Posted on 07/09/2002 6:49:38 PM PDT by McLynnan
The Western White House soon will be back in business.
McLennan County is quietly anticipating President Bush spending much of August at his ranch near Crawford, just as he did last year. Presidents typically use August, when Congress is in recess, to get away from Washington.
"I think it's safe to assume that he will be going down to Crawford at some point this summer, but as far as specific scheduling, we haven't made any announcements," White House spokesman Taylor Gross said Monday.
There are few details, but several local sources said they expect Bush to leave the ranch for quick out-of-town trips again this year.
Some criticized Bush last year for spending too much time in Crawford. White House aides stressed that it was a "working vacation."
But a vacation for Bush can mean extra work for police, retailers and the politically active in Greater Waco.
A number of local law-enforcement agencies help provide security when the president travels through town. But so far Waco Police Chief Alberto Melis said he has not talked to White House officials about Bush's visit, and he has not heard talk of any Bush trips into Waco.
According to police department figures, the city has paid $36,300 in overtime to police and fire employees for Bush-related work since he became president 18 months ago. The city has paid roughly $65,000 in regular time to officers and firefighters who otherwise would have been on other assignments, a police administrator said.
Police officers sometimes have little notice when extra help is needed. Melis said the department got about 10 minutes' worth of warning last August when CIA Director George Tenet needed extra security for a breakfast excursion to McGregor.
McLennan County Sheriff Larry Lynch said deputies who help with Bush security are not paid overtime but are allowed to compensate other hours. He said the comp time is minimal because many of the sheriff's officials who help are salaried, so they do not need to trade out the extra time.
Steve Smith, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce's vice president for special events, said chamber leaders are planning a number of August social events for White House employees and members of the press corps. But they're making those plans with last year in mind.
"What we've learned from last August is we have to be very, very flexible because we had a couple of events planned, and then the presidential events changed at the last minute," Smith said. "Therefore, the press corps and the White House staff changed their plans accordingly."
Bush used the ranch as his backdrop last August to give a prime-time speech on stem-cell research. The speech forced chamber officials to reschedule plans that night for a Lake Waco barge party with reporters and staffers.
Reporters following Bush stayed in Temple twice in the last year because other events had filled up Waco hotels. But there are no events planned this August that should keep the press from staying here, Smith said.
About 100 people associated with the Bush trip stayed in Waco per night during last August's visit, Smith said. Chamber spokeswoman Sarah Hunter said a reporter told her he gets a food and beverage allowance of about $65 per day when he comes to Waco.
"They tell us they love barbecue, chicken-fried steak, Mexican food and they love the different watering holes around town," Smith said.
The McLennan County Republican Party typically lines up drivers to cart around reporters and staffers during Bush stays. Chairman M.A. Taylor said he has a list of about 60 potential volunteers, many of whom are retirees or Baylor University students.
When Bush played morning rounds of golf in Waco last year, volunteer drivers were at the Waco Hilton to pick up reporters at about 5 a.m., Taylor said. Even in the early hours, Taylor tries to save the driving duties for the party faithful.
"We're sort of picky about who drives," he said. "We like to take folks that have been active in the party and those that we know. It's really an interesting experience."
In Crawford, a few new souvenir shops have gone up since last August. But the Coffee Station, where Bush stopped last year for a cheeseburger and onion rings, remains the town's only full-service restaurant.
Cathy Horton, a Republican activist and souvenir vendor in Crawford, said she hasn't yet heard much talk in town about the Bush visit.
"I think the locals have just pretty much gotten used to this," she said.
McLennan County is quietly anticipating President Bush spending much of August at his ranch near Crawford, just as he did last year. Presidents typically use August, when Congress is in recess, to get away from Washington.
People who criticize presidents for taking too much vacation time are morons. The venue may change to something more scenic and vacationlike, but a president is never really on vacation. A president is always surrounded by the trappings of his office - he can never escape them. Countless aides to confer with, constant phone calls, daily intelligence briefings, and so on and so on. Furthermore, with modern technology that can put a president in instant touch with anybody in the world, it is irrelevant whether a president conducts his business from the Oval Office or some ranch in Texas.
The "some" that the press is quoting were notably silent for eight years, while the Clintons cavorted on Martha's Vineyard. And didn't Little Willie spend more time on fundraisers than "doing the people's business"?
The World Barbecue Cook-off is in Meridian, just 31 miles up Hwy 6, every August.
The Prez would be welcome...
ROFL!!!!!
I love that mental image! RACKITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!
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