Posted on 12/21/2005 3:50:09 PM PST by GretchenM
President and Mrs. Bush visited wounded military personnel recovering in the National Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, also thanking caregivers there.
He signed the "GO Zone" Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, providing nearly $8 billion in tax breaks for Gulf Coast businesses, as part of the government's plan to help the region rebuild from destructive hurricanes.
The Vice President cast a tie-breaking vote as president of the US Senate, enabling passage of a $39.7 billion deficit-reduction bill, the first of its kind in more than ten years.
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld is in Pakistan.
Saddam Hussein Trial Discussed: Christopher Reid, Regime Crimes Liaison, hosted Wednesday's "Ask the White House" from the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. He discussed Saddam Hussein's trial for crimes against humanity. Read the transcript here.
Welcome to Sanity Island!
QUOTE: President and Mrs. Bush thanked military medical caregivers: "And so on behalf of a grateful nation, thanks for doing your duty, thanks for serving, thanks for being an important part of this march for freedom; and thanks, most of all, for bringing comfort and aid and solace to those who have been hurt on the battlefield and their families."
Urging the Senate (once again) to pass the Patriot Act, Bush said, "In order to protect America, the United States Senate must reauthorize the Patriot Act. The terrorists still want to hit us again. There is an enemy that lurks, a dangerous group of people that want to do harm to the American people -- and we must have the tools necessary to protect the American people. The Patriot Act passed overwhelmingly shortly after the September the 11th attack. It has been an effective tool; it has worked."
"The GO Zone Act ... increases funding for Hope scholarships and lifetime learning credits for students attending colleges and graduate students in the -- and graduate schools in the Gulf Opportunity Zone. It's going to make continuing education for workers more accessible and help support high school training that these Gulf Coast residents are going to need to fill the jobs which are actually going to be existing."
Heading out to make a statement on the Patriot Act and the need for our nation's Senate to pass it again.
Hiya!
Dose on the way. Please wait to
post or
repost photos
till the all clear.
Thanks.
The link to this on FR goes in a loop without getting one to the source, but here goes:
"BETHESDA, Md. - Since the Iraq war began in 2003, it has become an annual pre-Christmas rite for President Bush to personally comfort wounded soldiers. He continued that tradition Wednesday, going bed-to-bed in an intensive care unit and handing out Purple Hearts to the valiant. Bush was visiting with Marines wounded in Iraq and the medical staff treating them at the National Naval Medical Center here. Before going behind closed doors to spend about two hours with servicemen and women, Bush spoke briefly to medical care givers and troops able to leave their rooms."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1544800/posts
Hey!
Hey! How are you doing this evening?
More good news on the national economy
• State and local revenue rose 7.2% in the first nine months of this year, the biggest jump since 1990.
• Since May 2003, the economy has added nearly 4.5 million new jobs.
•The unemployment rate is down to 5 percent - lower than the average for the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
• Last quarter, the economy grew at 4.3 percent and has been growing near that average for more than two years.
• U.S. productivity increased at the fastest pace in two years during the 3rd quarter, rising at an annual rate of 4.7%.
• U.S. household net worth rose for the 12th straight quarter, increasing 2.6% to a record $51.09 trillion in the 3rd quarter.
• In the past five years, productivity has grown at some of its fastest rates since the 1960s, and small businesses are thriving.
OMG!! I'm thrilled! :-D
Hello.
With the service member's mother, Carol Bullene, looking on, President George W. Bush grasps the hand of U.S. Navy Hospitalman Apprentice Tony Bullene of Watertown, S.D., after presenting him with a Purple Heart at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. 
I'm reposting this from Dec. 19 because I like it so much. It was taken during his presser.
Congratulations. I'm not jealous at all. Really...
President Bush hugs Candy Pierson of Auburndale, Fla., after her son, Marine Cpl Jordan S. Pierson, was presented the Purple Heart for injuries suffered while serving in Iraq. Also in the room are Cpl. Pierson's fiancée, Kirstin Martin, right, and cousin, Tiffany Pierson. 
Cpl Tinsley was presented the Purple Heart
The president shakes hands with military personnel at (Bethesda) 
The president kisses his wife after speaking to the medical care givers
;-)
Listen up, lunkheads. Pass the Patriot Act.
"'This obstruction is inexcusable,' Bush said Wednesday."
(PASS -- reauthorize -- THE PATRIOT ACT)
President Signs H.R. 4440, the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 
Awww! I love that last one.
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