A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 12-3-08

WhiteHouse.gov & other sources | 12-3-08

[silent_jonny]

Today President Bush was briefed on our progress in stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) around the world. (Fact Sheet: Defending Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism )

Press Secretary Dana Perino: This meeting gives the President the opportunity to talk to the commission about their findings and to share with them more about what he thinks about what's happened over the past seven and a half years …

We recognize that there is more to do, but what we have done is provided a really good foundation for the next team to be able to take that on and continue to try to keep us safe.

Q The WMD Commission came back and said basically that Pakistan sits closest to the intersection of nuclear weapons and Islamist terrorism. Do you agree with that characterization?

Dana: I have no reason to disagree with it. (Transcript)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in India today, where she met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other officials in the wake of the massacre in Mumbai.

On a much happier note, First Lady Laura Bush announced the 2008 White House holiday theme: "A Red, White and Blue Christmas." (Transcript)

Good morning, everybody. Happy holidays. Well, this is our last year here. This is the eighth time I've given this tour of the holiday decorations, and I think this year we have a very appropriate theme. It's "A Red, White and Blue Holiday," which I think is perfect for our last year -- a patriotic holiday, a way to celebrate our great country, and also an election year, so another good reason to have bunting as part of the decorations, which you'll see in just a minute.

The First Lady also gave interviews to all the major networks this morning from the White House to promote the Christmas theme.

Interview of the First Lady by Claire Shipman, "Good Morning America", ABC News
Interview of the First Lady by Gretchen Carlson, "FOX & Friends," FOX News
Interview of the First Lady by Maggie Rodriguez, "The Early Show", CBS News
Interview of the First Lady by David Gregory, "Today Show", NBC News
Interview of the First Lady by Kiran Chetry, "American Morning," CNN

Click here to see the 2008 White House Christmas Tree ornaments from all 50 states

Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island

[silent_jonny]

Quote of the Day:

[The First Lady speaking to Maggie Rodriguez, the CBS Early Show]

Q I'd like to ask you about your next house. You're getting ready to leave here in a few weeks.

Mrs. Bush: That's right.

Q Bittersweet?

Mrs. Bush: It is bittersweet, absolutely -- you know, very mixed emotions. You know when you move here that you'll just have four years, or eight years if you're reelected, and so you know all the time that there will be a day that you leave. And of course we've been here on the day when other Presidents, like President George H.W. Bush, left. So I think from them, from Bar and George Bush, our father and mother, that we have a really good example of life after the White House.

And so we look forward to it, really; we look forward to going home to our home state. But we say goodbye with great gratitude to everybody here that works at the White House, both the people who work here for every President as well as obviously all the people that work here for us that are -- that will be going on themselves.

Q Quickly, you mentioned your mother-in-law, and we're all wondering how she's doing.

Mrs. Bush: She's doing very well. We're so thankful. We talked to her last night. She's home from the hospital, and so she's doing great. Thanks for asking.

Photo of the Day:

First lady Laura Bush walks into the East Room of the White House before presenting the 2008 White House Christmas decorations in Washington, December 3, 2008.

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[silent_jonny]

Dose Ping!

Please Pray for President Bush & Our Nation

and

Please Continue to Pray for
Snugs and her dad Bryan (Thursday Update)

Please wait for the "All Clear" before posting or reposting pictures and graphics.

[silent_jonny]

First lady Laura Bush walks into the East Room of the White House before presenting the 2008 White House Christmas decorations in Washington, December 3, 2008.

First Lady Laura Bush enters the East Room to speak to reporters during the White House Holiday media preview at the White House in Washington, DC on December 3, 2008. This years theme is "A Red, White and Blue Christmas."

[silent_jonny]

Mrs. Laura Bush stands in the East Room of the White House Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, as she reveals the 2008 White House holiday theme, "A Red, White and Blue Christmas" to approximately 120 members of the media during the White House Holiday Press Preview. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

[silent_jonny]

First Lady Laura Bush introduces the 2008 holiday decorations in the East Room of the White House during a media preview December 3, 2008 in Washington, DC. The White House 2008 holiday theme is "A Red, White and Blue Christmas". More than 60,000 visitors are expected to tour the holiday decorations.

[MamaB]

Hi.

[Bahbah]

Eight years of two decent, honorable people in the White House. I hope it’s not eight years before we can say that again. I have to endure at least four.

