Schwarzenegger's hush-hush trip to Bush White House

SFGate.com ^ | 7/10/06 | Carla Marinucci

[NormsRevenge]

Guess where the California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is tonight.

How 'bout at a fancy White House dinner honoring his mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and the Special Olympics, the organization which she founded?

In a measure of just how reluctant the Republican governor may be to be linked to the unpopular Republican president, Schwarzenegger took off for the East Coast today with no announcement that he and Maria Shriver would be VIP guests at the big White House fete held on the birthday of the First Lady's mom.

And talk about secrecy! The governor's press office just put out a perfunctory notice that he was "out of state" and would have no official business on Monday.

But then came the White House announcement of the event to honor Kennedy Shriver -- the mother of First Lady -- which will feature orange and pink themed centerpieces, orange dupoini silk table clothes, and entertainment by country superstars Rascal Flatts. The menu: fancy stuff like chilled avocado soup, crusted Colorado lamb and "a very special birthday cake."

We called the governor's office today and got no immediate confirmation on the White House event. That came from the office of First Lady Laura Bush, which also confirmed that other state guests included Rep. David Dreier of San Dimas, a Republican, and Jay Emmett, the director of the San Diego Padres (and a Special Olympics Board member.)

[NormsRevenge]

Chilled soup , a room full of shrivers and kennedys and Rascal Flatts..

Darn.

[ReaganRevolution]

Not much of a tough guy if he's afraid to attend a social event at the White House. Sheesh.

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for posting this, Norm. It's getting so I can barely stand to hear or read the name Schwarzenegger. Ugh!

REPUBLICAN candidates around the country are clamoring for the so-called unpopular President to attend rallies and fund-raisers for them. What this says is that GWB enjoys strong, deep popularity among the Republican rank-and-file.

Of course, Arnold is a truely nominal Republican, running in a state in which he thinks pandering to the Left is the way to ensure his reelection. Well, this Republican will not vote for him.

[Bigg Red]

Mr. President, please, please stay away from the Kennedys, including RINO Arnold. When will W learn not to be such a nice guy with these back stabbers?

[Bigg Red]

Of course, Arnold is a truely nominal Republican, running in a state in which he thinks pandering to the Left is the way to ensure his reelection.

&&
Pandering to the Left? No, they dictate to him, starting with his wife Skeletor.

[Dog Gone]

Oh my god, the scandal!! The governor went to the White House!!

Thank you San Francisco Chronicle for having a heart attack about it so that we don't have to.

[phoenix0468]

Than who will you vote for? Is there a better alternative? Or will you just abstain?

[NormsRevenge]

You're welcome.

saw it popup a little while ago, thought I'd toss it out there for the heck of it.. we've had a FReeper or two dine at the WH in the past, if I'm not mistaken.

[Wolfstar]

Than who will you vote for? Is there a better alternative? Or will you just abstain?

On the rare occasion when I don't vote for the Republican candidate in a given race, I usually vote Libertarian. Don't know what I'll do come this November, though, although I won't vote for Arnold under any circumstances.

Oh, BTW, I'm a life-long Republican and not as far to the Right as most FReepers. I have less trouble voting for somewhat more moderate Republicans than many FReepers. So when a Republican candidate loses my vote, that candidate had real problems with the rank-and-file in his own party.

[Goldie Lurks]

KCAL9 covered this story. It was nothing more than a bash Bush story.

[NormsRevenge]

Shriver praises Special Olympics backers

WASHINGTON - Eunice Kennedy Shriver on Monday praised supporters of the Special Olympics, telling President Bush of her gratitude to all who have stood behind the initiative that has given hope to millions of people in 150 countries.

Special Olympics, which Shriver founded, have been "a source of unity and excitement" and joy shared with the entire world, she said at a White House dinner in her honor.

Participants at the event for several hundred people also included her brother Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., and other luminaries from the world of politics.

Shriver has been an activist in the field of mental retardation, and was inspired to found the Special Olympics for mentally disabled athletes by her sister, Rosemary, who died last year at 86. Rosemary Kennedy was the oldest sister of President John F. Kennedy.

Shriver stressed how far the world has come in addressing the issue of mental retardation, recalling that when she and her sister were growing up, society offered no school classes or other specially designed programs.

---

President Bush, right, stands as Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, heads to the podium to speak at a dinner honoring the Special Olympics in the State Dining Room Monday, July 10, 2006 at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)