Posted on 12/10/2007 5:38:01 PM PST by snugs
The President and First Lady spent the weekend in Washington attending church in the morning and the taping of "Christmas in Washington" later in the day.
Today the President met with Jewish leader in the Roosevelt Room and also attended a Hanukkah reception at the White House.
Today The First Lady makes opening remarks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House during a video teleconference regarding the situation in Myanmar, also known as Burma, in recognition of International Human Rights Day.
Today Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spokes at the Women's Foreign Policy Group's annual Luncheon in Washington.
Pray for President Bush - Day 2643
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
QUOTE OF THE DAY
President Bush Hosts Hanukkah Reception
Grand Foyer
State Floor
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good evening. Laura and I welcome you to the White House. Mr. Attorney General, thank you for being here. Secretary Chertoff, and family. Hanukkah is a time of joy and festivity in the Jewish religion. We're honored to gather with members of the Jewish community to celebrate this holiday.
During Hanukkah, we remember an ancient struggle for freedom. More than two thousand years ago, a cruel tyrant ruled Judea -- and forbade the Israelites from practicing their religion. A band of brothers came together to fight this oppression. And against incredible odds, they liberated the capital city of Jerusalem. As they set about rededicating the holy temple, they witnessed a great miracle: That purified oil that was supposed to last for one day burned for eight.
Jewish families commemorate this miracle by lighting the menorah for the eight nights of Hanukkah. The Talmud instructs families to place the menorah in public view -- so the entire world can see its light. The flames remind us that light triumphs over darkness, faith conquers despair, and the desire for freedom burns inside every man, woman and child.
As we light the Hanukkah candles this year, we pray for those who still live under the shadow of tyranny. This afternoon, I met with a group of Jewish immigrants to mark International Human Rights Day. Many of these men and women fled from religious oppression in countries like Iran and Syria and the Soviet Union. They came to America because our nation is a beacon of freedom. And they see a day of hope on the horizon when people all across the world will worship in freedom. The forces of intolerance can suppress the menorah -- but they can never extinguish its light.
The menorah we light tonight has special meaning. It once belonged to Chayim Pearl -- who was the great-grandfather of Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl. While reporting in Pakistan in 2002, Daniel was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists. His only crime was being a Jewish American -- something Daniel Pearl would never deny. In his final moments, Daniel told his captors about a street in Israel named for his great-grandfather. He looked into their camera and he said, "My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, and I'm Jewish." These words have become a source of inspiration for Americans of all faiths. They show the courage of a man who refused to bow before terror -- and the strength of a spirit that could not be broken.
Daniel's memory remains close to our hearts. Those who knew him best remember a gifted writer who loved the violin, and made friends wherever he went. We're honored that Daniel's parents -- Ruth and Judea -- have joined us today. We thank them for their work on behalf of the Daniel Pearl Foundation. The foundation helps bring people from different cultures together through journalism and music. It's a fitting tribute to Daniel's lifelong pursuit of truth and tolerance. By honoring Daniel, we are given the opportunity to bring forth hope from the darkness of tragedy -- and that is a miracle worth celebrating during the Festival of Lights.
Laura and I wish people of Jewish faith around the world a happy Hanukkah. May God bless you all. Tonight, we will hear a wonderful performance by the Zamir Chorale. But first I ask Ruth and Judea to light the Pearl family menorah, and lead the blessings.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
President George W. Bush hugs Ruth Pearl at a Hanukkah reception at the White House in Washington, December 10, 2007. Pearl is the mother of slain journalist Daniel Pearl.
President George W. Bush (C) and first lady Laura Bush (R) chat with St. John's Church rector, Rev. Luis Leon, as they depart Sunday services, in Washington, December 9, 2007.
President George W. Bush waves as he leaves Sunday services at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC
President George W. Bush (R) and first lady Laura Bush (2nd R) are greeted by children dressed as elves (L-R) Catherine MacKinnon, Luke Hohlt, Paul McSlarrow and Natalie Norr as they arrive for the television taping of "Christmas in Washington" at the National Building Museum in Washington, December 9, 2007.