[silent_jonny]

First Lady Laura Bush introduces the 2008 holiday decorations in the East Room of the White House as (L-R) Chief Florist Nancy Clarke, Christmas card artist T. Allen Lawson, and holiday tour booklet illustrator Peter Catalanotto listen during a media preview December 3, 2008 in Washington, DC. The White House 2008 holiday theme is "A Red, White and Blue Christmas." More than 60,000 visitors are expected to tour the holiday decorations.

first lady Laura Bush introduces Christmas card artist T. Allen Lawson (R) and his work during a media preview of the 2008 holiday decorations December 3, 2008 in Washington, DC.

[silent_jonny]

First Lady Laura Bush speaks to the media during the White House Holiday media preview at the White House in Washington, DC on December 3, 2008. This years theme is "A Red, White and Blue Christmas."

Mrs. Laura Bush is joined by White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, and Bill Yosses, White House Pastry Chef, during the 2008 White House Holiday Press Preview Wednesday, Dec. 3., 2008, in the East Room.

[silent_jonny]

First Lady Laura Bush introduces the 2008 holiday decorations in the East Room of the White House during a media preview December 3, 2008 in Washington, DC. The White House 2008 holiday theme is "A Red, White and Blue Christmas". More than 60,000 visitors are expected to tour the holiday decorations.

[Kaslin]

Hi and thanks for the ping. Great photos of our Laura

[silent_jonny]

First Lady Laura Bush introduces the 2008 holiday decorations in the East Room of the White House during a media preview December 3, 2008 in Washington, DC.

Mrs. Bush: We'll celebrate Christmas at Camp David. So we'll leave for Camp David right before Christmas. We have all members of our family coming. My mother and the girls and Jenna's new husband and all of George's brothers and their children and sister and President Bush and Barbara, we hope, and I think -- for any of you who are interested, Mrs. Bush got home last night from the hospital and she seems to be doing very well, so we're very hopeful she'll be able to join us, as well, for Christmas.

Q How many?

Mrs. Bush: All -- the whole family together. And this will be our -- let's see -- 12th year at Camp David for Christmas, because we went for the four years George's dad was President. So I'm sure we've got the record -- (laughter) -- that will never be broken. (Laughter.)

[silent_jonny]

First lady Laura Bush describes the theme for this year's holiday season, "A Red, White And Blue Christmas," Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, during a media preview at the White House in Washington.

First Lady Laura Bush shares a moment with Chief Florist Nancy Clarke as she introduces the 2008 holiday decorations in the East Room of the White House during a media preview December 3, 2008 in Washington, DC.

Q Is there something about the decorations you're going to miss most?

Mrs. Bush: Well, I'll miss working with everybody. It's been so much fun over the years to work, especially with Nancy, to develop these themes, to figure out how we'll express these themes. And so it'll be the people, of course, that we'll miss the most.

A lot of the butlers that will be working at all these parties are men that we've known since we came here in 1989. Nancy, as I said, met us at the door when we came in 1989. So we have a really almost lifelong friendship with a lot of the people that work here, and I want to thank all of them, every one of them, for their friendship, for the way they take care of the President and this beautiful house.

[MamaB]

Our baby had to be taken to the ER for the first time a few nights ago. She pulled over 2 wooden tv trays and hit her on the forehead and she had a huge bump. Won't be the last time, though. Dr. said it was a good thing that it was swelling outward instead of in her brain.

Have just finished reading the 2 books about that Lady of the Angels school fire back in 1958. Heartbreaking. Could have been my school, too, which did burn in 1973 but it was at night. I think it was at night. Same open stairwells, same kind of wooden floors with decades of junk on them.

[MamaB]

I have a feeling that many, many people are going to look back at these past 8 years and want them back. I am not going to celebrate my birthday on the 20th this next year. I do not want to think about that character being in the White House. Think I will change it for the next few years. Wonder what would be a good date.

[silent_jonny]

2008 White House Christmas Tree Ornaments
(I’ll post a few—there are several for each state, one for each Congressional district)

Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson selected artist Dianne Isakson to decorate the State's ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Illinois Congressman Danny Davis selected artist Marc Rubin to decorate the 7th District's ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree. White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe selected artist Mike Wimmer to decorate the State's ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

[Majie Purple]

Hi Jonny!
Wow! Thanks for all the great Links... & also great Quotes from, & Pics of,Our Gracious & Lovely First Lady in red!!!

[silent_jonny]

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr selected artist Peter Driscoll to decorate the State's ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree. White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

New York Congressman Gary Ackerman selected artist Regina Gil to decorate the 5th District's ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree. White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt selected artist Rebecca A. Burrell to decorate the 7th District's ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

[Bahbah]

Well, MamaB, you just gave me something to celebrate on Jan. 20 instead of just not liking the day at all.

So it will be MamaB day here. And that will be a good thing.

[Majie Purple]

I saved the P O T D & The massive chandelier pic as well!!