April 13, 2008
The leader of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics has been to the White House only once in history. That changes this week, and President Bush is pulling out all the stops: driving out to a suburban military base to meet Pope Benedict XVI's plane, bringing a giant audience to the South Lawn and hosting a fancy East Room dinner.These are all firsts.
Bush has never before given a visiting leader the honor of picking him up at the airport. In fact, no president has done so at Andrews Air Force Base, the typical landing spot for modern leaders.
A crowd of up to 12,000 is due at the White House on Wednesday morning for the pope's official, pomp-filled arrival ceremony. It will feature the U.S. and Holy See anthems, a 21-gun salute, and the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Both men will make remarks before their Oval Office meeting and a send-off for his popemobile down Pennsylvania Avenue.
The White House crowd will be the largest of Bush's presidency. It even beats the audience last spring for Queen Elizabeth II, which numbered about 7,000.
Interesting so far, but what about the third? Well, this one is sort of weird.
The evening festivities will mark the first time the Bushes have put on a high-profile meal in honor of someone who isn't even a guest. Wednesday is the pontiff's 81st birthday, and the menu celebrates his German heritage with Bavarian-style food.But Benedict's prayer service that evening with U.S. bishops at a famed Washington basilica preclude him from coming to the dinner, according to the White House. Catholic leaders will be there instead.
Am I the only one struck by the absurdity of having a big gathering to honor a man who will be across town at another event? Why schedule what ought to be a state dinner when the other head of state can't be there? Whose goofy idea was that?
Posted by: Greg at
10:23 PM
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"Am I the only one struck by the absurdity of having,,,"
No, you are not. But absurd is the byword if a lot of things that this occupant of the White House has done.
Posted by: JACK THOMPSON at Tue Apr 15 01:34:28 2008 (d/G4y)
Posted by: tonybot at Tue Apr 15 04:46:04 2008 (gB0mM)
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