Currently Reading Emanuel Law Outlines: Corporations By Steven L. Emanuel see related

Dubya!

On Wednesday, my lovely wife and I were invited to the White House to see President George Walker Bush give his speech announcing his second veto of Congress' embryonic stem cell bill.

It was my first time at the White House (Rachel went once in 1st grade) and neither of us had ever seen President Bush in person, so we were REALLY excited.

(Rachel outside of the White House)

After we got in, we were able to wander around with the various other people and look at the 1st floor of the East Wing. There were tons of lovely paintings:

(Me and President Reagan

(Me and President Clinton, LOL)

Rachel got to meet Rep. Trent Franks from AZ, a solid, homeschool friendly, conservative Congressman I know.

Then, we were ushered into the room where President Bush would speak. The room tingled with excitement. We were able to get a seat in the third row, which was only about 15 feet from where the President would speak. I sat next to Gary Bauer and was able to introduce myself to him.

And then we waited. While we waited, we asked the Air Force major standing on the sidelines if the painting to our right was the original George Washington painting that Dolly Madison took with her right before the British burned the White House in 1814 - and it was! The actual story is that after the militia, President Madison, and the soldiers guarding Washington fled from Bladensburg in the face of the oncoming British invasion, the locals in DC started fleeing. Dolly Madison and a few servants were the only ones left in the White House. She was bravely rushing around, ordering the servants to take everything they could before the British arrived. She was about to leave, when she saw the famous Gilbert portrait of George Washington. She tried to get it down, but it was too large with the frame. So she broke the frame, rolled up the canvas, and took it with her. Legend has it that she slipped  out the back door of the White House as the British soldiers came in the front door. But, she saved this priceless painting from the flames:

We watched as several adult stem cell scientists and a family and little girl whose life was saved using adult stem cells were ushered in. Then, a page came and placed Mr. Bush's speech on the podium. We all waited...breathlessly. Rachel snapped a photo of the news crew as they got ready:

And then, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States!" He walked in, with purpose and briskly, with a smile on his face, and came  up to the podium.

He began to speak about how human life is precious, and how embryonic stem cell research kills a living human embryo in search of a cure. He spoke about how this is an ethical violation that was terrible, and that the U.S. tax payers have never paid for such research, and that was why he would veto the bill. We all applauded loudly.

It was so funny to see him sometimes mangle his words, and talk in a real folksy, down to earth, but from the heart way. I love President Bush!

Then he finished and shook hands with the Congressmen, Senators, and other dignitaries in the front row. We got some great pics:

And then, he left. And the energy drained out of the room. Rachel turned to me and said, "oh, that's sad, he's not here anymore!"

And then it was cool because Trent Franks, who was in front of us turned around and wished us good day, and then we all left. I was so happy:

And then we left and felt very patriotic and blessed to be in a nation where our leader is democratically elected, he is a born again Christian, and he stands up for the Right to Life.