A Day in the Life of President Bush... (Photos and news) 06-23-08

www.yahoo.com/news www.whitehouse.gov/news ^ | 23rd June 2008 | Snugs

[snugs]

QUOTE OF THE DAY
President Bush Welcomes 2007 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury to White House
East Garden

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Welcome to the White House. And it is fitting that we use the East Garden because, one, this is rarely used; and two, it is an opportunity for me to welcome a lot of people to the -- that are here to see the WNBA champs, Phoenix Mercury. And we're glad you came. (Applause.)

People who follow sport in America will know that the Phoenix Mercury played together as a great team, and they brought new glory to women's athletics and the sport of basketball. As they like to say, "Mighty Mercury, we are number one!" (Laughter.) And these women proved it.

I want to thank Jay Parry, President and COO of the Phoenix Mercury, for joining us. Ann Meyers Drysdale, the General Manager of Phoenix Mercury. Where is your son? There he is. Kind of looks like the big right-hander. You're right. (Laughter.)

Corey Gaines, the head coach -- Coach, thanks for coming, proud you're here. I particularly want to pay my respects to the co-captains of the team, Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi.

Now, this is not the first time that Diana has been here to the White House. She came with the mighty UConn Huskies. And she told me she was going to amount to something in life when I saw her. (Laughter.) She said, "I will be back," and she is, as the champion. Welcome. Glad you're here.

And I wish these two -- these two great athletes all the best at the Olympics in Beijing. They're going to be carrying on the great tradition of women's basketball here in the United States. And even though it's going to be tough, a lot of teams are getting ready for them, they're going to come back with the Gold and America will be proud. (Applause.)

I welcome the other athletes on the stage and the newly -- the new athletes who have joined the Phoenix Mercury. Must be pretty cool to be playing with champs. I bet it's wearing off on you, what it means to make the sacrifices necessary to win the title and be invited here in the White House.

I want to welcome Congressman Trent Franks -- Congressman, thanks for coming. Thanks for taking an interest in the Phoenix Mercury. I know they're proud to have your support.

I welcome members of the Junior WNBA that have joined us. Thanks for coming, thanks for taking an interest in women's basketball. (Applause.) I want to -- do thank -- do want to thank the WNBA representatives and personnel who've joined us; appreciate you promoting women's athletics. As the father of twin girls, there's nothing better than having good role models for girls to look at, and there are no better role models than women basketball players. They're great athletes. They're well-conditioned people. They're disciplined.

I want to welcome the Phoenix fans here, professionally known as the "X-factor." I know these women really love the fact that they play in a city that supports them. And I hope the fans that, you know, aren't here recognize that even here in Washington D.C. we've heard of the Phoenix Mercury, and proud to -- proud to have them come.

The team's playoff slogan was, "One team, one city, one goal." And they've fulfilled the goal. You became the first WNBA team in history to win the championship on the road. For the second year in a row, you set the record for the highest scoring average in WNBA history.

You were led ably by Coach Paul Westhead. I know he is proud of the women. And Corey Gaines was the assistant coach, so he had the pleasure of being part of a championship program, and he knows what it takes to get you in a position where you can win this year, as well. Of course, I'm not going to be around to welcome you -- but play hard anyway. (Laughter.)

The thing I love about this team and a lot of champions that I get to recognize here at the White House is the fact that they understand you're a champ on the courts, and you're a champ off the courts. The -- this team spent weekends on a Habitat for Humanity program called, "Women Build." They served meals at homeless shelters. They honored breast cancer survivors. They helped sign up runners for Race for the Cure. They collected water bottles from fans and donated them to the Salvation Army's Extreme Heat Emergency Project. They participated in Read to Achieve. They helped stuff backpacks with supplies for underprivileged children.

They support the junior WNBA program, fully understanding that promoting healthy lifestyles is good for America, and there's no better way to have a healthy lifestyle than to participate in athletics. They've done their duty as citizens of the United States. I'm honored to welcome you. I'm proud of your championship trophy. I thank you for what you do for the country. May God bless you all. (Applause.)

PHOTO OF THE DAY

President George W. Bush (C) is presented with a jersey and banner from Cappie Pondexter (L) and Diana Taurasi (R) as Bush honours the 2007 WNBA champions, the Phoenix Mercury women's basketball team, in the East Garden of the White House in Washington, June 23, 2008

[snugs]

Dose going up - please wait for the all clear before posting or reposting any photos or graphics

[snugs]

President George W. Bush delivers remarks to congratulate the 2007 WNBA Champions, the Phoenix Mercury, Monday, June 23, 2008, in the East Garden at the White House. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

President Bush, flanked by Phoenix Mercury General Manager Ann Meyers Drysdale, left, and guard Diana Taurasi, speaks in the East Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, June 23, 2008, during a cermeony honoring the 2007 WNBA Champions.

President Bush honors the 2007 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury, Monday, June 23, 2008 in the East Garden of the White House in Washington.

