A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 8.23.06

yahoo.com, whitehouse.gov; ktvu.com ^ | Wednesday August 23, 2006 | GretchenM

[GretchenM]

The president spoke with UN SG Kofi Annan about the international force being assembled for Lebanon; the Iranian regime's statement on its nuclear program; and the need to improve the situation in Darfur. He attended a fundraiser for Senator George Allen, R-VA.

President Bush met with Rockey Vaccarella, Louisiana victim of Hurricane Katrina, to discuss rebuilding efforts there.

[GretchenM]

Not exactly gourmet eating, but it is good when you're short of time. :-)

LOL I was thinking about making grilled cheese and adding it -- glad to hear from an afficionado it is good.

[onyx]

I missed seeing that. Congratulations again!

[DrDeb]

As Howlin indicated on another thread, Rocky is my new hero!

HEADS UP . . .

C-Span2 will re-broadcast the GWB and Rocky show at 10:44 PM EDT followed immediately by a brief 'solo' press conference by Rocky:
http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/schedule.csp


MUST VIEW VIDEO . . .

First Rocky, then 11 year old Jonathan -- President Bush is inspiring a whole new (and diverse) generation of Republicans!
http://wcco.com/politics/local_story_235101511.html [Make sure you view the video!!]


MUST READ . . .

Ohiowfan and other DOSErs who have had the privelege of hearing the President speak 'live' will understand the following reaction to such an experience by John H (Powerline):

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

I had the opportunity this afternoon to be part of a relatively small group who heard President Bush talk, extemporaneously, for around forty minutes. It was an absolutely riveting experience. It was the best I've ever seen him. Not only that; it may have been the best I've ever seen any politician. If I summarized what he said, it would all sound familiar: the difficult times we live in; the threat from Islamic fascism--the phrase drew an enthusiastic round of applause--the universal yearning for freedom; the need to confront evil now, with all the tools at our disposal, so that our children and grandchildren can live in a better and safer world. As he often does, the President structured his comments loosely around a tour of the Oval Office. But the digressions and interpolations were priceless.

The conventional wisdom is that Bush is not a very good speaker. But up close, he is a great communicator, in a way that, in my opinion, Ronald Reagan was not. He was by turns instructive, persuasive, and funny. His persona is very much that of the big brother. Above all, he was impassioned. I have never seen a politician speak so evidently from the heart, about big issues--freedom, most of all.

I've sometimes worried about how President Bush can withstand the Washington snake pit and deal with a daily barrage of hate from the ignorant left that, in my opinion, dwarfs in both volume and injustice the abuse directed against any prior President. (No one accused Lincoln of planning the attack on Fort Sumter.) Not to worry. He is, of course, miles above his mean-spirited liberal critics. More than that, he clearly derives real joy from the opportunity to serve as President and to participate in the great pageant of American history. And he sees himself as anything but a lame duck, which is why he is stumping for Republican candidates around the country.

IT WAS, IN SHORT, THE MOST INSPIRING FORTY MINUTES I'VE EXPERIENCED IN POLITICS.

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/015081.php


If you missed the following classic from Podhoretz when it was posted the first time, you've got a second chance -- opinionjournal.com reprinted the entire GRADUATE SEMINAR QUALITY commentary today:

IS THE BUSH DOCTRINE DEAD?
The president's critics are wrong. That includes the neocons.
BY NORMAN PODHORETZ
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 12:01 a.m. EDT
http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110008830


Opinionjournal.com also published an excellent commentary by our brilliant ambassador to Iraq:

THE BATTLE OF BAGHDAD
Rampant insecurity--and a detailed plan to combat it.
BY ZALMAY KHALILZAD
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 12:01 a.m. EDT
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008834

And finally:

POLLS INDICATE POTENTIAL SHIFT IN '06 PLAYING FIELD

The weekend after the Lamont win and the foiled airline terror plot I suggested that "last week was the first solid week for Republicans in some time. " Those two events were followed by last Thursday's ruling, by a Jimmy Carter-appointed judge in favor of the ACLU, against the Bush administration's NSA wiretapping program aimed at intercepting al-Qaeda communications from overseas.

