A day in the life of President Bush (5/20/07): photos & news

WhiteHouse.gov & Yahoo News ^ | 5/20/07

[Wolfstar]

May 20, 2007 is the 99th birthday of my all-time favorite actor, the great James Stewart. In 1940, Jimmy and an excellent cast made a wonderful film called "The Mortal Storm," based on a book of the same title published in 1938. A highly acclaimed anti-fascist novel, 'The Mortal Storm' was written by English novelist Phyllis Bottome. She had been in Nazi Germany and saw firsthand what was happening there in the early to mid-1930's. The film was release on June 14, 1940. It is remarkable, penetrating, and chillingly prescient cautionary tale of socially accepted blind obedience, collective mentality, and narrow-minded self-righteousness: an indelible -- and continually relevant -- portrait of true compassion and human courage in the face of a prevailing, inhuman tide of intolerance and aggression.

When Hitler saw this movie he banned all MGM films from Nazi occupied Europe. That is how powerful this movie is. Top-notch acting, high production values, and a thought provoking-script highlight this story about life in Nazi Germany for an average family, whose father is "non-Aryan." The message of this film of standing up against adversity and what you believe in, is as fresh today as in 1940 when this film was released. Interesting note: the German Ambassador to U.S. asked Louis B. Mayer to "think twice" about releasing this movie. Mayer, of course, ignored the warning.

I'm including this little tribute to James Stewart, a war hero, and to this film, because it's message, written when the Soviets and Nazis were still allies, and when their brand of totalitarianism was still ascendant, because I marvel at how easily people today allow their free speech to be curtailed. What Jimmy and all our Armed Forces have fought for since the Revolution is too precious to take lightly. Free speech. I have a right to it. You have a right to it. People with whom we disagree have a right to it. But it will be a cold day in that very hot place before I let a bunch of rag-tag, intolerant individuals on an internet forum shut down my speech by chasing me off FR or any other public forum on which I choose to participate!

Although I understand fully why other long-time FReepers have left this forum for what they think may be greener -- meaning safer, less quarrelsome -- pastures, I don't agree with allowing oneself to be chased off. The great thing about the internet is that we can freely join as many forums (of all kinds) as we wish, and to participate on the all simultaneously. They are all virtual town squares and serve the same purpose as physical town squares used to serve before the advent of modern communications. Because they are virtual one is not limited by the constraints of the physical world. We also enjoy a degree of anonymity on the internet that shields us from all but the rough-and-tumble of competing, sometimes diametrically opposed ideas all being tossed together in a virtual town square like FR. No one can physically beat us up, as happened in Nazi Germany. No one can shoot us as happened in Boston in 1770 (Boston Massacre). No one can throw us into the Gulag. So if we don't have the mild courage it takes to hold our ground here, where will we hold it if we are attacked by a real enemy?

Seems to me we know the answer to that question when it is posed to Leftist Democrats. But what about us?

[Wolfstar]

Pinging you to the Sunday Dose, with pics of the President in Crawford.

[geopyg]

first?

[Wolfstar]

PHOTO OF THE DAY: President Bush smiles as NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer waves from the passenger seat Sunday after arriving at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas.

[Wolfstar]

GWB and the NATO Secretary-General.

[Wolfstar]

President and Mrs. Bush with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and his wife, Jeannine, shortly after their arrival at Prairie Chapel Ranch today.

[Wolfstar]

The President greets the media before his guests arrived at the ranch today.

[Wolfstar]

He is one hot 60-year-old! :)

[Wolfstar]

The couples start walking toward the vehicles that will take them to the ranch house from the helipad. President Bush loped off ahead to be at his pickup truck before his guests.

Walking back to his pickup truck to bring his guests to the ranch house.

[Wolfstar]

For those who care about such things, GWB's truck is a Ford.

[Wolfstar]

The President carries Barney down the steps from Air Force One on their arrival in Waco, Texas, Friday. The President's valet carries Beezie -- and looks like he's hanging on to her extra tightly. She may be little, but she's a handful. :)

[Wolfstar]

Barney sits among the tulips in the East Garden of the White House.

White House pets Kitty, Miss Beazley and Barney sit for a portrait in the Blue Room at the White House.

[Wolfstar]

In this photo released by AT&T, Marines use AT&T prepaid phone cards which they received, Sunday, May 20, 2007, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. AT&T is donating more than 50,000 prepaid phone cards, valued at more than $450,000 for U.S. military members who will be stationed overseas this year.

[luvie]

Thanks for opening Sanity Island for us. I am grateful for it tonight. A fellow FReeper and FRiend from the Canteen, Grandeagle, passed away suddenly yesterday and it’s been a very sad 24 hours for me and those who knew him.

I am glad that the president got to be “home” for a little while. He needs to be recharged. This has been a bad couple of months for him...and for us.

[the rightgirl]

Your words are much appreciated and I so agree. There is always a place to set your feet and take your stand.

And yes, he is ever so hot, by the way!

[Wolfstar]

These people are doing the heavy work so we can have the freedom to sit around on an internet forum and argue with one another.

This soldier is attached to Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.

[Wolfstar]

Hi geopyg. Yep, you’re first tonight. :)

[Wolfstar]

All Clear!

[Wolfstar]

A fellow FReeper and FRiend from the Canteen, Grandeagle, passed away suddenly yesterday and it’s been a very sad 24 hours for me and those who knew him.

Too many long-time FReepers have passed in recent months. :(

[lonestar67]

Thank you Wolfstar.

I really appreciate this post. I strongly agree with everything you have posted here.

Keep it up.