President George W. Bush (back R) and first lady Laura Bush (back L) pose with children (L-R) Hugo Carney, Catherine MacKinnon, Luke Hohlt, Paul McSlarrow and Natalie Norr as they arrive for the television taping of "Christmas in Washington" at the National Building Museum in Washington December 9, 2007. The annual benefit for the Children's National Medical Center is scheduled to be broadcast on TNT.
President George W. Bush delivers remarks during the television taping of "Christmas in Washington" at the National Building Museum in Washington December 9, 2007.
President Bush second from right, first lady Laura Bush, right, Dr. Phil, second from left and Robin McGraw, center, with performer Katharine McPhee, left, sing a Christmas carol during the taping of the 26th Annual Christmas in Washington, at the National Building Museum, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 in Washington.
President Bush, fifth from right, and first lady Laura Bush, fourth right, hosts Dr. Phil, fifth from left, the co-host and Dr Phil's wife Robin McGraw, sixth left, sing the Christmas carol with performers, left to right, Alan Jackson, Ne-Yo, Heather Headley, Katharine McPhee, Andrea Bocelli, Vanessa Hudgens, obscured, and Colbie Caillat during the taping of the 26th Annual Christmas in Washington, at the National Building Museum, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 in Washington.
President Bush, third from left, and first lady Laura Bush, fourth from left, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Time Warner Inc., Richard Parsons, third right, watch the taping of the 26th Annual Christmas in Washington, at the National Building Museum, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 in Washington.
President George W. Bush (C) and first lady Laura Bush (R) attend the television taping of "Christmas in Washington" at the National Building Museum Washington, December 9, 2007
President George W. Bush meets with Jewish leaders in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, December 10, 2007. They are (L-R) Dr. Vladimir Kvint, President of the International Academy of Emerging Markets; Yuli Edelstein, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset; Bush; and Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, Abayudaya Jews of Uganda.
President Bush, second from right, meets with Jewish leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. Pictured from left to right: Rabbi David Shofet of the Nessah Educational and Cultural Center, Los Angeles, Calif.; Elliott Benjamin, Vice President of the Iranian American Jewish Federation, Los Angeles, Calif.; Judea and Ruth Pearl of the Daniel Pearl Foundation, Encino, Calif.; Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, Colonel , U.S. Army Reserve, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Mayer Ballas, Founding President of the Council to Rescue Syrian Jews, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Vladimir Kvint, President of the International Academy of Emerging Markets, Staten Island, N.Y; and deputy speaker of the Israeli Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.
President Bush, right, is seated with deputy speaker of the Israeli Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, during a meeting with Jewish leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007.
Transcript of remarks of the President remarks after meeting with Jewish Leaders Click here
President George W. Bush (L) walks past Judea (R) and Ruth Pearl, the parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, as they walk to light a Menorah at a Hanukkah reception at the White House in Washington December 10, 2007.
President George W. Bush (2nd L) and first lady Laura Bush (L) watch Judea (R) and Ruth Pearl (2nd R), the parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, light a Menorah at a Hanukkah reception at the White House in Washington December 10, 2007
From left, President Bush, first lady Laura Bush, Ruth Pearl and Professor Judea Pearl are seen during the Hanukkah Reception in the Grand Foyer of the White House, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, in Washington. Judea and Ruth Pearl are parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, who was kidnapped and killed in 2002.
From left, President Bush, first lady Laura Bush, Ruth Pearl and Judea Pearl, parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, are seen during the Hanukkah Reception in the Grand Foyer of the White House, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007
President Bush, right, hugs Ruth Pearl, left, as her husband Professor Judea Pearl, center, watches at the Hanukkah Reception in the Grand Foyer of the White House, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, in Washington. On the far right is first lady Laura Bush. The Pearl's are the parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, was kidnapped and later beheaded in 2002.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, talks with NBC newswoman Andrea Mitchell during a question and answer session at the Women's Foreign Policy Group's Annual Luncheon in Washington, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007.
hi
First lady Laura Bush, center, accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill, left, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Jim Jeffrey, right, and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Ralph "Skip" Boyce, on screen left, and Dr. Cynthia Maung, Founder and Director of the Mae Tao Clinic, screen right, makes opening remarks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, during a video teleconference regarding the situation in Myanmar, also known as Burma, in recognition of International Human Rights Day.
