Bush Legacy Tour

AUSTIN, TX- The location for our Austin location was excellent. We were one block away from the state capital and a mere half block away from the President’s former digs in the Texas Governor’s Mansion. There is not a whole lot to see as the mansion burned down in June of this year.  This certainly follows a pattern of disaster following George W. Bush’s tenure. 

SAN ANTONIO, TX-The many times our up-coming  stop at the Alamo has been brought up in conversation over the past weeks,  I have heard  references to both the heroic stand of the 181 Texas Volunteers and of Pee Wee Herman’s heroic quest to find his stolen bike.  I too, have made more jokes in the past few weeks about looking forward to seeing the “the basement” and catching that jerk Francis red-handed than I should probably admit to. Regardless, the bus pulling up this morning in front of the Alamo has easily been one of most symbolic and anticipated stops to date.

The park rangers could not have been more helpful and supportive and we could not have done the event without them. They even helped us figure out a way to hook up our electric power supply.  We were surprised the Alamo even had a power source we could tap into.  It must be for the game room in the basement.

The AFL-CIO hosted the event and did a great job getting  supporters out. There was a huge crowd there to see the Alamo that wandered over to check out the bus as well. We gave a short press conference where Rachael Hernandez, President of the San Antonio AFL-CIO shared some of her thoughts about how the Bush administration had impacted her as a mother, grandmother, labor activist and citizen of Texas.  Her portrayal of the administration was eloquent and far from flattering to Bush and Co. 

I spoke to quite a few people on the bus who expressed their disgust over this administration’s policies. One issue in particular that hit home was the lack of relief for Americans paying $4/ gallon for gas while oil companies get huge tax breaks. Several of the folks I spoke with about gas prices found it ironic that they live in a state whose economy for years centered on oil, now purchase it for $4/ gallon from foreign countries. So many Texans have a very sophisticated understanding of how oil profits work for the oil companies- and how the tax breaks are not benefitting the taxpayers- because they worked for, or have a long line of family members that worked in the oil industry. In the largest state in the nation, with some of the most rural communities in the country, it is difficult to imagine what filling up the tank must  like knowing that going to get a loaf of bread at the store can cost $5 in gas.  I spoke to a family from Abilene who was in town sightseeing that have drastically changed  their lifestyle and have to say no to their children’s activities lately and stay close to home because gas prices are so high. They almost did not take a vacation to San Antonio due to the gas prices but decided to go anyway and camp rather than stay in a hotel to save money. Unfortunelty both Senators from Texas, John Cronyn and Jennifer Hutchinson are doing very little to relieve their constituents pain at the pump.  They both receive millions in campaign contributions from big oil companies and have voted for the tax breaks for big oil that do nothing to lower gas prices for the consumer.

Just as Pee Wee got his bike back, in the end we hope to get our country back from the Bush Administration and its allies whose conservative policies have led us so far astray. If exposing the real Bush legacy and holding his allies accountable  doesn’t work, then we may need to take a page from Pee Wee’s playbook and give Bush, Cronyn, and Hutchinson all packs of trick gum…

PHOENIX & TUCSON, AZ-The thermostat on the bus indicated that is was 114 degrees outside when we rolled into Phoenix on Friday morning. It was a heat-wave even for Arizona.  The sweat poured from my brow and from the people gathered to see the bus outside of the IBEW hall in Phoenix. There were a couple dozen dedicated people that showed up and a number of people that were driving by.

We gave a very short press conference due to the heat. Rebekah Friend, the President of the Arizona AFL-CIO spoke about Senator McCain’s record in Arizona. To say the least, she is not a big fan of “the maverick.” McCain’s voting record in the Senate has supported the overwhelming majority of Bush’s policies which have hurt the members of that Rebekah serves and all working people for that matter.

Bill Engler Vice President of the Arizona Alliance For Retired Americans spoke about the impact Bush’s policies have had. Much like Americans United for Change, the Alliance For Retired Americans fought hard against Bush’s potentially disastrous 2005 plan to Privatize Social Security and won! Bill was disgusted by the recent comments by Senator McCain that Social Security is “a disgrace” and by his plans to privatize social security and take a guaranteed program and turn it into a guaranteed gamble.

