Such disrespect! Don't these people know that dubya's personally keeping them all safe? I think they all just want dubya to go away.On Tuesday, President Bush popped in for a surprise visit to the Sterling Family Restaurant, a homey diner in Peoria, Ill. It’s a scene that has been played out many times before by this White House and others: a president mingling among regular Americans, who, no matter what they might think of his policies, are usually humbled and shocked to see the leader of the free world standing 10 feet in front of them.
But on Tuesday, the surprise was on Bush. In town to deliver remarks on the economy, the president walked into the diner, where he was greeted with what can only be described as a sedate reception. No one rushed to shake his hand. There were no audible gasps or yelps of excitement that usually accompany visits like this. Last summer, a woman nearly fainted when Bush made an unscheduled visit for some donut holes at the legendary Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant in Chicago. In Peoria this week, many patrons found their pancakes more interesting. Except for the click of news cameras and the clang of a dish from the kitchen, the quiet was deafening.
“Sorry to interrupt you,” Bush said to a group of women, who were sitting in a booth with their young kids. “How’s the service?” As Bush signed a few autographs and shook hands, a man sitting at the counter lit a cigarette and asked for more coffee. Another woman, eyeing Bush and his entourage, sighed heavily and went back to her paper. She was reading the obituaries. “Sorry to interrupt your breakfast,” a White House aide told her. “No problem,” she huffed, in a not-so-friendly way. “Life goes on, I guess.”
As do 58% of the American public. When asked in a recent Newsweek poll:
At this point in time, do you personally wish that George W. Bush's presidency58% of those polled answered yes. Only 37% answered no. Broken down by party, 21% of REPUBLICANS polled actually answered yes (75% answered no).
was over, or don't you feel this way?
So according to this poll, 1 out of 5 republicans want this presidency over. Now.
See? Not all Republicans are wing-nuts.
Absolutely good to hear. Thank you, Peoria.
ReplyDeleteIn 2001, I was working for an organization in D.C. when our Decider in Chief invited himself to the organization's annual meeting in Orlando to give the first health care policy speech of his reign.
I am still proud of the fact that I skipped the speech.
A few more reactions in diners like this, and maybe Dumbya will stop wasting so many taxpayer dollars flying all over the country to try to sell plans nobody wants to buy.
i'm glad. now perhaps he will realize that what the poll numbers say translates into ordinary citizens with names and faces!
ReplyDeleteCount me as one of the 21%, only I wanted this presidency over in November of 2004.
ReplyDeleteIt will end but more damage will be done before it's over.
ReplyDeletePersonal trivia: I lived and coached in Peoria. I played in Peoria, even.
ReplyDeletePittsburgh and Peoria have plenty in common. Peoria is about 1/3 the size at our region. Peoria is a river town and with heavy manuf. base too.
Peoria's best asset that Pittsburgh lacks, that I've campaigned about -- a PARK DISTRICT. It is a democratic public agency where trustees are elected and it handles decisions on public parks from coaching to green space.
I want a Pittsburgh Park District -- as they have in Illinois -- for Western PA.