Politex

Arlington's bid for library was late, lean

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Unlikely as it seems now, Arlington once bid to host the Bush Center.
In 2005, Arlington's bid was one of the first eliminated in a process that eventually led as most predicted to Laura Bush's alma mater near the Bushes' once-and-future north Dallas home.
Here's reporter Patrick McGee's story from 2006:

Arlington might have had an outdoor 9-11 memorial and an institution supporting infant democracies around the world if the city had been selected as the site for the George W. Bush presidential library and museum.
This vision for the 43rd president's museum is detailed in a video released by Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck. It was part of a failed bid for the library the city made last year.
The first round of cuts in October eliminated Arlington along with University of Texas System bids to build the library in either Austin or on the UT-Dallas campus in Richardson.
Still in the running for the multimillion-dollar presidential library and museum are Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the University of Dallas in Irving, Baylor University in Waco and the West Texas Coalition, which is campaigning to get the library built at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Finalists presented their proposals in November to a committee charged with recommending a site. A decision has not been released, and committee representatives could not be reached to comment Tuesday.
Cluck said Arlington's bid committee withheld a portion of the privately produced video that identified a specific site for the presidential library and a 30-page book presented to the White House because it also identifies the privately held site.
Actress Janine Turner narrates the video, which tells of a possible George W. Bush Institute for Peace and Prosperity that would bestow a Hero of Freedom Award. Turner also talks of an outdoor 9-11 memorial featuring all the names of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Turner describes library programs to help fledgling democracies and programs to help teachers to honor first lady Laura Bush's commitment to education. A mock military tent would house exhibits of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, and "fields of peace" would allow youngsters from all over the world to gather and play baseball.
"I think we made a great presentation," Cluck said adding that parts of the video might be used for future economic development presentations.
Arlington's video includes people who are active in the community, such as Jeff Williams, former president of the River Legacy Foundation and dance instructor Persis Forester.
Many of them auditioned for the video, said Kristin Vandergriff, a member of the committee that made Arlington's bid.
Vandergriff said the committee had only two and a half to three weeks to make the video.
Scrambling to get it done, she said, she walked into an Arlington fire station and asked some firefighters to vouch for the city.
"I simply walked over and said, 'Hey would you be interested in helping us?' and they were more than willing to help," she said.
Three of the uniformed firefighters appear on a firetruck bumper talking about how Arlington is a friendly place.
A diverse array of Arlington residents including an Iraqi-American, a Main Street cobbler and schoolchildren also appear, teeming with enthusiasm and promising that Arlington is the perfect place to enshrine the president's letters and legacy.
Turner opens and closes on a leafy walking trail near Ameriquest Field where the Rangers play. The video includes flattering shots of the city, including quaint homes, the Parks at Arlington mall and the University of Texas at Arlington.
Cluck said a little more than $100,000 was raised privately for Arlington's pitch. Vandergriff said Scott Howell & Co. of Dallas produced the video.
Cluck said Arlington could not compete with the $500 million that the 10-city West Texas Coalition said it would spend on the presidential library project.
"We knew we couldn't do that," Cluck said. "It wasn't easy raising $100,000."
The West Texas Coalition's video is the only other video that has been made public.
The coalition's video shows aerial shots of rural landscapes and tells of Texas Tech's ability to archive important documents.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz calls George W. Bush a "man of deep principle."

UNIVERSITY PARK -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz owes a lot to former President George W. Bush.

It was, after all, Bush's 2000 presidential campaign where Cruz met his future wife.

"We were one of eight couples" to meet during the campaign, Cruz said Thursday at the dedication ceremony for Bush's presidential center. 

Cruz praised Bush for being a "man of deep principle." 

-- Anna M. Tinsley

George W. Bush's friends are there for him

UNIVERSITY PARK -- U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, said he wanted to make sure he shared Thursday -- the day of the formal dedication ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center -- with his longtime friend.

Barton said he and George W. Bush have been friends for years, going back so far that he helped with George H.W. Bush's presidential campaign -- and even encouraged George W. Bush to run for Texas governor many years ago.

"I wanted to be here to show personal support," Barton said.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

Texas Rangers' Nolan Ryan among crowd at Bush presidential center dedication

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Texas Rangers' Nolan Ryan is among the crowd of thousands gathered on the SMU campus for the George W. Bush Presidential Center dedication ceremony this morning.