Great photos tonight, especially the one of the First Lady in the Roosevelt Room.
Thanks for tonight’s Dose.
HI and congratulations toaster winner
As yet there does not appear to be any white house photos I waited half an hour or so before putting the thread up to see if they would appear but no luck so far.
Just checked again and they are up back in a moment with White House photos.
A Menorah belonging to the great-grandfather of Daniel Pearl is lit by Judea and Ruth Pearl, his parents, during festivities Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, in the Grand Foyer of the White House. Said the President of the slain journalist, "His only crime was being a Jewish American -- something Daniel Pearl would never deny... Daniel's memory remains close to our hearts. By honoring Daniel, we are given the opportunity to bring forth hope from the darkness of tragedy-- and that is a miracle worth celebrating during the Festival of Lights." White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian
President George W. Bush delivers remarks during the Menorah lighting Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, in the Grand Foyer of the White House. Said the President, "Laura and I wish people of Jewish faith around the world a happy Hanukkah. May God bless you all." White House photo by Chris Greenberg
Tenor Alberto Mizrahi, the cantor at Chicago's historic Anshe Emet Synagogue, is joined by the Zamir Chorale as they entertain during the lighting of the Menorah Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, in the Grand Foyer of the White House. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian
My pleasure
Howdy snugs! So refreshing to see an honorable man as President.
Pray for W and Merry Christmas to Our Troops
Beautiful pictures snugs....I love Christmas at the WH.....I want to thank you so much for your kindness in sending Mike and Jon treats for Christmas....that was so kind of you...you made my day today...I have been so down lately....but Mike will cheer me up when he gets home...
btw...got my Christmas Card from the Bush’s last Thurs....hope everybody got theirs.....
snugs:
Thank you for posting the DOSE tonight . . . The photos from the Hanukkah reception are particularly poignant!
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MUST READ . . .
BUSH BOOM CONTINUES
You can call it Goldilocks 2.0. But you can’t call it a recession.
By Larry Kudlow
Following last week’s solid jobs report, the New York Times got back to its Bush-bashing recession mantra with the front-page headline: “Slowing Growth and Jobs Seen as Ominous Sign for the Economy.”
This chant has been going on for quite some time. Doom and gloom from the economic pessimists has been political sport for seven years, even though the Bush boom just celebrated its sixth anniversary. The current expansion is now in its 74th month — 17 months longer than the average 57-month business cycle since World War II.
You can read the entire article here:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTZjMDc4N2E3YmUyZTdlNTJiZDA5YWQ1NDc0MDc4Y2M=
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AFTER THE BATTLE OF AL-FAJR
By Michael Totten
FALLUJAH, IRAQ – Fallujah is known as the City of Mosques. It is also a city of walls, and of war.
It was a quieter city than most after the initial invasion in 2003. There was less looting than in Baghdad, and the mayor was pro-American. It was tranquil for the most part. But resentment first simmered, then exploded in an orgy of mob violence on March 31, 2004, when four security contractors from the Blackwater corporation were murdered, mutilated, and strung up from a bridge.
The following month U.S. Army soldiers and Marines were sent in to clear the city, then were pulled back for political reasons before the mission was finished. The insurgents won the first round and gained total control of the city. Taliban-style rule had come to Iraq. In November of the same year the Americans went back in and fought the massive epic battle known as Al-Fajr, or Dawn.
I met two Marines who have returned to Fallujah after the fighting in that battle. They belong to the 3rd Battalion 5th Regiment’s India Company and are based now at a train station on the northern edge of the city that has been turned into a Forward Operating Base that keeps its part of the city secure.
