A day in the life of President Bush (8/12/06): many pic tribute to Blair & Bush

WhiteHouse.gov & Google ^ | 8/12/06

[Wolfstar]

As for me, I don't have to wait for the ending to be known in order to say a profound, "Thank you, President Bush. Thank you, Prime Minister Blair. Thank You, God, for sending these two great men to lead us in these very troubled times."

[onyx]

Hey!

[Wolfstar]

Don't know why the paragraphs intended to lead this Dose didn't appear above, but here they are:

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President's vacation in Crawford is drawing to a close, although he will return to the ranch late in August. Next week he will meet with his cabinet and top advisers to review the administrations's agenda and priorities. The President's custom has been to invite his advisers to the ranch each summer for a day of discussions about administration policies, but with his shorter vacation schedule this year, the discussions will take place in and around Washington, DC. The President leaves Crawford tomorrow. (No public announcement was made about the First Lady's plans; if she will continue her vacation or return with her husband to Washington.)

THE WEEK AHEAD:

_ Monday, GWB travels to the Pentagon to meet with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top military advisers. He will have lunch with experts on Iraq. He then goes to the State Department to meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. After this series of meetings, the President will speak with the media.

[Wolfstar]

Pinging you to a very special Saturday Dose -- a tribute to George W. Bush, President of the United States, and Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

 

[Wolfstar]

ALL: I have a lot of photos for your enjoyment today. Please hold off on posting other items until the all clear is given. Thanks.

[onyx]

From IBD's "Vindication"

Stopping this scheme relied greatly on assistance from Pakistani intelligence, and let's not forget that in 2004 Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign charged that Bush "undermined democracy" in Pakistan by working closely with Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani president who came to power in a 1999 coup. Bush's association with Musharraf now looks priceless as a tool in this war.

Kerry also accused the president of "taking his eye off of Osama bin Laden" and not keeping "deadly focused on the real war on terror." But under Bush's and Blair's leadership dozens of terror plots have been thwarted. This latest was only the most spectacular.

[RobFromGa]

Hooray for Bush and Blair

[Wolfstar]

PHOTO OF THE DAY: President Bush and Prime Minister Blair...the United States and the United Kingdom...

[Wolfstar]

Prime Minister Blair was the first foreign leader to visit President Bush after his January 20, 2001 inauguration. Mr. Blair and his wife, Cherie, visited at Camp David in February 2001.

Back then, they were awkward and more formal with each other.

By July 28, 2006, George and Tony seem to have become as close as brothers...the kind brotherly relationship only those who have been through brimstone and back together can fully understand.

[Wolfstar]

George and Tony...Tony and George.

Through the years, they've even acquired a bit of each other's unconscious mannerisms.

[Wolfstar]

They've weathered the most vitriolic criticism. (These are two of the mildest examples out there.)

Here, TB is not just GWB's "poodle," but his beloved Scottie, Barney.

And in this Islamic cartoon, both men are Ariel Sharon's kiddies.

But they have endured and have never wavered.

[Wolfstar]

They've enjoyed each other's company...

And relied on each other every step of the way.

[Wolfstar]

In formal settings: Genoa, Italy, July 2001.

Relaxed settings: Camp David, March 2003.

And in between: Brussels, February 2005.

[Wolfstar]

Tony had GWB's -- and America's -- back after our horrific terror attacks. Here he is being applauded at the Joint Session of Congress, 2001.

And GWB has had his back. Here he stands close by with the other G8 leaders after England's subway bombings in July 2005.

[Fudd Fan]

[Wolfstar]

About the only thing GWB hasn't enticed Tony to do with him is go mountain-bike riding. But their growing comfort in each other's company is seen in this group of photos:

[Wolfstar]

At Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

More at Hillsborough Castle.

[Wolfstar]

At the Royal Air Force Halton Station, United Kingdom.

At Camp David, September 2002 and March 2003.

[Wolfstar]

Their respect for each other is obvious...

[Wolfstar]

...and they often seem to share the same unspoken thought or joke.