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Friday, November 16, 2007

Laura Bush calls for Burmese gem boycott

By Ken Herman | Friday, November 16, 2007, 04:17 PM

First Lady Laura Bush, who has expressed personal and high-profile opposition to the repressive regime in Burma, today urged the world to take a pass on buying gems from that country.

The statement came as the regime opened a gem show in Rangoon.

Here’s what Mrs. Bush wants people to do, and why:

“The sale of gems is the regime’s third largest source of revenue. These funds prop up the regime, allowing it to continue to harass, arrest, and sentence peaceful activists who seek freedom of speech, worship, and assembly. … Despite statements that arrests had ended, the regime arrested Su Su Nwe, an ailing activist who continues to risk her life to press for change. The junta also arrested and reportedly sentenced U Gambira, a brave and respected monk, for treason.”

“Those who support freedom and justice for the Burmese people should not help fill the regime’s coffers at this gem show. I applaud the Jewelers of America and member companies such as Tiffany and Cartier for taking a stand against the importation of Burmese gems. I urge others in the industry, both in the U.S. and worldwide, to join in this important effort and refuse to have the trade in Burmese gems prop up the Burmese regime. Consumers throughout the world should consider the implications of their purchase of Burmese gems. Every Burmese stone bought, cut, polished, and sold sustains an illegitimate, repressive regime.”

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Bush invites Gore to Oval Office

By Ken Herman | Friday, November 16, 2007, 12:42 PM

This one has potential, but odds are everybody will behave.

The White House today announced that President Bush will host former Vice President Al Gore in the Oval Office on Nov. 26. Should be an interesting reunion of a couple of buddies from the 2000 presidential campaign and its historic aftermath.

It won’t be a one-on-one. Gore got the invitation because Bush is hosting this year’s U.S. winners of Nobel Prizes. Gore got the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on global warming. Several other 2007 Nobel winners also will be on hand.

In making the announcement, Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto, making sure everyone knows which Al Gore this is, identified the ex-veep as “Vice President Al Gore … from Nashville, Tennessee.”

Oh, that one.

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Turkey time at the White House

By Ken Herman | Friday, November 16, 2007, 09:54 AM

Next Tuesday is pardon-the-Thanksgiving-turkey time in the Rose Garden, which means you still have a few days to cast your vote on names for the pardoned bird and the alternate.

Here are the nominees (and they run as a ticket): Wing and Prayer; May and Flower; Gobbler and Rafter; Wish and Bone; Truman and Sixty (Harry Truman presided at the first pardoning 60 years ago); Jake and Tom

Last year’s winning names: Flyer and Fryer

Vote here http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/thanksgiving/2007/

And, for the first time since he took office, President Bush will give what aides say is a “Thanksgiving-themed” speech. It will come Monday at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Va. Spokesman Tony Fratto said Bush will talk about the things Americans have to be grateful for and folks he met this year who have inspired him.

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