Update: Former first lady out of ICU after surgery
(CNN) - Former first lady Barbara Bush was moved out of the intensive care unit of a Houston, Texas, hospital and into a regular room Thursday after surgery to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Bush, 83, was in good spirits and was joking with hospital staffers, the Methodist Hospital spokeswoman said. She was being fed intravenously. Her doctor earlier said she will be allowed no food by mouth for about a week, to avoid possibly stretching her abdominal area.
Obama: 'a new and brighter day is yet to come'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/27/art.bothx1127.yt.jpg caption="President-elect Obama notes in his latest weekly address that the Thanksgiving holiday was established by President Abraham Lincoln during a time of great division and turmoil in the country."]
(CNN) – As the nation enters the traditional holiday shopping season in the midst of a financial crisis and is reminded of its own potential vulnerability by the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, President-elect Barack Obama called on Americans to come together for the sake of the country’s future.
Watch: Obama reflects on the meaning of Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving “takes place at a time of great trial for our people,” Obama says in his weekly Saturday radio address which his transition team released Thursday morning.
Listen: Obama's weekly radio address
“Across the country, there were empty seats at the table, as brave Americans continue to serve in harm’s way from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq s. “At home, we have an economic crisis of historic proportions,” he says.
“But this Thanksgiving, we are reminded that the renewal of our economy won’t come from policies and plans alone – it will take the hard work, innovation, service, and strength of the American people,” Obama says.
“So this weekend – with one heart, and one voice, the American people can give thanks that a new and brighter day is yet to come.”
Obama will spend Thanksgiving in Chicago with his wife and daughters, according to his transition team, and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will spend the holiday in Nantucket, Massachusetts with family.
(full text of Obama’s weekly address after the jump)
Bush calls troops on Thanksgiving
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/27/art.bushphone1127.gi.jpg caption="Pres. Bush placed called to U.S. troops on Thursday morning."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) – In keeping with what has become a holiday tradition, President Bush called 11 U.S. troops stationed around the globe to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and thank them for their service, the White House said Thursday.
Bush is spending Thanksgiving at Camp David and will have holiday dinner at the presidential retreat.
Here’s the menu for Thanksgiving dinner at Camp David, according to the White House:
THANKSGIVING MENU AT CAMP DAVID
Free-Range Roast Turkey
Cornbread Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Sautéed Green Beans
Morelia Style Gazpacho with Spinach Salad
Zucchini Gratin
Whipped Maple Sweet Potatoes
Buttered Mashed Potatoes
Giblet Gravy
Fresh Clover Rolls with Honey Butter
Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Topping
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Mousse Trifle
Fresh Fruit Platter
First White House Chrismukkah cards accidentally sent
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/26/art.card.cnn.jpg caption="A card sent to Jewish leaders had a distinctly Yuletide flavor."]WHITE HOUSE (CNN) – Whoops! A picture of a Christmas tree is not the first thing you would expect to see on an invitation to an event celebrating Hanukkah, but that is exactly what recipients of invitations to this year's White House Hanukkah reception initially got in the mail.
The invitation sent to American Jewish leaders on behalf of the President and First Lady, requesting "the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah reception," bore an image of a Clydesdale horse-drawn cart, carrying the White House Christmas tree, with a Christmas wreath-adorned White House in the background.
Mrs. Bush's press secretary, Sally McDonough, attributed the snafu to a "staff mistake" in not printing separate cards for the different White House holiday events, as has been the custom in years past. "Mrs. Bush is apologetic, It is just something that fell through the cracks," she said, referring to the role of the First Lady's office in sending out the invitations.
The card as originally intended featured a menorah given to the White House during Harry Truman's presidency. That mailing was to have gone out today, according to Mrs. McDonough.
McDonough added that the White House had received "dozens" of calls of support from members of the Jewish community to express their appreciation for what President and Mrs. Bush had done for them through the course of Mr. Bush's presidency.
Here they are - the Top 10 Political Turkeys of 2008
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/11/27/schneider.political.turkeys/art.spitzer.turkey.gi.jpg caption="Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer made Bill Schneider's annual list of political turkeys for 2008."]
(CNN) - November 27 may be Turkey Day in America, but in the world of politics, every day is turkey day.
Watch: The top 5 political turkeys of '08
Turkeys are foolish creatures - overstuffed, noisy and self-important. A lot like the politicians on our list of Turkeys of the Year.
Turkey No. 10: Rudy Giuliani puts all his eggs in one basket - Florida.
"We are going to win in Florida, and then we will be talking about exactly who made the right decisions," Giuliani says on CNN's "The Situation Room" a week before the primary.
Giuliani ends up third in Florida, with 15 percent of the vote.
The former New York City mayor was relying on the many former New Yorkers who have moved or retired to Florida. There's just one problem: most of them are Democrats, and Democrats can't vote in Florida's Republican primaries.
Donna Brazile's recipe for a happy Thanksgiving
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/27/art.donnacover1127.am.jpg caption="After reading Donna Brazile's memoir, you'll never hunger for politics again."]
Twenty years ago this Thanksgiving, my mom passed away. We buried her the day before and it was hard. No one knew what to do. No one understood how to cook up seafood gumbo, oyster dressing, stuffed bell peppers and pecan pie like Jean.
In fact, no one ever used her special gumbo pot or pans used to stir up the roux until that day back in 1988.
I will never understand why my siblings left it up to me to cook the family meal. It was my first time ever behind Jean's stove. It was the first time ever using her pots.
Unfortunately, I cannot come up with all my delicious recipes. But I can share with you, my mother made every Thanksgiving dish with joy - a dash of laughter, a pinch of cheer. And yes - something cold.
This is simple to make. It's call "roux" and for those who wants to make sure your family stands together this holiday season through thick and thicker, here's the recipe.
Over a nice and large sauce or frying pan, pour one cup of olive, vegetable or canola oil in and start stirring.
Turn the fire down low.
Let it simmer.
And while the oil is sizzling, just remember those days when things were not so hard.
Keep the fire burning. It's just getting hot.
Hmmmm. That's exhaling.
Now, pour about one and a half cups of flour into the hot greasy pan.
Yes, stir. Stir out all those negative thoughts - (right here, fill in the blanks).
Don't add nothing. Just stir.
POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Thursday Nov. 27th, 2008
CNN: Obama transition creates India briefing team
The Obama transition team has just set up a special team to interact with the State Department’s Operations Center as well as the office of the Director of National Intelligence, according to an Obama aide.
AP: US agencies monitoring India attacks
The Bush administration is continuing to monitor a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai but said it was not aware of any American casualties, despite reports that Westerners were targeted.
CNN: Volcker to head board of economic experts
President-elect Barack Obama announced Wednesday that he is creating a new economic recovery board to provide a "fresh perspective" for his administration.
CNN: iReport: A Thanksgiving spotlight on political turkeys
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider celebrates Thanksgiving by awarding his "Top 10 Political Turkeys" to the biggest political blunders of the year.
CNN: Barbara Bush recovering, 'in charge' after surgery
Former first lady Barbara Bush was doing well Wednesday following her surgery late Tuesday night to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, according to the surgeon who performed the operation.
CNN: Board rules against Franken in Minnesota Senate recount
Minnesota's Canvassing Board voted unanimously Wednesday to reject a request from Democrat Al Franken to count thousands of rejected absentee ballots in the recount of votes in his Senate race against Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.
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