I spoke briefly about Phoenix-area member of Congress, Representative John Shadegg. Shadegg has been a reliable vote for the conservative policies supported by President Bush and Senator McCain. His voting record for the year 2007 was 94% in support of the President's policy agenda. In fact, Shadegg's voting percentage in support of the President has steadilly increased during the time he has served, according to Congressional Quarterly. In 2001, Shadegg voted with the President's policies 84% of the time and has continually increased since them. This increase only shows that as the economy continues to tank, health care prices sky-rocket, and the Iraq war continues with no end; John Shadegg's support for these failed policies is stronger than ever. The crowd had little good to say about Representative Shadegg and are ready for a change.

We opened up the bus and for about ten minutes folks toured the museum. Then all of a sudden everything shut off and went dark.

 

Was it Ken Lay’s fault?

Did McCain send some of his people to take care of this pesky bus that exposes his not-so-maverick voting record? 

Maybe it was the CIA?

All amusing options but the generator actually blew due to the heat. Although we can certainly say that conservative policies have helped global warming along, we have no one to blame but Mother Nature.

The event was cut a little short because the bus cannot make it in the extreme heat. We carried on toTuscon. Tucson’s event was similar to Phoenix. Rebekah Friend President of the Arizona AFL-CIO headed down to Tucson to speak at the event. We were also joined by Kitty Kennedy from the Alliance for Retired Americans who spoke about the many ways the Bush Administration has short-changed seniors and working Americans.

Once again our generator’s life was short-lived. Whenever possible we plug in so that we do not need the generator. Unfortunately, this was not possible for either of our Arizona locations. The people in Tucson and Phoenix were incredibly nice about our generator issues and were so appreciative of us being there. It made up for the hellacious heat outside that the bus, and I, don’t function well in.

The Bush Legacy Bus has already made one coast-to-coast trip, showing local communities the harmful impact of President Bush's conservative policies on our country. This has been the roadtrip of a lifetime, visiting places like the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

But nothing quite captured the importance of this tour like Joel's picture from South Dakota.

The Bush Legacy Tour isn't just about Bush-bashing - it's about restoring the values and integrity that Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln gave our country so many years ago.

By sending our virtual postcard, not only will you be making Joel our bus driver proud, but you will help spread the word about the Bush Legacy tour - allowing your friends from all over the country to join us as we cross-cross the nation.

Send a card today! 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - In the last six weeks we have not crossed paths with either of the Presidential candidates. Our first time was Monday in San Francisco when John McCain was in town for a fundraiser. We decided to head over and show McCain and his supporters the bus. We arrived at the hotel where the fundraiser was being held downtown. We were not the only people who were not there to lend their support to McCain. There were about 200 protesters carrying signs that said "McCain=Bush" and "McSame." We did not have a spot to park the bus and the traffic was being routed all around the premises. Our only choice was to circle around in front of the hotel. The protesters loved the bus, every time we passed the crowd went crazy! Because there was no place to pull over we invited a couple members of the press to take a loop around on the bus with us. Giving the press tours and interviews on a bus that is moving through San Fransisco's windy, hilly streets is an interesting experience to say the least. The reporters that came on board were good sports about the moving museum. The bus ended up being front-and-center for the coverage of the McCain ffundraiser and the protest on several TV stations.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - We were invited to join The American Federation of State, Municipal and County Employees (AFSMCE) this weekend for their annual convention in San Francisco. AFSMCE has been one of the Bush's Legacy Tour's biggest sponsors and we were thrilled to be there. We kicked off the weekend in front of the convention center with a press conference Saturday morning. Speaking at the press conference were Gerald McEntee, International President of AFSCME and Nadia McCaffrey, the mother of Patrick McCaffrey Sr. a soldier who was killed in Iraq, whose story we tell on the bus.

President McEntee spoke about the desperate need we have in this country to organizer workers, provide quality health care, end the war, and start the process of reversing the devastating policies of the last eight years. His speech was met with loud cheers from the audience of AFSCME members.

Nadia McCaffrey gave a speech that brought several people in the audience to tears. She started by talking about her son Patrick's reasons for joining the National Guard. He was a husband and a father of two, making a great living.

