To be correct, Merkel wasn´t granted a meeting with Bush (protocol). I think the US didn´t want to risk more embarrasment for Schröder. Merkel just met with VP Cheney in 2003, but Bush showed up when Hessian Governor Koch met with Cheney.
I am sorry for my inaccuracy. All I remembered was the left boiling in anger when the (in their sight) "traitorous" Merkel went to Washington to (in their sight) "backstab" Schroeder. They all were "deeply ashamed". It was sick.
Although this leftist BS-party was ridicolous it left much damage on (now) Mrs. chancellor Merkel. This is one of the reasons why her outcome in the last elections was that disappointing.