Posted on 05/30/2004 2:27:16 PM PDT by Laverne
WASHINGTON (AP) - Members of the Rolling Thunder motorcycling group revved their engines on the White House driveway Sunday during a visit with President Bush, who took about 10 bikers in jeans and leather jackets for an Oval Office tour.
The roar from bikers on the Mall nearby could be heard on the South Lawn as eight motorcycles, headlights illuminated and American flags jutting off the rear seats, rolled up the driveway to the South Portico where Bush was waiting to greet them.
Bush shook hands with Artie Muller, president of the veterans' advocacy group, and kissed Muller's rider, singer Nancy Sinatra, a veterans' supporter, who was dressed in a skirt, cowboy boots and a pair of dark shades.
Later, Bush addressed, via a telephone hookup, a Rolling Thunder rally at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in the capital.
The president noted the letter of endorsement he received from the group last week. "Artie, I thought you were going to offer me riding lessons," Bush joked, thanking Rolling Thunder for backing his re-election campaign.
"Ride safe," he told them.
Other bikers who rode up the driveway included White House budget director Josh Bolton, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, and various Rolling Thunder leaders.
The group endorsed Bush in 2000 over Democrat Al Gore, a Vietnam veteran. This year, they chose Bush, who served stateside in the Texas Air National Guard during Vietnam, over John Kerry, a decorated veteran of the same war who is also a motorcycle enthusiast.
For the past 15 years, the group has announced its arrival with the roar of motorcycles - not unlike the sound of the 1965 bombing campaign against North Vietnam that was called Operation Rolling Thunder.
Rolling Thunder is an organization that seeks to create awareness of POW/MIA issues and promotes increased veterans' benefits. It has 70 chapters and over 7,000 members throughout the United States and abroad.
"In the Oval Office, I looked you in the eye as you told me of your relentless pursuit of finding out the plight of many of our POW/MIAs, and I appreciated so much your concern, your care and your persistence," Bush told the rally. "I also want to thank you and your organization, Artie, for honoring the men and women of our military who fight today in Afghanistan and Iraq."
The Kerry campaign said Bush's proposed budget cuts would affect veterans.
"It's pretty audacious of the president to brag about looking the leaders of Rolling Thunder in the eye considering that his most recent veterans initiative is a secret plan to cut almost $1 billion from the Veterans Affairs," Kerry spokesman Phil Singer said.
The administration, according to White House documents, has told officials who oversee veterans programs to prepare preliminary 2006 budgets that would cut spending after the presidential election. The documents show spending for the Veterans Affairs Department would fall 3.4 percent from $29.7 billion in 2005 to $28.7 billion. The White House says the memos sent to agencies contain routine guidance, and insist final spending decisions will not be made for months.
Gary Scheffmeyer, vice president of Rolling Thunder, said the president showed the group around his office, pointing out busts of presidents and paintings. Scheffmeyer said they talked about the war in Iraq, the fight against terrorism, veterans' health benefits and soldiers still missing from Vietnam.
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Hundreds of motorcycles arrive at Arlington National Cemetery as part of a 'Rolling Thunder' ceremony for Vietnam Veterans on Saturday, May 29, 2004 in Arlington, Va. The groups leaders will meet with President Bush (news - web sites) on Sunday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) |
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Great pix. Thanks.
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Motorcyclists arrive in Washington DC for Memorial Day weekend 'Rolling Thunder' events May 25, 2003. Shrugging off record gasoline prices at the pumps, U.S. vacationers will travel more this Memorial Day weekend than last year thanks to a recovering economy, the AAA said May 18, 2004. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the summer driving season in the United States. Photo by Gregg Newton/Reuters |
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Oh man, GREAT pictures! Thanks for posting them. This just has to be killing kerry.
Thanks for posting all the great pictures!
BREAKING NEWS: Saddom *still* in our jail ! :)
I was once imprisoned in that very stadium for demonstrating against the war in Viet Nam ('70 or '71.) A group of friends from the Univ. of Wisc. (Madistan) drove out for the doings...I would have identified myself as a liberal at that time, but for no good reason other than that was the party of sex, drugs and Rock and Roll. Having eventually gravitated to a strict-constructionist, I am now worse than a reformed smoker.
The mystique of the Renegade Biker is officially dead.
Post #8: Cheesy Rider.
On behalf of the great state of Wisconsin, thanks for coming out to see some of the best this country has saluting the very best this country has.
It must have been a moving moment. I wish I could have seen it. Just think of what it ment to that young Marine ??
and the sissy lil bitch wasn't invited and nor was "she" endorsed!!
I reckon it's better to endorse a national guard fly boy that wanted to go than a boat paddler(no offense intended to real navy guys)(meant for kerry alone) that couldn't wait to leave.
war hero my blind eye...kerry is what we used to call a px soldier...no telling how much he paid some medic to write him up for those purple hearts.
I don't believe he earned a single one of them. People that really saw action do NOT talk about it. Even Mc Crazy doesn't go around spouting off about his POW status. Kerry is not good enough to even launder his skivvies (even though he would probably love to).
Yesterday he had to sit in the crowd while Bush spoke at the dedication. And now this, this has been a very bad weekend for Kerry and a great weekend for America.
Priceless!!!
That`s Vietnam Veteran secretary.
I deeply appreciate the post.
There is no avoiding the Vrooom inside the Beltway when it comes every year.
Everyone should go and see this once at least. It is unsponsored by any government entity. One of the extremely few truly "grass roots" displays that ever happen.
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