President George W. Bush poses for a photo with the 2007 WNBA Champions, the Phoenix Mercury, during their visit Monday, June 23, 2008, in the East Garden at the White House. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

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President George W. Bush (C) kisses Cappie Pondexter (L) alongside Diana Taurasi (R) as Bush honours the 2007 WNBA champions, the Phoenix Mercury women's basketball team, in the East Garden of the White House in Washington, June 23, 2008.

President Bush, flanked by Phoenix Mercury team members, Diana Taurasi, right, and Cappie Pondexter, left, takes part in a ceremony honoring the 2007 WNBA Champions, Monday, June 23, 2008, in the East Garden of the White House in Washington.

[snugs]

President Bush, flanked by Phoenix Mercury team members, Diana Taurasi, right, and Cappie Pondexter, left, takes part in a ceremony honoring the 2007 WNBA Champions, Monday, June 23, 2008, in the East Garden of the White House in Washington.

President George W. Bush (C) is presented with a jersey and banner from Cappie Pondexter (L) and Diana Taurasi (R) as Bush honours the 2007 WNBA champions, the Phoenix Mercury women's basketball team, in the East Garden of the White House in Washington, June 23, 2008

President George W. Bush (C) poses for a picture with the players and officials from the 2007 WNBA champions, the Phoenix Mercury women's basketball team, in the East Garden of the White House in Washington, June 23, 2008

President George W. Bush, joined by Diana Taurasi, left, and Cappie Pondexter, is presented a Phoenix Mercury Championship banner and a personalized team jersey Monday, June 23, 2008, during the 2007 WNBA Champions, the Phoenix Mercury, visit to the White House. White House photo by Eric Draper

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Phoenix Mercury point guard Yuko Oga, of japan, left, is greeted by President Bush, right, as they take part in a ceremony honoring the 2007 WNBA Champions, Phoenix Mercury, Monday, June 23, 2008, in the East Garden at the White House in Washington.

Phoenix Mercury point guard Yuko Oga, of Japan, left, reacts to meeting President Bush, right, during a ceremony honoring the 2007 WNBA Champions, Phoenix Mercury basketball team, Monday, June 23, 2008, in the East Garden at the White House in Washington

This three-picture combo shows Phoenix Mercury point guard Yuko Oga,of Japan, left, reacting to meeting President Bush, right, as they take part in a ceremony honoring the 2007 WNBA Champions Phoenix Mercury basketball team, Monday, June 23, 2008, in the East Garden at the White House in Washington

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President Bush, center, participates in a photo opportunity with the 2008 Presidential Scholars, Monday, June 23, 2008, on the South Portico of the White House in Washington.

President Bush, center, autographs a baseball as he participates in a photo opportunity with the 2008 Presidential Scholars, Tuesday, June 23,2008, on the South Portico of the White House in Washington. Standing at left is Education Secretary Margaret Spellings.

[snugs]

Toaster housekeeping - congratulations to the winners

And special birthday greetings for Momaw Nadon

[snugs]

All clear - please feel free to post or repost any photos or graphics in the spirit of this thread

[mirado]

Hi snugs. Looking forward to the dose.

[snugs]

Good evening to you and congratulations you have won the toaster tonight.

[montag813]

WNBA...have you seen the arenas? I don’t think there are more than 2,000 people at any given game.

[montag813]

WNBA...have you seen the arenas? I don’t think there are more than 2,000 people at any given game.

[mirado]

Thanks. Finally.

[Momaw Nadon]

Thank you very much snugs!

[snugs]

Sorry not sure what you mean does it really matter how many attend they are winners and therefore are being honoured at the White House. If nothing maybe it will encourage more to follow or take part in the sport.

[Jewels1091]

hi everyone! Finally have some time not consumed with wedding stuff!!!

[snugs]

How is it going? When is the wedding?

[mojo114]

Hi, thank you for the Dose tonight.

[DrDeb]

snugs: Thank you so much for posting the DOSE tonight! . . . I’ve got a surprise MUST READ for you:

ANGLER: THE CHENEY VICE PRESIDENCY
This is a multipart series from the WasingtonPost so I can’t vouch for it’s accuracy; however, it looks promising:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/?hpid=specialreports
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WHY IRAQ WAS INEVITABLE
Arthur Herman

. . . The story that emerges is of a choice not only carefully weighed and deliberately arrived at but, in the circumstances, the one moral choice that any American President could make.

Had, moreover, Bush failed to act when he did, the consequences could have been truly disastrous. The next American President would surely have faced the need, in decidedly less favorable circumstances, to pick up the challenge Bush had neglected. And since Bush’s unwillingness to do the necessary thing might rightly have cost him his second term, that next President would probably have been one of the many Democrats who, until March 2003, actually saw the same threat George Bush did.

You can read the entire commentary here:
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/special-preview-br—why-iraq-was-inevitable-11456
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A fun photo of Pappy and Barbara Bush:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/06/23/two-pictures-of-george-hw-and-barbara-bushs-new-grill-.html
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I happened upon this photo/slideshow today and thought it deserved a repost: [I am soooooooooooo going to miss our compassionate, courageous Commander-in-Chief!]
http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/News/Medal_of_Honor_Monsoor/611/