SwiftVets.com

[Rdtf]

This will make you feel great - President Bush is the real deal

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/v/vincent.htm

For those of us who sometimes find ourselves having doubts about
our President, here is an excellent piece--- worth every minute it takes
to read it.

This is from a man, Bruce Vincent, from Montana who received an award
from the President.

He writes: I've written the following narrative to chronicle
the day of the award ceremony in DC. I'm still working on a press release
but the White House press corps has yet to provide a photo to go with it.
When the photo comes I'll ship it out. When you get done reading this you'll
understand the dilemma I face in telling this story beyond my circle of close
friends.

The moment with the President in the Oval Office was incredible. I
want to protect the memory because it was an intensely private moment
between two men. At the same time I'd like to share it on a broader scale
because I'd like others to know what I know about the man sitting at the desk
in the Oval Office. For now, I'll just tell it to you folks.
As you know, our efforts concerning the reintroduction of our rural, resource
providing cultures to the ever more urbane society of our nation has been
honored with an award from the President and First Lady Bush.
Nominated by the Forest Service for the first ever Preserve America
President's Award was our cultural exchange program Provider PalsT
and our restoration of an abandoned CCC built Forest Service ranger station
(Raven Ranger Station) for use as a learning center for students from
throughout the nation that are now engaged in our cultural exchange.

The award was given at a White House ceremony on Monday, May 3.
Guests at the East Room ceremony (the Rose Garden was going to be
used but it rained) included Secretary of Interior Gorton, Secretary of
Agriculture Venneman, Undersecretary Mark Rey, Chief Bosworth,
President's Advisory Council for Preserve America, and others. The
East Wing was closed to the public for the event and those who attended
enjoyed brunch and live chamber music.

Provider PalsT was able to bring members of our board of directors,
staff from our partner Communities for a Great Northwest, our Kootenai
Forest Supervisor and Forest Archaeologist, and two officials from our major
sponsor Ford Motor Company. Thankfully, I was also able to bring PJ
and all four children. In the East Room, Secretaries Venneman and Gorton
spoke as did First Lady Bush and Preserve America's Chairman John Nau.

The First Lady then gave autographed copies of a White House book
to award winners in this ceremony and posed for pictures. When the ceremony
concluded, the First Lady stayed for a bit in the Green Room and chatted
and posed for pictures. She was then escorted outside to meet the
President and board a Marine One helicopter waiting to whisk them off to the
airport.
For me, however, the biggest event of the day had already happened
when the East Room Ceremony started up. While the East Room ceremony
was being prepared, the four national award winners and the entities that
nominated them were taken to the Oval Office for the official award
presentation by President Bush and First Lady Bush. There were eight of us
in total.
Stepping into the Oval Office, each of us was introduced to the President
and Mrs. Bush. We shook hands and participated in small talk. When
the President was told that we were from Libby, Montana, I reminded him
that Marc Racicot is our native son and the President offered his warm
thoughts about Governor Racicot.
I have to tell you, I was blown away by two things upon entering
the office. First, the Oval Office sense of 'place' is unreal. The
President later shared a story of Russian President Putin entering the
room prepared to tackle the President in a tough negotiation and upon
entering the atheist muttered his first words to the President and they were
"Oh, my God." I concurred. I could feel the history in my bones. Second,
the man that inhabits the office engaged me with a firm handshake and a
look that can only be described as penetrating. Warm, alive, fully engaged,
disarmingly penetrating. I was admittedly concerned about meeting the man.
I think all of us have an inner hope that the most powerful man in our country
is worthy of the responsibility and authority that we bestow upon them through
our vote. I admit that part of me was afraid that I would be let down by
the moment - that the person and the place could not meet the lofty
expectations of my fantasy world. This says nothing about my esteem
for President Bush but just my practical realization that reality may not
match my 'dream.'
Once inside the office, President Bush got right down to business and,
standing in front of his desk, handed out the awards one at a time while
posing for photos with the winners and Mrs. Bush. With the mission
accomplished, the President and Mrs. Bush relaxed and initiated a lengthy,
informal conversation about a number of things with our entire small group.
He and the First Lady talked about such things as the rug in the office. It is
traditionally designed by the First Lady to make a statement about the President,
and Mrs. Bush chose a brilliant yellow sunburst pattern to reflect 'hope.'
President Bush talked about the absolute need to believe that with hard work
and faith in God there is every reason to start each day in the Oval Office with
hope.
He and the First Lady were asked about the impact of the Presidency
on their marriage and, with an arm casually wrapped around Laura, he
said that he thought the place may be hard on weak marriages but that it had
the ability to make strong marriages even stronger and that he was
blessed with a strong one.
When asked what the biggest challenge of the Presidency was, he talked
about the daily frustration of partisan politics. 'This from a politician,'
he said. He said that when he was elected he promised that he would
do in DC what he had done in Texas and that was build alliances and
coalitions that bridged party lines in order to move the nation forward. He
had quickly learned that there are those in the nation's capital that would
rather see the nation dismantled than work together to achieve a common
good. That, he said is a bitter and continuing disappointment.
The President talked about the artwork and other items of interest in the
room. For instance the desk he uses is the one that was given to the
U.S. by Queen Victoria and used by FDR and JFK. In fact FDR had a front
panel added to the desk to cover the mid section because FDR did not want
the country to know he was in a wheelchair. President Bush laughed and
said, "My how things have changed, FDR hid a wheelchair and if I eat a
pretzel and get a tingle in my arm it's front page news around the globe."
That little desk faux front is hinged by the way, and is the door that we all
have seen John-John sticking his head from behind in the famous photo of
JFK at work.
The President also noted that much of the artwork in the office is from
Texas or about Texas. He said that it made sense for him to have it in his
office because Texas is part of who he is. He talked about family and
place and faith helping to build the person you end up being and noted that
the Oval Office reflected who he is. He noted that it would be a mistake
to come to the Oval Office and entertain a mission to 'find yourself.'
He said that with all of the pressures and responsibilities that go with the
job, you'd best know who you are when you put your nameplate on the desk
in the Oval Office. He said he knows who he is and now America has had four
years to learn about who he is. If they like what they see, he may have
another four years. If not, then he may be going back to Texas.
After about 30 or 35 minutes, it was time to go. By then we were all relaxed
and I felt as if I had just had an excellent visit with a friend.
The President and First Lady made one more pass down the line of awardees,
shaking hands and offering congratulations. When the President shook my
hand I said, "thank you Mr. President and God bless you and your family."
He was already in motion to the next person in line, but he stopped abruptly,
turned fully back to me, gave me a piercing look, renewed the vigor of his
handshake and said, "Thank you - and God bless you and yours as well."
On our way out of the office we were to leave by the glass doors on the west
side of the office. I was the last person in the exit line. As I shook his hand
one final time, President Bush said, "I'll be sure to tell Marc hello and give him
your regards." I then did something that surprised even me. I said to him,
"Mr. President, I know you are a busy man and your time is precious. I also
know you to be a man of strong faith and have a favor to ask you." As he shook
my hand he looked me in the eye and said, "Just name it."

