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NOTES: President says fix the potholes
BY JEFFREY HAGE jeff.hage@lee.net
Rattle, rattle, thunder, clattle, boom, boom, boom.
It appears the presidential motorcade was in need of a visit to the CarX man after a visit to Chippewa Falls.
At least President George Bush seemed to think so.
When Bush thanked Mayor Doug Sandvick for the city's hospitality Wednesday, it came with a little advice.
"I
want to thank the mayor, Mayor Doug Sandvick, for being here. Mr.
Mayor, thanks for coming. My only advice to you, Mr. Mayor, is fill the
potholes," the President said.
The estimated crowd of 5,000 people applauded with approval.
Incidentally, in his speech in Hudson, Bush thanked the Hudson mayor but failed to mention the mayor's name.
n
State Treasurer Jack Voight left the local crowd a little bewildered in
a pre-presidential speech when he applauded the Republican support
"right in Eau Claire County." Last time we looked, Kell Container was
located in Chippewa Falls, in the heart of Chippewa County.
n
Bush got another roar of approval from the hometown crowd after noting
that his Democratic opponent John Kerry, said the heart and soul of
American can be found in Hollywood. "I think you find it right here in
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. I'm glad to be with the heart and soul of
America," Bush said. The president frequently uses the remark in his
stump speeches.
n
Soldier Wayne Trimbell from the 724th Engineering Battalion had the
opportunity to meet Bush backstage and was mentioned in his speech. "He
served our country in Iraq. He was telling me how he built bridges and
roads and installed electricity," Bush said. Trimbell told the
president that serving in Iraq made him recognize the things America
takes for granted and that he was proud to say he served his country.
"I'm proud he served his country, too," Bush said.
n Shortly
after 6 a.m. Wednesday Sue Roder was walking her dog Mickey like she
does every day. Wednesday morning was different, however, because she
couldn't see her way to the curb, because her property was surrounded
by semi-trailers. Roder's home is the closest residence looking onto
the Kell Container property, but there would be no views of the
president from her yard.
"I thought the view would be better
when I first heard about this," she said. "But then they called me
Monday and explained what was going to happen." Roder wasn't too
disappointed, however. "I was given tickets for being such a
cooperative neighbor," she said.
"You
couldn't be this close to the president and not see him," Roder said.
"I think this is pretty neat. It's a chance of a lifetime."
n
Those giant cardboard "W" cutouts that many spectators were holding
were produced by none other than Kell Container, the event host. Bush
would later say, "You know what I think? I think Wisconsin is 'W'
country." It was the same remark he made when he visited La Crosse in
May.
n State Sen. Dave Zien brought his passion for patriotism
to the presidential rally with a rousing speech of his own before
Bush's visit. Zien led the crowd in chanting "Hail to the Chief, Hail
to the Chief" and then offered the crowd some advice. "Say it so loud
that not only the president hears it, but so God can hear it, too,"
Zien said.
n State Sen. Dale Schultz, who is running for the
Third District Congressional seat, said there are three keys to why
Chippewa Falls is a great place and why it was targeted by Bush for his
visit. "The Titanic, Dave Zien and Leinenkugel's Beer." When Leinie's
was mentioned a man yelled from the crowd, "Now you're talking."
Incidentally,
Chippewa Falls is in the Seventh Congressional District. As for the
reference to "The Titanic," the lead character in the Oscar-winning
film claimed to have ice fished on Lake Wissota. The only thing was,
the ship sank years before the man-made lake was created.
n When
equipment arrived in Chippewa Falls for the Bush rally, it came upon
two of the largest jets to land at the Chippewa Valley Regional
Airport. Two military C-17 four-engine transport jets weighing 460,000
pounds landed at the airport. You might have heard the roar of the
cargo jets flying over the East Hill about 12:45 Tuesday.
n Lake
Hallie was represented on stage at the Chippewa Falls rally, too.
Pastor Brian Jahn of Grace Baptist Church in Lake Hallie gave the
convocation prior to Bush's arrival.
n Folks in downtown
Chippewa Falls had an opportunity to see Bush, as well. The motorcade
left the city on Bay Street, but not before the windows of Bush's bus
opened with the President waving to well-wishers, including the folks
at M&I Bank.
Reach Jeffrey Hage at jeff.hage@lee.net.
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