A month ago, presidential aide Dan Bartlett told reporters that this summer, Bush was going to do things a little differently. “Every team changes the playbook every once in a while and this is an opportunity to share what’s on his mind but also get a sense of what’s on the minds of the people out in the country,” Bartlett said, describing the new White House media strategy.
The old Bush wouldn’t mind visiting some place, but would anxiously get on the plane and go home as soon as he could. The new Bush would, at least in the next few months, actually spend more than an hour in other cities. It’s all part of getting a sense of “what’s on the minds of the people.”
How’s it going so far? Bush was in Miami for a series of events yesterday — after spending the night on Monday — and met with people the White House described as “community leaders.” For some reason, Bush aides initially refused to identify them.
…Bush spent the evening at the exclusive Joe’s Stone Crabs restaurant talking about sports and movies with a bunch of former Miami Dolphins football players, an actor and the flamboyant host of a raunchy and ribald Spanish-language variety show.
It was only hours after Bush had learned that an Israeli air strike had killed dozens of Lebanese children, a moment for soul-searching if there ever was one.
But what did Bush want to talk about?
Former Dolphin Jim Kiick told Steve Wine of the Associated Press that topics of conversation included movies, the 1972 Dolphins and fellow attendee and former Dolphin Dan Marino’s achievements — but little politics.
So, Bush met with “community leaders” in order to learn “what’s on the minds of the people out in the country,” which in reality-based terms means talking about football with retired local stars.
It’s nice work if you can get it.
Post Script: By the way, Dan Froomkin raised the point of the day in describing the president’s Miami trip.
What’s so special about the 1972 Dolphins? They were the only team ever to have a perfect season in the history of the National Football League. Bush’s record isn’t quite so good.
And where was Bush himself during that 1972 season? No one really knows.
The 17-game Dolphins winning streak extended from September to December 1972. Bush was suspended from flight status in the Texas Air National Guard in August 1972 after failing to take his required annual flight physical. During that 1972 Dolphins season, he had supposedly transferred to an Alabama guard unit. But available records and recollection of guard members who were there at the time suggest he didn’t show up.
Ouch.