The McCaffrey's were living the American dream. Then 9/11 happened and Patrick felt compelled to do something, He wanted to help in any way he could. He joined the National Guard and was eventually sent to Iraq.

While he was serving in Iraq in 2004, some of the Iraqi security forces that he and his unit were training turned on his unit and open fired. They killed Patrick and one other soldier Lt. Andre D. Tyson.  Nadia and her family were devastated. As if losing a son, father, husband, and brother were not enough,the McCaffrey's did not even get the piece of mind of knowing how Patrick died. The Pentagon kept this information from the family for two years and did not disclose the nature of his death because they knew it was evidence, in the most horrific way possible, that we were not always being greeted as liberators. Nadia persisted and contacted Senator Boxer and the process began for notifying the family and the public of the truth.

The cover-up was a big national story when it broke. Nadia turned the media attention into a spotlight on soldiers and veterans issues. She has completely devoted her life to veteran and soldiers. She started the Seargent Patrick Ryan McCaffrey Sr. Foundation For Combat Veterans and www.veteransvillage.org which helps veterans and current soldiers deal with many of the issues they face like homelessness, PTSD, unemployment, and the many psychological issues that come with returning home. Nadia was on her way the next day to New York state to open seven new homes that the foundation had built to help veterans and their families with affordable housing.

Many of the AFSCME members who attended the press conference commented on how moved they were by Nadia's story and the way Patrick's family has been able to carry on in spite of their tragedy. The exhibit we have on Patrick McCaffrey Sr. is the part of the bus that gets the strongest reaction from people and tells the most personal story. We are incredibly appreciative of Nadia's and Patrick's wife Sylvia and their children Janessa-Marie and Patrick Jr.'s willingness to let us tell their story. Nadia has been supportive from the time this project started. She event brought some pictures with her to the press conference that we have now incorporated in the exhibit.

Please log onto www.veteransvillage.org to support the work they are doing or to refer a soldier or veteran you know that is in need.

THE PRESIDIO, SAN FRANCISCO-We made an impromptu stop in the Presidio Monday afternoon. The people at the Thoreau Center center were kind enough to allow us to park the bus in their lot. The Thoreau Center is an environmentally sound office complex that houses a number of progressive, non-profit organizations. A lot of the staff that work inside the center came out to see the bus as well as people driving by or walking through the Presidio.

RENO, NV-Being from Cincinnati, I have heard more references to the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati that you would ever want to know. I always politely acknowledge the references to Dr. Johnny Fever and try to never remind my new acquaintance that the show was actually filmed in LA. It is for this reason that I tried not to share my glee with the local Nevadans over being in Reno this morning, the inspiration for one of my favorite shows, Reno 911. For the first time since the tour started I had sincerely hoped that a group of bored police officers would come and give us a hard time about the event permit just so that I could say I interacted with some of Reno’s finest. Unfortunately, this did not happen.  Although we did not have any cops in hot-pants show up this morning, we still had a terrific event in Reno.

Christiane Brown, local progressive radio show host was the MC for the speaking program and she did a fantastic job. She gave a take-no-prisoners speech on the failures of the Bush Administration.

We also heard from Daela who works for the city of Reno and recounted a healthcare incident that she had experienced in her position as a government worker. It was about ten years ago and Daela was processing paperwork on the site of the local ice skating rink. A young girl, only about seven, had just fallen on the ice and was injured. She was filling out the accident report and the young girl was surprisingly calm and just kept asking for a band-aid. Daela rolled up the girl’s sleeve to see that her arm was badly broken. The girl kept saying that all she needed was a band-aid. Although the girl was not upset about the extreme pain she must have been in, the thought of going to the hospital sent her into a frenzy. Upon further inquiry, Daela found out that the girl was terrified to go to the hospital because she knew that her mother could not afford it. Her mother had very ill recently and did not seek hospital care because she knew the hospital bills would potentially be more debilitating than her illness. Daela finally gave the little girl a band-aid just to calm her down. Thankfully, the girl eventually agreed to go to the hospital. When she got there, the nurse quizzically looked at the badly broken arm with a band-aid on it. She asked Daela, “Why did you put a band-aid a broken arm?”