Through the years, the former president has watched many a Texas Rangers game sitting by Ryan at the Ballpark in Arlington.

And Ryan said he wasn't going to miss Thursday's even honoring his longtime friend.

"This is a very special day in the Bushes' lives and we want to be here to share it with them," Ryan said. 

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Dignitaries at the George W. Bush Presidential Center dedication

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Today's dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center was already set to draw the world's most exclusive club -- President Barack Obama and four ex-presidents, Bush, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Now officials have announced a number of heads of state will be here as well, including former Brittish Prime Minister Tony Blair, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvilli, Australia Prime Minister John Howard, Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Ghana John Kufuor and Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The ceremony is set to begin at 10 a.m. Most cable news networks will cover the ceremony, and there's a webcast atwww.bushcenter.org.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

Ready for Hillary Clinton?

Supporters of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plan to hold a rally for the former First Lady and Democrat in North Texas this week, hoping to urge her to consider a second presidential bid in 2016.

As she speaks to the National Multi Housing Council at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas Wednesday night, rally organizers say supporters will start "showing up in force" outside the resort around 6 p.m.

"We are grassroots supporters across the country urging her to run -- and working to build an army of supporters in case she does decide to run," said Seth Bringman, communications director of the Ready for Hillary grassroots movement.

"The idea is to show Hillary the support she has across the country, particularly in Texas," Bringman said. "She's the candidate everybody says could turn Texas blue."

Earlier in the day Wednesday, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- who has been mentioned as a key Republican presidential contender in 2016 -- will be speaking at a World Affairs Council luncheon at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel in Dallas.

Bush is brother of former President George W. Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush and father of George P. Bush, a Fort Worth man who is running for Texas Land Commissioner next year.

Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton will both be in Dallas to attend the dedication ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Center on Thursday.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

George W. Bush Presidential Center earns a key designation

The George W. Bush Presidential Center -- which will formally open to the public on May 1 -- has earned a key designation: platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

"We are proud to be recognized for our emphasis on sustainable building design,” said Mark Langdale, president of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. “The Bush Center and our ongoing work are a reflection of the principles that guided President and Mrs. Bush in their public service, including their longstanding commitment to conservation and caring for the land.”

There will be an invitation-only dedication ceremony for the Bush Center on April 25 --which is expected to draw five presidents, President Barack Obama and former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter in addition to George W. Bush.

The LEED Green Building Certification System encourages systems, materials and designs that are energy efficient, sustainable and cut down on a facility's impact on the environment. Officials have long touted features at the Bush center ranging from green roofing system to solar panels and rainwater irrigation.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

Fort Worth City Council holding up gas compressor station vote?

The Fort Worth City Council is scheduled tonight to vote on an ordinance change that would require gas companies to obtain a "special exception" to build a gas compressor station on agriculturally zoned property.

With numerous East Side residents prepared to speak tonight, Councilman Danny Scarth said he would move to remand the case to the zoning commission for its April hearing, which he said would bring the case back to the City Council May 5. Residents in Scarth's district said that would allow a gas company time to put in a gas compressor station by right.

Scarth, in remarks before residents started speaking, said he felt the ordinance is missing protections "that could be important in the future." He asked homeowners and gas company representatives to get together with staff to rework the proposed changes to the ordinance.

- Scott Nishimura, Star-Telegram Fort Worth City Hall reporter

Bush relives his 9/11 experience tonight in cable interview

Prepare to be inundated with television specials recounting the horrors of Sept. 11, 2001 and how the terrorist attacks that day and the wars they spawned have changed America and the world.

One of the biggest figures in 9/11 history -- former President George W. Bush -- hasn't had a lot to say publicly about the anniversary, and turned down interview requests with the Star-Telegram and countless other media organizations. His most extensive remarks come in an exclusive documentary interview that will air at 9 p.m. CDT tonight on the National Geographic Channel.

One memorable quote from the former Texas governor and current resident of Dallas: "It became apparent we were facing a new kind of enemy. This is what war was like in the 21st century."

Declares Bush: "Sept. 11 is a monumental day in our nation's history, a significant day, and it obviously changed my presidency. I went from being a president that was primarily focused on domestic issues to a wartime president. It's something I never anticipated nor something I ever wanted to be."

-- John Gravois