Posted by Mark Silva at 11:15 am CDT
If House Speaker Dennis Hastert billed the convention of restaurant owners in Chicago today as the biggest hospitality convention in the Western Hemisphere, it also provided President Bush with a ready love fest.
Carol Dover, head of the Florida Restaurant Association and a major financial supporter of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the state's Republican Party, rose to commend the president for his good brother.
"We love your brother,'' Dover told the president.
""I had nothing to do with it,'' Bush replied. "Thank our mother.''
He's been good to the restaurant association, she said.
"He has been eating a lot, I noticed,'' Bush said.
The president also fielded a question from a tall-hatted chef from Tampa -- home of the Devil Rays -- asking if Florida's governor might run for president in 2008.
"You're running the country the way a chef would run the country, and we're proud of you,'' the chef told the president.
"My main concern is 2008 is coming,'' he said. "Would Jeb ever consider?''
"Playing for the Tampa Bay Devils?'' Bush interjected.
"You better ask Jeb,'' he noted more seriously. "I said something the other day. I said he'd be a great president. But he said he's not going to run in 2008 and you'd better take him at his word… He's been in public life for eight years. I think he's ready for a breather.''
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R, Ill.) called the convention hall trade fair "the largest food and hospital show in the Western Hemisphere,’’ and noted his own restaurant roots: "I learned how to scrub floors and fry chicken at an early age.’’
"Laura and I don’t eat out as much as we used to,’’ the president told the crowd.
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
It speaks volumes about Bush and his abysmal approval ratings that he had to sneak into town to deliver this speech.
Posted by: Blue City | May 22, 2006 11:45 AM
I don't see how all that was good for business for the National Restaurant Association - all that oozing flattery and pandering makes me lose my appetite, if not my breakfast.
Speaking of pandering, in Mr. Silva's article in the Trib. he quotes Bush as saying to the NRA, "You're also America's largest employer of immigrants." Notice what word he chose to leave out. At least he made his position on illegal immigration clear - he's opposed to it, unless his big money supporters benefit from it.
Posted by: Dienne | May 22, 2006 12:38 PM
If Bush is running this country like a chef would run a restaurant, that means we are all cooked !
Posted by: johnf | May 22, 2006 12:57 PM
Um....this is news?
Did you edit it, or just run it the way Tony wrote it for you?
Posted by: m | May 22, 2006 1:02 PM
Hastert looks like he never stopped eating since he worked in a restaurant. Bush, Hastert, et. al are all freak'n embarassments!
Posted by: N. Stephan | May 22, 2006 2:17 PM
Notice he did not say they are the largest employer of "illegal" immigrants? That's right,never offend the base, Georgie.
Posted by: johnf | May 22, 2006 2:42 PM
Ah, the Looney Libs are at it again!!! Bush had to "sneak" into Chicago? My, it was on news last week he'd be here today!
The best comedians today or Looney Libs!! You folks are so funny, but of course you're all unintentionally funny. The humor comes from the incessant hate, uninformed views and getting it wrong time and time again!
Posted by: John D | May 22, 2006 2:51 PM
I don't blame the President for wanting to avoid criticism, that's nothing new.
Events at friendly locations are listed will in advance, for example, Bush is going out on a limb this Saturday when appears in front of West Point. That's probably an annual thing for him now.
But when Bush comes to Chicago, he gives the press very little notice, because he knows if he does, people will probably protest him. Why? Because they're "looney libs?" because their filled with "incessant hate?" Probably because Chicagoans, like 72% of the country, disapprove of the miserable job the President is doing, from the Part D debacle to the criminal mismanagement of the war in Iraq.
Posted by: Blue City | May 22, 2006 4:28 PM
I assume Hastert made his comments with his mouth full.
Posted by: mh | May 22, 2006 5:47 PM
Notice how in the article Mark Silva identifies Carol Dover as a "major" GOP contributor when he quotes her, but in a previous article quoted Sergio Bendixen without identifying him as a major Democrat Party contributor? "Swamp" reporters have one rule for quoting Republicans, another when quoting Democrats.
Posted by: Bruce | May 23, 2006 8:52 AM
Way to jump all over the Trib's well known liberal bias Bruce!
Posted by: Blue City | May 23, 2006 4:00 PM
To BlueCity: Sneak into town - The big thing in the sky is an A-I-R-P-L-A-N-E. Say it slowly.
Also, speaking in front of the Service Academy graduates is an annual event for all presidents. Even those that "loathe the military"
Posted by: Terry | May 23, 2006 7:41 PM