Posted on 11/24/2003 2:47:26 PM PST by TruthNtegrity
Saturday, Nov. 22, President Bush signed a $9.3 billion military construction bill. The amount is $1.4 billion below last year's level, but $200 million more than Bush's request. Lawmakers added more than 100 projects for military facilities in their home districts - money that the President had not sought. The legislation provides money for projects throughout the country and improvements at U.S. bases overseas.
Today, Pres. Bush signed a $401.3 Billion defense bill that gives the Military a 4% raise. Pres. Bush then stopped at Fort Carson, CO., on his way to the ranch for the Thanksgiving weekend. Fort Carson has lost 27 soldiers in Iraq, and has sent 12,000 troops to Iraq.
At Fort Carson, Pres. Bush was to have lunch with soldiers, speak to a group of soldiers, families and friends, and meet privately with families of some who have died.
Quote of the day: "The stakes for our country could not be higher. We face enemies that measure their progress by the chaos they inflict, the fear they spread and the innocent lives they destroy. Every member of the United States military is now involved in a great and historic task."
Welcome to your daily dose of Dubya.
Leaving St. John's.
Laura and Pres. Bush walk into Church:
US President George W. Bush waves after signing the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2004. At his left is US Sen. Carl Levin, D-MI, and at right is US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Another of the President signing the bill: U.S. President George W. Bush signs the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2004, the bill which funds the Department of Defense, November 24, 2003 at the White House. Attending (L to R): Sen. John Warner (R-Va), Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mi), Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me), Rep. Duncan Hunter(R-Ca), Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Mullen and Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael Hagee.
The presidential tradition spares the life of the turkey, who will live out the rest of his life in Frying Pan Park in Virginia, in advance of America's Thanksgiving holiday on November 27 this year. Stocan and Fix, of Carthage, MO, helped raise the turkey.
The presidential tradition of pardoning a turkey dates back over 50 years to Harry Truman and has ever since been a custom of the White House executive.
A serious look on the face of our President at a usual light-hearted Turkey-pardoning ceremony. His speech will explain why.
At the Rose Garden Turkey pardoning ceremony, the President made these comments: "We see all around us, gifts to be thankful for, our families, friends and the beautiful land we call home and the freedom granted to us all," said a gray-faced Bush.
"This year, as at other times in our history, we can be especially grateful for the courage and faithfulness of those who defend us."
"Every man and woman who wars our country's uniform is a volunteer, facing hardship and sometimes peril because they believe in this country and our cause."
"We are thinking of them and their families, we think of the military families that have suffered loss," Bush said, who is facing mounting political pressure over the rising human cost of the US occupation of Iraq.
Pardoning "Stars" the turkey: 
Notice how Pres. Bush is keeping his distance from "Stars" -
I just found this photo and quote on whitehouse.gov: It's the full text of his Rose Garden speech at the turkey pardoning ceremony.
Thank you all. Welcome. Thanks for coming. Good morning, and welcome to the Rose Garden. In a moment you can come up and welcome our guest of honor, Stars, the turkey. He looks pretty friendly. He actually looks well rested. You'd be well rested, too, if you had your own room in Hotel Washington here in Washington, D.C. (Laughter.) It sounds like Stars wants to give the speech.
I appreciate you joining me to give this turkey a presidential pardon. Stars is a very special bird with a very special name. This year, for the first time, thousands of people voted on the White House website to name the national turkey, and the alternate turkey. Stars and Stripes beat out Pumpkin and Cranberry. And it was a neck-to-neck race. (Laughter.)
Under the official rules the alternate turkey has an important role, not to be taken lightly. The rule book states that an alternate turkey is chosen in case the national Thanksgiving turkey cannot fulfill his role in this ceremony. It's kind of like being the Vice President. (Laughter.)
Our nation's sense of gratitude is the source of great generosity of our people. Some of the boys and girls here today have done their part this year. Fifth graders from Flint Hill School collected the fixings and made sandwiches for people at the local homeless shelter. Through your compassion, you're showing the goodness of America, and we are really proud of you. Thanks for doing that.
I want to thank our Secretary of Agriculture for joining us today. Secretary Ann Veneman is doing a great job for our country. I want to thank Bob Wright, who's the Chairman of the National Turkey Federation, for joining today. I appreciate Dr. Alice Johnson, who's the President. Thanks for coming, Alice.
Today marks a -- and continues a long White House tradition. We're honoring the beginning of a holiday season. It speaks well for America that one of our most important holidays is set aside for sharing and appreciating our blessings. Our nation was founded by people of great accomplishment, great courage, and great humility. They believed not only in themselves, but also in the goodness of God's wisdom and God's plan for every life. This American quality has endured throughout the generations. Americans are, at our best, are a reverent and a grateful people. Even in times of hardship, we see all around us gifts to be thankful for: our families and friends, the beautiful land we call home, and the freedom granted to us all.
This year, as in other times in our history, we can be especially grateful for the courage and faithfulness of those who defend us. Every man and woman who wears our country's uniform is a volunteer, facing hardships and sometimes peril, because they believe in this country and our cause. We're thinking of them and their families. We think of the military families that have suffered loss. We can be grateful to live in a country that has produced such good and brave people who stand between us and the dangers of the world.
On this holiday, we're reminded of our blessings. We're reminded of our responsibilities. Our nation's sense of gratitude is the source of the great generosity and compassion of our people.
And now it's time to grant a little compassion to our guest of honor. I'm not sure why any turkey would want to reside at a place called Frying Pan Park. (Laughter.) Maybe they explained the alternatives to him. (Laughter.) In any case, off he goes. By virtue of the presidential pardon, Stars will live out his days there at Kidwell Farm in Virginia. And so he won't be alone, I hereby pardon Stripes, as well.
Happy Thanksgiving to you. May God bless you and your families. Thanks for coming. (Applause.)
Here, the President invites children to pet the turkey, "Stars". 
Okay, here we go, all together now, "Awwwwwww"
I admit to being a Gen. Myers fan - so forgive me for including more pictures of Rumsfeld that also include Gen. Myers.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld gestures while talking to reporters about explosions in Istanbul as he a waits the arrival of Nicaraguan Defense Minister Jose Adam Guerra, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003.
In an article about the Senate blocking the President's energy bill, Yahoo showed this interesting aerial shot of the Capitol.
Lastly, I found this photo without any associating text, taken on Nov. 22nd.
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