A day in the life of President Bush (11/18/06): Asia trip photos

WhiteHouse.gov & Yahoo News ^ | 11/18/06

[Wolfstar]

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: Our President and First Lady were attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation smmit in Hanoi, Vietnam, this weekend. I'm going to let the photos do the talking today.

[Wolfstar]

I wrote the following to silent_jonny the other day about the election results. Thought other Dosers might wish to also consider the phenomenon of the double doors.

Jonny, consider the phenomenon of the double doors. You know, the kind of double doors that are so common in stores and office buildings. Someday when you have the time, go to a busy shop or restaurant that has a double door at its entrance and just observe.

Now a double door has two sides precisely to allow people to flow smoothly in and out of the building. But what usually happens? People use just one side. Like a herd of mindless critters, they struggle to go in and out of one side. Often one dumb cluck holds the door for a friend or relative, and keeps holding it while everyone queued up trying to go in and out pours through. Like true herd animals, no one turns on to the fact that there is a second door which could easily be opened to relieve the cluck holding the door, and allow people to enter and leave more freely.

Every now and again, along comes someone who actually thinks. That person bypasses the gaggle at the one half of the double door, opens the second half, and goes on about his or her business. So what does the herd do? At first, they follow the thinker and use both sides, but pretty soon the thinker's example is forgotten, and they are all trying to crowd in and out of one side of the double doors again.

In politics, we see that phenomenon over and over and over again in the way herds responds to the media and punditocracy. In politics, I think there are three distinct herds: right, left and swaying reeds. As we saw with the Harriet Miers matter and immigration the last couple of years, the right herd is easily stampeded over a cliff by its pundit class. Similarly, the left herd is easily stampeded by its pundit class which, in the last few years, convinced its herd that "Bush lied, people died," etc.

As for the swaying reeds herd, they are the easiest of all to stampede by any huckster with a good line. Because they are so flexible, they never break as they sway to and fro.

[Wolfstar]

Pinging you to the Saturday afternoon Dose. Let me also take this opportunity to wish everyone in the Dose community a very Happy Thanksgiving.

[lysie]

Here. Thank you.

[DollyCali]

thanks!

[Wolfstar]

PHOTO OF THE DAY: It was hard to elevate one photo above the hundreds of others available today, so I chose this one for its scenic beauty. President Bush (L) walks past a backdrop of Halong Bay as he arrives at the National Convention Centre for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hanoi.

[Wolfstar]

A favorite photo from yesterday, reposted here for folks who may have missed it on Friday's Dose.

Because presidential smiles are always heartwarming, here's another. The President was laughing at a joke during a meeting with Vietnamese leaders.

[Wolfstar]

A nice photo from Saturday night in Vietnam, which is a day ahead of us. Our President and First Lady with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet and his wife, Tran Thi Kim Chi.

George and Laura arriving for the gala dinner Saturday night.

[Wolfstar]

Forensic archaeologist Dr. Bradley Sturm briefs President George W. Bush during a visit Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, to the POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hanoi.

President George W. Bush tours the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) in Hanoi November 18, 2006. At left is U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

President George W. Bush listens to members of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) explain various aspects of their work in Hanoi.

[Wolfstar]

Staff and family members of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi give an enthusiastic greeting to President Bush as he arrives Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at the Sheraton Hanoi after meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. (Once again we see how "unpopular" GWB is out there in the real world beyond the Beltway.)

Guess whose photo everyone wanted to snap? That "unpopular" GWB, that's who.

President George W. Bush joins kids of U.S. Embassy staff for a photo at the Sheraton Hanoi Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006.

[Wolfstar]

President George W. Bush pauses during a trilateral meeting Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, with Shinzo Abe, right, Prime Minister of Japan, and President Roh Moo-Hyun, of the Republic of Korea.

The President as he reaches out to embrace New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark.

[Wolfstar]

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Chairman Morris Chang (L), who is representing Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, and U.S. President George W. Bush arrive at the National Convention Centre.

Mr. Chang and GWB are deep in conversation in this photo.

GWB and and Chile's President Michelle Bachelet share a light moment.

[Wolfstar]

A rare quiet moment alone in a crowded room.

[Dinah Lord]

Thanks for bringing us this dose. I have been so thinking about the President and First Lady as they travel to this part of the world. Prayers up for them!

[Wolfstar]

President Bush walks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan through the courtyard Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, after their lunch at the Sheraton Hanoi hotel. In a joint statement, President Bush said, "The relationship between Japan and the United States is strong... And a strong relationship between our two countries is good for the security of the East."

The President and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan talk with the media during a photo opportunity Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, following their lunch at the Sheraton Hanoi hotel. (Although I wish PM Shinzo Abe well in his new job, I already miss former PM Koizumi.)

[Wolfstar]

President Bush shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a news conference after their summit meeting in Hanoi.

President Bush shakes hands with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet.

President Bush meets with South Korean President Roh Moon-hyun in Hanoi.

[Wolfstar]

Another warm Presidential smile.

[Wolfstar]

President and Laura Bush enjoy the APEC gala dinner and cultural performance Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi. They are seated with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea, left, and Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand, right.

The first couple stand with Viet President Nguyen Minh Triet and Mrs. Tran Thi Kim Chi after arriving Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi for the APEC gala dinner and cultural performance.

[Wolfstar]

President Bush leans in to talk with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont of Thailand during the first retreat of APEC leaders Saturday.

Conferring with Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand as he departs the National Conference Center following Saturday's first session of the 2006 APEC Summit.