Bush to spend quality time with "huge contributor," Cisco CEO Chambers

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14395265.htm

The competitiveness plan that President Bush is touting today in San Jose was largely the brainchild of Silicon Valley leaders. So, when he talks to 250 high-tech leaders and workers at Cisco Systems this afternoon, it's more than a presidential visit -- it's recognition that Silicon Valley has gained more influence than ever in his administration.

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Bush has devoted much of his public time this week to speeches on his initiative, culminating in the Cisco appearance, which will include a panel discussion with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cisco CEO John Chambers, a San Jose State University student and education leaders focused on training a more skilled workforce. When Air Force One touches down at Moffett Field early Friday afternoon, it will mark the president's fourth visit to Silicon Valley, though he has made it to San Jose only once before, in 2002. He also is making a stop at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, home to many of his early advisers. None of Friday's events are open to the public.

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But it won't be all celebrating at Cisco today. Behind the scenes, tech-industry lobbyists are worried election-year politics and budget-cutting Republicans in the House are holding things up -- particularly on such controversial and costly items as expanding visas for skilled foreign workers, known as H-1Bs, and making the research-and-development tax credit permanent. Even Marburger agrees the real test is yet to come on what will make it through Congress this year. ``This is a very tough year,'' he said. Skilled worker visas are tied up in the bigger immigration reform debate in Congress, and ``it's an election year and there's a big deficit and the president wants to bring it down.''

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For Bush, whose public approval ratings are at the lowest levels of his presidency nationwide and in California, Cisco may prove a safe haven, at least on the inside. Chambers has been a huge financial contributor to Bush. But anti-war protesters are planning to carpool from as far away as San Francisco to meet the president's motorcade at Cisco and another protest is planned at Stanford University. An immigrant rights news conference, originally set for Thursday in downtown San Jose, was moved to today, in front of Cisco headquarters.

[NV Whino]

1. After this stop

He's coming to St. Helena for some of his famous "down time." If you live close, come protest. Info can be found at the following site.
http://www.unwelcomebush.com/index.html