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Laura Bush prepares for first solo trip abroad

By G. ROBERT HILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News, 05/12/2002

WASHINGTON – Laura Bush takes in Paris in the springtime this week – and Budapest and Prague, too.
It will be her first extended solo trip abroad as first lady and, in many ways, an inevitable new step on a long trail blazed by her predecessors.

Jacqueline Kennedy did it with a splash 40 years ago with high-profile visits to India and Pakistan. And Hillary Rodham Clinton regularly traveled the world, promoting education, health care and micro-loan programs designed largely to help poor women.

On this trip, Mrs. Bush will be more low-key, though no less ambitious in her own businesslike way.

She will discuss education and health care, two issues that she has long advocated. And, in an unusual venue, she will direct a 15-minute address to Afghanistan on the Radio Free Europe network.

"It's a good opportunity for her to use a global stage to talk about something that's important," said the first lady's press secretary, Noelia Rodriguez, summing up the 10-day trip. "She's very much looking forward to it."

Mrs. Bush's daughter, Jenna, a 20-year-old student at the University of Texas, also will make the trip, along with one of President Bush's top aides, counselor Karen Hughes.

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Riverlove wrote:
Sunday, August 08, 2010 09:51
After reading all that Auraptor all I can say is I bet you that Paris Hilton must get jealous of Michelle's lavish and exciting lifestyle.

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
That better not have cost ONE FUCKING CENT of taxpayer money!

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On this trip, Mrs. Bush will be more low-key, though no less ambitious in her own businesslike way.

She will discuss education and health care, two issues that she has long advocated. And, in an unusual venue, she will direct a 15-minute address to Afghanistan on the Radio Free Europe network.

"It's a good opportunity for her to use a global stage to talk about something that's important," said the first lady's press secretary, Noelia Rodriguez, summing up the 10-day trip. "She's very much looking forward to it."

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The first lady is to meet with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia on Sunday at their summer residence on the island of Mallorca.

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
I am *SHOCKED* that a First Lady would make on overseas trip during a recession, and doubly shocked that she'd take her daughter along on such a junket! This is the kind of thing that clearly has never happened before, and that people should be justifiably outraged over.

Oh, and there's this...

http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/history/faculty/TROYWEB/LauraBushpreparesfor
firstsolotripabroad.htm

Quote:

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Laura Bush prepares for first solo trip abroad

By G. ROBERT HILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News, 05/12/2002

WASHINGTON – Laura Bush takes in Paris in the springtime this week – and Budapest and Prague, too.
It will be her first extended solo trip abroad as first lady and, in many ways, an inevitable new step on a long trail blazed by her predecessors.

Jacqueline Kennedy did it with a splash 40 years ago with high-profile visits to India and Pakistan. And Hillary Rodham Clinton regularly traveled the world, promoting education, health care and micro-loan programs designed largely to help poor women.

On this trip, Mrs. Bush will be more low-key, though no less ambitious in her own businesslike way.

She will discuss education and health care, two issues that she has long advocated. And, in an unusual venue, she will direct a 15-minute address to Afghanistan on the Radio Free Europe network.

"It's a good opportunity for her to use a global stage to talk about something that's important," said the first lady's press secretary, Noelia Rodriguez, summing up the 10-day trip. "She's very much looking forward to it."

Mrs. Bush's daughter, Jenna, a 20-year-old student at the University of Texas, also will make the trip, along with one of President Bush's top aides, counselor Karen Hughes.

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That better not have cost ONE FUCKING CENT of taxpayer money!

I'm sure everyone else will join me in expressing their outrage over this.

AURaptor's Greatest Hits:

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 20:32 To AnthonyT:
Go fuck yourself.
On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you.

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.

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Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Liberals never take responsibility. They always have to blame someone.

You put a lib in a pile of shit... instead of cleaning it... they want to blame the horse that made the pile.....

While they still sit in shit... and make even more of it.

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Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Isnt Kwicko cute, everyone?

Can I get a clap for his obvious reaction?

Or a bell?

clap...clap...clap...

Good boy Kwick, good boy.

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Originally posted by Kwicko:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Sounds like Michelle is doing the government's business, too, eh?

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...even I have to agree that the first lady's vacation trip to a pricey resort in Spain in a week when we are reminded that nearly 1 out of 10 Americans is still unemployed — well, that is not a good look.

Is that unfair? Sure it is.

Are the comparisons to Marie Antoinette way over the top? Of course.

Is at least some of the grousing directed at the family motivated by partisanship at best and racism at worst? I bet it is.

...

But having said all that, can I just tell you? This trip was a bad idea, and it will leave a sour taste in the mouths of any number of people who wish the Obamas nothing but the best.

It was a bad idea because Mrs. Obama is the "Mom-in Chief," as she so named herself. And while she meant that term to describe her duties to her family, she also has, and usually seems to understand, that she has a duty to her husband's constituents as well. And part of that duty is, like the mom she is, to understand what hurts even when she can't fix it.

What hurts right now is that there are millions of people who cannot put new clothes on their kids' backs, let alone designer duds. Or keep a roof over their heads no matter how hard they try, let alone jet off to pricey vacation spots.

What hurts right now is that too many people are getting deeper and deeper into a financial hole that they did not create and cannot get out of on their own.

Sure, some people helped their own slide by buying houses they couldn't afford or even, you could argue, failing to complete their educations when they had the chance. But it makes it no less traumatic right now.

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Sounds like Michelle is doing the government's business, too, eh?

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Oh, you mean like Laura's "official" safari to Africa in 2007, when she just had to take her two daughter's on the taxpayer's dime?

Odd, I don't remember either of you whining half as much about that trip. I wonder why that is?

AURaptor's Greatest Hits:

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 20:32 To AnthonyT:
Go fuck yourself.
On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you.

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.

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