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Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Thunderbird Fly-Over
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| Photo by Rick McKay |
The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force’s precision flying team, fly in formation past the Pentagon and the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va. The Thunderbirds were in town over the weekend performing in an airshow at nearby Andrews Air Force Base.
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Buckled-Up Bush?
Seems like The Decider sometimes decides it’s OK to drive without wearing a seat belt.
The White House photo above shows President Bush (with hat, without seat belt) behind the wheel (and apparently drinking while driving) on his ranch in August 2002. Several photos from this past weekend showed Bush, again apparently sans seat belt, behind the wheel as he chauffered NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the ranch tour.
Is there a reason the president eschews the seat belt in the truck?
“I didn’t ask,” said spokesman Tony Snow.
Does he wear one in the presidential limo?
“I don’t know,” said Snow.
Does the Secret Service require him to? Is it his decision?
“Oh my goodness,” said Snow, “I don’t know, and we don’t talk about Secret Service” procedures.
“Frankly, the Secret Service will not tell you protocols about anything, for obvious security reasons,” he said, adding later that the Secret Service “is absolutely determined to ensure (Bush’s) safety in every way possible.”
Check with the Secret Service, Snow suggested. We did, and await a response.
And for accuracy’s sake it should be noted that Bush, when driving his truck on his private property, is not subject to Texas laws concerning seat-belt use on public roads.
But Mr. President, what about the example you are setting for the youth of America?
Later Tuesday, the second day of Click It or Ticket week during which law enforcement officials aggressively enforce seat belt laws, Snow offered this when asked again about Bush’s seat belt usage:
“Well, it’s always important to wear seat belts, especially when driving slowly on the ranch. … We encourage everybody to wear their seat belts.”
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The Sit Room
It’s officially known as The Situation Room but if you are cool and important you call it The Sit Room.
It’s been subjected to a massive remodeling and formally was opened last Friday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony presided over by President Bush.
And now, thanks to whitehouse.gov, we have video showing you the new Sit Room. Take a look and see your tax dollars at work.
The video is hosted by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin, who is proud of the facility’s ability to show 32 remote locations on the array of video screens. It is, Hagin tells us, “a state-of-the-art, 21st-century facility to monitor the world.”
It will be a great asset, he says, “for President Bush and whoever succeeds him as president.”
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