Free Republic

President Bush spoke to Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili this morning and discussed the situation in that country with his national security team at the White House. Afterwards, the President reinforced the United States’ solidarity with the Georgian people in a statement he delivered from the White House Rose Garden. (Transcript) The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected … We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia. And we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in...

Today President & Mrs. Bush attended the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Before the ceremonies, the President met personally with all the US Olympic Athletes and encouraged them to “go for it, give it all you've got” and reminded them that the American people will be cheering for them back home. (Transcript) I wasn't exactly sure what to say to you, except to start with, God, I love our country and I love what we stand for. (Applause.) And I love being with you. Earlier today President Bush was joined by his father,...

On his second day in South Korea, President Bush met with President Lee Myung-Bak (Transcript). The two leaders later participated in a joint press conference at Blue House, the presidential residence in Seoul. (Transcript) President Lee: Once again, along with the Korean people, let me extend to you, Mr. President, and to your family our warmest welcome from the bottom of our hearts. Also, I look forward to you and Mrs. Bush to come and visit Korea freely when you have more time, Mr. President. I will always be ready to welcome my real friend whenever you come by....

President & Mrs. Bush are spending the weekend at the family home in Kennebunkport, Maine. The President will return to the White House on Sunday before beginning his trip to Asia and to the Olympics in China next week. Today President Bush surprised Rush Limbaugh with a live call to his radio show, congratulating him on his 20th anniversary. (Transcript & Audio) Rush: What are...? (interruption) Interrupting for what? President Bush: Hello! Rush: Oh, jeez. The president? President Bush: Rush Limbaugh? Rush: Yes, sir, Mr. President. President Bush: President George W. Bush calling to congratulate you on 20 years of...

President Bush began the day with a Cabinet meeting at the White House, discussing the need for domestic oil drilling and exploration. In a statement in the Rose Garden after the meeting, the President chided the Democrat Congress for dragging their feet on legislation that would lift the 30-year ban on offshore drilling. (Transcript) Democratic leaders in Congress have refused to allow a vote. And now Congress is about to leave for its August recess without taking any action on this vital priority for the American people .... I've lifted the executive restrictions on offshore exploration. I've done my part....

Today President Bush participated in a private fundraiser for Congressional candidate Aaron Schock in Peoria, Illinois. The family of Tony Snow traveled with the President today on board Air Force One. Press Secretary Dana Perino: The President invited them to come on a trip with him if they ever wanted to and the family decided that they would like to, so they're on board. They got a tour of the plane and they're up with the President now, and they'll be coming with -- just coming along for the ride, for the event. And hopefully we'll be able to show...

This week marks 60 years since President Harry Truman ordered an end to segregation in the US Armed Forces. (Transcript) President Truman: (July 26, 1948) Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority invested in me as President of the United States, and as Commander in Chief of the armed services, it is hereby ordered as follows: It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. Today in a ceremony in the Oval Office,...

President Bush spent the night in Tucson, Arizona where he arrived late yesterday evening after touring the areas effected by the wildfires in California. This morning, the President participated in a fundraiser for Congressional candidate Tim Bee before boarding Air Force One. Arriving in Houston, Texas this afternoon, President Bush spoke on behalf of another Congressional candidate Pete Olson at Ellington Field. (Transcript) No doubt in my mind Pete Olson will make a fine United States congressman and I'm proud to be here to support him. The President attended a private fundraiser for Olson late this afternoon. From there the...

President Bush met with President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, a small country located in western Africa. The two leaders are united against the corrupt “government” of Zimbabwe. (Transcript) President Bush: We deeply care about the plight of the citizens of Zimbabwe. And we hope there's a peaceful resolution soon. I told the President, in the meantime our government is looking at, you know, sanctions beyond that which would have been levied out of the U.N. Security Council.* * Last week Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored Security Council resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and...

Today President Bush met with his economic team at the Department of Energy to discuss the need for domestic oil exploration. The President urged the Democrats in Congress to act on this before they leave town next month for another vacation. (Transcript) One way to deal with supply problems is to increase supply here in America … vast potential of crude oil reserves on offshore lands, as well as in Alaska, as well as in the oil shale in the western part of our country.And yet the Democratic leaders of Congress have consistently blocked opening up these lands for exploration...