I told him that my step-Mom was at that moment in a hospital in Kalispell,
Montana, having a tumor removed from her skull and it would mean a great
deal to me if he would consider adding her to his prayers that day. He grabbed
me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as he said, "So that's it.
I could tell that something is weighing heavy on your heart today. I could see it
in your eyes. This explains it." From the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a
pen and a note card with his seal on it and asked, "How do you spell her name?"
He then jotted a note to her while discussing the importance of family and the
strength of prayer. When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery
and the prognosis. I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an earlier
cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery. He said, "If it's okay
with you, we'll take care of the prayer right now. Would you pray with me?" I told
him yes and he turned to the staff that remained in the office and hand motioned
the folks to step back or leave.
He said, "Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer." As they left he
turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was prepared to do a traditional
prayer stance - standing with each other with heads bowed. Instead, he reached
for my head with his right hand and pulling gently forward, he placed my head on
his shoulder. With his left arm on my mid back, he pulled me to him in a prayerful
embrace. He started to pray softly. I started to cry. He continued his prayer for
Loretta and for God's perfect will to be done. I cried some more. My body shook a
bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed by asking God's blessing on
Loretta and the family during the coming months. I stepped away from our
embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the tears I'd left on his shoulder, and looked
into the eyes of our President. I thanked him as best I could and told him that me
and my family would continue praying for he and his.

As I write this account down and reflect upon what it means, I have to tell you that
all I really know is that his simple act left me humbled and believing. I so hoped
that the man I thought him to be was the man that he is. I know that our nation
needs a man such as this in the Oval Office.
George W. Bush is the real deal. I've read Internet stories about the President
praying with troops in hospitals and other such uplifting accounts. Each time I
read them I hope them to be true and not an Internet perpetuated myth. This one,
I know to be true. I was there. He is real. He has a pile of incredible stuff on his
plate each day - and yet he is tuned in so well to the here and now that he 'sensed'
something heavy on my heart. He took time out of his life to care, to share, and to
seek God's blessing for my family in a simple man-to-man, father-to-father,
son-to-son, husband-to-husband, Christian-to-Christian prayerful embrace.
He's not what I had hoped he would be. He is, in fact, so very, very much more.

