President Bush loves his ranch. He's been there 49 times since he began
Gore's his first term. Ranch time isn't negotiable. It doesn't matter if you are an incompetent cabinet secretary, head of a foreign government, or even a Prince in the House of Saud -- you're going to Crawford. No exceptions.
Oh. One exception. But it was so extraordinary they fired up Air Force One and flew back to DC. That gnarly brush could wait another day and the taxpayers could absorb the extra $75,000 to operate the 747.
"On to Washington!" he proclaimed, adding "I must show the world I'm not a heartless monster that would ingore a desperate request from a mother in pain. Heck... it's only a couple hours out of my schedule. I can get on with my life later."
Well, unfortunately for Cindy Sheehan, Mr. Bush must put his foot down this time. He must live his life, which as noted above, had been interrupted. But really - she's only 5 miles away and a grieving mother.
Maybe, Bush has figured the truth about Camp Casey -- an ambush of unscripted questions that awaits him! Talk radio has spread the word that Cindy Sheehan is a tool! A pawn in some radical agenda and in the company of what could best be described by Sean Hannity as the "fringes" of our society. Has Crawford become a circus?
So, while Mr. Bush appears to be acting like a complete prick, is he not just honoring the pure and dignified Schiavo vigils just months ago? A vigil that so moved the President that he made the ultimate sacrifice -- a day of vacation.
I found some photos and few news clips of those two weeks in Florida. Memories of a time when personal tragedy wasn't co-opted for political gain and personal vanity.
And finally, here are a few media quotes that capture those moments of quiet diginity:
List of Schiavo Donors Will Be Sold by Direct-Marketing Firm
-The New York Times
Norm Olson, senior adviser to the Michigan militia and pastor of a strong right-to-life church in Wolverine, said Tuesday he had put together an unarmed coalition of state militias that were prepared to storm the Florida hospice where Terri Schiavo has been left to die, and take her to a safe house... -AP
Federal authorities have charged Richard Meywes with using interstate commerce facilities in solicitation of murder, interstate communication of a threat and threat to murder a U.S. judge. In a federal affidavit, an FBI agent said Meywes sent e-mails saying he knew of an offer to pay $250,000 for the killing of Michael Schiavo.-AP
Mrs. Schiavo's death is a moral poverty and a legal tragedy. This loss happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change. The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today. Today we grieve, we pray, and we hope to God this fate never befalls another. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Schindlers and with Terri Schiavo's friends in this time of deep sorrow.-Dr. James Dobson