Presidential Seal

Re Paul Conrad's "Thanksgiving" cartoon (Commentary, Nov. 22), where he replaced the eagle on the presidential seal with a turkey: This is one American who has been giving thanks since Jan. 20 that George W. Bush is our president and is especially thankful since Sept. 11. Bush has not only restored the eagle to the seal but dignity to the presidency. Robert Elkin Jr. Rancho Cucamonga

The president and first lady will cement their commitment to "eat local" efforts Wednesday evening when British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, enjoy a menu based on offerings from the White House kitchen garden. On offer at the State Dinner, to be held outside on the White House South Lawn, are halibut with kale; salad greens from the garden; bison wellington and lemon sponge. Mercifully, the fish is from Alaska, rather than retrieved from the Potomac, and the bison once roamed in North Dakota, not the National Zoo, according to White House executive chef Cris Comerford.

Re Conrad's "Presidential Seal" cartoon, Jan. 14: What's the point of continually attacking the president on the "character issue"? Bill Clinton or his staff has been guilty of poor judgment on occasion, but he hasn't been accused, even by the Republicans, of any crime or moral lapse as president. Conrad is totally off base. They keep harping on things he's alleged to have done as governor, or even earlier. It was all out there during both campaigns, and twice the people have decided that the president was a better person for the job than his opponents.

The Boss, a GoodFella and the king of irreverent comedy were among five performing artists to receive lifetime achievement awards Sunday in a glittery event that's as close as Washington comes to the Oscars. This year's recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, an annual black-tie gala that recognizes performers who transformed the arts in America, were Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks, opera singer Grace Bumbry and jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Sunday's elaborately staged show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, traditionally attended by the president and first lady, was the 32nd of its kind and the first for Barack Obama.

Barack Obama's campaign has shelved the quasi-presidential seal that it unveiled just Friday. Critics called the design a sign of bad judgment and arrogance. It echoed the official presidential seal, with a Latin version of his "Yes, we can" motto replacing "E pluribus unum" and his rising-sun campaign logo replacing the bald eagle's Stars and Stripes shield. It was on Obama's lectern when he spoke at a Democratic governors meeting.

I'm confused about your article (April 9) concerning Christopher Cox and his lawsuit against the state of California. In all of his appearances and in his recent mailers Cox, a 40th Congressional District candidate, talks about his experience as a "key" and "senior" adviser to the President. He even sued the state of California for permission to list our President's name next to his on the official ballot to emphasize his "senior associate counsel" relationship to our President.

President Obama put his stamp on a token gift treasured by travelers on Air Force One -- boxes of M&Ms. Seven months after Obama took office, the small boxes bearing the signature of the 44th president were unveiled this weekend in the midst of his four-day, four-state trip through the West. The boxes containing red, white and blue peanut M&Ms were handed out on the plane Saturday. On one side: the presidential seal and Obama's John Hancock scrawled in gold. On the other: a yellow M&M marching with an American flag.

Rent-free residence in the White House, with swimming pool, putting green, tennis court, exercise room, jogging track, horseshoe pit, bowling alley, movie theater and 18 acres of beautifully tended grounds. The White House has 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 29 fireplaces and three elevators. Excluding the basement, it is 42,840 square feet.

Mine was one of the letters for "The President and Me" that did not get printed. No matter. The 17 that were selected were much more poignant than mine. It was an impressive collection. But what has prompted me to write is the artwork and the design. And I don't mean the presidential seal and the 14 daguerreotypes of the presidents that rimmed the first group of letters. No, what really grabbed me was the magnificent mural of a presidential touring car full of generals and dignitaries with Sir Winston Churchill and Harry Truman standing in the rumble seat.

Re "Tough economy, L.A. traffic, Leno -- one busy day," March 20 In these hard economic times, I want the tenor of the American president to be, at all times, serious and somber. I want to see him behind the presidential seal at least pretending to reprimand those who have pillaged and plundered taxpayers' dollars. I want to see his face hardened and grimaced when he speaks about what has happened here. I do not want to see him on "The Tonight Show." Yes, it may let him mix with the masses, reminding us that he is still one of us, but doesn't he have more important things to do?

