PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH SHARES PRO-LIFE TALK AT INDIANA PREGNANCY CENTER EVENT
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
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BUSH VISIT IGNITES FERVOR
By Vic Ryckaert
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100416/LOCAL18/4160336/Bush-visit-ignites-fervor-in-fans-foes
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These articles will provide you with a general overview of last night’s Celebration of Life event in Indianapolis. [FYI: The articles indicate that more than 4,000 supporters attended the event. Actually, the number was well over 5,000 — very similar to the attendance at yesterday’s Tea Party event in Cincinnati which was supposed to feature Sean Hannity and only cost $5 a ticket vs. $30 - $70 for the CoL event. . . Yep, our President Bush is just so unpopular . . . NOT!]
AND NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY . . . MY FULL REPORT:
Hubby, sisters and I had an absolutely AWESOME time in Indianapolis yesterday. The weather was stunning, the conversation was delightful, and the food was worth every penny of the (Morton’s) bill that almost gave my hubby a heart attack. And this was BEFORE we entered the Conesco Fieldhouse for 2 1/2 hours of life-affirming testimonials and uplifting music (provided by Sandi Patty and Miss America 2009, Katie Stam).
Of course, the focal point of the evening, the reason most were in attendance, was the hour-long talk/Q&A provided by President George W Bush.
Mike Pence (R, 6th District, Indiana) and his wife (who is VERY involved in the Right to Life movement) introduced President Bush. They noted that he (President Bush) was without a doubt the most pro-life President in American history — something we DOSErs have been saying for a long time!
Tanned, fit and (let’s be frank) gorgeous in his custom-tailored grey suit with ‘lilac’ tie, President Bush was alternatively folksy, inspiring, humorous, poignant and, at all times, preternaturally charming.
He opened his talk by re-emphasizing his commitment to ‘life’ issues, stating emphatically that we must always defend (and value) the most vulnerable among us. That said, President Bush spent most of his time providing us with a ‘tour’ of his Oval Office — interjecting many amusing anecdotes along the way, e.g., when he first walked into the Oval Office he noticed that his chair had a cord dangling from it. He soon learned that it was a ‘massage’ chair [BTW: Is anyone surprised that Bill Clinton used a ‘massage’ chair?] Anyway, out it went.
President Bush continued his ‘tour’ by describing the paintings (”while the painting of ‘41’ hung in his heart; ‘16’ hung on his wall”); the carpet (Laura designed it to reflect his optimistic personality); the tough decisions (which resulted in him spending a lot of time with families of the fallen, where he often became the ‘Comforted in Chief’ rather than the Comforter in Chief); and, of course, the war (”the first plane was a tragedy, the second plane was a terrorist attack, and the third plane (into the Pentagon) was a declaration of war and that’s how he conducted (and what consumed) the rest of his presidency”). Relative to the latter, you could have heard a pin drop as the President described 9/11 from his unique (and may I add, uniquely important) perspective — I can’t wait to read the 9/11 chapter in his upcoming book.
Speaking of books (1): President Bush mentioned that, at the recommendation of noted historians, he has written his book in a style similar to that of Ulysses S. Grant — a more anecdotal vs biographical style. He added that the very first sentence in his book reads as follows: (and yes, I’m paraphrasing because I can’t remember the exact verbage) “Can you remember a day when you haven’t had a drink?” . . . Again, you could have heard a pin drop. He explained that this was a question that Laura had asked him at a pivotal time in his life. Interestingly, the question opens the chapter in his book that explains why he decided to run for president . . . Again, I can’t wait to read this book — I just wish November wasn’t so far away!
Speaking of books (2): President Bush gave an ‘loving’ plug for Laura’s upcoming book which is set to release in 2 weeks (on May 4)! . . . [BTW: It so touches my heart that he is still so VERY much in love with “his baby” (he used that term several times during his remarks)!!]
FYI: In preparation for the release of her book, Laura has created both a facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Laura-W-Bush/118893778120974?ref=ts and a website: http://www.laurawbush.com/ [Yet another book I can’t wait to read!]
Back to the CoL event: President Bush ended his remarks/Q&A by providing touching insights into his own faith journey and continuing need for prayer. On cue, the event organizer, Brian Boone, offered up a special prayer for President Bush, at the conclusion of which President Bush offered a hearty AMEN!
After President Bush left the stage to a rousing standing ovation, all we could say is WOW: We need this courageous, God-centered, principle-driven, VISIONARY man back in the White House. Of course, even if we could change the law, President Bush made it perfectly clear that he is no longer interested in politics . . . He is back in Texas and he is there to stay!
