Posted on 01/25/2008 5:48:44 PM PST by silent_jonny
Today President Bush traveled to West Virginia to attend the annual Congress of Tomorrow Luncheon. There the president spoke about the economy and the need to renew the Protect America Act, which modernizes outdated foreign surveillance laws. The law is set to expire in just seven days.
Our most solemn duty is to protect the American people, and I appreciate the fact that we've worked closely together over the last seven years to do just that. That is our most solemn duty. Fortunately, we've got a lot of good people working hard to help us protect America. And these professionals need the tools they need to do their jobs. (Transcript)
The president returned to the White House this afternoon and continued work on his final State of the Union address.
Press Secretary Dana Perino offered a detailed preview of the SOTU during today’s press briefing. (Transcript)
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice continued her official visit to Colombia.
And Secretary of Defense Robert Gates greeted Ecuador’s Defense Minister Wellington Sandoval at the Pentagon.
Monday: President Bush will deliver his final State of the Union address before Congress.Tuesday: The president will travel to Baltimore, Maryland where he will visit the Jericho Program and make a statement on faith-based and community initiatives.
Wednesday through Friday: The president will be traveling to California, Nevada and Missouri, speaking about the economy and attending GOP fundraisers.
It was announced today that the First Couple will be traveling to Africa next month (February 15-21) for a six day tour through Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia.
This trip will be an opportunity for the President to review firsthand the significant progress since his last visit in 2003 in efforts to increase economic development and fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other treatable diseases (more information)
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Sylvester Stallone: (speaking to Rush Limbaugh) I represent something, especially to the liberal press. When Ronald Reagan came out and jokingly said, "Rambo is a Republican," the die was cast …The odd thing is, there's a lot of hope out here, Rush, because the majority of the people who see Rambo are 28 years old to 40, and the people are going to see this movie are the younger generation because they're looking for a representation of what real values are; what it means to be a man. And as Rambo says, "Live for something or die for nothing." (Transcript)
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: I'll make sure you understand in the State of the Union that this package certainly doesn't mean we ought to do something else on taxes. And the best thing we can do to deal with uncertainty in the economy is make the tax cuts we passed permanent. (Applause.)
Photo of the Day:
President George W. Bush gestures as he addresses his remarks at the 2008 "Congress of Tomorrow" Luncheon Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Hi.
Hey, that is a great photo.
He’s doing such a great job.... I sure enjoy this thread!
Thank you :) Good to see you here.
Drat and double drat!
Hola!
Good evening and thanks for the ping
Dana Perino: For the State of the Union: the President is heading into the final stretch of preparation for his eighth and final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress and to his fellow citizens. The State of the Union is a wonderful American tradition; it shapes the public policy debate for the coming year and the President is looking forward to delivering it on Monday night.The speech is focused on the future; it is not a review of the first seven years of his time as President. It will reflect the President's mind set that he is going to sprint to the finish, as you have all heard him say before.
His address will advocate his philosophy of trusting Americans, empowering them to make good and wise decisions, especially when it comes to keeping more of their hard-earned money, rather than sending it to Washington …
The President will mention policies that can be implemented through executive or administrative action without congressional involvement. He will highlight recent successes in Iraq and the troops that are returning home without replacement as a result of that success.
He will call on Congress to make sure that our troops have what they need, when they need it, for the mission they've been asked to do. He will also express his commitment to continuing to improve the quality of life for our military families, and reiterate the call for Congress to implement the proposals put forward by the Dole-Shalala Commission on Wounded Warriors.
Dana: In last night's GOP debate in Florida, one of the moderators incorrectly stated that a Bush administration official has reservations about the use of faith of one of the candidates. To be clear, the comment was from a former official, not a current one. And as you've all heard countless times from the President, we are staying studiously out of the 2008 commentary game.Q Who was the former official?
Dana: It was somebody who doesn't work here anymore. (Laughter.)
Dana: We strongly condemn the terrorist bombing in Beirut today that killed a police captain and many other Lebanese. This bombing is an attack by those who seek to undermine Lebanon's institutions and democratic processes and to delay further the selection of a new Lebanese President. President Bush will continue to stand with the Lebanese people as they strive for security and freedom.Q Dana, regarding the bombing in Lebanon, one of the victims was investigating crimes that were largely blamed on Syria. Do you suspect Syria to be involved in this bombing, too?
Dana: I don't have that for sure. I couldn't put it past them, but I can't say that for sure.
President Bush waves prior to boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, in Maryland, Friday Jan. 25, 2008, for a trip to West Virginia
President Bush, right, listens to House Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Mo. prior to speaking at a Republican lawmakers luncheon at The Greenbrier Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va
President Bush waits on stage to be introduced prior to speaking at a Republican lawmakers luncheon at The Greenbrier, Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va
President Bush, left, is introduced by Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. prior to speaking at a Republican lawmakers luncheon at The Greenbrier, Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va
President Bush: Two issues I'm going to talk about in the State of the Union require our immediate attention, and that's an economic growth package that will keep this economy of ours healthy; and legislation making sure our professionals, our intelligence professionals have the tools they need to protect the United States of America. (Applause.)I am confident in the long-term strength of our nation's economy. I believe that the fundamentals are sound. I know the entrepreneurial spirit is high. We have a flexible, we have a resilient, and we have a dynamic economy. But there are some uncertainties. And after a lot of thought I called on the Congress, and your leaders responded, to enact a growth package so we can reduce the risk of an economic downturn this year.
JONNY!
***...and the need to renew the Protect America Act, which modernizes outdated foreign surveillance laws. The law is set to expire in just seven days.***
And the terrorists are all just waiting for that law to expire. GET GOING, CONGRESS.
President Bush: Our most solemn duty is to protect the American people, and I appreciate the fact that we've worked closely together over the last seven years to do just that. That is our most solemn duty. Fortunately, we've got a lot of good people working hard to help us protect America. And these professionals need the tools they need to do their jobs.You know, one of the most important tools is to be able to figure out the intentions of an enemy that still wants to do us harm. If they're making calls into America, we need to know why they're calling, what they're thinking and what they're planning. We passed the Protect America Act that has aided our efforts to monitor the communications of terrorists and foreign intelligence targets. And I want to thank the -- the good work of the people here to get that bill passed last year.
Unfortunately, the bill is set to expire in seven days. The threat to America does not expire in seven days. (Applause.) The Senate Intelligence Committee completed work last fall on a bipartisan bill that we can support. It may need some tweaks, but it's a good bill in this sense: it will maintain the vital flow of intelligence on terrorist threats, to protect the privacy of Americans while making sure we do not extend those same protections to terrorists overseas; it will provide liability protection to companies now facing billion dollars in lawsuits only because they are believed to have assisted the efforts to defend our nation following the 9/11 attacks.
I'm looking forward to coming before you in Congress and to say as plainly as I can: This bill is important to the security of the United States of America, and the Congress needs to get a good bill to my desk as soon as possible. (Applause.)
Hello jonny
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