By Jim Stanford on August 23, 2007
Persistent rumors about George W. Bush visiting Jackson Hole this week haven’t matched the facts.
But there’s another possible explanation: wrong Bush.
Several sources said Laura Bush was here to attend a dinner and fund-raiser at the 3 Creek golf development Monday night.
In any case, she officially will visit this Monday for a photo-op at the new visitor center in Grand Teton National Park. The dog and pony show starts at 1:50 p.m.
On Tuesday evening, the vice president attended a hush-hush fund-raiser at a private residence in Tucker Ranch, amid tight security. Money filled the pockets of a Texas congressman. At least three Teton County sheriff’s deputies were on guard duty for that event; wonder who is picking up the tab.
Mitt Romney jetted into the Hole for his $2,000-per-person fund-raiser Wednesday in Wilson. He practically delivered a Mormon sermon in his public appearance.
The dough flows on both sides, too. Another presidential candidate, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, was here for a $1,000-per-person cocktail party Tuesday at the home of a Santa Fe art dealer near Melody Ranch.
The amount of military equipment in the valley for Cheney’s vacation is staggering. Seven helicopters: four Army UH-60 Blackhawks and three Marine CH-53 Sea Stallions. The Sea Stallions alone have a crew of 26 Marines and support personnel, according to someone who knows a lot more about this stuff than I do.
Just how much is this Cheney vacation costing us?
Posted under dick cheney, politics
My head spins trying to compute. But for starters, the News&Guide reported in November 2003 that the mobile radar system brought in for Cheney’s visits to Jackson Hole cost $4.5 million a year.
What does it mean when Laura comes to visit Dick while the Mister is at home on vacation? Is it possible she finds him difficult to be around? So obnoxious that Vice is an improvement? Wow. Food for thought.
Standing outside the gate at one of these events is a lesson in modern civics. A long line of SUVs with white-haired white people, doling out big bucks for access to our “leaders.” Democratic events are only slightly more diverse. The presidency is sold to the highest bidder. What a warped concept of democracy.
To his credit, Romney is taking time to meet with the common folk. He will be at the 49′er Inn from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Jim,
Good scoop on Laura Bush. I’d heard that something was cooking at 3 Creek too and the Veep was attending a shindig for some Texas congressman at the Tucker Ranch. If you can nail it down and want a few extra bucks, NW would love the story.
NW, it was all very hush-hush, and alas, I don’t have the time.
by the way, heard you were the only person with enough cojones to ask the question everyone wanted to ask of Mitt Romney yesterday. when do we get to read about that?
No correction?
It’s been corrected. 2 sources told me she was here for the fund-raiser, people who usually get invited to that sort of thing.