Instead of celebrating President's Day shopping or loafing, some Democrats who are still smarting from November's election are planning to spend the holiday showing their disdain for the new Bush administration.

Democrats.com is encouraging its members to participate in "UnPresident's Day" festivities on Sunday. Bob Fertik, co-founder of that Web community, said that dedicated Democrats will meet, greet and eat with their ideological brethren at 5 p.m. on Sunday at more than a hundred "celebrations" across the country. But they won't just be fighting for their right to party. "The object is to move from Internet activism to working with each other face to face," he said. Fertik hopes that the dinners will transform Democratic frustration over the election into an effective grassroots network to promote progressive policy ideas. "We're not trying to send a message to Bush at all," he said. "But we are trying to put Democrats in office.

For other dedicated anti-Bushies, various organizations are sponsoring Not My Presidents Day marches throughout the weekend.

Always a bridesmaid...
On Thursday, Bush sent the nomination of Paul D. Wolfowitz as Deputy Secretary of State to the Senate floor. Before Bush chose Donald Rumsfeld to run the Pentagon, Wolfowitz was a top contender to head the Defense Department.

As is true of many Bush appointees, Wolfowitz is no stranger to government service. He served in various Defense Department posts from 1977 to 1982, and reported to then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney from 1989 to 1993 as undersecretary of defense for policy. Currently, Wolfowitz is the dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. He's been well-tested as an educator -- he served as one of the foreign policy tutors who helped Bush prep for debates with Al Gore.
-- Alicia Montgomery [1:45 p.m. PST, Feb. 15, 2001]

Bush's first bill

Shortly after 10:30 Thursday morning, President Bush signed his first bill into law, House Joint Resolution 7, recognizing the 90th birthday of Ronald Reagan. He also signed a birthday card for the former president, and telephoned former first lady Nancy Reagan to give her the news.

"Mrs. Reagan, hi, how are you today?" Bush said. "I'm getting ready to sign a birthday card to the president, my first document I'll sign as the president, which is a joint resolution from the Congress ..."

"Oh, how nice," Reagan said. "... Which expresses our deep gratitude and admiration for President Reagan," Bush continued.

"How nice," she said.

"We honor him with his greatness and his goodness," Bush went on. "And we honor you, as well, for your strength of character and your service. So I'm getting ready to sign right now -- "

"Oh, this is very exciting," Reagan said.

"Well, thank you, ma'am," Bush said. "It's exciting for me as well. It's an honor. And I look forward to sending the document and the pen that I use to you."

"Oh, how nice," Reagan said. "How nice."

"Anyway, it's great to talk to you," Bush said.

"Well, it's great to talk to you, too," Reagan said. "And I can't thank you enough."

"Well, thanks a lot," Bush said.

"It's wonderful," Reagan said. "Wait until I tell Ronnie."

"Give the president a hug and a kiss," Bush said.

"I will," Reagan said.

"Thanks a lot," Bush said.

"Thank you," Reagan said.

"Bye-bye," Bush said.

"Bye-bye," said Reagan.

-- Jake Tapper [11 a.m. PST, Feb. 15, 2001]

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