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Black Tie Black Eye by Barbara Stanley [White House Correspondents Dinner]
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Posted on 05/15/2003 7:03:29 PM PDT by annyokie

Subject: White House Correspondents Dinner

The annual White House Correspondents Dinner is one time of the year when all the journalists get together, hand out a few awards, have someone speak who will tell merciless jokes, usually on the President, then the President gets up tell a few jokes on himself, etc. then makes a cute little speech and that's it.

This year's dinner, however, was different. The following is account written of the event. WHAT A DIFFERENCE CHARACTER MAKES

Black Tie Black Eye by Barbara Stanley

One of the things that has always bothered me the most about DC is the railing against each other by day and then going out for a drink together in the evening.

How can folks who are diametrically opposed in goals duke it out (like gentlemen for the most part, on the Right side of the aisle), one wanting smaller government and lower taxes, the other, big government and all kinds of social programs, tax and spend democrats and then yuck it up at the local watering hole. It always boggled my mind and it is one of the things about politics that I find so distasteful. This kind of behaviour gave rise to the "old-boys club" and "inside the Beltway deals" that are odious to me. How can you really believe in something for hours during the day and then put those strong beliefs away in the evening? I have had a few try to explain this to me and condescendingly at that, that this is "politics" and I'm just some dumb skirt, pat me on the head and I'll go to my sewing.

Every year there is a black tie to-do in DC that has the president making a few self-deprecating remarks for the press people to gloat about and then some entertainment and everybody goes home laughing. But not this year and not with this president. Hallelujah, I'm a happy camper at last!

While the first speaker, the incoming president of the self-important press folks spoke, the talking in the room, for the most part, still went on. A complete example of how rude most of these self-important reporters are. They couldn't even shut up and listen to their newly installed chief. It was annoying to me to try to listen to this guy as he fumbled to get the audiences attention. It was also embarrassing to watch.

Then George Bush was introduced and the room took on a hush. I could tell they were all waiting for George to let bygones by bygones, swallow the crap he has been getting from them all year and mock himself for their enjoyment. But, with Helen Thomas, hair all done up and looking spiffy right there on the dais as though she held some kind of special place in the scheme of things, George showed them all what class really looks like.

This was no a joke-fest, like a few years back, with Imus sweating bullets and talking about Bill (The Pig) Clinton's astro-turf in the back of the truck while Bill and Hill glaringly watched. Nope, this was a new day for the lot of them and Bush put them all in their place (at the feeding trough below the bottom rung). I really wish I had taped the thing, so I could watch and listen over and over as the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop as they sat salivating for the headlines of the articles they would write the next day.

George Bush, freshly victorious in the Liberation of Iraq, was one class act He got up, he spoke and his topic was the men who died in Iraq, two of the press' own: Michael Kelly and David Bloom. He commended them for their work, he lauded them for their lives and George finished his remarks, of some length, with the last email that David Bloom sent home to his wife. David told his wife that here he was, in the prime of his career on the eve of his fortieth birthday, in a war zone with the troops as the newly created 'embedded' reporter and that all that was really important was his wife, their children and Jesus.

Yes, George Bush said the name that has virtually everyone in the press nattering: Jesus. He said it with conviction; he said it with respect and he said it with love. Then he sat down. And the audience sat stunned! I almost couldn't believe my eyes and ears.

It was pure joy to watch the emcee get up, flustered as all get out, trying to fill the gap in time for the band to set up for the entertainment. I only watched a few more minutes before I felt my heart leap with such gratitude that I thought I would cry. Finally a man who stands by his convictions, who cares truly about the previous year and his work during that time, a time of great challenge as France, Germany, Russia, Red China, the United Nations and the press called him out on his decision to liberate Iraq. A year that saw Bill Clinton and Jimmie Carter speak out publicly against Bush, while traveling around as though they were still in charge, dealing with the enemy as the press told us what great peacemakers they were.

Bush is my cowboy and aren't we glad we still have men like him to lead this country. The cowboy is revered by those who understand the true definition of this kind of man; a man slow to anger, never one to pick a fight, always ready to defend the defenseless, a man who has stones and backbone and heart and is willing to go out and face down the badguys, even if it means his own destruction.

For the last year, almost the entire press has slung the arrows at George, has mocked, has ridiculed, has trashed him mercilessly and has done it on an hourly basis while they pretty much ignored the real hypocrites, to attack the Christian president. They called him stupid, they called him "shrub", they challenged every decision as though they really cared, as though they really understood the full import of the situation and last night George showed them all he has been paying attention and has not forgotten that their actions have caused people to suffer and die more than was absolutely necessary.

Every day in every way, my esteem for this man grows and last night he said what I wanted him to say, he did what I wanted him to do and I will not forget this man is working for me. Thank you, President Bush, from the bottom of my politics-weary heart.


