Posted on 12/05/2006 5:15:55 PM PST by GretchenM
President Bush met with Robert Gates, his nominee to replace Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, before Gates headed to the Senate for his confirmation hearing. View brief webcast of Bush and Gates at WH today. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted unanimously (21-0) to send Gates's nomination to the full Senate; a vote is expected Wednesday.
Bush had lunch with James Baker. The much-leaked Iraqi study group report is scheduled for a full public release tomorrow.
The leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, met with VP Cheney. Tony Snow said today, "... as Mr. al Hakim noted, the sectarian violence has been going on [in Iraq] for 82 years [since 1924]."
Those who have followed this Bush family through trial and fatigue, through more than one attempt to steal an election, who have watched President George Herbert Walker Bush preside over an immensely successful family and know his deeply-held emotions and pride in his children, will understand why "Poppy" Bush broke up when speaking to Floridians in Tallahassee about the service of his son, outgoing governor Jeb Bush. Here's a link to the video. Pres. Bush 41 said, "The moral of this story is to serve with honor, and your governor has served with honor."
Click here to see Deck the Halls, and Welcome All, the WH web site with videos and information about decorating the White House for Christmas -- this year and back through 2001. Mrs. Bush said, "Roland, our former pastry chef, came back -- by popular demand -- to build a beautiful gingerbread house that all of you can see right here. If you look closely, you'll see that Barney and Miss Beazley are driving Santa's sleigh at the very top. Kitty is here, right underneath the birdhouse."
QUOTE: "Bob Gates will be a fine Secretary of Defense. I appreciate the fact that he's getting a hearing today in the United States Senate. I hope for a speedy confirmation so he can get sworn in and get to work. ... Those who wear the uniform know they'll have a friend in Bob Gates in the Defense Department. He admires our military; he respects those who have volunteered to serve our country."
Photo taken December 3 and released today.
hi
Dose on the way.
Pls wait to post or repost photos till the all clear. Thanks!
Good evening Gretchen
Arriving for his Senate confirmation hearing
Good evening! So glad to get here early!! Jan
MRS. BUSH: Okay, here we are in front of the famous Christmas tree. This is the big Christmas tree in the White House, the one that's here in the Blue Room. It was given to the White House by Christmas tree growers, the Botek family from Pennsylvania. And this year we've covered it all with glass and crystal and snow and red ribbons, and I think it's absolutely beautiful this way.
There have been a lot of interesting happenings in this room and all the rooms of the White House over the many Christmases that Presidents and their families have lived here. One of the interesting Christmas occasions happened with Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, they were here in this room right after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when they went out and spoke to a crowd of about 15,000 off of the balcony that you can enter from the Blue Room here. They had moved the Christmas tree lighting to the White House lawn because they were afraid for it to be farther out because they were afraid of another attack in the United States. So the crowd stood in the dark while President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill gave a very stirring address to the nation, and they lit the American Christmas tree out on the lawn of the White House.
Chef Roland and his gingerbread creation.
I can't watch 41's video, it just makes me hurt for him.
Laura continues: "... our chief chef, the head chef for us, [Ms.] Cris Comerford, who has done such a beautiful job for event after event. And now, today, you all will start the very first of many parties -- I think maybe 25 parties in all that the President and I will host over the whole season -- and you will get to be the first ones to see how wonderful the buffet is. Cris has come up with some regional favorites, like one of our favorites, chicken fried steak and creamed gravy, and tamales from the southwest. But then, of course, we'll have traditional ham and turkey, shrimp cocktail.
"... this gives me a chance to thank Gary Walters. This is Gary's last Christmas with us, which is sad for all of us -- he's been the chief usher for how many years?
MR. WALTERS: Twenty --
MRS. BUSH: Twenty-something years as chief usher, and been here at the White House as an usher for over 30 years, I believe. He's going to retire, and I want to thank him very, very much for his service. It's a sad time for him, I know -- sad, nostalgic, as he's overseen all of the decorations, like he's done every year for all these last years. So this gives me a chance to thank him very, very much for his service.
i all ready DON'T like Gates!!!!
hey!!! i think this makes 6...cool!
How very appropo of the First Lady to bring up the story of Roosevelt and Churchill meeting after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Q Mrs. Bush, what would you say to the families of the troops this holiday season? [Stupid comment deleted.] And also, personally, what's going on your tree --
MRS. BUSH: Well, our tree is already decorated. It's covered with our own personal ornaments that we moved up here. It looks very beautiful, a lot of Christmas ornaments that we've had since Barbara and Jenna were born 25 years ago. Of course, a few have broken since, in the 25 years. But it's a personal tree with our own personal decorations everywhere upstairs, including a big collection of nativity scenes that I've collected over the years and from many parts of the world. These trips that we've had the opportunity to make since George has been President have also added to my nativity collection, because I've bought things around the world as we've traveled.
To the families of our troops and to our troops, I send my deepest respect. It's difficult, especially over the holidays, but it's always difficult when your loved one is deployed, when you're worried about your loved one. And I know that especially the families bear the big burden of worry. And I want them to know that the American people are standing with them, especially at the holiday season, but all the time, and sending them our love and our respect. And also our willingness to do whatever we can to support these families in our communities around the United States. And I hear from -- great ways that people are supporting our troops. I hear all the time from DFW, for instance, in Dallas, the airport, as our troops fly through either on their way home from deployment or on their way to deployment, that groups of people from that area go to the airport to welcome them especially, and to send them back home to their loved ones or on their deployment with the very, very best wishes and love of the American people.
Red and white peppermint treats are hung on the garland on the mantle in the always seasonal Green Room. Approximately 1,089 feet of garland were used in decorating the White House this year.
Ivy topiaries are groomed in the likeness of the President and First Lady's pets, Scottish Terriers Barney and Miss Beazley, and their cat Willie stand at the end of the Ground Floor Corridor.
So moving to see the pride this family has in each other.
Silver containers filled with red carnations adorn the tables in the Library. The fireplace mantle is decorated with traditional green garland, accented with glass bulbs and red bows.
A row pine of trees line the center table of the State Dinning Room where 20,000 Christmas cookies, 15,000 Chocolate Truffles, 3,000 racks of lamb, 500 Filets of Beef, and will be served to the 45,000 guests visiting the White House during the Holiday season.
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