Laura Bush: So done with the Crawford thing

In a little-noticed aspect of President Bush's off-the-cuff remarks about how Wall Street got drunk on its own power -- recorded by a cellphone camera and now circulating on YouTube -- the president mentioned how his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, has had it with his man-space ranch in rural, isolated Crawford, Texas.

So, apparently, the countdown is not to Crawford but to Dallas.

"I like Crawford. Unfortunately, after eight years of asking her to sacrifice, I am no longer the decision maker," he said. "She'll be deciding, thanks for the suggestion. ... I did tell her, 'Honey, we've been on government pay now for 14 years, go slow.' "

It has long been known that Crawford was Bush's thing, not his family's. The town has one traffic light that flashes red and orange and has no public library. The first lady is a former teacher and librarian who started annual book festivals both in Texas and in Washington, D.C., and actually loves to read.

The twins are also said to have grumbled about moving there, as teenagers are wont to do when you move them away from their friends. And White House press secretary Dana Perino confirmed this morning that the first lady is in the market for a new home. “I don’t think they settled on anything yet," Perino said. "I don’t know if she’s bid on anything. I know she’s been house-hunting.”

Lots of ridiculous rumors have been flying about the Bushes' plans after Jan. 20. The Russian newspaper Pravda this week picked up a tabloid story from the National Enquirer that the president plans to divorce the first lady to marry his secretary of state. Sigh.

Still, the house-hunting in Dallas does make one wonder about the first family's dynamics as they head for the exits.

It also makes us wonder about one more thing. Should we change the name of the blog? Deadline in Dallas?

-- Johanna Neuman and James Gerstenzang

Photo: Shealah Craighead / White House

Comments

[Jack Lean]

This Texan would like to go on record as saying 'Texans don't want this bumbling, war mongering redneck back." Perhaps his wife can teach him to read and convince to move to Alabama.

[Hal E. Burton]

What? He's NOT really a cowboy!?! It was all play-acting. . .?!?

What's next? Are we to learn that he's the privileged son of Ivy-league, millionaire, DC insiders. Maybe, even, ELITE. . ?!?!

[Tom in Alabama]

Pity Dallas if the Bushes settle there when they depart the White House.
When in the Big D, Dubya will kick off the silly cowboy boots and slip on the Gucci footwear that his handlers placed in storage when they purchased the fake Crawford ranch. Dubya's handlers performed a masterful job of deceit in propagandizing Dubya's image as a good old boy. Now that the truths are known about Dubya, it is too bad that Dallas gets stuck with this loser in his retirement.

[carter]

Lies from a presidency built on lies should be no surprise. Bush the cowboy was a lie, he's a yankee carpetbagger from day one!

[Guy B. Jones]

Bush's "ranch" in Crawford was purchased shortly before the 2000 presidential election, in order to sell the image of Bush as the outdoorsman, log-splitter, brush-clearer and folksy "real" man who liked to get his hands dirty, and minimize the fact that he was born into a wealthy and politically powerful family and had everything in life handed to him on a silver platter. Just more smoke and mirrors from a campaign and an adminstration that values images, PR and perception more than substantive accomplishments. Now that the illusion has served its purpose, the Bushes will be moving to more civilized environs.

[Hade Nough]

Dallas, Crawford who cares?It's Tex-ASS and all bad butiIt's outta the White House which is all that matters. Now if only Texas would put its money where it's big mouth is and secede from the Nation already then we could invade, conquer and civilize it.

[Karen]

I feel sorry for anyone who would get George as a neighbor!
If Laura was smart she looks for her own house

[Augie]

Why bother with a house in Texas?

Bush has those tens of thousands of acres in "no extradition treaty for war criminals" Paraguay already pre-emptively purchased by our Imperial Dictator. The family's compound in construction is guarded by hundreds of blood lusting mercenaries housed and salaried at the expense of US taxpayers as we speak.

(Our President's lies about it all being a "weather station" to the Paraguay government didn't provide cover very long thanks to the locals reporting the real facts almost made the compound another "oops moment" . . but Paraguay's laws are rather flexible for wanted criminals with money. Ach tung baby!)