President Stops to Wish Woman Happy Birthday

NewsNet5.com ^ | July 30, 2008

[srmorton]

GATES MILLS, Ohio -- President George W. Bush made a pit stop on his way back to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Tuesday evening.

After leaving a fundraiser in Gates Mills, his motorcade passed a home with a sign asking the president to stop by -- so he did.

Video: Bush Visits Euclid Plant

Bush got out of the car and spent a few minutes with Ruth Harris, who was celebrating her 91st birthday with her family.

Bush sat in a chair next to Harris and said "91 years old -- how special."

When neighbors noticed what was happening, they soon surrounded the president for a moment with him, too.

[1Old Pro]

I thought this was another NObama post and just a freudian title slip from the media.

[Dustbunny]

Geo W loves his country, loves it’s citizens. He has tried to do what he thought was good for the country and it’s citizens. The MSM and Democrats have vilified him every step of the way.

He is a good and kind man. History without the lies of the MSM and Democrats will be good to him. GOD Bless him and his family.

[MEGoody]

Actually, President Clinton made unscheduled motorcade stops for lemonade stands.

And Big Macs. . .

And college co-eds.

[TribalPrincess2U]

I’m not so sure slick willie wouldn’t have done it even with the woman being 91

As long as it had an orifice available.

[skimbell]

The President was at a speaking engagement (fund raiser) and stopped at this party on the way to the airport. Look at the picture below. That looks an awful lot like a residential neighborhood to me-probably not the only/quickest route to the airport from wherever the fund raiser was held.

There would be nothing wrong with actually planning to stop at the birthday party, as I said I like it that he did that. I just don't think that Bush would do something like demand to stop at an event like this without getting the thing signed off on by the SS.

[ROLF of the HILL COUNTRY]

See post #31. I have no doubt that a route through a residential neighborhood was planned (because it would seem unlikely to would-be assassins) but not the stop.

[thesearethetimes...]

Lol! I will miss his amazing ability to connect with kids.

He really is such a good man. No faint praise in today’s world.

Tatt

[Froggie]

In 1997 I took my two kids to a baseball game in Arlington, Tx. Bush was governor but was sitting in his seat behind the dugout where he sat while he was an owner of the Rangers. Between inning many kids would line up in the aisle to get his autograph. My kids were about 8 and 9 years old and asked me who that man was. I told them “he’s the next President of the US”!
He appeared to genuously enjoy talking with those kids, spoke to each one - not just a quick autograph and get lost attitude. This went on throughout the whole game. At one point his security folks tried to stop it - but he quickly told the kids to come back.
He has no pretentiousness - just a very affable guy!
God Bless George W. Bush - and may the historians see the light and treat him much more kindly than the press of his time.

[ops33]

Well said!

[rabidralph]

I wonder what the president is saying to those twins? Ever since I saw The Shining, twins creep me out.

[KHarris]

Hey everyone~~ I know Ruth and her family. I can't tell you how much it meant to Ruth that he did stop. Most of the pics posted here were taken by her daughter-in-law with a disposable camera. This was truly a “a spur of the moment” stop for Bush. The only “planning” that happened was when they found out the night before that he was attending a fund-raiser in the neighborhood and the daughter in law “planned” on making the sign because it was Ruth's 91st birthday. She said that they had nothing to lose that it would be fun and that if the President would just wave to Ruth as he drove by then that was good enough. You would have to know the daughter in law to realize that doing something like this is so NOT out of character for her to do. They put the sign in the yard and lined up lawn chairs to watch the motorcade go by. They were all just excited to be able to be this close to the President. When Bush drove by he did see the sign and waved at them. They thought this was the end of it and were thrilled. They stayed outside to watch all the activity and to wait for him to come back out. The neighborhood is a closed in one-street deal that is backed up by woods. Easy for the secret service to contain security wise. Only one way in or out. When the motorcade passed by again the President's car stopped right in front of them and he got out and walked over to Ruth and sat next to her. That's how it all went down. President Bush had nothing to gain by doing this as his days in office are limited. He did it because he is a wonderful human being. The reason the press was with him was because he had given an award to a woman and toured a facility in Euclid already. I think someone here already mentioned that. I'm going to miss President Bush.

[luvie]

Wow! What a wonderful man and what a special day for that
sweet lady!

[mysterio]

It was nice of him to stop and wish her a happy birthday.

[So Cal Rocket]

Thanks for coming here and giving us the background on this story... I do hope you will stay around.

Cheers,
SCR

[Kaslin]

Thanks for the report and welcome to Free Republic

[snugs]

I remember Presdent Bush also doing this either last year or the year before again I believe it was a large roadside sign that alerted the motorcade.

[snugs]

I agree I remember one in particular when I was posting the dose maybe a year or even 2 years ago time goes so fast.

I think there have been many unsheduled stops with this President just enough time to secure the area no great planning but just enough time to satisfy security that he is as safe as you can ever be.

[snugs]

I agree. When this President stops it is not to grandstand or take the glory himself it is promote the reason for the stop.

Be it a child's lemonade stand or or an old lady's 91st birthday. The cause is the important event not that the President stopped by and got applauded and hero worshiped

[snugs]

Thanks for linking to the dose

[snugs]

My take on this is that that the SS would quickly weigh situation up make their concerns known the President and their aids, add what they can do to secure the area quickly and then it would be the President and his aid’s decision but bottom line it is the President’s call.