Driver Arrested at Bush Speech Was Under Stress, Friends Say

The New York Times ^ | 11/03/04 | MONICA DAVEY

[TaxRelief]

(snip) ...The authorities say that Ms. Mixon drove her old gray Toyota Camry — with her three children inside — past traffic barricades and past the law enforcement officials who had blocked off roadways near DeSoto County's civic center in Southavenwhile President Bush gave a speech inside. Then, with the police, sheriff's deputies and Secret Service agents in pursuit, she drove on, the authorities say, finally crashing the car into the side of the civic center.

No one was hurt. A three-foot wide panel of bricks in the side of the civic center was crushed. Mr. Bush was whisked away, as already planned. And Ms. Mixon, 29, was pulled from the car, kicking and struggling, and taken away by the authorities, who were clearly alarmed by the security breach and by what had appeared, at first, to be an attack on the president.

"The thing is, she had a really terrible day, but she had no intent of hurting the president," Ms. Robison said on Sunday, after going to church with her three shaken grandchildren. "It had nothing to do with anything surrounding President Bush. She wasn't there for Bush. She doesn't care about politics. She just needs help right now."

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[TaxRelief]

I predict that by the end of today there will be a fund set up in her name. (Attention getting negative behavior will be rewarded yet again).

Even her kids knew what she was doing was wrong. "Mom, stop!" they yelled. "Please stop!"

[DeuceTraveler]

She broke through barricades and slammed into the building? And no secret service member or police officer put a bullet in her head? Time to find some new security guards.

[LarryM]

If that car had been packed with explosives, it could have brought down the civic center. Security procedures definitely need to be reviewed. Roadblocks need to have spikes to puncture tires long before the car can get to the building.

[ventana]

This does not pass the smell test. V's wife.

[mtbopfuyn]

No bullet? Exactly. Just proved to terrorists to put what appears to be a woman and a couple kids in the back of an SUV and you've got a first class ticket for bulls eye on the prez.

Poor thing just had a really bad day, group hug... grrr.

[Poohbah]

If that car had been packed with explosives, it could have brought down the civic center.

If by "explosives" you mean "tactical nuclear weapon," true. Otherwise, probably not true.

Security procedures definitely need to be reviewed.

Agreed.

Roadblocks need to have spikes to puncture tires long before the car can get to the building.

I don't know if those will actually stop the damn car--if someone's suicidally insane, they can drive on the rims.

[Right_in_Virginia]

She wasn't there for Bush. She doesn't care about politics. She just needs help right now."

Oh, palease!!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

She just needs help right now.

Get her a GPS. She'll be fine.