Posted on 05/13/2008 6:52:12 PM PDT by Kaslin
President Bush is leaving tonight on a five- day trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt
The President and Mrs. Bush will travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt from May 13-18, 2008.
In Israel, the President will meet with President Peres and Prime Minister Olmert and address the Knesset. The President will then travel to Saudi Arabia and meet with King Abdallah. In Egypt, the President will meet President Mubarak. The President will also hold meetings in Egypt with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Palestinian Authority President Abbas, and deliver remarks at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East.
The President's visit to Israel will celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary and our close ties over the past six decades. His visit to Saudi Arabia will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the formal establishment of U.S.-Saudi relations. In his meetings with regional leaders, the President will reaffirm efforts toward peace and prosperity and our close work with regional allies to combat terrorism and promote freedom.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta in the State Department to sign a bilateral security agreement
Enoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the day
Statement by the President on the Farm Bill
In January 2007, I was hopeful that leaders in Washington could come together on a good farm bill. At that time, my Administration had completed more than fifty listening sessions across the country and developed a reform-minded farm bill based on the thousands of comments received. Our proposal would make wise use of the people's money by reforming farm programs, funding emerging priorities and providing a safety-net that better targets benefits for farmers.
I am deeply disappointed in the conference report filed today as it falls far short of the proposal my Administration put forward. If this bill makes it to my desk, I will veto it.
Today's farm economy is very strong and that is something to celebrate. It is also an appropriate time to better target subsidies and put forth real reform. Farm income is expected to exceed the 10-year average by fifty percent this year, yet Congress' bill asks American taxpayers to subsidize the incomes of married farmers who earn $1.5 million per year. I believe doing so at a time of record farm income is irresponsible and jeopardizes America's support for necessary farm programs.
Congress claims that this bill increases spending by $10 billion, but the real cost is nearly $20 billion when you include actual government spending that will occur if this bill becomes law. Instead of fully offsetting the increased spending, the bill resorts to a variety of gimmicks, such as pushing commodity payments outside the budget window. Adding nearly $20 billion in additional costs to the current ten-year spending level of approximately $600 billion is excessive, especially when net farm income is at a record high and food prices are on the rise. My Administration clearly identified numerous reforms as essential to justify even a $10 billion increase in spending, yet this bill includes none of those reforms in full.
Crop prices have averaged a twenty percent increase since just last year. Still, Congress wants to raise payment rates for most crops and create new subsidies which can be triggered even at very high prices. The bill fails to stop the practice of collecting subsidies even when crops are sold later at a higher price; it restricts our ability to redirect food aid dollars for emergency use in the midst of a global food crisis; and it falls short of the Administration's conservation proposals. By increasing trade-distorting subsidies, the bill undermines our ability to open foreign markets to American agricultural goods. The bill creates an egregious new sugar subsidy program that will keep sugar prices high for domestic consumers, while making taxpayers subsidize a handful of sugar growers. These are just a few of the reasons why I cannot support this bill.
In the absence of a good farm bill, I call on Congress to extend current law for at least one year. The Administration's reform-minded proposal would be preferable to current law, but in light of the bill produced by conferees an extension is now the better policy for American agriculture and American taxpayers. It is a far superior option than supporting a bill that increases farm subsidy rates, spends too much and fails to reform farm programs for the future.
Photos of the day
President George W. Bush waves from the steps of Marine One Tuesday, May 13, 2008 on the South Lawn of White House, as he departs on a five-day trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. White House photo by Eric Draper
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush board Air Force Air One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, May 13, 2008, on their way to the Mideast. Bush expressed some optimism that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement would be struck before his term ends while holding out little hope for a major breakthrough when he arrives in Israel on Wednesday
Thanks.
Hi, it’s slow tonite!
Believe it or not, I just sat down to the computer less tha 5 minutes ago and what do I see? The Dose. ;-)
Hi Kaslin, thanks for the ping.
Hi! They are probably over at the American Idol thread
They must be exhausted from all the wedding festivities and now off to the middle east. They do look lovely though.
You beat me to it on that reply!
President George W. Bush waves from the steps of Marine One Tuesday, May 13, 2008 on the South Lawn of White House, as he departs on a five-day trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. White House photo by Eric Draper
U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush depart the White House in Washington, enroute to Israel, May 13, 2008.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush, leaves the White House for the Middle East, Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in Washington. Bush expressed some optimism that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement would be struck before his term ends while holding out little hope for a major breakthrough when he arrives in Israel on Wednesday.
U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush depart the White House in Washington enroute to Israel May 13, 2008.
