President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush have arrived in NYC for Veterans Day events. Bush will be awarded the 2008 Intrepid Freedom Award at the USS Intrepid; the award is for "world leaders who embody the ideals of world freedom and democracy." Air Force One landed at JFK Airport, and then the Bushes took a helicopter to the aircraft carrier off Manhattan's West Side.
Yesterday, President Bush and the First Lady met with President-elect Obama and Michelle Obama. Obama asked Bush to aid the auto industry; the NY Times reports, "Mr. Bush indicated at the meeting that he might support some aid and a broader economic stimulus package if Mr. Obama and Congressional Democrats dropped their opposition to a free-trade agreement with Colombia, a measure for which Mr. Bush has long fought, people familiar with the discussion said." Laura Bush gave Michelle Obama a tour of the private residence and Michelle Obama later toured two private schools.
Overall, the visit was described as "good, constructive, relaxed and friendly" by the White House and a "bit of a momentous day" by the office of the President-elect.
