Posted on 05/30/2004 2:27:16 PM PDT by Laverne
WASHINGTON (AP) - Members of the Rolling Thunder motorcycling group revved their engines on the White House driveway Sunday during a visit with President Bush, who took about 10 bikers in jeans and leather jackets for an Oval Office tour.
The roar from bikers on the Mall nearby could be heard on the South Lawn as eight motorcycles, headlights illuminated and American flags jutting off the rear seats, rolled up the driveway to the South Portico where Bush was waiting to greet them.
Bush shook hands with Artie Muller, president of the veterans' advocacy group, and kissed Muller's rider, singer Nancy Sinatra, a veterans' supporter, who was dressed in a skirt, cowboy boots and a pair of dark shades.
Later, Bush addressed, via a telephone hookup, a Rolling Thunder rally at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in the capital.
The president noted the letter of endorsement he received from the group last week. "Artie, I thought you were going to offer me riding lessons," Bush joked, thanking Rolling Thunder for backing his re-election campaign.
"Ride safe," he told them.
Other bikers who rode up the driveway included White House budget director Josh Bolton, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, and various Rolling Thunder leaders.
The group endorsed Bush in 2000 over Democrat Al Gore, a Vietnam veteran. This year, they chose Bush, who served stateside in the Texas Air National Guard during Vietnam, over John Kerry, a decorated veteran of the same war who is also a motorcycle enthusiast.
For the past 15 years, the group has announced its arrival with the roar of motorcycles - not unlike the sound of the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam that was called Operation Rolling Thunder.
Rolling Thunder is an organization that seeks to create awareness of POW/MIA issues and promotes increased veterans' benefits. It has 70 chapters and over 7,000 members throughout the United States and abroad.
"In the Oval Office, I looked you in the eye as you told me of your relentless pursuit of finding out the plight of many of our POW/MIAs, and I appreciated so much your concern, your care and your persistence," Bush told the rally. "I also want to thank you and your organization, Artie, for honoring the men and women of our military who fight today in Afghanistan and Iraq."
The Kerry campaign said Bush's proposed budget cuts would affect veterans.
"It's pretty audacious of the president to brag about looking the leaders of Rolling Thunder in the eye considering that his most recent veterans initiative is a secret plan to cut almost $1 billion from the Veterans Affairs," Kerry spokesman Phil Singer said.
The administration, according to White House documents, has told officials who oversee veterans programs to prepare preliminary 2006 budgets that would cut spending after the presidential election. The documents show spending for the Veterans Affairs Department would fall 3.4 percent from $29.7 billion in 2005 to $28.7 billion. The White House says the memos sent to agencies contain routine guidance, and insist final spending decisions will not be made for months.
Gary Scheffmeyer, vice president of Rolling Thunder, said the president showed the group around his office, pointing out busts of presidents and paintings. Scheffmeyer said they talked about the war in Iraq, the fight against terrorism, veterans' health benefits and soldiers still missing from Vietnam.
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Outstretched arms greet motorcycle riders on the Memorial Bridge in the 17th Annual Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Ride and Rally Sunday, May 30, 2004 in Washington. Rolling Thunder, an organization dedicated to creating awareness of POW/MIA issues from all wars, expects more than 250,000 motorcycles for the rally. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) |
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Thousands of bikers rolled into the District yesterday for the 17th annual Rolling Thunder Memorial Day motorcycle ride and rally to show support for the nation's war veterans, the troops currently overseas and American prisoners of war still missing in action from past conflicts.
"It is important for veterans from every war to know that there are people out here who care about the sacrifices they made and that what they do is important," said Matthew Whalen, 40, who was one of about 200,000 riders who made the trek downtown yesterday.
Thanks for the updated story Chad.
Awesome. Thanks for the ping, Martin.
Bush shook hands with Artie Muller, president of the veterans' advocacy group, and kissed Muller's rider, singer Nancy Sinatra, a veterans' supporter, who was dressed in a skirt, cowboy boots and a pair of dark shades.
I don't think so. The Goldwing is the cop bike JF'nK is pretending to ride in post 8.
Nancy doesn't look like she's held up to well. I think I'll pass on that offer of having her boots walk all over me.
You are indeed correct.
kerry, in his dork outfit, sitting on a rice burner, with the kick stand down, while the press (Reuters, no less) (you can almost hear him, like a kid on the ride at the store making a motor cycle sound . . BBBbBbbbbbBbbbbBBbbVVVrrrrOOOOMMM) says the bike is a Harley.
I took this screenshot from the photo news wires, and the only photoshopping was the red underlines under the word Harley.
It's an INSULT to everyone in Wisconsin, home of Harley, everyone who appreciates American made bikes.
That's the one I thought they were talking about. That'll teach me to just skim a thread...
bump
I wonder If Paul Senior came with his POW/MIA chopper.It's a beautiful bike and would have fit in perfectily on the ride!
Go to this thread to see why Rolling Thunder endorsed Bush over Kerry.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1145155/posts
Investors = Bush
Hmm, this is Kerry's Dukakis in the tank photo, don't you think? No, maybe it's Kerry on the bike with the daisy doodad, or on that snowboard or skis. I kind of like this one, guys. Esp. when he wears the bomber jacket with emblems he hasn't earned.
Hmm, this is Kerry's Dukakis in the tank photo, don't you think? No, maybe it's Kerry on the bike with the daisy doodad, or on that snowboard or skis. I kind of like this one, guys. Esp. when he wears the bomber jacket with emblems he hasn't earned.
Awesome.
I love that show! I like "Overhaulin" too. That Foose guy is a genius.
Great pictures, and wonderful seeing all those fellow bike riders supporting the troops and our President.
FYI, Honda has a factory in Ohio that makes the Goldwing, VTX, Shadows and some ATV's. That makes them an American made bike too. ;-)
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