In the first batch of polls (CNN, USA Today/Gallup, NYT/CBS, Rasmussen) taken after all three of these events, the RealClearPolitics Poll Average for President Bush's Job Approval has risen to 40.8%, while the RCP Generic Average has closed to single digits, Democrats +8.5%. This shouldn't be misconstrued as evidence that everything is great for the GOP heading into the fall elections, but it is the first time in almost six months both RCP Averages have crossed these respective levels (Bush over 40% and the Generic deficit less than 10%). This is significant, and it's not a coincidence that it comes on the back of these three high profile news events.

You can read the entire article at
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/blog/2006/08/polls_indicate_potential_shift.html

[ilovew]

Yeah really! Let's stop pretending like we have to explain that people aren't perfect. Everyone knows that. I adore my President...the accent, the swagger, the ability to stick with a decision, the way he cares about EVERYONE...I can't imagine having anyone else in office right now.

Thanks :) I go to the orthopedist again tomorrow so I'll see what he says. I'm hoping to be able to get rid of the crutches before I leave for DC.

[GretchenM]

Did my late-night picnic inspire you, or was it just coincidence? :-)

[ilovew]

Ditto! President Bush is a much more interesting subject :)

[GretchenM]

Actually, I often think THIS guy has the reins at the UN.

[GretchenM]

The poster brought up Jon Stewart because he was portraying the first couple in an undignified manner. Israel is very much a part of Bush's agenda.

Having said that, it would be great to stick with the SANITY in Sanity Island on the thread. By agreement among those who post it and the majority of those who visit it, it's an uncontentious zone around FR.

[NordP]

Thanks SO MUCH for posting that video of the little boy from Minnesota getting to meet President Bush! (((HEY, weren't the anchors great about it, too??? Here in CA, they wouldn't have been so happy and smiling in their recap.)))

I'm grinnin' from ear to ear myself...Oh, I LOVE MY PEEPS!!! GO VIKES!

NordP

[speekinout]

Oh, yes. I have a sandwich grill. My "need to eat but what??" thing is to put cheese (whatever kind is already sliced, shredded, or otherwise in small pieces) between two slices of bread (or a split roll or whatever. If it isn't moldy, it's fine). Put it in the grill while I do something else, then pry the bread apart and squeeze in some relish.

It tastes different every time, but it's always tasty. :-)

[NordP]

Thanks GretchenM for a wonderful Dose!!! ---I love Rockey, too!!!

[ohioWfan]

HAIL TO THE CHIEF..........it's PERFECT!!

I absolutely agree 110%..........the experience of hearing the President speak from his heart for forty minutes was RIVETING.........SPELL BINDING..........

He is NOT a bad speaker, folks........he's an AMAZING speaker.

(And I love him................just thought I'd throw that in for good measure.... :)

[DCMB]

Thank you so much for posting the link to the video of Jonathon. It brought tears to my eyes--what a darling young man. Awesome!!!

[luvie]

I wish he had 4 more years, too! *sigh* I sure hope we can find another like him as a replacement or we're in trouble.

[GretchenM]

Bread is cool. So versatile. I don't have a sandwich grill, just have to do the old-fashioned butter fry atop the stove. Still tastes great though.

The other day I had another thing I hadn't eaten in years: peanut butter, mayo, and sliced banana sandwiches. Yum!

[luvie]

LOL! The real TIRED president! :D

[NordP]

No, you all are just considering the source.... good job!

[ohioWfan]

Actually, I'm on this really weird 3 day diet (where you can lose as much as 10 pounds!), and the second night's supper is 2 hot dogs (no buns), a cup of broccoli and a half cup of carrots, followed by a half cup of vanilla ice cream and a half a banana. :)

(The most I've lost in 3 days was four pounds.......which for me at my metabolic rate is miraculous, but Mr. Ohio has lost SEVEN pounds on it!)

[GretchenM]

Springer told the Talk Radio Convention that liberal radio was going to take off any year now.

Er, um, did he say what they're going to take off? (I'm glad it's radio so I don't have to watch the unveiling!)

[kitkat]

*** And that squeezie-bottle sweet pickle relish is great.***

LOL! Don't tell Ohio's husband.

And, GEM, thank you for tonight's Dose.