Bush readies big welcome for pope

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080413/ap_on_go_pr_wh/popes_and_presidents;_ylt=ApB7ZKicxAxWzZ6GxeGvuCes0NUE

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 50 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The leader of the world's 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.

[nichomachus]

1. And yet Papa Razi is going to snub Bush's state dinner

Bush is holding a state dinner for Benny the Rat and Benny is going to "have other plans."

Yikes.

[Fridays Child]

2. If Bush doesn't have a good nickname for him, yet, may I suggest...

...Daddy Ratzo?