President Obama put his stamp on a token gift treasured by travelers on Air Force One -- boxes of M&Ms. Seven months after Obama took office, the small boxes bearing the signature of the 44th president were unveiled this weekend in the midst of his four-day, four-state trip through the West. The boxes containing red, white and blue peanut M&Ms were handed out on the plane Saturday. On one side: the presidential seal and Obama's John Hancock scrawled in gold. On the other: a yellow M&M marching with an American flag.

Re "Tough economy, L.A. traffic, Leno -- one busy day," March 20 In these hard economic times, I want the tenor of the American president to be, at all times, serious and somber. I want to see him behind the presidential seal at least pretending to reprimand those who have pillaged and plundered taxpayers' dollars. I want to see his face hardened and grimaced when he speaks about what has happened here. I do not want to see him on "The Tonight Show." Yes, it may let him mix with the masses, reminding us that he is still one of us, but doesn't he have more important things to do?

America, meet Barack The Arrogant. Did you hear, this guy's already talking about redecorating the Lincoln Bedroom? Or that a few weeks back, he stood behind a podium bearing a faux presidential seal? The young upstart from Illinois has even got his minions planning a White House transition! We have reporters, columnists and TV talking heads to thank for exposing these outrageous displays. So apparently the verdict is in: Sen. Barack Obama, too confident to govern.

Barack Obama's campaign has shelved the quasi-presidential seal that it unveiled just Friday. Critics called the design a sign of bad judgment and arrogance. It echoed the official presidential seal, with a Latin version of his "Yes, we can" motto replacing "E pluribus unum" and his rising-sun campaign logo replacing the bald eagle's Stars and Stripes shield. It was on Obama's lectern when he spoke at a Democratic governors meeting.

Two rocking chairs make it clear that Sam Maloof's world is shaped by his heart and his hands. The celebrated contemporary furniture designer made each--by hand--to honor two women who mean so much to him: Freda's Chair for his wife of 50 years until her death; Beverly's Chair for the woman who fell in love first with a walnut table then, a half-century later, married the man who made it. Maloof, whose sculptural wood furniture is so prized by collectors, museum directors and even U.S.

Re Paul Conrad's "Thanksgiving" cartoon (Commentary, Nov. 22), where he replaced the eagle on the presidential seal with a turkey: This is one American who has been giving thanks since Jan. 20 that George W. Bush is our president and is especially thankful since Sept. 11. Bush has not only restored the eagle to the seal but dignity to the presidency. Robert Elkin Jr. Rancho Cucamonga

The president and first lady will cement their commitment to "eat local" efforts Wednesday evening when British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, enjoy a menu based on offerings from the White House kitchen garden. On offer at the State Dinner, to be held outside on the White House South Lawn, are halibut with kale; salad greens from the garden; bison wellington and lemon sponge. Mercifully, the fish is from Alaska, rather than retrieved from the Potomac, and the bison once roamed in North Dakota, not the National Zoo, according to White House executive chef Cris Comerford.

I have no idea what went down between the Big Lewinsky and the Big Creep. (Not their real names.) Nor do I know why they got double-crossed by America's rat, Linda Tripp. With an enemy like her, who needs friends? And I am not sure if we will ever know exactly what happened in a Little Rock hotel room between Paula "I-didn't-ask-for-room- service" Corbin Jones and a certain randy Razorback. But I had my suspicions. And then Kathleen E. Willey went on TV.

Backers of a long-stalled 192-bed homeless shelter at the closed Tustin Marine Corps base said they believe their project finally will be green-lighted in the wake of President Bush's pledge Monday to funnel more public money and other help to faith-based agencies for social services. Jim Palmer, president of the Orange County Rescue Mission, said he has waited four years to have the Secretary of the Navy sign away the deed to the 6.1 acres.

For weeks now, the story line of the Democratic presidential campaign has gone something like this: Vice President Al Gore is boring, ham-handed, dragged down by scandal, ripe for a pummeling. And his challenger Bill Bradley--did you see how much money he raised? And the crowds he's drawing? To veteran political activist Tom Rath, the simultaneous hand wringing and hype have all the makings of a comedy. One with a decidedly rueful laugh track.