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: barbarastanley
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To: blam
You're welcome!
41 posted on 05/15/2003 9:09:11 PM PDT by annyokie (provacative yet educational reading alert)
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To: JulieRNR21
Julie, you and I had the same thoughts. You were posting while I was still typing.
42 posted on 05/15/2003 9:10:16 PM PDT by nana4bush
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To: annyokie
good posting,thank you.
43 posted on 05/15/2003 9:11:10 PM PDT by green team 1999
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To: nana4bush
Julie, you and I had the same thoughts. You were posting while I was still typing.

Thanks...Nice to know that we had similar thoughts......:)

44 posted on 05/15/2003 9:15:32 PM PDT by JulieRNR21 (Take W-04........Across America!)
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To: annyokie
Excellent, excellent post!
Thank you for this, from the bottom of my heart.
45 posted on 05/15/2003 9:16:13 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: ohioWfan
W is one smart sumbitch.
46 posted on 05/15/2003 9:17:09 PM PDT by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
I will admit to you all that on election night in November of 2000, I sat in front of my computer hitting refresh over and over, listening to election returns on the television - I cried and literally SHOOK with grief when Al Gore was projected to have won state after state. I have prayed for few things in my life harder than I prayed for my country that night. It was that important to me.

I was with many FL Ffreepers that election night. As the projections kept favoring Gore several of us went into another room and began praying that a miracle would happen and God would have mercy on our country. We took turns praying aloud. It was one of the most instense prayer experiences of my life.

47 posted on 05/15/2003 9:23:25 PM PDT by JulieRNR21 (Take W-04........Across America!)
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To: JulieRNR21
I think there were a lot of us praying like that, Julie...and the way it all went down, just a handful of votes (chads!), really, separating us from a continuation of the Clinton years...it WAS a miracle. I KNOW God's hand was in it.
48 posted on 05/15/2003 9:27:09 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (When you’ve loved and lost the way Frank has, then you know what life’s about.)
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To: Howlin
Thanks for the ping, Howlin, really enjoyed reading this, and to think how they (demorats) talked & talked about how dumb this president was. Let them keep thinking that while he rolls over them & seems to get everything his way eventually!!!! Bush in 2004!!!
49 posted on 05/15/2003 9:28:21 PM PDT by blondee123 (Prez Bush Rules; Our military Rules! God Bless America!)
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To: TexKat; GOPyouth; oceanperch
Ping!! Good read!
50 posted on 05/15/2003 9:30:06 PM PDT by blondee123 (Prez Bush Rules; Our military Rules! God Bless America!)
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To: Carolinamom
She wrote what we here at FR think about our President. "Cowboy" is high praise in my book.

You got that right!!

51 posted on 05/15/2003 9:38:20 PM PDT by Mo1 (I'm a monthly Donor .. You can be one too!)
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To: All
Bump for a great read.
52 posted on 05/15/2003 10:14:22 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet ("They (VH-1) took one look and said, and I quote, 'There's nothing behind this music.' ")
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To: Howlin; annyokie
Thanks, Howlin.

And I have to agree. GW has so much grace, so much character! When will the Rats (press) ever learn they can't stop the success of excellence like that personified in President Bush! He's a freight train, a Superman, fighting for truth and tearing them up.

Class, all the way!!

53 posted on 05/15/2003 10:26:10 PM PDT by Humidston (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law)
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To: annyokie
Thank you, annyokie.
54 posted on 05/16/2003 12:14:28 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: MJY1288
Greatly appreciate the ping!
55 posted on 05/16/2003 12:27:49 AM PDT by DaughterofEve (W)
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To: MJY1288; annyokie
Thanks. Very encouraging article. God bless the president. Our political culture sure needs the shake up he is giving them. And they simply do not know how to deal with it.
56 posted on 05/16/2003 4:52:13 AM PDT by Paul_B
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To: Howlin
Thanks for pinging me - I would have probably missed this great article. Barbara Stanley expresses many of the same thoughts I have, yet with an eloquence few can match. I so love her articles about the Clintons - she can certainly put them in their place - one rung below the gutter. Tis a shame she's not the Barbara doing the Hillary interview.
57 posted on 05/16/2003 5:20:24 AM PDT by Quilla
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To: MJY1288
Thanks for the ping. Loved it!
58 posted on 05/16/2003 7:54:52 AM PDT by hillsborofox
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To: Howlin
We need to keep reminding ourselves over and over that we are SO lucky to have this man in the White House.

100% Ditto's Howlin.

59 posted on 05/16/2003 8:53:06 AM PDT by Teacup (Ole Crusty is a hard working pant suit)
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To: Howlin
We sure are, Howlin! He stands head and shoulders over everyone else. Clinton isn't fit to shine his shoes, is he? I wish there were more like him in the wings. Maryxxx
60 posted on 05/16/2003 9:07:49 AM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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