WH Pool Report: I Want You Out of the Way So We Can Relax Edition
In this White House pool report: our pooler engages in unexpectedly Altermanesque big media bashing ("Borg-Warner," anyone?),[ There goes our red-state cred (and we really are from Nebraska, really!): Borg-Warner is areal company! Those wacky hillbillies. Hilarious! -- Ed.] the president's love of the Tour de France is confirmed (he only likes the French when they're losing) and W. engages in some man-boy love with the winner of the Indy 500 (and his car).
[Bush] also grabbed Rice's helmet and held it for awhile and appeared to slightly caress the car. All the while he was chatting and laughing with the crew, driver and co-owner. At one point he made a circling gesture.
Also: The WH correspondents are kept in cages! No wonder they're so grumpy.
Full report after the jump.
Pool report #2 7/19/04
Malaysia prime minister and Indie 500
It was an afternoon of fast cars and brief talk at the White House. Shortly after 3: 30 pm, poolers were ushered into the Oval office for session with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. They sat on chairs in front of room and made short statements and took no questions. Both men mentioned they talked about Israeli Palestinian conflict. Bush said he was pleased to hear there are 7,000 Malaysian students in US schools. On way out one reporter asked president if he was watching the Tour de France - Bush said he had. "It's exciting, isn't it." From there we were escorted to South Lawn to see an even faster vehicle - the race car that won the Indianapolis 500 this year - a Honda G-Force, which can reach speeds of 245 mph and is worth half million dollars.
Parked at the back door of the White House, the red white and blue car was surrounded by driver 28-year old Buddy Rice of Phoenix, his girlfriend , pit crew and co-owner Bobby Rayhall. The other owner, late night television host David Letterman didn't make it for the presidential blessing. In front of the car was the large Borg-Warner Trophy that is given to winner. It is silver cup with race starter waving checkered flat on top. Faces of race winners are engraved on cup. Bush walked out of White House and shook hands with Rice, Rayhall and pit crew. He also grabbed Rice's helmet and held it for awhile and appeared to slightly caress the car. All the while he was chatting and laughing with the crew, driver and co-owner. At one point hemade a circling gesture. Unfortunately your poolers were too far away to hear a word uttered. And after about five minutes of these pleasantries Bush yelled to our minders "shut'er down.. I want you out of the way so we can relax." With that we were shooed away to our cages.
Bennett Roth
Houston Chronicle