President George W. Bush visited Peoria this morning, stopping by Sterling Family Restaurant for breakfast before heading over to Caterpillar in East Peoria to give a “State of the Economy” speech at Caterpillar’s building SS.
There have been a lot of “presidential sightings” all morning: people who were in the restaurant and actually got to meet the President, people who were near the restaurant who saw the President drive by in his limousine and wave, people like me who saw Air Force One fly overhead, and many others. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more stories for some time to come.
I don’t care what party, if any, you belong to, there’s something exciting about getting a visit from the President of the United States. The office deserves honor and respect, even if you don’t agree with the politics of the office holder or don’t personally like him. It’s pretty much impossible to find a Presidential candidate with whom you will agree on everything. I certainly don’t agree with President Bush on all of his policies (e.g., free trade). But I still consider it an honor to have him visit our city.
The Journal Star has posted the text of the President’s speech here. And you can hear his speech here:
[audio:http://www.peoriachronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/Audio/President-Bush-Peoria-01302007.mp3]
Roosevelt:
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”
“Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star”, 149
May 7, 1918
C. J., I’m envious that you got to see Air Force One flying overhead. The last presidential visit to the area was probably George Bush in 1992 for a campaign stop in Pekin. I don’t think Bill Clinton came here as president, or did he?
We saw the entourage outside of the Sterling Family Dump and then I later parked over on Cameron Road knowing that with a stiff NW wind, they would take off on runway 31 (meaning 310 degree heading) I was rewarded with a really cool almost direct overhead flyover. I took pics. 🙂
No matter who the president is, the office is to be respected. It was really neat to see the large crowds lined up down Sterling that waited up to an hour in the cold for a glimpse of the motorcade.
I too got to see Air Force One. I also got an up close view of the motorcade, twice. Cool stuff. I agree that the office should be respected.
I happen to think that Bush rocks anyway, so I was thrilled to have welcomed him with my waving.
A lot of other people welcomed him as well. I hope he comes back again some day. I had a fun day.
Like a lot of people, I was stuck in an office, but I left 1470 streaming on my computer all day, which was fun- until Luciano started whining and moaning about people taking their kids out of school to watch the traffic go by. I still listened, but after two hours into the program and he’s still bitching about it, and then he lays into Ardis for being too nice and not asking for a handout. It was getting to be a bit much for me to stomach.
I really wanted to take my kids out of school to see it, but being that it was so bitterly cold and I didn’t think the chances of actually seeing the motorcade were very good, I didn’t do it.
What else would you expect from an idiot like Luciano? He is a journalist who makes a living making fun of people for the most part-someday he will make the editorial board.
Luciano – I hope a real company buys the PJStar and makes him the first cut. I left comments on the PJStar after I read his article and guess what? They aren’t there anymore…
I saw President Bush’s motorcade from the curb across Sterling from the restaurant. Even though I didn’t actually get to see his face it was so exciting to be that close to the President of the United States. I love Bush so it was very exciting.
Frequent Reader
What, no brown-shirt references Mahkno?
Mahko’s quotation of TR refers to the man (or woman) who is President, and his policies. TR would be the first to insist on respect for the office. I give Nancy Pelosi credit for respecting the President and disagreeing politely at the State of the Union. Quite a contrast to the way some Bush-hating low-lifes act. And respect for the office also goes the other way. TR was class act. The President has a duty to respect the office. Say what you want about Ronald Reagan, but remember Michael Reagan’s comment that his father had so much respect for the Presidency he never took his coat off in the Oval Office (but Clinton couldn’t keep his pants on).
Couldn’t agree more.