[Kaslin]

Quote Of the Month

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 16, 2005

President's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. American families and small businesses across the country are feeling the pinch from rising gas prices. If you're trying to meet a family budget or a payroll, even a small change at the pump can have a big impact.

America's prosperity depends on reliable, affordable and secure sources of energy. And today our energy needs are growing faster than our domestic sources are able to provide. Demand for electricity has grown more than 17 percent in the past decade, while our transmission ability lags behind. And we continue to import more than one-half of our domestic oil supply.

In the coming days and weeks I'll talk more about what we need to do in Washington to make sure America has an energy policy that reflects the demands of a new century. The first order of business is for Congress to pass an energy bill. Next week Congress begins debate on energy legislation and they need to send me a bill that meets four important objectives:

First, the energy bill must encourage the use of technology to improve conservation. We must find smarter ways to meet our energy needs, and we must encourage Americans to make better choices about energy consumption. We must also continue to invest in research, so we will develop the technologies that would allow us to conserve more and be better stewards of the environment.

Second, the energy bill must encourage more production at home in environmentally sensitive ways. Over the past three years, America's energy consumption has increased by about 4 percent, while our domestic energy production has decreased by about 1 percent. That means more of our energy is coming from abroad. To meet our energy needs and strengthen our national security we must make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

Third, the energy bill must diversify our energy supply by developing alternative sources of energy like ethanol or biodiesel. We need to promote safe, clean nuclear power. And to create more energy choices, Congress should provide tax credits for renewable power sources such as wind, solar, and landfill gas. We must also continue our clean coal technology projects so that we can use the plentiful source of coal in an environmentally friendly way. The bill must also support pollution-free cars and trucks, powered by hydrogen fuel cells instead of gasoline.

Finally, the energy bill must help us find better, more reliable ways to deliver energy to consumers. In some parts of the country, our transmission lines and pipelines are decades older than the homes and businesses they supply. Many of them are increasingly vulnerable to events that can interrupt and shut down power in entire regions of the country. We must modernize our infrastructure to make America's energy more secure and reliable.

Every source of power that we use today started with the power of human invention, and those sources have served us well for decades. Now it's time to apply our knowledge and technology to keep the American Dream alive in this new century. There is nothing America cannot achieve when we put our mind to it. And I urge Congress to work out its differences and pass an energy bill that will help make America safer and more prosperous for the years to come.

Thank you for listening.

Photos of the Month

Young David Smith holds his father's Medal of Honor -- presented by President Bush -- as he looks to his mother, Birgit Smith, during ceremonies Monday, April 4, 2005, at the White House. Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith, was mortally wounded while saving other members of his task force during Operation Iraqi Freedom.White House photo by Paul Morse

President George W. Bush throws out the opening pitch of the Washington DC Nationals home opener at RFK Stadium in Washington DC on Thursday April 14 2005. White House photo by Paul Morse

President and Laura Bush return to the White House after attending the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Tuesday, April 19, 2005. White House photo by Paul Morse

[Kaslin]

Please wait for the all clear before posting or reposting any photos or graphics

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kaslin! Thanks for the thread!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[SevenofNine]

Unlike this current President who can’t throw a pitch over base LOL!

[fatnotlazy]

President Bush had a number of flaws, but comparing him to the current occupant of the White House...well...there is no comparison. Agree or disagree with him or his policies, George Bush performed his tasks in a professional manner. Today, our president is a gangsta. How low have we sunk!

[fatnotlazy]

By the way, thank you for posting these photos. A really fine tribute to a fine man (and First Lady).

[RightOnline]

Sorry....but it should be “life”, not “live”.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Gosh, I miss them so much...
*sigh*

[oldteen]

Thank you so much Kaslin. I so look forward to a little bit of sanity each month :).

[baseballmom]

LOVE the picture in #1 of our President throwing out the first ball at the Nationals game. Today, the local Philly sportscasters were gracious , but they brought up when our W threw the PERFECT strike during the 2001 World Series. They were in AWE. I still am.

Today, the current president threw a girlie throw way high and outside.

My Phillies ROMPED over the Nats today - 11-1. It was glorious.

I miss our W. A true baseball man.

[Humal]

Thank you, Kaslin. Wonderful, darling photos.

[CyberAnt]

My favorite baseball picture is when he threw out the opening ball of the World Series .. right after 9/11.

It was so risky for him to go out in the middle of the ball park - totally unprotected (so to speak - though he did have body armour on), and throw out the ball. I remember thinking, as he strolled out to the mound .. he was actually living a dream - because it had always been in his heart to be a major league pitcher. And .. although he had given up that dream to follow God’s leading into politics, here he was .. walking to the mound - in the World Series - and he would actually get to throw a ball. I am convinced it was God’s reward.

I remember watching the video over and over and marveling at his courage. It encouraged me. It was dark when he went to the mound and the stands were shimmering with flash bulbs wanting to catch the moment.

It was such an - in your face - moment for America. A proud and courageous President - showing everyone - even the terrorists - that we would not go quietly into the night - hiding in the shadows, afraid to show ourselves.

This was one of those moments you never forget in your whole life .. I felt especially proud to be an American.

[angcat]

Thank you Kaslin. Seems like a lifetime ago.

[Lucky2]

President Bush was a real man, a class act and a good president. The creature now playing at being president is the exact opposite.

[Crolis]

Laura Bush, as usual, looks fantastic. What a contrast to the present FLOTUS.

[ichabod1]

Makes me very sad that he’s gone. I didn’t always agree with him. He made me very angry at times. But with W there was always a difference between being mad at him and not loving him or trusting him to do what was best for the country.

[Joya]

Please add me to the ping list for these threads. Thank you.

[txgirl4Bush]

This is awesome, this is what all of us have been missing here... is regular trips to sanity island to get away from the insane policies of the marxist usurper that we have now. What a breath of fresh air this is. I love these pictures. Thanks so much!!!!