An excerpt from Homegrown Democrat by Garrison Keillor

[floridaguy]

Our opinions of the Bush legacy are one thing, but it's the stories I love.

<snip>
When I lived there, Danes were still talking about the visit of Vice President Bush to speak at the Danish Fourth of July at Rebild Park in Jutland and how his armor-plated limousine had sunk down in the sand en route to the speaker's pavilion and how the man refused to get out of the damn car and walk 200 yards to the stage. He sat in his behemoth car with Old Glory flying from the front fender, surrounded by the Secret Service, and it took twenty men on a hot day to push him and his tank through the sand to the pavillion where he disembarked and gave his speech on Freedom, America's Gift to the World. Denmark is a country where big shots walk. Mr. Bush made a big impression on the Danes.

<snip>

[rumguy]

1. Is there a link?

And you mean President *, right?

[floridaguy]

2. Sorry, no link because I just took it out of the book

and it was GHWB, when he was VP. Great book though.
He gives an excellent review of Democratic principles and how the Democrats have essentially represented what's good about America.

[Robbien]

3. Bush is that scared?

He will not leave the car and walk? He was in Denmark for Chrissake!

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

4. This was the first Bush...

....not W.

[Robbien]

5. Wonder if it would be any different with Junior

There is always the danger that he may see a protester's sign in his walk along the way to the designated area and have one of his pretzel dizzy spells.

[floridaguy]

6. For me it's more of an example of the behavior others

have seen, especially the Europeans, that has caused them to be less than thrilled with the leadership of the United States.

[DrBB]

7. Well, I'm wincing here, but in fairness

...I suspect his Secret Service detail vetoed it--getting out and walking, I mean. I suppose he could have said "Oh nonsense" and done it anyway, but those guys are highly dedicated and very risk-averse and I don't think most presidents lightly override 'em. I suspect a Dem prez would have found himself in the same pickle.

*SPLAT! DING! PPPTHHHHBT! and other sounds of rotten tomatoes, bronx cheers and brickbats follow....