Barbara Bush for President? At first I thought I was just being funny but then I thought about it. I probably wouldn't be the only one that thought about it. In fact I kinda wonder if the Bush family thought about it before Jeb threw his hat in the ring.
I have always loved Barbara Bush and I have a feeling that both Democrats and Republicans feel the same way. In fact I did get a chance to speak with her in person briefly when I was in the military and never really had the chance to thank her so maybe she may read this article.
I was in the 3rd U.S. Infantry "The Old Guard" from February 1986 until February of 1990. Most people know it as the unit that supplies the Tomb Guards for the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery and also the Honor Guard Funeral Detail. The unit also does many other things and because most of us had Top Secret Presidential Support Clearances we sometimes were tasked with details at the White House.
It was on a particularly hot summer day in D.C. and my squad was tasked with setting up seating and for a visiting dignitary on the south lawn of the White House. While it wasn't the most spectacular of details it was still cool to be on the opposite side of the fence and up close to the home of America's elected leader who at the time was George Herbert Walker Bush.
[caption id="attachment_897" align="alignleft" width="300"]![South lawn of the White House where I spoke with Barbara Bush.]()
South lawn of the White House where I spoke with Barbara Bush.[/caption]
Suddenly, as we were setting up, a group of four secret service agents walked out of the main door and Mrs. Bush was following behind walking the First Dog, Millie.
On the south side of the White House there is a circular walkway that leads away from the house and gets to within a hundred yards or so of the fence that people can look through as they are walking down Pennsylvania Ave.
Barbara was simply taking Millie for a walk but it was pretty cool to be there. If I remember correctly there were two agents walking a good distance ahead of Mrs. Bush and two tagging along behind her and actually one of the guys taking up the rear was tasked to pick up the doggy doo! It always kills me to think that here is a guy wearing a suit at the top of his career in the secret service and he is picking up doggy poop! I always wondered how they chose the guys for that duty. (No pun intended!)
Anyhow, as Barbara made her way past the gate you could here people screaming her name and waving and she would wave back and it really excited a great many people. Some even yelled Millie's name.
[caption id="attachment_898" align="alignright" width="300"]![Millie, the First Dog from 1989 to 1993]()
Millie, the First Dog from 1989 to 1993[/caption]
So as she was finishing her walk she came right up to me and asked, "Could I ask you a question?" Of course I was taken a little aback to say the least and while the First Lady really isn't in your chain of command in the military her husband is and you don't really want to screw up in some way. I said, "Sure Maam!" She smiled a little and asked, "Does this stuff ever get old?" Her down-to-Earth manner instantly made me forget that I was talking to the First Lady and I said, "Well, it gets pretty hot sometimes having to work in the military uniform but I can't say it gets old working around the White House." I said that these types of moments are ones that you get to tell your grandchildren someday.
She just smiled really big and asked me another question. It was the answer to this question that I still regret to this day even though I know it was the best one I could have made at the time. She agreed that it was hot outside and she asked if I and my guys would like to come in and have some lemonade!
She very well could have been a neighbor in AnyTown USA asking that question and she really made you feel as though she was. The problem is that she wasn't just any neighbor and I was a young sergeant in the U.S. Army. I so wanted to say yes! The problem is I was also imagining my rank falling off my sleeve when my boss asked me why we didn't get our detail done in time and I had to answer that we were busy having lemonade with the First Lady!
In retrospect I always wondered how it would have felt to drink lemonade with Mrs. Bush at the White House but unfortunately I had to turn her down.
I do know that in my time stationed near Washington D.C. everyone loved Barbara and had the utmost respect for her. She has led an amazing life. She was engaged to Mr. Bush while he served as a fighter pilot in World War II (shot down and decorated), a congressman, Vice President, Director of Central Intelligence and as the 41st President of the United States. They also raised some kids who didn't turn out bad either!
I have to say that I came up with the idea of the Barbara Bush run for office as I was watching the latest news coverage of the campaign and saw that Jeb Bush was bringing his brother George W. and his mother along with him on the campaign trail to lend a hand.
Seriously! Lets look at the options on both the left and the right sides. On the left you have Hillary who has an untold number of controversial and shady dealings in her past and Bernie who is a self-described socialist.