On the last day of the G8 Summit in Japan, President Bush met with China’s President Hu Jintao (Transcript), India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (Transcript) and Republic of Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak. The President then delivered a statement as his final G8 Summit came to a close. (Transcript) You know, oftentimes in the political process people talk big, but they never follow up. And so one of the key ingredients of these recent meetings was all of us need to be reminded that when we say we're going to do something, we got to do it. And so accountability is...

On this 4th of July, President Bush attended the 46th Annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia (Transcript) Those of you taking the oath of citizenship at this ceremony hail from 30 different nations. You represent many different ethnicities and races and religions. But you all have one thing in common -- and that is a shared love of freedom. This love of liberty is what binds our nation together, and this is the love that makes us all Americans. You may have heard about the uninvited guests at today's ceremony. More on that...

President Bush held a press conference this morning in the Rose Garden of the White House. He discussed his upcoming trip to the G8 Summit in Japan (his eighth and last as president), the economy, and reemphasized the need for domestic oil drilling. (Transcript) But one thing is for certain here in the United States, that we can help alleviate shortages by drilling for oil and gas in our own country -- something I've been advocating ever since I've been the President. I've been reminding our people that we can do so in environmentally friendly ways. And yet, the Congress,...

President Bush met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani this morning in the Oval Office. (Transcript) President Talabani: I am proud to have the honor of meeting President George Bush, whom we consider the liberator of Iraq from the worst kind of dictatorship, as a great friend of the Iraqi people. Also present for the meeting were Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Later, the President met with United Nations Security Council Representatives in the Roosevelt Room of the White House for a discussion on Zimbabwe. (Transcript) President Bush: Friday's elections, you know, appear to be a...

President Bush made a statement this morning on the recent bill passed by Congress. (Transcript) Yesterday the House passed a responsible war funding bill that will provide vital resources to our men and women on the front lines in the war on terror. This legislation gives our troops the funds they need to prevail without tying the hands of our commanders in the field or imposing artificial timetables for withdrawal. Congress is also very close to granting retroactive immunity to phone companies who help (and have helped) intelligence agencies monitor foreign terror suspects—something that Democrats have vehemently opposed. It will...

My administration has repeatedly called on Congress to expand domestic oil production. Unfortunately, Democrats on Capitol Hill have rejected virtually every proposal -- and now Americans are paying the price at the pump for this obstruction. Congress must face a hard reality: Unless Members are willing to accept gas prices at today's painful levels -- or even higher -- our nation must produce more oil. And we must start now. In a statement delivered this morning in the White House Rose Garden, President Bush urged Democrats in Congress to lift their near 30 year ban on offshore drilling, to finally...

On his second day in Paris, President Bush met again with French President Nicolas Sarkozy as the two leaders held a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace. (Transcript) Afterwards, President Sarkozy lead President Bush to the US Ambassador’s residence in Paris where the Flamme de la Liberte (Flame of Liberty) sculpture was unveiled. The sculpture is a full size replica of the flame in the Statue of Liberty’s torch. From there, President Bush traveled to the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial in Paris where American soldiers who died during World War I and II are buried. The president also...

President & Mrs. Bush met today with Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican. The pope treated the president to a rare tour of the Vatican Gardens, a spot where popes pray privately and only special guests are allowed to stroll. First Lady Laura Bush toured the Mattei Palace in Rome and met there with students in the American Study Center. The first couple then boarded Air Force One and traveled to Paris, France. During the flight, Mrs. Bush participated in a rare press gaggle with reporters on the plane. “Hey everybody, how are you all? Good to see you.” (Transcript)...

President Bush met with officials at the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington to discuss the relief efforts for the millions suffering in the aftermath of the China earthquake. (Transcript) I've just been briefed about how the United States private sector, faith-based community, NGO community is responding to what is a horrible human disaster in China -- estimated 70,000 people have died, 18,000 people missing, 15 million people homeless, and the tally is still being counted. The president later spoke at the swearing in ceremony for new HUD Secretary Steve Preston at the Department of Housing and Urban Development...

President Bush departed the White House late this afternoon to travel to Greenville, South Carolina where he will deliver the commencement address at Furman University. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates attended the second day of the Shangri-la Dialogue Security Summit in Singapore. Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island