Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tom Clarke who wrote (250491)	4/24/2002 11:30:40 AM
From: Tom Clarke	Respond to of 769670

Yo-Yo Ma Teams With Condoleezza Rice By Jacqueline Trescott Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, April 23, 2002; Page C01 On occasion, the annual presentation of the National Medal of Arts will have an impromptu performance moment. Bob Hope talked in 1995, and no one dared stop him. But usually the protocol at the official ceremony is a hug and handshake from the president and a gracious smile from the honoree. Yesterday was a departure. Yo-Yo Ma, the celebrated cellist and one of this year's medalists, took the stage at Constitution Hall. That's not unusual for him. But his musical partner this time was pianist Condoleezza Rice. Yes, that Condoleezza Rice -- the one who is national security adviser. Even President Bush seemed amused by the combo. "Ma is performing with another world-renowned figure," said Bush, laughing slightly and looking toward the woman who is more familiar for staring down questioners on television news shows. Without hesitation, Ma and Rice played a graceful movement from Brahms's Violin Sonata in D Minor. The duet was the culmination of a meeting years ago. "I met Dr. Rice when she was a dean at Stanford University," said Ma. "At a reception, she came up and said: 'I play the piano,' and I answered, 'How lovely.' Then we talked, and I found out she could play." Ma talked about the origins of the performance at a luncheon at The Washington Post yesterday. When he was notified of his selection as an honoree, Ma said he was asked if he would like to play. He remembered his conversation with Rice at Stanford and suggested the duet. Rice, who has discussed her childhood dream of being a classical pianist and even introduced one of her childhood heroes, Van Cliburn, in December at the Kennedy Center Honors, suggested Brahms. They rehearsed yesterday. "We had a real rehearsal," said Ma, describing that they had gone beyond technique to discuss the meaning of the music. The Brahms, said Ma, "is a prayer. How many ways can you play the voice of Brahms. He's passionate but reserved." And Rice, he said, "is a good musician." Honored yesterday were the 2001 medalists. The presentation was delayed because of the events of Sept. 11. Nominations for the arts medals, which have been presented since 1984, start with the public and the National Council on the Arts and culminate with the president making the final choices. Since 1988 a second set of medals has been awarded in the humanities. The honorees are selected through a similar process. Honored for their achievements in the arts were the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, writer Rudolfo Anaya, singer Johnny Cash, actor Kirk Douglas, painter Helen Frankenthaler, choreographer Judith Jamison and director Mike Nichols. "For all their differences," said Bush, "they are all teachers. They teach us about 'A Boy Named Sue,' about an 'Odd Couple,' about a 'Ragman's Son' " -- references to Cash's famous song, Nichols's direction of the Neil Simon play and Douglas's autobiography. In the humanities, medals were given to artist Jose Cisneros, psychiatrist Robert Coles, historian William Manchester, novelist Richard Peck, musicologist Eileen Jackson Southern, author Tom Wolfe and Sharon Darling of the National Center for Family Literacy. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was also honored. Bush called Wolfe "a chronicler of our times who has told us more about our times than shelves of sociology books." © 2002 The Washington Post Company washingtonpost.com

To: Tom Clarke who wrote (250491)	4/24/2002 11:33:46 AM
From: American Spirit	Respond to of 769670

Plenty of apparent reasons. Spinmeisters are all A-holes, especially ones with no charm or sense of humor. Don't expect them to do anything but spin, cover-up and lie but when they are tough and rude about it they're intolerable. On both sides. Ari Fleischer is at least smooth, calm and tries not to be too devisive. Bush was smart to nudge Hughes out. She's a negative and reminds people of Florida, Enron, DUI case spin, etc.