Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Laura Bush

2016-09-09T03:39:27Z

TigerEyes: update

[[Image:Mrsbush-20060206.jpg|right|thumb|Laura Lane Welch Bush]]
'''Laura Bush''' is the previous [[First Lady]] of the [[United States]] and the wife of US President [[George W. Bush]]. She and the President have twin daughters, [[Jenna Bush|Jenna]] and Barbara. Prior to becoming First Lady of the Nation, she served as First Lady of [[Texas]].

Laura Bush was born on November 4, 1946, in [[Midland]], Texas. Her parents were Harold and Jenna Welch. She attended [[Southern Methodist University]], and received a bachelor's degree in education, later receiving a master's degree in [[library]] science at the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. She was also a [[public school]] [[teacher]] and [[librarian]] and has since set up a national reading program called ''America's Children Read Books'' and has been active in anti-smoking campaigns.

She met her husband in 1977 and married him that same year.

Together with the [[Library of Congress]], Laura Bush launched the first National Book Festival in [[Washington, D.C.]], in September 2001. The 2004 National Book Festival drew 85,000 book-lovers from across the nation. Also included in Mrs. Bush's projects are support for education campaigns for [[breast cancer]] and heart disease. She also helped to start Preserve America, a national initiative to protect our cultural and natural heritage.<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/firstlady/flbio.html Biography] The White House</ref>

== 1963 Car Accident ==
In 1963 Laura Bush, then known as Laura Welch and only 17 years old at the time, was driving her [[Chevrolet]] sedan on a clear night shortly after 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, 1963. She ran a [[stop sign]] at an intersection and struck a Corvair sedan driven by 17 year old Michael Douglas. Douglas was killed. This is recorded in a two-page accident report released by the city of Midland, Texas. No charges were filed.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm 1963 accident]</ref> Although Mrs. Bush has historically blamed for the accident, recent scholarship has suggested that there may have been little she could do to avoid it. Douglas was driving a first generation Chevrolet Corvair, notorious for its unpredictable handling at high speeds. The possibility that Douglas lost control of the vehicle can not be discounted. Mrs. Bush was emotionally very hurt by this event, but through her faith she has worked for forgiveness without simply trying to avoid being blamed.
 
[[Image:Laura Bush.jpg|center]]
<center>
Laura Bush hosts a press preview of the White House Spring Garden Tour

in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden Friday morning, April 16, 2004.
</center>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bush, Laura}}
[[Category:First Ladies]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]

Laura Bush

2014-05-29T15:57:45Z

TigerEyes:

[[Image:Mrsbush-20060206.jpg|right|thumb|Laura Lane Welch Bush]]
'''Laura Bush''' is the previous [[First Lady]] of the [[United States]] and the wife of US President [[George W. Bush]]. She and the President have twin daughters, [[Jenna Bush|Jenna]] and Barbara. Prior to becoming First Lady of the Nation, she served as First Lady of [[Texas]].

Laura Bush was born on November 4, 1946, in [[Midland]], Texas. Her parents were Harold and Jenna Welch. She attended [[Southern Methodist University]], and received a bachelor's degree in education, later receiving a master's degree in [[library]] science at the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. She was also a [[public school]] [[teacher]] and [[librarian]] and has since set up a national reading program called ''America's Children Read Books'' and has been active in anti-smoking campaigns.

She met her husband in 1977 and married him that same year.

Together with the [[Library of Congress]], Laura Bush launched the first National Book Festival in [[Washington, D.C.]], in September 2001. The 2004 National Book Festival drew 85,000 book-lovers from across the nation. Also included in Mrs. Bush's projects are support for education campaigns for [[breast cancer]] and heart disease. She also helped to start Preserve America, a national initiative to protect our cultural and natural heritage. <ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/firstlady/flbio.html Biography] The White House</ref>

== 1963 Car Accident ==
In 1963 Laura Bush, then known as Laura Welch and only 17 years old at the time, was driving her [[Chevrolet]] sedan on a clear night shortly after 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, 1963. She ran a [[stop sign]] at an intersection and struck a Corvair sedan driven by 17 year old Michael Douglas. Douglas was killed. This is recorded in a two-page accident report released by the city of Midland, Texas. No charges were filed.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm 1963 accident]</ref> Although Mrs. Bush has historically blamed for the accident, recent scholarship has suggested that there may have been little she could do to avoid it. Douglas was driving a first generation Chevrolet Corvair, notorious for its unpredictable handling at high speeds. The possibility that Douglas lost control of the vehicle can not be discounted. Mrs. Bush was emotionally very hurt by this event, but through her faith she has worked for forgiveness without simply trying to avoid being blamed.
 