U.S. President George W. Bush waves as he boards Marine One at the White House in Washington, enroute to Andrews Air Force Base, May 13, 2008. Bush is traveling to the Mideast tonight.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
U.S. President George W. Bush (R) and first lady Laura Bush wait to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington before flying to Israel, May 13, 2008. The president is scheduled to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt before returning to the United States on Sunday.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush walk to board Air Force Air One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, May 13, 2008, on their way to the Mideast. Bush expressed some optimism that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement would be struck before his term ends while holding out little hope for a major breakthrough when he arrives in Israel on Wednesday.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush board Air Force Air One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, May 13, 2008, on their way to the Mideast. Bush expressed some optimism that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement would be struck before his term ends while holding out little hope for a major breakthrough when he arrives in Israel on Wednesday
US President George W. Bush (L) and First Lady Laura Bush wave as they board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Bush left for the Middle East on Tuesday, fresh from warning Syria and Iran over unrest in Lebanon and hoping to push ahead with Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) and first lady Laura Bush wave before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington before flying to Israel, May 13, 2008. The president is scheduled to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt before returning to the United States on Sunday.
U..S. President George W. Bush (L) and first lady Laura Bush wave before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington before flying to Israel, May 13, 2008. The president is scheduled to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt before returning to the United States on Sunday.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington before flying to Israel, May 13, 2008
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave from Air Force One before departing to the Mideast at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta arrive to sign a bilateral security agreement at the State Department in Washington May 13, 2008.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, May 13, 2008, after a signing ceremony with Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, accompanied by Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, left, speaks at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta sign a bilateral security agreement at the State Department in Washington May 13, 2008.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta sign a bilateral security agreement at the State Department in Washington May 13, 2008.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta sign a bilateral security agreement at the State Department in Washington May 13, 2008
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, shakes hands with Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, left, after a document signing ceremony at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, May 13, 2008. At center is a painting of President Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who also served as secretary of state
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta leave after they signed a bilateral security agreement at the State Department in Washington May 13, 2008.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice responds to a question on American efforts to get assistance to cyclone victims facing disease and starvation in Burma, Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at the State Department in Washington.
US National Security Advisor Steve Hadley (L) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice make their way to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. They will accompany US President George W. Bush on his trip to the Middle East.
kaslin: Thank you for posting the first of what should be almost a week of memorable DOSEs as the President and First Lady visit the Middle East (and help Israel celebrate its 60th birthday) — and this after a glorious wedding weekend!!
-
BUSH COMMENTS ON EVERYTHING FROM WEDDING TO IRAQ
By The Associated Press
Transcript of interview that President Bush gave Tuesday to Politico magazine and the Internet portal Yahoo in the Oval Office, as transcribed by the White House. Some questions were sent to the president from online readers.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_text;_ylt=AlGZ29a19UcKwE358zsmrYYD5gcF
You can view all SEVEN VIDEOCLIPS from the interview at the link above!
[NOTE: The first two videoclips are located at the top of the lefthand sidebar; the remaining videoclips are located further down the lefthand sidebar under the header, “An Interview with President George W Bush”]
MY FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THE INTERVIEW
(made in response to yet another jerky comment from our WORST President ever, Jimmy Carter)”
“. . . if you want to be popular in the Middle East just go blame Israel for every problem. That will make you popular. Or if you want to be popular in Europe, say you’re going to join the International Criminal Court.
POPULARITY IS FLEETING, Michael. PRINCIPLES ARE FOREVER.”
Vice President Dick Cheney and Republican candidate Greg Davis, left, wave to the audience at an election rally in Southaven, Miss., Monday, May 12, 2008. Davis faces Democrat Travis Childers in a special election runoff Tuesday for Mississippi's First Congressional District seat
Vice President Dick Cheney comments on the Democratic Congressional leadership as U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., left, and Republican candidate Greg Davis, right, listen at an election rally in Southaven, Miss., Monday, May 12, 2008. Davis faces Democrat Travis Childers in a special election runoff Tuesday for Mississippi's First Congressional seat.
Vice President Dick Cheney talks about Republican candidate Greg Davis at an election rally in Southaven, Miss., Monday, May 12, 2008. Davis faces Democrat Travis Childers in a special election runoff Tuesday for Mississippi's First Congressional seat.
Vice President Dick Cheney talks about Democratic Congressional leadership at an election rally Southaven, Miss., Monday, May 12, 2008, for Republican Greg Davis who faces Democrat Travis Childers in a special election runoff Tuesday for Mississippi's First Congressional District seat.
First Congressional District candidate Greg Davis, right, listens to Vice President Dick Cheney at an election rally in Southaven, Miss., Monday, May 12, 2008. Davis faces Democrat Travis Childers in a special election runoff Tuesday.
Thanks for the link.
I was going to start posting the dose around 7:30 CST when the photos of the President and First Lady finally showed up online
Hi and you’re very welcome
Indeed
I knew the President was going on a trip to the Middle East today, and I waited all day for some photos. They came in late, and the only White House photo is the one where the President waves from the steps as he enters Marine One
Prayers for a safe trip for our First Couple.
Are they flying directly to Israel? If so, when are they scheduled to arrive?
KAS!
Those two amaze me! After all of last weekends doings, they’re up and at them and off to the MidEast where they’ll charm everyone they meet.
Echoing daisy’s prayers for a
safe journey for Pres. and Laura
Bush. Lord, protect them.
Tomorrow morning our time, I believe
Me too!!! I always get soooo concerned for their safety when they do this.
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