Ailing Bob Dole Returns to Kansas

The Kansas City Star ^ | June 12, 2011 | Steve Kraske

[Mercat]

RUSSELL, Kan. | The long lines of well-wishers were here again. So were the Dole for President T-shirts and the striking red, white and blue “America’s Choice” campaign buttons.

This time, though, Bob Dole was back not to launch another presidential campaign but to hang out for a few days in his old hometown.

“It’s still home,” he said. “There’s only one home, and that’s wherever you grew up.”

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/11/2943571/ailing-bob-dole-returns-to-russell.html#ixzz1P4Vd7iBE

[Mercat]

It was fun for me to read this having spent some quality time in Russell. I've actually bussed tables in the Meridy diner having been there on the BAK (Biking across Kansas) when they were overwhelmed with all the customers and the bikers took over. I think that there was actually one running the cash register. They had Dole and Spector memorabilia all over the place. It's a small flat town in the middle of wheat fields with a feed lot down the road that you can smell if the wind blows the right direction. Our 12 year old son was with us and we felt safe turning him loose to ride all over town. Would have been a great place to grow up.

[basil]

This is a very nice article. I enjoyed reading it.

[South40]

Best wishes to Senator Dole who will turn 88 on July 22nd.

[Texas Eagle]

The long lines of well-wishers were here again. So were the Dole for President T-shirts and the striking red, white and blue “America’s Choice” campaign buttons.

Dammit. Another gold mine I missed out on.

[the invisib1e hand]

...returns to Kansas...

As Yogi Berra might have said, "it ain't over until someone returns to Kansas."

[Second Amendment First]

I’ve never stopped in Russell, but pass through many times over the years. Both of the home town boys have been my senator at one time or another. Have stopped briefly in Abilene at the Eisenhower home. Be heading through again in a couple of weeks.

I met Bob Dole some years ago with my German Shepherd Max at the Gardner airport where he came in a private jet. Can’t remember for sure anymore what the occasion was; might have been during the 2000 campaign.

Best wishes to him and thanks for his service to our country.

[Theodore R.]

I’ve been to Hays, Coolidge (really small), Garden City, and Dodge City. Is Russell in that part of the state, think it might be?

[Second Amendment First]

About twenty miles east of Hays.

[Mercat]

You have to look for it to find it.

[Man from Oz]

Thought I might chirp in since this thread is addressing central Kansas

In my humble opinion, THE best steak house in Kansas is the cafe located in Bunker Hill. Located a few miles north of exit 193 (close to Russell), this place is a hidden gem!!! All of their meat comes from Wilson, KS and the owner/cook has a real passion for the food that he personally prepares...

Check it out Freepers. This opinion comes from a Beef Specialist who eats more than his fair share of red meat :)

MFO

[Senator_Blutarski]

I'll admit Bob Dole was a terrible Presidential candidate, but he is a great human being. I'd love to spend an evening on a Kansas front porch in July talking to Bob Dole over a galvanized pail full of ice and beer.

Bob is from my father's generation. The few that are left tell humbling stories about WW2 and growing up in a different time. We need to honor and cherish the few that are left. My God, I miss the ones that are gone...

[ngat]

“There’s only one home, and that’s wherever you grew up.”

Well-spoken, by a true politician, but I disagree. To me, home is the place where you were happiest and thus spent the longest period of time, by choice, of your life.
There could be better definitions of home.

[OrangeHoof]

Dole introduced us to Viagra. Now we have Weiner. How fast a society falls...

[ScottinVA]

Bob Dole was overmatched as a Presidential candidate, but his service to country is without parallel. God bless him.

[4integrity]

‘... The few that are left tell humbling stories about WW2 and growing up in a different time. We need to honor and cherish the few that are left. My God, I miss the ones that are gone...’

Amen. Very well said....it was a different time(and, imho, a better time) with people who truly loved their country and were not ashamed to admit it. I, too, terribly miss those that are gone....

[Verginius Rufus]

The first time Bob Dole ran for office he wasn't well-known so he served Dole pineapple juice in little paper cups at campaign events to help people remember his name.

I was hoping Mitch Daniels would do something similar to get name recognition if he ran for President.

[OrangeHoof]

I was hoping Mitch Daniels would do something similar to get name recognition if he ran for President.

With what? There's no product that comes to my mind that's called either "Mitch" or "Daniels".

[Verginius Rufus]

Jack Daniel’s.