A look at the 58 percent of Americans who wish the Bush Presidency were “Simply Over”.
I would say that this is how it ends — not with a bang, but with a whimper. But it appears that the size of Bush’s “Troop Surge” is larger than what he is publically stating — de rigeur for this presidency, and our newly emboldened opposition party in the throes Congress are passing out “We don’t like what the president is doing” NON BINDING Resolutions to mull over, with a quick debate on the “Constitutitionality” of any action that might impede the Commander in Chief — so perhaps we’re not lucky enough to just let it whimper off quietly into the night.
On Tuesday, President Bush popped in for a surprise visit to the Sterling Family Restaurant, a homey diner in Peoria, Ill. It’s a scene that has been played out many times before by this White House and others: a president mingling among regular Americans, who, no matter what they might think of his policies, are usually humbled and shocked to see the leader of the free world standing 10 feet in front of them.
But on Tuesday, the surprise was on Bush. In town to deliver remarks on the economy, the president walked into the diner, where he was greeted with what can only be described as a sedate reception. No one rushed to shake his hand. There were no audible gasps or yelps of excitement that usually accompany visits like this. Last summer, a woman nearly fainted when Bush made an unscheduled visit for some donut holes at the legendary Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant in Chicago. In Peoria this week, many patrons found their pancakes more interesting. Except for the click of news cameras and the clang of a dish from the kitchen, the quiet was deafening.
“Sorry to interrupt you,†Bush said to a group of women, who were sitting in a booth with their young kids. “How’s the service?†As Bush signed a few autographs and shook hands, a man sitting at the counter lit a cigarette and asked for more coffee. Another woman, eyeing Bush and his entourage, sighed heavily and went back to her paper. She was reading the obituaries. “Sorry to interrupt your breakfast,†a White House aide told her. “No problem,†she huffed, in a not-so-friendly way. “Life goes on, I guess.â€