar to President Bush as his contribution to assist Afghan children.

The President and American kids who each contributed one dollar to the fund for Afghan children.

The first shipment of humanitarian goods purchased from America's Fund for Afghan children left the U.S. for the Afghan children on Sunday, December 9, 2001.

[Wolfstar]

"We've been made painfully aware of the plight of the Afghan children. One in three Afghan children is an orphan. Almost half of Afghan children suffer from malnutrition. One in four Afghan children won't live beyond their fifth birthday," President George W. Bush, December 8, 2001.

[lysie]

Going back to those pictures...I have tears in my eyes...Look at how sincere he is...especially the top one with his eyes closed.

[Wolfstar]

President Bush addresses participants in the first-ever White House Conference on Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children Wednesday, October 2, 2002 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

[Theresawithanh]

Howdy, there! Great idea for a Dose. I love pictures of the President and Laura with kids.

[Wolfstar]

President and Mrs. Bush sit with children, Monday, Dec. 5, 2005 at the White House, as they watch a dance performance during the White House Children's Holiday Reception in the East Room.

GWB during a holiday reception at the White House for the children of military personnel deployed overseas.

The warmth, welcome and kindness in those faces speak volumes about our President and First Lady.

[Wolfstar]

President and Mrs. Bush talk with U.S. Army Sgt. Dale Beatty of Statesville, N.C., and, from left, sister-in-law Wendolyn Summers, wife Belinda Beatty, son Lucas, 6 months old, and son Dustin, 2 years old, during a visit to the Fisher House at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004. President Bush presented Sgt. Beatty The Purple Heart for injuries he sustained while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[Wolfstar]

Laura Bush and Barney, visit with Carly Batchelder, 8, a patient at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004.

Mrs. Bush and Taylor Buckles, older sister of conjoined twins successfully separated earlier this year, react to the first viewing of the 2004 BarneyCam during a children's holiday program at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Dec., 15, 2004.

[lysie]

LOL

[Wolfstar]

This is the President who created the Tee Ball on the South Lawn program for kids. This is the President who takes time out of his crowded schedule to personally sign every baseball he presents as gifts to each child who plays in a WH Tee Ball game.

[Wolfstar]

President Bush autographs baseballs for players and guests at the White House Sunday, July 30, 2006, during the Tee Ball on the South Lawn game between the Thurmont Little League Civitan Club of Frederick Challengers of Thurmont, Md., and the Shady Spring Little League Challenger Braves of Shady Spring, W. Va.

[Wolfstar]

This is the President who starts every Tee Ball game on the South Lawn by saying the Pledge of Allegiance with the children.

And then cheers on every kid no matter what...

[Wolfstar]

GWB has even gotten his whole family involved, as well as Hall of Fame players like Cal Ripkin and Willie Mays.

Whether or not the kids are disabled or healthy, black, white, brown, red, yellow or any other color, religion, ethnicity, male or female...makes no difference. All are welcome.

[Wolfstar]

Some photos just don't need captions.

[Wolfstar]

The truly legendary baseball Hall of Famer, Willie Mays (GWB's boyhood hero), and President Bush at the White House Tee Ball game July 30, 2006.

Laura, Willie and George applauding the kids.

[Wolfstar]

Long before he became President, GWB mentored a young African-American boy whose father was in jail. The cause of children with incarcerated parents has been near and dear to his heart ever since. Here is a letter a young boy named Raymond wrote to the President about his incarcerated father:

[Wolfstar]

The President and First Lady with a group of Chinese children at the Great Wall of China.

Greeting children in Bucharest, Rumania.

Mrs. Bush and an interpreter listen as Princess Hisako Takamado reads a book she has written, "Katie and the Dream-Eater", to students at Akashi Elementary School in Japan.

[Wolfstar]

More photos of GWB, Laura and children.