As for me, I’m just hoping President Bush decides to make another speech somewhere in the area; if not, at least I know I’ll get to see/hear him again in November when he holds the ground-breaking ceremony for his Presidential Center!
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Phancypants and Miss Marple: PLEASE share with us your perceptions of and experiences at the event!
Oops, I forgot to include the website address:
PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH SHARES PRO-LIFE TALK AT INDIANA PREGNANCY CENTER EVENT
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
http://www.lifenews.com/state4997.html
WOW, DrDeb! You enjoyed a grand and special evening. Perfect that Mike Pence and his wife introduced President Bush. Thank you very much for your report. You’ve made me all the more anxious for his book. I see that you’re already a FB fan of First Lady Laura’s!
Blessings!!!
What a GREAT report, DrDeb! Thank you for providing such detail for us. Nothing is particularly surprising but so endearing and wonderful! What an incredible man he is. May God continue to bless him and his amazing wife!
Thanks for taking the time to fill us in, DrDeb!
I miss him.
What a good man. I'm so glad I had a chance to shake his hand...and have him wave at me. I was that close to one of this Country's best Presidents.
At least we were there....when he was President, and here...when our Country needs all of us so badly to survive.
Thank you for posting this.
Thank you, too...our dear W...
thanks Deb, always enjoy your material
I have not had the privilege of having seen W in person but I sincerely hope if I ever do it will be at a pro-life event such as this one!
Oh ... what a thrill for you all! Thanks so much,
Deb, for your on scene recapture of this event.
It must’ve been SO heartwarming to see him .. were
you up close ? Any handshake, hug ? (hope, hope,
hope ;)
That 5,000 people paid to see him in these
tough times shows the huge amount of respect and
honor in which he’s held .. and always will be by
sensible patriots who love this country, and like
you and us all, would give anything to have him
back at 1600 Pennsylvania.
Did me mention the current resident at all ?
~ ~ ~
Laura Bush Speaks In Somerset
Somerset, Kentucky - Former first lady Laura Bush told a crowd of about 700 people that life outside the White House has meant big and small changes, right down to insisting the former president pick up his own laundry from the bathroom floor.
Speaking at a fundraiser for Somerset Christian School on
Friday, Bush joked: “Memo to the ex-president: Turmoil in
East Timor is no longer an excuse not to pick up your socks.”
http://www.lex18.com/news/laura-bush-speaks-in-somerset/
I am sorry I didn’t get here until today. Here is my complete report, which I filed with Howlin and the others on our private site:
REPORT ON PRESIDENT BUSH’S APPEARANCE IN INDIANAPOLIS
I am SO glad I got to go to this! It was really nice.
President Bush looked great, very tan and relaxed. Lines on his face seemed less noticeable. We had seats fairly close. As I told Howlin, absolutely no cameras were allowed. They searched my handbag.
The speech was in two parts. The first was his reflections on his presidency and life after. He told some stories about getting home, including the one about walking through the neighborhood and having to clean up after Barney. What was interesting was that he said that he hadn’t walked through a neighborhood in 10 years, and Barney NEVER had...all he knew was the South Lawn of the White House, Camp David, or Crawford.
He painted a picture of what the Oval Office looked like and how important it was. Talked about going therre with his dad the first time. GET THIS: When he saw the desk he looked at the chair behind it and there was a wire coming out of it. He said he thoughr “What the heck is that?” It was a VIBRATING CHAIR! Bioll Clinton had a vibrator chair behind the desk in the Oval Office!! Bwahahaha!
He also talked about September 11 and discussed not seeming to react when he was in the classroom and Andy Card told him. He said he could see the press in the back of the room taking calls and making them, and he knew they were getting the same news. The reason he stayed put was not only to not scare the children, but he knew that every action he did would be magnified, and if the people saw him jump up and run out, they would assume he had panicked and then panic would roll in waves throughout the country. It is very important in a crisis to remain calm, and keep everyone else calm, is the advice he gave us if we have to face a crisis.
He again said that he would not criticize because he didn’t like it when he was criticized, and he felt like he should act as he wanted others to act. Woman down the row from me said very loudly, “Don’t worry! We will do it for you!” HA!
I also found it interesting that he still will not blame anyone else (Karl Rove) for not answering his critics. He said that he always felt that “Presidents come and go, but the Presidency goes on and the Ship of State sails forward.” (Actually, I found this very comforting because it makes me think someday our current occupant will go away.)