[[Image:Laura Bush.jpg|center]]
<center>
Laura Bush hosts a press preview of the White House Spring Garden Tour

in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden Friday morning, April 16, 2004.
</center>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bush, Laura}}
[[category:First Ladies]]

Larry Craig

2011-09-22T15:42:29Z

TigerEyes:

'''Larry Craig''' (b. July 20, 1945) has been a [[Republican]] [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from the state of [[Idaho]] since 1991. From 1981 to 1991 he represented Idaho in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. He is generally considered to be a social conservative and is also a strong advocate of the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.

==Early years==
Senator Craig was born on the family ranch near Midvale, Idaho, which was homesteaded in 1899 by his grandfather. He later served as the Idaho State President and National Vice-President of the Future Farmers of America. Craig earned his B.A. at the University of Idaho in 1969 and did graduate work at George Washington University 1970. Craig has worked as a farmer and rancher and served in the Idaho senate from 1974-1980.

==U.S. Senate==
In 1974, the people of Payette and Washington counties sent Craig to the Idaho State Senate, where he served three terms before winning the 1980 race for Idaho's First District Congressional Seat. He was re-elected four times before winning the U.S. Senate election in 1990 and was re-elected to the Senate in 1996 and 2002. Senator Craig served as chairman of the Steering Committee, a legislative "think tank" and action group for Senate conservatives. He was the youngest senator ever elected to that position.

Craig quickly rose in the Senate leadership in his first term, when his colleagues elected him Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. He was re-elected to that position in the 106th and 107th Congresses. The Committee is responsible for developing policy positions for Senate Republicans.

Craig has emerged as a leader for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, limited taxation, private property rights, and greater accountability in government. He has been recognized by national groups including Citizens for a Sound Economy, Citizens Against Government Waste, Watchdogs of the Treasury, and the National Taxpayers Union Foundation,

With his appointment to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Craig oversees funding on the following subcommittees: Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; Labor, HHS, and Education; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Interior and Related Agencies, where he serves as the Ranking Member. He is also a member of the Special Committee on Aging, which he chaired during the 107th and 108th Congresses, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works, where he serves on the Public Sector Solutions to Global Warming, Oversight, and Children's Health Protection Subcommittee and the Superfund and Environmental Health Subcommittee.

In addition to his committee memberships, Craig sits on a number of caucuses including: Air Force; Diabetes; Congressional Sportsmen's; Senate Sweetener; WTO for Farmers and Ranchers; Congressional Potato; National Congressional Award Board of Directors; Idaho Safe Kids Coalition (Honorary Co-Chair); the Western States Senate Coalition; Education Advisory Committee to the National Youth Leadership Conference. He serves as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and helped to found and lead the CCAI, an institute working on adoption issues.

Craig is also on the Board of Directors of the [[National Rifle Association]], the Alliance to Save Energy, and he co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Property Rights Coalition.

Craig chaired the Senate Republican Policy Committee (1996-2003), the Special Committee on Aging (One Hundred Eighth Congress), and the Committee on Veterans� Affairs (One Hundred Ninth Congress).

Craig was dedicated spokesman on behalf of the people and economic base of Idaho who depend upon the [[timber]] and power industries. Many [[environmentalist]]s believe his departure could be benificial for [[ecological]] causes, such as [[salmon]] recovery, which may cause economic disruption and unemployment in a conservative "flyover" state.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070929/ap_on_go_co/salmon_democrats Sen. Craig's fall may benefit salmon]</ref>

==Airport incident==
On June 11, 2007, Craig was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in a sting operation aimed to [[entrap]] homosexuals.<ref>[http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/Craigtranscript.pdf Transcript of arrest interview] [http://www.break.com/index/senator-craig-police-audio-tape.html Audio]</ref> Craig did not contest the charges so as to continue on his flight home to Idaho. He didn't consult a lawyer, and he never told family, friends, staff or colleagues about the incident. Craig returned to Minneapolis on August 8th, 2007 and plead guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct.<ref>John, McArdle,[http://www.rollcall.com/cgi-bin/texis/scripts/rollcall-search/search.html?subscriber_search=true&query=%22Craig+Arrested%2C+Pleads+Guilty+Following+Incident+in+Airport+Restroom+but+Says+He+Did+Nothing+Wrong&x=8&y=7 Craig Arrested, Pleads Guilty Following Incident in Airport Restroom but Says He Did Nothing Wrong], ''Roll Call'', August 27, 2007.</ref>

A few weeks after the plea the arrest story earned major press attention. Craig announced plans to withdraw his guilty plea and repeatedly denied claims that he was homosexual.<ref>http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/143801.html</ref> Craig hired two Washington criminal defense lawyers, Stan Brand, who has defended lawmakers before, and Billy Martin, whose most recent client was NFL quarterback [[Michael Vick]]. Craig also retained one of the capital's top public-relations experts, Judy Smith, who handled press for [[Monica Lewinsky]] and more recently for U.S. Rep. [[William Jefferson]].<ref>[http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/149810.html Craig may not quit after all if he's cleared of charges, spokesman says], By GREGORY HAHN AND ERIKA BOLSTAD - ''Idaho Statesman'', 09/04/07.</ref> Craig received a unexpected boost in his withdrawal attempt when the [[ACLU]] lobbying organization filed a brief on his behalf.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3611682</ref> Craig's attempt to withdraw the guilty plea was rejected by a Hennepin County District Court judge on October 4th 2007.

