President Bush shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport this evening.
Posted on 07/01/2007 1:11:17 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: Mixing work with some vacation time, President Bush meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin today at the Bush family home at Kennebunkport, Maine. The President’s great-grandfather built the Bush estate at Walker’s Point, a rocky strip of land that juts into the Atlantic Ocean.
Also vacationing with GWB are his daughter, Barbara, and his mother and father. The trio also got in some fishing, Barbara and her dad (who will turn 61 this month) each caught a fish.
Bush goes biking, fishing ahead of meeting with Russian president
By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press Writer, June 30, 2007KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine --President Bush's daughter Barbara hooked a slightly larger striped bass than her dad Saturday in the Atlantic Ocean off this tiny town that's gearing up for a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After a 90-minute morning bike ride, Bush hopped aboard his father's speedboat, Fidelity III, and sped out into the chilly waters on his second fishing excursion in two days. His dad, former President George H.W. Bush, was at the wheel.
Bush's fishing trips have attracted the attention of residents and tourists in Kennebunkport, where the president's father has spent his summers since he was a boy.
The town is buzzing with activity in advance of Putin's arrival on Sunday for what some have dubbed the "lobster summit."
A Russian flag flew alongside Old Glory at a home having a yard sale. Bartley's Dockside Restaurant posted a sign that said: "Kennebunkport is Putin on the Ritz." The menu at The Clam Shack is posted in both English and Russian.
On Saturday, though, Bush was the focus.
The president -- sporting a cap depicting a Scottish terrier like his dog, Barney -- used a bait fish to angle one of two fish caught by the group. Barbara cheered her father on as he leaned back and reeled it in.
Then, just as he reached down to pull the fish out of the water, Barbara got a nibble and began reeling in her fish, which was a little longer and fatter than dad's. The two smiled and posed with their bass.
Bush to ask Putin's help in pressuring Iran
By Caren Bohan, Reuters
Sun Jul 1, 12:37 AM ETKENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will seek Russian President Vladimir Putin's support for wider sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, during weekend talks in Maine where Bush hopes to rekindle a friendship with the Russian leader.
Six years after Bush said he trusted Putin because he had gotten "a sense of his soul," ties between their two countries have grown chilly over Russia's concerns about a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe, U.S. concerns about a rollback of freedoms in Russia and Moscow's opposition to the Iraq war.
The two-day talks at the Bush family home in picturesque Kennebunkport will begin on Sunday. Officials have described the meeting as informal and have played down any prospects of a breakthrough on issues like the missile shield.
But a senior U.S. official, who briefed reporters about the visit earlier this week, said there has been "an increasing convergence in U.S.-Russian views" on concerns over Iran's nuclear program.
"I do think we see the threat very much the same," said the official, adding that there would be discussion of a new U.N. Security Council resolution against Iran.
According to The New York Times, one proposal floated on Friday with Russian officials and other members of the U.N. Security Council would require inspections of cargo heading to or from Iran to see if it contained illicit nuclear-related shipments or arms. The Times said the inspections are cast as a preventive measure but could slow Iran's economy.
As President Bush looks forward to celebrating his 61st birthday this month, the First Lady gave an interview to the Chicago Tribune during her flight home from Africa yesterday. She said that her husband will look back on his time as President with no regrets.
Laura Bush: President will look back with 'no regrets'
By Mark Silva, Tribune national correspondent
Published July 1, 2007KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine -- George W. Bush campaigned for the presidency with a promise of compassion, a decidedly domestic agenda pledging to reform public schools, offer illegal immigrants a chance at a permanent home, enlist churches in the delivery of social services and cut taxes for Americans.
During his two terms as president, Bush has carried that voice of compassion to another continent, pledging more than any of his predecessors to aid impoverished and disease-stricken regions of Africa. Yet much of his compassion agenda has been obscured by a war that has consumed his presidency. All the president's hopes for a lasting domestic legacy essentially ended on Sept. 11, 2001. Even now, as he struggles to save an apparently doomed immigration bill, the biggest domestic accomplishments of his administration can be traced largely to his first year in office.
