Posted on 10/24/2003 10:53:55 AM PDT by Coop
(Pearl Harbor, O'ahu)-- President George W. Bush and his entourage spent Thursday morning shuttling around Pearl Harbor, meeting veterans and volunteers aboard the Mighty Mo and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.
"You don't get to meet the president everyday. It is very rare," said war veteran Toby Langcaon. Langcaon waited for hours on Thursday morning, just to get the chance to shake hands with President Bush. "From six to probably five hours, every minute was worth it just to meet the President and his wife, Mrs. Bush," said Langcaon, who served on the U.S.S. Missouri. Langcaon met the Commander-in-chief when he came aboard the Mighty Mo. "Can you believe that? I was able to shake their hands twice," said Langcaon.
The Mighty Mo visit was only a portion of the president's Pearl Harbor tour. The president and First Lady Laura Bush got an up close look at several warships just back from the Iraq war. Sailors stood on desk and saluted their Commander-in-chief, as the tour boat made its way toward the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. There, the presidential pair dropped flowers into the water and participated in a wreath laying ceremony.
Although he had a tight schedule, the president made time for just about everyone he came in contact with. "He spent time with everyone, he was very gracious," said U.S.S. Missouri volunteer Dom Bracken. It was memories that, for many, will last a lifetime. "It was a highlight of my life," said Toby Langcaon. "Today is very special."
President Bush and the first lady hold flowers before tossing them into the water at the Arizona Memorial
(Waikiki) -- 7:08 p.m. Hawaii Time
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Aloha! Thank you. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. If I seem a little jet-lagged --
(laughter) -- it's because I've spent a long week away from home. After eight days on the road and more than 18,000 miles in the air, it's great to be back in America. (Applause.) And it's really great to be in the beautiful state of Hawaii. (Applause.)
We had a great trip. I visited with some of our strongest allies in the war on terror, and some of the nation's most important trading partners. We made progress on a broad agenda, an agenda that will help make America more secure and more prosperous.
I want to thank each of you for giving me a warm welcome home. I particularly want to thank you for your strong support. See, what we're doing today is we're laying the foundation for a victory in Hawaii and a nationwide victory in 2004. (Applause.) As your Governor said, and my Chairman of the campaign here said, we need more than just financial contributions, we need you talking up the campaign. We need you going to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your community centers, and reminding everybody that this administration has got an optimistic, positive, hopeful agenda for everybody who lives in America. (Applause)
Rest of speech here.
I wonder if they had Bush watch the movie before his shuttled over. Its one of my favorites because it has not been cleansed by the PC police and tells the truth about the treachery and horror of Dec. 7th, 1941.
I'm optomistic and positive and hopeful that this "agenda" includes to real, honest-to-goodness CUTS in Federal Spending and dubious Federal Programs!!
Roll Dubyuh Roll...MUD
Way to go W BUMP!
Dubyuh is certainly a gracious, humble ManOfThePeople and the consummate campaigner...I can't help but like the man, but still hope to see him come forward with a more-principled Conservative Domestic Agenda that he will be enacting in his second term (emboldened by the much healthier GOP majorities in the House and Senate)!!
Can you say "Contract For America II"?!
Dubyuh ROCKS FReegards...MUD
I'm listening to Drudge on Rush and he's playing all sorts of clips from the upcoming Reagan movie. It is unbelieveable. Far worse then I had imagined. Pure trash.
Yep, I heard that, too...sounds like a really poorly-directed soap opera, full of lies meant only to sully the reputation and legacy of the greatest POTUS in my lifetime.
I'm boycotting CBS and whichever corporations are STOOOOPID enuff to buy advertising time for that miniseries!!
FReegards...MUD
We will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail.
President George W. Bush, Jan 02
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