Former President [[Bill Clinton]] said on [[CNN]]'s ''Larry King Live'',

:"Well, first of all, I think we ought to recognize that this is a very traumatic time for him and his family.... we should be hoping that he and his family can work through this ...I think that that is more important than the politics of this. The politics of this will have to be resolved by him and the Republicans in the Senate."

In February 2008, the Senate Ethics Committee<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/13/larry.craig/index.html</ref> issued a public "letter of admonition" to Craig, charging him with "improper conduct," and unethical use of over $200,000 of his campaigning money for legal and other costs related to the airport incident.

Senator Craig served out the remainder of his term and retired.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/04/craig.arrest/].</ref>

==References==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Larry}}

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Idaho]]

Larry Craig

2011-09-22T15:41:43Z

TigerEyes: /* Airport incident */

'''Larry Craig''' (b. July 20, 1945) has been a [[Republican]] [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from the state of [[Idaho]] since 1991. From 1981 to 1991 he represented Idaho in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. He is generally considered to be a social conservative and is also a strong advocate of the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.

==Early years==
Senator Craig was born on the family ranch near Midvale, Idaho, which was homesteaded in 1899 by his grandfather. He later served as the Idaho State President and National Vice-President of the Future Farmers of America. Craig earned his B.A. at the University of Idaho in 1969 and did graduate work at George Washington University 1970. Craig has worked as a farmer and rancher and served in the Idaho senate from 1974-1980.

==U.S. Senate==
In 1974, the people of Payette and Washington counties sent Craig to the Idaho State Senate, where he served three terms before winning the 1980 race for Idaho's First District Congressional Seat. He was re-elected four times before winning the U.S. Senate election in 1990 and was re-elected to the Senate in 1996 and 2002. Senator Craig served as chairman of the Steering Committee, a legislative "think tank" and action group for Senate conservatives. He was the youngest senator ever elected to that position.

Craig quickly rose in the Senate leadership in his first term, when his colleagues elected him Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. He was re-elected to that position in the 106th and 107th Congresses. The Committee is responsible for developing policy positions for Senate Republicans.

Craig has emerged as a leader for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, limited taxation, private property rights, and greater accountability in government. He has been recognized by national groups including Citizens for a Sound Economy, Citizens Against Government Waste, Watchdogs of the Treasury, and the National Taxpayers Union Foundation,

With his appointment to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Craig oversees funding on the following subcommittees: Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; Labor, HHS, and Education; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Interior and Related Agencies, where he serves as the Ranking Member. He is also a member of the Special Committee on Aging, which he chaired during the 107th and 108th Congresses, and the Committee on Environment and Public Works, where he serves on the Public Sector Solutions to Global Warming, Oversight, and Children's Health Protection Subcommittee and the Superfund and Environmental Health Subcommittee.

In addition to his committee memberships, Craig sits on a number of caucuses including: Air Force; Diabetes; Congressional Sportsmen's; Senate Sweetener; WTO for Farmers and Ranchers; Congressional Potato; National Congressional Award Board of Directors; Idaho Safe Kids Coalition (Honorary Co-Chair); the Western States Senate Coalition; Education Advisory Committee to the National Youth Leadership Conference. He serves as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and helped to found and lead the CCAI, an institute working on adoption issues.

Craig is also on the Board of Directors of the [[National Rifle Association]], the Alliance to Save Energy, and he co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Property Rights Coalition.

Craig chaired the Senate Republican Policy Committee (1996-2003), the Special Committee on Aging (One Hundred Eighth Congress), and the Committee on Veterans� Affairs (One Hundred Ninth Congress).

