Posted on 04/05/2002 5:46:00 PM PST by rintense
President Bush welcomed British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the Western White House today for talks about the current crisis in the Middle East. The meeting was initially supposed to be about Iraq, but has taken a detour given recent events in Israel. In an interview with Granada television, however, Bush made it clear that Saddam Hussein has to go (see the QotD). Enjoy the daily dose of Dubya!
baseballmom, a good cyber backrub is good for the soul! I'm working myself to get clear cold facts on the tip of my tongue so I can respond calmly and not lose my cool. Usually to the nasty guy, the facts don't make any difference, but to lurkers, a clear statement of truth may win them over.
NordP, what you said! The President makes me smile with his humor, and brings me to tears of thanksgiving with his strength and resolve. I would not want that man angry with me! The press conference was great, and the kind words from Blair about Bush were music to my ears!
Republic, the honor will be mine!!
Miss Marple, do you know when Laura is going to England to take part in the Queen Mum's funeral. Or did I hear incorrectly that she was going? Will that be on Tuesday morning?
I missed the press conference but read the thread. Sounds like W was on his game. Others said they thought Blair seemed nervous. I read he was supposed to have an intel briefing this morning. Yikes.
Also, read that commentary on MSNBC is making Bush out to be rough and Blair much more polished. God, I hate the press. They haven't a clue. I always take solace in seeing the polls about American's respect for various professions. Journalist rank near the bottom with union bosses!
I think Laura goes to England on Monday, funeral is on Tuesday, real early in the morning, our time (like 4 a.m.). Wonder what the Bushes and Blairs are doing this evening. I wish CSPAN would cover these Texas 'state' dinners.
Also, glad others appreciated the Proverb post re: our first lady - but also encouragement for all who seek to be Godly women. And, yes, for men to be Godly men!!! like our President!
OhioWfan - the attacks on those on the Dose - especially the ones you have endured recently - are beyond the pale and I don't blame you for the outrage at them. But, like Miss Marple said - (and by her leadership on almost every thread where these attacks on President Bush occur) = we cannot leave and allow Free Republic to become THEIRS.
Of course, there is always reason to disagree and to discuss issues. But - in cyberworld - it is SOP to attack the messenger when one disagrees with the message. Such attacks are signs that YOUR POSTS and THIS THREAD ARE BEING EFFECTIVE - and the the Dose drives some people crazy. Let it.
And, yes, getting educated on the issues of the day is very important.
But just being able to be delighted in this President is such a joy and, IMHO, above the need for criticism. (and as I told OhioWFan, I would pay money to get videos of the President's activities - because I enjoy watching and listening to him so very much - because it brings joy to this America-loving spirit wounded by the nauseation of the past eight years). I know they would never do so - but is there not any way we could communicate to somebody that such videotapes would be "hot items" for sale!!!! Maybe the proceeds could go to charity or reading efforts or something.
And, homeschool mama - it looks like you are recuperating from the auto "incident" well. I hope so. And all those little smiley graphics are cute - where do you and Brad's Gramma and rintense go to get those? It is a secret vault? :-)
I, too, got to watch the President and the Prime Minister in their news conference. This was my favorite line:
Somebody asked the President if Arafat had lost his trust. President Bush said: "No, he hasn't lost it BECAUSE Chairman Arafat NEVER EARNED MY TRUST!!!!! "(because he promised to oppose terror and he has not done so - he hasn't even spoken out against it in his Arabic tirades!!!)
All I could think about was that Arafat should understand:
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!!!! (or the USA under our President!)
You lie to us - to President Bush specifically, world leaders (or anti-American Americans), you do not deserve or receive the President's or our trust! It's that simple!
What a joy!
As usual, you've come to this forum with your #$#$%@#$%#$%# towards me. Humpfh. Well then....well then.....uhhhhh.....I'll come up with something to reply. You wait. Just wait. Uh huh!
CHINA???????????? Oh great. ALL OF IT? That's where they're registered. I'll have to see what creative thing I can pull off. This from the old hag who HATES shopping.
I am NOT big! And my name is GRAMMA, not Grannie. Sheesh, you two.
#259: "... negative energy around this forum ... not this thread."
GLAD you clarified that REAL fast! LOL! Agreed and sad. It has to be mostly a new group coming to FR for this specific purpose. My tolerance with them is -0-. Miss Marple is the shining light at 'debating with them' ... I just ignore them, for what they say is not based in fact.
#261: I do remember that 'idiot reporter who ambushed W', and think your reflections upon the subject salient. I have always thought the 'ambush' told me volumes about the idiot reporter ... and the way W responded is just another of the "remarkable leadership" incidents ... W did NOT try to fake his way through.
"... leading people to noble and righteous ends."
I think this is true on the world level, the national level, and the level of the individual. It brings me such joy to 'watch and listen to' W ... for it inspires me to be and do better.
BINGO! IMO, you have exposed the root of all the W bashing on FR.
As everyone, I deeply admire your posts ... and your sense of humor ... and I wish I had the tolerance to 'debate ???' them.
IMO, your earlier post of the photos of the soldier from Israel and the terrorist from the PLO should be sent to John Gibson at FOX and to Rush. That post is a classic and is WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!!!
I've been thinking about it, and these sorts of things always have their roots somewhere. It just seems to be way far beyond any idea of normal for a newly-freed press to go vicious so quickly, when the only opposition they had was in the form of lost profit if another paper sold more than they did. To me, that translates to greed as the motive to write slander, but lots of businesses have competition and don't turn to slander to raise their bottom line. There was at least one more motive: McCullough goes into some detail about the newspaper wars between different factions and how, for example, Jefferson, while serving as Adams' Vice President, paid one newspaper to write against the policies of Adams, etc.
There is a lot more to this but I write this much to share what has come as news to me: this mess with the press started in Washington's first term, and by his second, it was completely out of hand. If problems are going to be fixed, they are usually best fixed by discovering their roots. That's why I've started asking God to show me how to pray for the root and stinkweed that flowed from it, at the birth of our nation, in the freely manipulated press.
Do you have any hard data?
The problem with the press is that they seem to consider it all a game. They are no longer just reporting on the issues but are always try to trap the President. It is a proverbial game of 'gotcha' ALL THE TIME. Sort of like yesterday when Fournier (from AP) starts out his question with, "have you failed Mr. President because Sharon did not pull out immediately?" ERRRRRR. It is just so sickening to watch. And the pack mentality is especially irritating. I love it when Rush does his montages of various press people spewing the same stuff out, ad nauseum. They all think they are so clever and original when, in fact, they are merely regurgitating (sp?) the same thing, ad infinitum.
Sometimes it totally amazes me that some of these journalists actually get paid to do what they do. Okay, end of rant. I shall pray for a free and unfettered press as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.