He used lots of self-deprecating humor and his story-telling was relaxes and very humorous. NO nasty comments about anyone, although he did say his mother used to call and say “Did you hear what Senator so and so said?”
When decorating the Oval Office, he had to choose a presidential portrait to hang over the mantle. He said he chose Washington because “who else are you gonna put up there, Rutherford B. Hayes?” Then he had to select a second presidential portrait and people usually choose their favorite president for a place seen when visitors first enter. “On this I had a big conflict,” he said. (Pause for this to sink in.) Then he talked about how much he admired his father, but how Lincoln was an inspiration. “So, he said, 16 hangs on the wall but 41 hangs in my heart.” I thought this was very touching.
(Break while I check on the dog. There is more.)
OK, dog is settled.
I am telling you guys this as I remember it. Some is probably out of order, but I am afraid if I don’t get it all down I will forget something.
Most satisfying time was his second Inauguration, because it meant that the people had seen his good points and bad points (and here he went into a quick riff of all of the stuff the left has bitched about for years...”Dead or alive, mission accomplished,...) which everyone CHEERED! I think he was a little surprised by that.
Oh, when he was talking about going into the Oval Office for the first time in January 2001 he said it was a little bit unbelievable, “even though I had been elected about 10 times.” HA!
Condi Rice was the one who called him the first time and told him the first plane had hit. “By the way, I just love Condi.”
He is working on his book and he said he asked a bunch of presidential historians if he should write one, and they all said yes. Then he asked them which president had written the best autobiography, and they ALL said “Ulysses S. Grant.” So, he read Grant’s book and he liked how it was done, in a series of anecdotes, so that is how he is doing his. He said he would even tell us the very first line of the book.
“Can you tell me the last day you didn’t have a drink?”
That was what Laura said to him when he was drinking, and he realized that he actually couldn’t remember when he had gone a day without a drink, and that was when he realized he was drinking too much.
He also talked about how his faith has grown, both after quitting drinking and then again after becoming president. I wish I could explain to you all how sincere he was about his faith, and how he said the seeds that were planted were falling in essentially a briar patch, but that eventually it grew. In the question section he was asked about how he would like for people to pray for him now, and he talked about how much he appreciated the prayers for him while he was president, and that sometimes people turn to God more in times of crisis, and when the crisis goes away they sort of forget about God. He said he wants not to be like that, and that it is a continuing journey, and he would like prayers for his faith. It was very moving, and I wish I could explain it better.
All of this was done without notes, without a teleprompter, without stammering, without any garbled speech. He is really an excellent speaker and if any of you get the opportunity to see him, I urge you to go.
Also, the crowd was 100% in support of him, of course, This older church lady type sitting behind me talked to me about how Obama was a socialist (apparently that is sticking) and she said there were only about 6 demonstrtors with their “George Bush war criminal” signs. We didn’t see them because we parked in the parking garage and came in through the aerial walkway.
My son and I were discussing the speech afterwards and my son said that while he didn’t say one word against Obama, the principles he stated were so much NOT what we are seeing in the Oval Office that it’s an indictment of Obama. They include the following:
You serve the greatest country and the greatest people in the world.
To whom much is given, much is required. (Why he felt we needed to help Africa.)
God has given us much, but the most important gift he has given to humanity is freedom, and it is our duty to preserve and spread it.
Get the very best people around you, because you can’t be an expert in everything.
You are only a temporary resident of the White House.
I will probably think of more things later, and when I do I will tell you. He got several standing ovations.
(This was added as a reply to Txsleuth.)
He had lots of nice things to say about her. OH! Funny story...when they were picking out the things for the Oval Office (talking to the Smithsonian curator) he kept talking about the pictures he wanted hung, and he said “Laura was sitting sort of behind me and to one side, and she whispers real loud ‘They’re referred to as PAINTINGS.” He laughed at himself and said “I told her they knew what I was talking about.”
I could just see that. LOL!
Adding this this morning: NO TELEPROMPTER. In fact, he rarely glanced at note, mainly to look at a list of people to thank and only a couple of other times. The second half was him sitting and asking audience-submitted questions, and all were answered without a single note.
Anyone who says this man is a poor speaker or stupid is simply lying or has never seen him. What really makes me the maddest is that the reporters KNOW this, and persisted in their character assassination.
Between you and Miss Marple, it really felt like being there.
I SO wish I could have joined you. But Eric's event was phenomenal, and there was no choice, of course.......sigh...........
I MUST remember to pray for President Bush on a more regular basis.
Thank you again for your wonderful, personal report.
What we have lost! God bless this dear, dear man of God!