Posted on 05/15/2005 5:48:21 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: After spending about 24 hours at Camp David, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to the White House early to attend the annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on Capitol Hill. He was joined by Attorney General Al Gonzales, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, and Secretary of Homeland Security Mike Chertoff, as well as FBI Director Bob Mueller and the Director of ATF, Carl Truscott. The Congress was represented by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Pat Leahy and Congressman Dave Reichert, from the state of Washington, among many others. Reichert served as a law enforcement officer for over 30 years, and received the 2004 National Sheriffs Association Sheriff of the Year Award. Singer Darryl Worley performed "I Miss My Friend."
In other administration news, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice made a surprise visit to Iraq. On a lightning visit, she urged Iraqis to be patient, saying the insurgency can be beaten with the help of a strong political alternative. "The insurgency is very violent, but you defeat insurgencies not just militarily," Rice said after meeting with officials in Baghdad and the northern Kurdish region. "The Iraqis...are now going to have to intensify their efforts to demonstrate that in fact the political process is the answer for the Iraqi people."
QUOTE OF THE DAY: From the President's address at the memorial service today.
We're a nation built on the rule of law, and the men and women who enforce those laws uphold America's role as a beacon for fairness and peace. And, today, we honor 415 new names added to the memorial wall.
Among them are Detroit police officers Matthew Bowens and Jennifer Fettig. The officers were making a routine traffic stop when the suspect opened fire. Though Officer Bowens had already been shot several times, himself, his first concern was for his injured partner. Both officers gave their lives in protecting each other and their fellow citizens, and this nation of ours will always honor them.
Danger to law enforcement can come from the outskirts of a community, as it did to Bradford County Pennsylvania Deputy Chris Burgert. He and his partner, Deputy Mike Van Kuren, were shot last March while trying to serve a bench warrant on a known criminal. Chris had been leading a drug investigation that often brought him face to face with danger on rural back roads. And his bravery had brought a string of successes against a dangerous and volatile set of criminals. His acts took unusual courage, and our nation will be always grateful for his sacrifice.
Danger can come even in what one thinks is routine investigation. Last May, Arizona police officer Don Schultz was diving for evidence in a murder case when he lost his life. Officer Schultz had been on the force for 19 years and was one of the department's master divers. He died in an act of devotion to duty that was common to him, and will always remain extraordinary to us. These are just the examples of the brave we honor today.
Every generation of Americans has produced men and women willing to stand watch over the rest of us. Every generation has lived under the protection of law enforcement. We must never take for granted the police officers of America.
For each friend or family member here today, the engraving on the wall will always glow brightly around one name. We cannot soothe your grief or repay your loved one's sacrifice -- but their names are inscribed permanently on this memorial. We acknowledge the lasting debt we owe them, and offer the solemn thanks of a grateful nation.
Hello again, Wolfstar! Very nice pictures of Condi in Iraq. How I admire her. Congratulations on your new job, too!
a walk along the beach. Very relaxing
A great place to be. We are lucky to have so
many great beaches here.
Lol. Aren't you cute? :)
LOL! While you were asking the mods to pull yours, I was asking them to pull this one. Although I usually try to get the weekend thread(s) posted by about noon or 1:00pm Pacific time, it's been a crazy couple of weeks for me. From now on, I'll make a point of giving you and the other Dose custodians advance notice if I can't put a thread up before around 5:00pm Pacific.
But Mike, thank you so much for caring enough to jump in. That was truly wonderful of you. :-)
Congrats on the new job Wolfstar! Thanks for the Pix, I'm enjoying looking at them. And very moving to see our good President console the grieving families.
Yes, I get confused with all of them. It may be expensive to live here but I have never lived in a place where relaxation is so close.
Dare I say without fear of getting flamed that not only has she traveled more but she has done so mainly alone (apart of course the usual entourage) which IMHO is because the President can trust her to spread his message rather than hers which may not have been the case with the previous incumbent.
His presidential duties certainly require him to do many, many different things, and I love the pictures of him comforting people, too. His compassion really shows through.
No one's fault, Mike. Sometimes life just gets in the way and throws us a glitch from time to time. No big deal. Truly.
For those who don't have a good handle on what's important in life, look at the face of that grieving widow at the top of the thread.
No arguments from me on that.
It does--you just can't fake that kind of compassion! Love that man!
Me too. So very much to admire about that man.
Hello again to answer your question which I had done on the other dose but when I went post it had been pulled.
Yes there was a game today, Charlton drew 2:2 with near neighbours Crystal Palace and because of results elsewhere Palace were relegated.
I will post a couple of photos of Charlton's mascot's in a few minutes.
No flames from me on that observation, not even one colored in yellow crayon, I definitely agree with you.
I WANNA BE FIRRRRRSSTTT! I want a toaster like that one! hubba-hubba! LOL!
He is a very compassionate man, and I am proud that he is our President.
Thanks for your kindness. Outsourcing has complicated so many lives. Company CEO's may see some benefit, but for us worker bees, it's just not worth the trouble.
I've said that because there are multiple layers of companies involved where I work. The client company, and several outsource vendors. The main one is IBM. I was working for them until this past Friday. The client company is not happy with them and has not been sending much work their way. So IBM has been laying off like crazy.
I was able to land a job directly with the client company. However, it's a contract for six months. It will take me through the end of the year. After than, who knows. But I'm much better off that the 50+ people who've been laid off just this month alone.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
If you missed the Tom Delay Tribute Dinner earlier this week, C-Span is re-broadcasting it NOW (9:30 PM EST)!
http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/schedule.csp
NOTE: It plans to re-broadcast today's National Peace Officers Memorial Service featuring a speech by the President at 2 AM EST!
He sure does. That's why it takes a toll on him. A person has to genuinely feel emotions such as compassion and shared grief in order for it to take a toll on them.
Condi is spectacular. There's no other word to describe her. And I appreciate your kindness re my job.
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