First Lady Laura Bush returned Saturday from her third trip to Africa. She suggested that her husband -- who will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday and Monday in Kennebunkport -- is likely to make another trip to Africa next year and said in an interview with the Tribune during her flight home that neither she nor her husband has any regrets about "the hand we were dealt" on 9/11.
"It's a philosophy of no regrets," Laura Bush said. "In one sense, [it] is that whatever happens happens, and you have to keep moving on and do the best you can with whatever it is. But it's also a philosophy of moving forward ... a realistic view of life."
The first lady was asked whether she and her husband ever wonder what his presidency would have been like had terrorists not struck the United States less than nine months into his first term.
"Neither George or I are the kind to look back and think, 'Oh, what if? Why did this happen when I was president?' " she said. "I think it's because he is a realist. ... And it's just that this is what's happened, this is the hand we were dealt, and you just have to move on and do the very best you can with that hand."
THE WEEK AHEAD:
— July 1, the First Lady joins the family in Kennebunkport, where the President will host a dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin.— July 2, President Bush holds a closed meeting with Russian President Putin. The two presidents will make brief remarks to the press between their meeting and lunch. The lunch will be a social event. Later in the day, the President and Mrs. Bush return to Washington.
— July 3, No public events are scheduled.
— July 4, in what has become a tradition for President Bush, he will spend part of the holiday in West Virginia. He delivers remarks to the West Virginia Air National Guard, 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, W.Va. He returns to Washington in the afternoon.
— July 5, No public events are scheduled.
— July 6, the president leaves for Camp David, returning to the White House on Sunday.
Thanks
I agree with you about how hateful this site has become toward President Bush lately. I have gotten to the point where I only lurk, this is the first comment I have made in a while. I get too angry and refuse to stoop to the level of some who post the trash. This thread is always so very welcome to check out. Love the pictures and Wolfstar you always post very good commentary.
Wonderful pics today Wolfstar...and I too love the Scotty cap..lol
There appears to be a whole lot of newbies. I suspect they're left wing liberals disguised as conservatives to keep the HATE BUSH continuing...they've been lurking and are now jumping all over these hateful discussions of President Bush. I've been around way to long to be fooled by them. And a lot of FReepers have been sucked in.
Thanks for the pix, a good family man in action
I know the answer to my prior ? now thaks anyway...I was channel flipping 7 found the final 1/2 hr of the live broadcast on VH1. & Also they said it would be re broadcast on NBC 7PM in America...I’ll tune in and see/hear what I missed then.
The President turns 61 on Friday and I note he is going to Camp David. Guess he will celebrate there. I remember last year when he turned 60 he had a bash at the WH and they shared some photos. There was much discussion about his choice of casual wear, lol.
Thanks so much for posting the thread.
Your post brought a big ole smile to my face. Barbara Sr. will indeed be busy keeping an eye on Putin and all of his aides too...lol...
BTW did you ever find out if Wills and Kate are back together? You were inquiring the other day and I was wondering if she was his date for the concert today.
Thanks for the dose only just seen the ping
Trust you to notice the Scottie cap :o)
Like that last photo
Wonderful pictures of the Bush family having fun for a change!
PS...I love the Scottie cap, too! LOL!
He’s gonna need a haircut when he gets back to DC. :D
Thanks for Sanity Island...it truly is.
Wise words which I second.
President Bush shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport this evening.
I didn’t see her at Concert for Diana but I only caught tail end on VH 1 I am not sure
Yeah I wonder if Mama Barbara keep eye on Vlady
Two - just WOW on the photo of him sitting alone on that boat. He is just marvelous.
Hi NordP. Yes, I so agree. GQ-worthy pics for sure. :)
If any more go up overnight I will post them tomorrow.
Thanks ST. Much appreciated. I love these fishing photos because they are soothing and relaxing. :)
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