WH Pool Report: Maybe Both Edition
This White House Pool Report documents the president's speech to American Israel Public Affairs Committee. We learn that they really, really like Bush. On a more creepy note, they also really, really like Condi:
Bush was accompanied by Condoleezza Rice - who drew whoops of her own when she walked into the cavernous room in a light brown skirt and jacket with matching pumps
The report ends on a wistful note:
Clusters of tourists gathered near the southeast exit to cheer and snap pictures. One woman in jogging attire paused and stood on 15th St. at East Executive and held up two fingers in the sign of a V. Not clear whether it was for "Victory" or "Peace." Maybe both.
Sigh.
Full report after the jump.
Pool Report #1 5/18/04
Bush speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee at the Washington Convention Center
Note to GOP planners: this is the crowd you want for the convention - and maybe for the next SOU address. Bush received more than a dozen thunderous ovations from some 4,500 delegates to this year's AIPAC annual policy conference at the convention center during the course of his speech - you should have the transcript. One of the more deafening ovations came before Bush took the podium, when he was being introduced by Amy Friedkin, current president of the AIPAC board of directors, who praised Bush's policy of marginalizing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, saying "you understood with great moral clarity the true nature of the man."
That sparked an extended standing ovation, followed by an enthusiastic chant of "Four more years! Four more years! Four more years," a chant that was repeated several times and followed him out the door after he concluded the speech. "I'm proud you're our president," read a red, white and blue placard held by one delegate. Bush was at his most animated when he spoke of the need to press on with the Iraq mission. He clenched his right hand into a fist and gestured as he pledged that Iraqi militants "will not shake the will of America," one of many lines that drew an extended ovation.
Bush was accompanied by Condoleezza Rice - who drew whoops of her own when she walked into the cavernous room in a light brown skirt and jacket with matching pumps - and Andrew Card, who sported a grey suit, white shirt, red tie and black shoes. AIPAC is perhaps the most influential interest group in the country. Buses waited outside to ferry delegates to Capitol Hill where they had more than 500 appointments scheduled with House and Senate members and staff. The five-minute, 17-vehicle (not counting the lead motorcycle) motorcades were uneventful. Clusters of tourists gathered near the southeast exit to cheer and snap pictures. One woman in jogging attire paused and stood on 15th St. at East Executive and held up two fingers in the sign of a V. Not clear whether it was for "Victory" or "Peace." Maybe both.
Bob Deans
Cox Newspapers