Air Force One -- behind, yes, barbed wire. What else, in Cattle Country?
Posted on 11/02/2006 7:27:56 PM PST by JennysCool
Air Force One -- behind, yes, barbed wire. What else, in Cattle Country?
It's not often a President of the United States visits out here in the sagebrush but Elko, Nevada -- my neck of the sage -- was honored today when President Bush arrived aboard Air Force One for a stirring speech, which he said he was happy to deliver "in a part of the country where the cowboy hats outnumber the ties."
"Laura sends her best," the President said. "I wish she were here in Elko with me. We were both raised in a part of the world that's kind of like this, except the land was flat. But the people were warm. Down-to-earth, common-sense people live right here. And that's the kind of people we need in Washington, D.C."
President Bush with Sen. John Ensign of Nevada.
The last President to set foot here in Elko was Ronald Reagan, and that was during the 1976 campaign, one election before he became President. Reagan's appearance, like President Bush's, was an airport rally. The last sitting President to put Elko on his itinerary was Herbert Hoover during his unsuccessful 1932 re-election run. He gave a speech here broadcast nationwide, from the caboose of a train.
President Bush was joined on the podium by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, Sen. John Ensign, Rep. Jim Gibbons, and our candidates for national and state offices.
The President, with Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn at right.
Here are some pics of the President -- and Air Force One -- fresh from my camera. Because we are "flyover country" -- literally, since our ranching folks find piloting an airplane an invaluable asset here in the wide-open spaces -- it's perhaps not surprising that many of our residents were as excited to see the President's aircraft as they were to see him. More than 5,000 Elkoans turned out for the event.
The President makes a point.
Just a great day here on the High Desert. We are incredibly honored that the President would put a small town like ours on his itinerary. Sure do wish all of you could have been here.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061102-8.html
Ping, y'all. Great day in our neck of the woods!
Thanks! God bless Presient Bush...and vote straight GOP!!!
Cool!
WAY cool, Sir!
Thank YOU, Pegita. It was a real thrill for everyone!
What you said, ma'am!
I'm too tired to think it through right now. Are there any close House races in Nevada?
Pretty intense in our 2nd District between Dean Heller, the R, and Jill Derby, the D. It's the race for Gibbons' seat, which he gave up to run for Governor.
All right Elko -- Our home for five years. Great people who I am sure gave the President an excellent welcome.
Hey! Happy to see a former Elkoan! We're still keepin' on keepin' on, in true Elko fashion!
And I'm sure the President wasn't there to tell you to study hard or you would get stuck in Elko.;o) Seriously, Bush knows how to relate to real Americans like those who live in Elko. I have traveled through there many times and a lot of good people live there. I have a couple of high school buds who ended up there. Say hi to Blaine and Madalon if you see them.
We in other states are counting on you guys tossing Reid the first chance you get.
Well, he did have some education advice, but it was typical George Bush, not snob John Kerry:
"I want to thank the Elko High School Band. Let me ask you something, you're not skipping school, are you? (Laughter and applause.) You are? Well, I'm glad to provide a convenient excuse. (Laughter.) If you're 18, just remember who got you out of school today -- (laughter) -- and vote for who I ask you to vote for."
It's the difference between a genuine guy and an utter fake.
Absolutely. Imagine Kerry doing his shtick like he did in Ohio "kin ah git me a huntin' license here?" After they finished laughing, Elkoites would have run him out of town.
And talked about him for WEEKS down at the Commercial Hotel!
I wonder if these big city rubes really know how much those of us in flyover country laugh at them already with their condescending attitudes and idiotic ideas.
I suspect too many of them think every one of us would escape to New York, Boston or Washington DC, or at least Seattle or Los Angeles if we could get figure out how to succeed in those places. The idea that some of us detest urban life and the shallowness and phoniness there wouldn't cross their minds.
Did Harry Reid show up to welcome the POTUS to Nevada?
Ha! Not a chance!
Already voted - in our county - 35-40% have already voted and it's way, way ahead for the GOP! I know it won't stay that way, but it's nice to see so many people voting early.
I'm going to call our County Clerk tomorrow and ask if the absentee ballots being turned in now are going to be showing up on the count board right away.
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