[MJB]

This is an amazing story...haven't heard it anywhere else. I sure hope it's true.
_________________
MJB
USAF '85-'92

[no_1_momlandj]

I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. What a beautiful story. What an amazing man.

[Rdtf]

I looked it up before I posted it on a couple of sites - truthorfiction.com has verified it is true - I looked at snopes.com and they are still researching it.

[Kimmymac]

This is a wonderful story, and is truly reflective of what I know of the President. You know that Bush Sr was a great one for sending notes and letters to others, and it appears the current President Bush shares that in common with his dad.

I am a little concerned about how skeptical we have all become. Why in the world would someone lie about something like this? First of all, it is not as if it will particularly help President Bush in any measurable way in the election--many people are turned off by the idea of a man of faith humbling himself before God while leading this nation. And the author admits crying--you know many people that would admit to sobbing while the President prays for their family?

I am very glad I took the time to read this, and I want to thank Rdtf for posting it. I sometimes need to take a breather from bashing Kerry and focus on what matters, and this posting helped do that.

You know, George Bush is the most powerful man in the world, and I am just a homemaker from a small town in Texas, but we have our faith and unshakeable hope for America in common, and that faith and hope begins and ends in Jesus Christ.

And THAT! my dear friends, is why there are so many powerful, wealthy, rabidly psychotic Bush haters out there. Well, I'll put my hope in a small cadre of dedicated prayer warriors over all Soros' millions, all the OIMs spinnings, all the Michael Moore/Hollywood leftists' influences.

Remember David and Goliath?

Bush with double digits on Nov. 2--now let's thank God and work like the devil to make it happen!

[MJB]

[buffman]

This type of stuff makes me more devoted to him that ever, some people have called him extraordinary and has been compared to Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill. I think we will all see something down deep that is different about the 2 men debating tomorrow night. Something you can't buy, something you can't wish for--it's like a strength of character through humility. Let's hope America will see this also.
_________________
Never Ever Give Up
America First

[MJB]

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/38122/200.jpg
_________________
MJB
USAF '85-'92

[Kimmymac]

Ohhhh...I get it, MJB...like a "too good to be true" kind of thing. Gotcha. Naw, he is the real deal.

LOL about the kleenex. Kleenex over here for me and MJB, band-aids and flop sweat wipeys over there for the Kerryists!

GOOOOOOOO DUBBBYAAAAAAAAAA!!

[ProudDaughterofVet]

..sniff..I can barely type this now. I knew deep down that this is the type of man we have in the Oval Office..now I know for sure. To take the time to do such a yes, I will say it..Christian act, with all he had to do, with the Marine One waiting..what an amazing man. A man of deep faith, and true caring..how many times he must have done such an act, with so many. This article should be blasted from the rooftops..I for one am going to email a few talk show hosts and a few newsrooms..

Iam touched, I am proud that I for one am standing behind not just a leader who has a great vision..but a man of deep character..

PD
_________________
"We will not tire, We will not falter, We will not fail."
-President George W. Bush

www.timetotakeastand.blogspot.com

[shawa]

We are SOOOO blessed to have this genuine steadfast man of faith
as our President. Let's keep him in our prayers that he will
continue to lead our nation in these perilous times.

[Rdtf]

[twicearound]

I got this info from the prayer for Bush thread, and my heart is overwhelmed, I felt God's presence as tears streamed down my face. We must be diligent in our prayers for him and his family, for protection, wisdom. The Lord gives the righteous favor with God and man. He has great favor with God and I pray the favor with man be demonstrated on Nov. 2. God arise on his behalf and shatter the teeth of the wicked, God arise on his behalf and let his enemies be scattered.
_________________
twicearound

[twicearound]

I got this info from the prayer for Bush thread, and my heart is overwhelmed, I felt God's presence as tears streamed down my face. We must be diligent in our prayers for him and his family, for protection, wisdom. The Lord gives the righteous favor with God and man. He has great favor with God and I pray the favor with man be demonstrated on Nov. 2. God arise on his behalf and shatter the teeth of the wicked, God arise on his behalf and let his enemies be scattered.
_________________
twicearound

[twicearound]

I got this info from the prayer for Bush thread, and my heart is overwhelmed, I felt God's presence as tears streamed down my face. We must be diligent in our prayers for him and his family, for protection, wisdom. The Lord gives the righteous favor with God and man. He has great favor with God and I pray the favor with man be demonstrated on Nov. 2. God arise on his behalf and shatter the teeth of the wicked, God arise on his behalf and let his enemies be scattered.
_________________
twicearound