Posted on 09/12/2008 5:47:01 PM PDT by silent_jonny
President Bush received updates on Hurricane Ike throughout the day.
Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto: He's very comfortable that Texas emergency management authorities are doing everything they can. They have a very strong team down in Texas for dealing with the hurricanes. Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with the residents in the affected areas. The President encourages all the residents of Texas to listen to the guidance they're getting from their local emergency management authorities. And if they're getting direction to evacuate, to do it quickly; but just to pay very close mind to their personal safety and listen to the guidance of local emergency management officials.The President will continue to receive updates during the day and when he returns back in Washington today keep as close as possible to events in Texas and -- obviously a part of the country you know that he knows very well. (Source)
The President traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma today to participate in a roundtable discussion on health care (Transcript) and to attend a private Republican Party fundraiser.
Arriving at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, President Bush greeted military personnel and made a statement about the approaching hurricane. (Transcript)
I am deeply concerned about Hurricane Ike. It is a major storm headed toward a large population soon. I was on the phone this morning with Secretary Chertoff and Director Paulison of FEMA. I spoke to my friend, Governor Perry, yesterday. The state of Texas is preparing for this emergency. I suspect there's going to be some Texans headed for Oklahoma. And I know that they're going to find good people up here who want to help them.
First Lady Laura Bush spoke at the Service Nation Summit in New York City today. . (Transcript)
Saturday & Sunday: The President & First Lady will be at the White House.
Monday: President & Mrs. Bush will welcome the President of Ghana and his wife to the White House. Later, the two leaders will deliver a joint press conference from the Rose Garden. That night, the First Couple will hold a state dinner for the President of Ghana at the White House.
Tuesday: To be announced.
Wednesday: President & Mrs. Bush will welcome the President of Panama to the White House and will have a state dinner for him also that night.
Thursday & Friday: To be announced.
Q What about travel for the hurricane, are you expecting that?Tony Fratto: I'll let you know if we have anything.
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: I urge my fellow Texans to listen carefully to what the authorities are saying in Galveston County or parts of Harris County, up and down the coast. We'll be monitoring the situation very carefully. The federal government will not only help with the pre-storm strategy, but once this storm passes we'll be working with state and local authorities to help people recover as quickly as possible.Thank you all for what you're doing; God bless your work. Good luck to you.
Photo of the Day:
President Bush poses for a photo with 'Pokie' as he greets military personnel and guest before his departure from Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Okla., Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.
President George W. Bush walks to Marine One for departure from Washington for a day trip to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 12, 2008, where he will attend a health care event and then a rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Thanks jonny
President George W. Bush walks to Marine One for departure from Washington for a day trip to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 12, 2008, where he will attend a health care event and then a rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
I LOVE PRESIDENT BUSH. ;o)
President Bush waves from Air Force One before departing to Oklahoma at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. on Friday, Sept. 12 2008.
Good evening and thanks for the ping
LOL,I never come in first - I’m usually in the second hundred. Yeah for me ;-)
President Bush greets Freedom Corps volunteer Karen Stark, right, and Maj. Daniel Rooney, center, during his arrival at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Okla., Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.
Stay safe!!
I hope your safe
President George W. Bush (2nd R) walks with Freedom Corps greeters, Oklahoma Air National Guard Major Daniel Rooney (R), Karen Stark (2nd L) and Oklahoma County Sheriff's Dept Captain Joe Castelberry (L), at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, September 12, 2008.
President Bush: I'm privileged to be the President of a country that produces citizens such as these. The United States is a country of volunteers -- three such volunteers are with us, Oklahoma citizens who serve in a variety of ways.Karen has produced a tie -- a way to keep our -- help our children stay cool in Iraq. She is supportive of our troops. She and her organization have done fine work.
The Major here, a golf pro, who is going to go on his third tour in Iraq, has used his position in the golfing industry to raise money to help Gold Star families. How cool is that? This guy is going to Iraq on Monday, and yes, he served that way, but he also serves in a very compassionate way.
Captain Castleberry and some of his folks he works with out at the Sheriff's Department pulled up stakes and headed down to Morgan City, Louisiana in the wake of Gustav. Nobody made him do it; he just decided to do it on his own.
President George W. Bush (L) talks about the golf charity for Gold Star families started by golf pro, Major Daniel Rooney (R), USAF Oklahoma Air National Guard on September 12, 2008 at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
President Bush: I am deeply concerned about Hurricane Ike. It is a major storm headed toward a large population soon. I was on the phone this morning with Secretary Chertoff and Director Paulison of FEMA. I spoke to my friend, Governor Perry, yesterday. The state of Texas is preparing for this emergency. I suspect there's going to be some Texans headed for Oklahoma. And I know that they're going to find good people up here who want to help them.So I want to thank the citizens of Oklahoma for getting ready to help a Texan in need. I urge my fellow Texans to listen carefully to what the authorities are saying in Galveston County or parts of Harris County, up and down the coast. We'll be monitoring the situation very carefully. The federal government will not only help with the pre-storm strategy, but once this storm passes we'll be working with state and local authorities to help people recover as quickly as possible.
Thank you all for what you're doing; God bless your work. Good luck to you.
President George Bush puts his arm around Maj. Dan Rooney, right, of Tulsa, Okla., as Karen Stark, left, of Edmond, Okla., looks on, as he speaks to the media upon his arrival at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. Stark and Rooney are founders of projects that aid soldiers and their families. Rooney, a major in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, is founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational funding to children and spouses of soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
President George W. Bush gets a kiss from Freedom Corps volunteer Karen Stark on September 12, 2008 at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
I went through Alicia in '83 never lost power...I was in Sugar Land then. Lots has changed since then.
President Bush: One of the real issues -- there's a couple of issues that face, obviously, a small business owner. One, are they -- do they have a product anybody wants to buy? But also taxes -- high taxes make it harder to stay in business. I strongly urge the Congress to make the tax relief we passed permanent so that taxes won't increase on small businesses.
Wow 4-6 hrs of 74 mph winds! I can only imagine the kind of damage that can cause.
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