Posted on 01/30/2007 10:39:01 AM PST by Forgiven_Sinner
Jan 30, 2007 - President Bush has landed at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport.
Air Force One landed a little after 9:00 a.m. int he midst of tight security at the Air National Guard Base.
President Bush will leave the airport and travel to Caterpillar's SS Building in East Peoria. He will take a tour of the Track Type line and then give a speech on the economy.
The President took a minute to present the President's Volunteer Service Award to Roberta Koscielski.
She was nominated for her hard work and dedication as a volunteer with Common Place Family Learning Center in Peoria.
Koscielski said, "It is pretty overwhelming. I like it as a chance to spotlight volunteers. People always need a boost to remember there is plenty to do: whether in literacy, health or any other field."
Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis rode in the limousine with the President and Congresman Ray LaHood. They stopped at the Sterling Family Restaurant and spent some time talking with patrons, including restaurant owner Mary Ardapple, Reverend Tim Criss and Peoria City Councilman Pat Nichting.
The President's speech at Caterpillar is expected sometime around 11:30 a.m. WEEK-TV will carry the entire speech live on air and on www.WEEK.com.
The President ate at Sterling Family Restaurant. He toured the Cat SS facility, where they assemble the bulldozers. He drove a D10, which is the 2nd largest Cat makes.
The President praised Caterpillar for its competitiveness and training.
Anyone there in SS?
With all due respect, this is governor stuff, not president stuff. Bush does far too much of it. It has zero impact on the public debate and zero impact on the government. It does nothing but make the president and a few hundred (or thousand) people feel good. I increasingly get the impression that Bush is not focusing on his job. A really engaged president would not spend so much time on these pointless trips. They are chewing up lots of time, and it further erodes whatever remaining confidence I have in the man.
As I said, it makes a few people feel good.
But that is not a president's job.
Just as long as the President stays out of the dump known as Rockford.
I wonder if the President will be heading to Big Al's for the buffet lunch. ;-)
Again, it was more than a few and bringing the message directly to the people is a good thing. The speech was carried live on all the local networks as well as Fox News and it not only covered the economy but homeland security was mentioned as well.
But will his speech play there? (Someone had to be first)
Bush may think he's communicating to a large number of people this way, but he isn't. It's a hollow exercise that substitutes for hard work -- and for real communication, which, if it takes place, mainly occurs in Washington.
LOL - badda bing badda bump (and grind)!
Cool! I was born in Peoria, IL. Still have some family there, but don't see any of their names in this article! :-)
The excitement his visit generated has been a welcome diversion to an otherwise dull workday. I saw the President and Vice President during the 2000 campaign when they were on the train that stopped in downtown Normal. There were thousands of people there and the atmosphere was electric.
This Presidential visit is all my dad has been talking about for days now. It's a big deal there and it's good for any President to take his message to the people, while listening to their concerns, too.
I'm pretty sure Bush wouldn't stop at Big Al's. But Clinton.... :)
The local talk radio station has been on the scene all day and there were numerous parents who had kept their kids out of school today so they could see the President. I don't think that's a bad thing.
BS. Communication can take place anywhere. I don't want a president that stays hidden in an ivory tower. I want one that's visible and accessible to us regular people. He loves being out among the working people and troops. You can see the difference in him.
And how would you know what he is focusing on? If he didn't connect with ordinary people then I'm sure yours and other criticism would be that he lives in a bubble or is out of touch. I'm more and more convinced that no matter what he does there will be criticism, especially from those that can't offer any solutions.
I know it's good for W., and I agree he should do it occasionally. But he seems to do it all the time, and that's unproductive. And Washington certainly isn't "an ivory tower." It's where most of the action is.
He may be "in touch" with average folks, but that's a separate issue from communication, let alone focusing intently on the enormous duties of the presidency and fighting the Democrats. And I think Bush is out of touch with the conservative base on many issues.
Yesterday you were complaining that he didn't "speechify" enough. :o) Today you are complaining that he is speaking in the heartland. Do you know what he spoke about today? "His economic growth agenda, which he said includes keeping taxes low, expanding U.S. free trade agreements, reducing the country's dependence on foreign oil and implementing a health care system that is "patient centered and not government centered." Tomorrow he will give another speech in New York on the same subject, in more detail.
I highly doubt that......
The President has to go directly to the people to get his message out.
Local press covers him fairly. National press does not.
This is an honor, and a necessity.
In addition, the President gets to find out that he's really loved by the American people, and the people get to find out he's not the monster or moron that they've read about.
It's good all around.
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