[silent_jonny]

Quote of the Day:

President Bush: The strength of America is not our military, it's not our wallet; it in the hearts and souls of our citizens, those who hear the universal call to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves.

Photo of the Day:

President George W. Bush and former President George H.W. Bush sit together during a reception in honor of the Points of Light Institute at the White House in Washington January 7, 2009. At left are former First Lady Barbara Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

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[silent_jonny]

Dose Ping!

Please Pray for President Bush & Our Nation
&
Please Continue to Pray for
Snugs and Her Dad

Please wait for the "All Clear" before posting or reposting pictures and graphics.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush stands with President-elect Barack Obama (2nd L), former President George H.W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton (2nd R) and former President Jimmy Carter (R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2009.

Dana Perino: For the first time in over 27 years, all living U.S. Presidents will meet together at the White House in what will certainly be a historic gathering. These former Presidents have experienced something that, as I said yesterday, very few of us can even imagine. And President Bush is happy to welcome President-Elect Obama to lunch today, because he will soon be a member of this small group …

The last such meeting at the White House was on October 8, 1981, when all living former Presidents -- Nixon, Ford and Carter -- met Ronald Reagan before departing for the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush meets with President-elect Barack Obama (2nd-L), former President Bill Clinton (2nd-R), former President Jimmy Carter (R) and former President George H.W. Bush in the Oval Office January 7, 2009 in Washington, DC.

President Bush: I want to thank the President-elect for joining the ex-Presidents for lunch. And one message that I have and I think we all share is that we want you to succeed. Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country. And to the extent we can, we look forward to sharing our experiences with you. All of us who have served in this office understand that the office transcends the individual. And we wish you all the very best. And so does the country.

[silent_jonny]

Former President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington January 7, 2009.

[silent_jonny]

Former President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington January 7, 2009.

[Wolfstar]

First Lady Laura Bush unveiled the official George W. Bush State china plates this afternoon during a press availablity in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House.

It's a pretty set of china, 100% privately funded and donated to the White House by President and Mrs. Bush. Even so, those three aging divas on Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts and Sally Quinn, were super catty about it this morning. Quinn was busy wringing her hands about why the set was donated only two weeks before GWB leaves office. Sawyer and Roberts were whining about the cost of the set, even though it didn't cost the taxpayers a dime and is a DONATION.

Sheesh! What part of DONATION do those three hags not understand?

[silent_jonny]

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino briefs reporters on the President Bush's schedule during a press briefing, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at the White House in Washington.

An exchange between Dana and—this reporter isn’t identified by name, but it has to be Helen Thomas. No one else could be this callous and stupid.

Dana: [speaking about the Israel/Gaza situation] The easiest thing to stop the situation would be for Hamas to stop sending rockets into Israel. I think there were 35 that were sent from Gaza into Israel yesterday, and if that was to halt, I think a cease-fire would be something that would be achieved much more quickly than if they don't.

Q -- stop the bombarding of the innocent Palestinians. The U.S. has not called for anything and the President gave the green light for this slaughter.

Dana: First and foremost, the Israelis did not ask the United States' permission. I do not believe that the --

Q They didn't ask permission, but they got the backing.

Dana: I do not believe the that Israelis are targeting innocent civilians. But we do know that innocent civilians have been caught up in this fighting, and that's why we are concerned about it. And they have halted --

Q They're not caught up, they're being bombarded.

Dana: I think they are caught up in it. And I -- it's a terrible situation. You have one -- I think over a million people living in a very small area. The best thing that they could do for themselves is to have their leaders make a decision to renounce terror and violence, and at least, at the very least, to stop sending the rockets right now so that a cease-fire could be put in place that could be lasting.

Q How about the U.S. vetoing any attempt for a cease-fire?

Dana: What we are seeking is a cease-fire that would actually last. I think the worst thing that we could have is to have this vicious cycle continue.

Q Why? Stop the killing.

Dana: Well, would you say the same, that Hamas should stop the killing of innocent Israelis?

[NordP]

Thank you jonny! Great Dose.

POLKA DOTS TIE...just like I said...in honor of Mom!

What a nice son - good idea, Sir!

[silent_jonny]

First Lady Laura Bush unveils some of the new White House China Service, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House in Washington.

Mrs. Bush: Good morning, everyone. I wanted to let you all see and announce the last acquisitions to the White House collection, made during President Bush's term. And these are all things that have been in the works for several years, and ended up taking longer than we thought. I actually thought we would be able to use some of these and enjoy them, but in fact most of them, except for the Anna Weatherley china, were just delivered, really, these last few weeks. I think the rug came in maybe right before Christmas, but we just put it down. I saw it first in here when we came home from the ranch for the holidays …

I consulted with our floral designer, Nancy Clarke, who you all know. We tried to think of a color and a sort of china that would be something that really we could use that would be different from the red Reagan china, from the yellow Clinton china, and from the wildflower china of Lady Bird Johnson's.

And so we determined that green was a really good idea for one more set of china for the White House.