Craig was dedicated spokesman on behalf of the people and economic base of Idaho who depend upon the [[timber]] and power industries. Many [[environmentalist]]s believe his departure could be benificial for [[ecological]] causes, such as [[salmon]] recovery, which may cause economic disruption and unemployment in a conservative "flyover" state.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070929/ap_on_go_co/salmon_democrats Sen. Craig's fall may benefit salmon]</ref>

==Airport incident==
On June 11, 2007, Craig was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in a sting operation aimed to [[entrap]] homosexuals.<ref>[http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/Craigtranscript.pdf Transcript of arrest interview] [http://www.break.com/index/senator-craig-police-audio-tape.html Audio]</ref> Craig did not contest the charges so as to continue on his flight home to Idaho. He didn't consult a lawyer, and he never told family, friends, staff or colleagues about the incident. Craig returned to Minneapolis on August 8th, 2007 and plead guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct.<ref>John, McArdle,[http://www.rollcall.com/cgi-bin/texis/scripts/rollcall-search/search.html?subscriber_search=true&query=%22Craig+Arrested%2C+Pleads+Guilty+Following+Incident+in+Airport+Restroom+but+Says+He+Did+Nothing+Wrong&x=8&y=7 Craig Arrested, Pleads Guilty Following Incident in Airport Restroom but Says He Did Nothing Wrong], ''Roll Call'', August 27, 2007.</ref>

A few weeks after the plea the arrest story earned major press attention. Craig announced plans to withdraw his guilty plea and repeatedly denied claims that he was homosexual.<ref>http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/143801.html</ref> Craig hired two Washington criminal defense lawyers, Stan Brand, who has defended lawmakers before, and Billy Martin, whose most recent client was NFL quarterback [[Michael Vick]]. Craig also retained one of the capital's top public-relations experts, Judy Smith, who handled press for [[Monica Lewinsky]] and more recently for U.S. Rep. [[William Jefferson]].<ref>[http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/149810.html Craig may not quit after all if he's cleared of charges, spokesman says], By GREGORY HAHN AND ERIKA BOLSTAD - ''Idaho Statesman'', 09/04/07.</ref>Craig received a unexpected boost in his withdrawal attempt when the [[ACLU]] lobbying organization filed a brief on his behalf.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3611682</ref> Craig's attempt to withdraw the guilty plea was rejected by a Hennepin County District Court judge on October 4th 2007.

Former President [[Bill Clinton]] said on [[CNN]]'s ''Larry King Live'',

:"Well, first of all, I think we ought to recognize that this is a very traumatic time for him and his family.... we should be hoping that he and his family can work through this ...I think that that is more important than the politics of this. The politics of this will have to be resolved by him and the Republicans in the Senate."

In February 2008, the Senate Ethics Committee<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/13/larry.craig/index.html</ref> issued a public "letter of admonition" to Craig, charging him with "improper conduct," and unethical use of over $200,000 of his campaigning money for legal and other costs related to the airport incident.

Senator Craig served out the remainder of his term and retired.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/04/craig.arrest/].</ref>

==References==

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Larry}}

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Idaho]]

Laura Bush

2011-06-06T14:59:49Z

TigerEyes:

[[Image:Mrsbush-20060206.jpg|right|thumb|Laura Lane Welch Bush]]
'''Laura Bush''' is the previous [[First Lady]] of the [[United States]] and the wife of US President [[George W. Bush]]. She and the President have twin daughters, [[Jenna Bush|Jenna]] and Barbara. Prior to becoming First Lady of the Nation, she served as First Lady of [[Texas]].

Laura Bush was born on November 4, 1946, in [[Midland]], Texas. Her parents were Harold and Jenna Welch. She attended [[Southern Methodist University]], and received a bachelor's degree in education, later receiving a master's degree in [[library]] science at the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. She was also a [[public school]] [[teacher]] and [[librarian]] and has since set up a national reading program called ''America's Children Read Books'' and has been active in anti-smoking campaigns.

Together with the [[Library of Congress]], Laura Bush launched the first National Book Festival in [[Washington, D.C.]], in September 2001. The 2004 National Book Festival drew 85,000 book-lovers from across the nation. Also included in Mrs. Bush's projects are support for education campaigns for [[breast cancer]] and heart disease. She also helped to start Preserve America, a national initiative to protect our cultural and natural heritage. <ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/firstlady/flbio.html Biography] The White House</ref>

== 1963 Car Accident ==
In 1963 Laura Bush, then known as Laura Welch and only 17 years old at the time, was driving her [[Chevrolet]] sedan on a clear night shortly after 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, 1963. She ran a [[stop sign]] at an intersection and struck a Corvair sedan driven by 17 year old Michael Douglas. Douglas was killed. This is recorded in a two-page accident report released by the city of Midland, Texas. No charges were filed.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm 1963 accident]</ref> Although Mrs. Bush has historically blamed for the accident, recent scholarship has suggested that there may have been little she could do to avoid it. Douglas was driving a first generation Chevrolet Corvair, notorious for its unpredictable handling at high speeds. The possibility that Douglas lost control of the vehicle can not be discounted.

 
[[Image:Laura Bush.jpg|center]]
<center>
Laura Bush hosts a press preview of the White House Spring Garden Tour

in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden Friday morning, April 16, 2004.
</center>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bush, Laura}}
[[category:First Ladies]]