Questions arising from a dysfunctional healthcare system such as, “why did you put a band-aid on a broken arm?” will continue if we don’t get real change. The healthcare crisis is certainly not being helped by Nevada Representatives Dean Heller and Jon Porter who both voted for some of the worst healthcare policies of the last few years. Representative Heller voted against the State Children’s Health Insurance Program that helps over 34,000 of Nevada’s kids, while Porter voted against allowing Medicare from negotiating with for cheaper drug prices for the people who need it the most.

Healthcare is certainly not the only issue that Representatives Heller and Porter have shortchanged Americans on. They have both voted repeatedly to keep the troops in a war in Iraq that has already cost 4,100 American lives, 34 of them from Nevada. The troops that return home will have to figure out how to pay for college on their own as far as Dean Heller and Jon Porter are concerned. They both voted against the 21st Century GI Bill that would give this generation of veterans the opportunity to go to college.

Bill Birkman from the Alliance for Retired Americans came to the event and shared with me a project somewhat similar to the Bush Legacy Tour that his organization had done several years ago. It was called the Truth Truck and it was flat bed truck that they used to travel the country with and do events on. They distributed information on stopping Bush’s wreckless plan in 2005 to privatize Social Security, as well as keeping Medicaid viable, and a number of different issues that are important to seniors and people of all ages. It was great to hear about another vehicle reaching out to people about important issues.

Just as we were discussing trucks that share information, we had a visit from a truck that was sharing something almost as good. We got a visit from the ice-cream man. He drove ninto the parking lot, which also houses the Democratic Party headquarters, and exclaimed “Bring me all the Democrats, I only serve ice-cream to Democrats!” While Bill, the ice-cream man did not actually ask people their voting preferences before he took their money, he did say that he loved the idea of the bus and would love to see some change in this country. My rum-raisin ice cream bar was the perfect way to end a really great event in Reno.

SALEM, OR- Soni from Salem, OR has every reason to be angry about what has happened to the country over the last eight years. The policies of this administration have touched almost every facet of her life. I met Soni in Salem this morning. She has had an incredibly rough time over the last eight years. Her daughter and son-in-law lost their home to foreclosure and now travel the country in a mobile trailer so that her son-in-law can go where there is work in his field of construction. She never gets to see them and is not physically able to travel to them. Although they have serious misgivings about the Iraq War, both of her grandchildren are either in the military or are planning on going into the military so that they can pay for college. This is a seriously distressful thought for their grandma who fears for their safety and does not support the war. 

Soni also suffers from a number of chronic health problems. She has not been able to see a doctor for six years. Even though she qualifies for Medicare she was unable to get the treatment due to the various entanglements of our broken healthcare system. Unfortunately she is another example of the sick being denied coverage because of the very fact that they are sick and actually need it. She has already lost a job due to her health issues and currently is unable to work. She pointed out that the only types of jobs that she could possibly do, given her health constraints have already been outsourced overseas. 

Soni was incredibly supportive of the bus and thanked us for being there. She was very upset and almost seemed to be still in shock by just how bad this administration is. She kept saying that she never thought she would see the day where things would be this bad and a President would lead us so far astray. 

I met a gentleman who also thanked us profusely for coming. He was disgusted by what this administration and its supporters have done to the country. Having served two tours of duty in Vietnam he knows the incredible sacrifice that soldiers make and is strongly opposed to the Iraq War. He appreciated the focus we give to the war in our exhibits.  He told me several times that he thinks that I should feel really great about what I am doing and should be proud. I certainly am proud to be part of the Bush Legacy Tour but am humbled by the idea of someone who has put their life on the line for their country, twice, telling me that. Although, I have endured many vending machine dinners and the loud snoring of some our crew, I would hardly consider traveling on the bus an act of bravery. Nevertheless, I appreciated his comments greatly. 

The people who came out to see the bus parked in front of the state capital in Salem were amazing and incredibly supportive. Everyone thanked us over and over for being there and started offering up donations before we could even get out our “help us fill the tank” jar. Not everyone was supportive, however. We did have one man that came by and did not care for the bus. He called us communists and wished on us eight flat tires. We just completed a ten hour drive and so far no flat tires. Perhaps that means we are not communists after all!