On the right you have The Donald, who I actually liked because of his anti-establishment attitude but now after his loss in Iowa he seems to have lost interest. You have Ted Cruz who may have been using dirty tricks on Ben Carson in order to suck some quick votes in Iowa and Ben Carson who I wouldn't mind if I needed someone to operate on my head. Marco I have heard speak and he actually has some great idea but may be so establishment that someone else may be pulling his strings. I like Christie but he can't seem to get his numbers up and lets face it the other contenders can't seem to get out of the single digits.
So Mrs. Bush if you are listening and have some extra time and money on your hands I think the American people would like a sweet no-nonsense gal as our first female President and if you do win maybe you could invite us over for some lemonade. I promise I won't stand you up this time!
#BABS2016
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South lawn of the White House where I spoke with Barbara Bush.[/caption]
Suddenly, as we were setting up, a group of four secret service agents walked out of the main door and Mrs. Bush was following behind walking the First Dog, Millie.
On the south side of the White House there is a circular walkway that leads away from the house and gets to within a hundred yards or so of the fence that people can look through as they are walking down Pennsylvania Ave.
Barbara was simply taking Millie for a walk but it was pretty cool to be there. If I remember correctly there were two agents walking a good distance ahead of Mrs. Bush and two tagging along behind her and actually one of the guys taking up the rear was tasked to pick up the doggy doo! It always kills me to think that here is a guy wearing a suit at the top of his career in the secret service and he is picking up doggy poop! I always wondered how they chose the guys for that duty. (No pun intended!)
Anyhow, as Barbara made her way past the gate you could here people screaming her name and waving and she would wave back and it really excited a great many people. Some even yelled Millie's name.
[caption id="attachment_898" align="alignright" width="300"]
Millie, the First Dog from 1989 to 1993[/caption]
So as she was finishing her walk she came right up to me and asked, "Could I ask you a question?" Of course I was taken a little aback to say the least and while the First Lady really isn't in your chain of command in the military her husband is and you don't really want to screw up in some way. I said, "Sure Maam!" She smiled a little and asked, "Does this stuff ever get old?" Her down-to-Earth manner instantly made me forget that I was talking to the First Lady and I said, "Well, it gets pretty hot sometimes having to work in the military uniform but I can't say it gets old working around the White House." I said that these types of moments are ones that you get to tell your grandchildren someday.
She just smiled really big and asked me another question. It was the answer to this question that I still regret to this day even though I know it was the best one I could have made at the time. She agreed that it was hot outside and she asked if I and my guys would like to come in and have some lemonade!
She very well could have been a neighbor in AnyTown USA asking that question and she really made you feel as though she was. The problem is that she wasn't just any neighbor and I was a young sergeant in the U.S. Army. I so wanted to say yes! The problem is I was also imagining my rank falling off my sleeve when my boss asked me why we didn't get our detail done in time and I had to answer that we were busy having lemonade with the First Lady!
In retrospect I always wondered how it would have felt to drink lemonade with Mrs. Bush at the White House but unfortunately I had to turn her down.
I do know that in my time stationed near Washington D.C. everyone loved Barbara and had the utmost respect for her. She has led an amazing life. She was engaged to Mr. Bush while he served as a fighter pilot in World War II (shot down and decorated), a congressman, Vice President, Director of Central Intelligence and as the 41st President of the United States. They also raised some kids who didn't turn out bad either!
I have to say that I came up with the idea of the Barbara Bush run for office as I was watching the latest news coverage of the campaign and saw that Jeb Bush was bringing his brother George W. and his mother along with him on the campaign trail to lend a hand.
Seriously! Lets look at the options on both the left and the right sides. On the left you have Hillary who has an untold number of controversial and shady dealings in her past and Bernie who is a self-described socialist.
On the right you have The Donald, who I actually liked because of his anti-establishment attitude but now after his loss in Iowa he seems to have lost interest. You have Ted Cruz who may have been using dirty tricks on Ben Carson in order to suck some quick votes in Iowa and Ben Carson who I wouldn't mind if I needed someone to operate on my head. Marco I have heard speak and he actually has some great idea but may be so establishment that someone else may be pulling his strings. I like Christie but he can't seem to get his numbers up and lets face it the other contenders can't seem to get out of the single digits.
So Mrs. Bush if you are listening and have some extra time and money on your hands I think the American people would like a sweet no-nonsense gal as our first female President and if you do win maybe you could invite us over for some lemonade. I promise I won't stand you up this time!
#BABS2016
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