Laura Bush redux: the ranch and schools

The first lady's press secretary called this morning with a few clarifications about recent news items posted here.

First, said Sally McDonough, contrary to our item "So done with the Crawford thing," Laura Bush really loves the ranch in Crawford. McDonough doesn't know why the media are going nuts over news that the first lady is house-hunting in Dallas. True, the president revealed this in off-the-cuff remarks recorded on someone's cell camera, but, McDonough noted, Mrs. Bush first disclosed their Dallas plans in a speech in April.

And, just for the record, said McDonough, while Countdown to Crawford made much last night of Mrs. Bush's speech chiding Congress for eliminating reading funds, apparently she's dinged Congress over education funds before.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Krisanne Johnson / White House