[silent_jonny]

Mrs. Laura Bush meets reporters as she announces two new White House china patterns, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 in the Family Dining Room of the State Floor of the White House for their unveiling of the George W. Bush State China and the Magnolia Residence China. The George W. Bush State China was inspired from a Madison-era dinner service. The Magnolia Residence China is in the picture foreground and the George W. Bush State China is on the left side of the table. With Mrs. Bush from left are Amy Zantsinger, White House Social Secretary, Nancy Clarke, White House Florist, and Bill Allman, White House Curator. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

A cup from the George W. Bush State China shows the traditional eagle and the green basket-weave detail that are characteristic of the George W. Bush china unveiled by Mrs. Laura Bush, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 in the Family Dining Room on the State Floor of the White House.

The George W. Bush State China, unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at the White House by Mrs. Laura Bush, has a gold rim with a green basket-weave pattern and a historically-inspired gold eagle throughout the 14-piece place setting.

[silent_jonny]

The rim of the George W. Bush State China, unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at the White House by Mrs. Laura Bush, shows the two distinctive design elements of the china – a green basket-weave pattern and a historically-inspired gold eagle – throughout the 14-piece place setting.

The rim of the Magnolia Residence China, which was unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, by Mrs. Laura Bush at the White House, has a varied and detailed pattern from nature. There are 75 place settings of the service which were purchased by the White House Historical Association through the George W. Bush Redecoration Fund. This new china, which was designed in Virginia and hand painted in Hungary, will be used in the private Residence. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

[silent_jonny]

The Magnolia Residence China was unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, by Mrs. Laura Bush at the White House with plates whose magnolia decoration give the china it's name. Other pieces show a varied and detailed pattern from nature

Pieces of the Magnolia Residence China, which was unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, by Mrs. Laura Bush at the White House, show variations of the detailed theme from nature. Plates show an elegant magnolia for which the pattern is named. There are 75 place settings of the service which were purchased by the White House Historical Association through the George W. Bush Redecoration Fund. There are 75 place settings of the new china. The service includes the service plate, the dinner plate, a salad plate and desert plate, a soup cup, tea cup and tea saucer. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

[lonestar67]

Thanks again to our awesome President and First Lady.

You are the Abraham Lincoln standing in a Global Gettysburg.

[silent_jonny]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice walks through the Security Council Chambers at the United Nations Headquarters in New York January 7, 2009.

The Security Council meets at the United Nations headquarters to discuss the Middle East Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice extended a visit to New York to participate in talks at the United Nations on an Egyptian-French proposal for a truce to end fighting in the Gaza Strip.

[silent_jonny]

Former President George H. W. Bush, left, walks with his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, followed by their son, President George W. Bush, and his wife first lady Laura Bush, to a reception in honor of the Points of Light Institute, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in the East Room at the White House in Washington.

President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush arrive to the East Room of the White House for the reception in honor of the Points of Light Institute January 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. U.S. President George W. Bush and Former President George H. W. Bush are expected to speak at the reception.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush speaks at the reception in honor of the Points of Light Institute at the East Room of the White House January 7, 2009 in Washington, DC.

President Bush: Thank you all. Mr. President. (Laughter.) Yes? No -- (laughter.) Thank you all for coming. I'm told there are seven speakers. So there's now about to be six. I thank you -- I welcome you to the White House. I hope you take advantage of the reception that we have after these seven short speeches. And I want to thank you for your compassion.

The strength of America is not our military, it's not our wallet; it is -- lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens, those who hear the universal call to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves.

And so, for those of you who are rallying the armies of compassion, and encouraging the armies of compassion, we thank you.

And now it is my honor to introduce my brother -- Neil M. Bush. (Applause.)

[silent_jonny]

Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush speaks during the reception in honor of the Points of Light Institute at the East Room of the White House January 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. U.S. President George W. Bush is also expected to speak at the reception.

GHWB: I particularly want to thank the President and the First Lady for opening up the White House, and for keeping the spirit of volunteerism alive and well. Service to others, he believes and I believe, we all believe -- and I have to be the most biased person in this room, but I think this President and this First Lady have done an extraordinary job in taking this concept forward …

I know the idea behind this event was to honor what our administration started, but speaking for my team, the honor was all ours. And that's the way it is when you engage in community service. The satisfaction of knowing that you've made a difference is indeed the greatest reward.

Of course, there's still so much to do. So let me simply close by encouraging our new leadership, all on the team, to get out there and keep fighting away. I may not be able to suit up again and get out on the field with you like I would want to, but the Lord knows I'll be there with you in spirit every step of the way.

And thank you all for being here. Thank you all for your support for this concept of volunteerism, helping others. It's a great thing.

And so now I have another honor, and that is to introduce a Point of Light, himself -- a musical Point of Light -- Larry Gatlin. Where is he? (Applause.)

[silent_jonny]

Larry Gatlin performs at the reception in honor of the Points of Light Institute at the East Room of the White House January 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. U.S. President George W. Bush and Former President George H. W. Bush attend the reception.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush and former President George H.W. Bush sit together during a reception in honor of the Points of Light Institute at the White House in Washington January 7, 2009. At left are former first lady Barbara Bush and first lady Laura Bush.

[sybilll]

Not sure why this hit me so hard just now. Maybe seeing all the former President’s together. Knowing the country’s past, and what America has elected, knowing I am sending my almost adult daughter into this mayhem in just a couple of years. I wept. Openly.
I hope I make it on the Freeper meltdown on DU for this. Because I mean every word, but, they have no concept of National, civic, nor family pride.
And, for the love of Pete, someone please Photoshop the china our gracious Laura left to Michelle.