. . . “How do you feel about what happened here?” I said.
“I definitely think it was necessary,” he said. “I don’t have any regrets. I’m glad I did it, and I would do it again. It’s good to see the city the way it is and to go to the same neighborhoods. They’re so much cleaner now. These people are doing things on their own, they’re taking care of their own stuff. When I was here three years ago, I never would have imagined this place would ever be like it is now. It reminded me of Tijuana. When we got here it just seemed like everything you could think of that was bad, this city had it going on. Now they have regular families thriving in the city. There are people working neighborhood watch, working together. It has turned around a lot. I didn’t even want to come on this deployment, but now seeing the city the way it is, I’m glad I did. It’s like a closure on everything.”
You can read the rest of this AMAZING article here:
http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001545.html
Yay me!!
So, in my best Gillian McKeith accent, I’d like a purple toaster with a picture of Dr. Rice looking particularly attractive.
Stopping by to say “Hello”.
I’ll go read the posts and catch up.
We got our White House Christmas card last week, too.
Mike sent us a letter here last week, too, and included Mom in the address. It was a great letter. If you hear about his Christmas boxes arriving, please let me know.
I’m so thankful to God that Iraq is finally turning around. There are some nice articles here and there about Ramadi and Fallujah being much better. Gives us all hope.
That talk the Prez gave about Daniel Pearl and his family’s menorah really choked me up.
He so appreciates the packages...he gives them all to his troops...he has a few in his small group that doesn’t get mail....yes, that still happens...sigh.....thank you for supporting them.
Alas, haven't gotten one since I stopped supporting the RNC over illegal immigration. They don't even ask me for money anymore. On the other hand, I did get one from Dave Ramsey! : )
drive by thank you for the great Dose Eleanor.. love the pix of all events.. lump in throat over the Daniel Pearl parent pix.
The long elegant cream/buff/ off white gowns are lovely
Hi mystery! So good to ‘see’ you here. You, Mike and family have been in my thoughts. Evelyn recently asked about sending pkgs to Mike. I explained she should wait till after the New Year. Please let me know when we can send goodies.
Hate to hear you’ve been down....but, sure understandable. Soooo glad Mike will be home during the holidays.
Think of your beautiful grandkiddies...that will help you smile!
Hello to Jon. Hope he’s doing well!
Got my Christmas Card today..... :-)
Thanks Snugs.. for another wonderful dose of Pictures from the White House. Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish Freepers!
Prayers for Mike's safe return to you shortly
Hi great to see you
He sent along a picture of his unit.
He inquired about my aching tooth, so I’ll have to let him know I got a crown on it just before Thanksgiving that so far (touch wood) is feeling great. It’s so nice to be able to chew on both sides of my mouth for the first time in 8 months.
My pleasure
http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001545.html
Thank you for this post, DrDeb.
Three boxes went out to Mike from Dec 1-4. The first box I sent went out on 11/20 and got there 11/25, so I hope he’s there long enough to get the boxes, pass around the goodies and then come home to you.
Unemployment was NEVER as low during the Clinton administration as it has been during the Bush administration(4.7% last week), and yet he gets no credit and the MSM
whines about recessions and woe-is-me on every hand. Sheesh!
I hope I remember to watch TNT Weds. night to see the special with Dr. Phil. I love the group sing of Christmas carols that they do every year. Alan Jackson and Andrea Bocelli, how cool is that!!!
Jon is doing great...he has settled into his new apartment and new job....and has a new/old girlfriend....and it looks serious...lol...
Mike just called and I told him to get his butt on the Dose..lol
I haven’t opened it snugs...although I am tempted..lol...you know my love for Cadbury...
He pulls out of Iraq on the 17th...he should be here around the 19th...I am praying for good weather when he travels so he isn’t stuck somewhere in the US...lol
Thanks daisy for the hugs...somedays I need them more than others....just depressed over the ice storm here and all the things I have to get done for the holidays....but I will snap out of it...and snugs brightened my day for sure.
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