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| Sunday, 10 July 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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In the ranch of the world's most powerful man Critical issues by Lionel Yodhasinghe When our driver was veering his wheels along narrow zig zag paths leading to the ranch of the world's most powerful man, I was wondering why President George W. Bush chose his retreat in this drought hit isolated Crawford in the hot Texas. All phenomena of urban modernity of Austin slowly reduced to vast stretches of wheat plantations, colonial architecture and grassland as we traveled two and half-hours on the free way leading to Dallas. Dallas is situated another two hours drive from Crawford where President John F Kennedy was assassinated. Crawford stood like a boutique with few souvenir shops, a post office, a gas station and a restaurant. One would wonder when traveling along deserted roads that run through the Bush ranch in Prairie Chapel eight miles off Crawford crossroads 'Why does President Bush leave all new comfort and luxury in Washington DC and fly to this retreat - does he want to spend his holidays sans fear of Bin Larden and his Al Queda fighters? Does Crawford's pastoral beauty refresh President Bush's body and mind to face dilemmas?" No doubt, his enemies would find it difficult to reach his home easily as Secret Service personnel armed with latest radar detective equipment are busy round the clock. Although there were no security men trying to frisk you for 'hidden explosives', it was obvious that there were high-powered surveillance systems working to monitor the movement of visitors in the premises. Bush's security men were often roaming in world's fastest motor bicycles along these narrow paths but they were not trying to order about the road users by hooting sirens and harsh words. So an ordinary person cannot easily identify that they were Bush's security. From the road there were only pastures, barbed wire fences, and signboards that warn the traveler, "No stopping, No standing, No parking and No getting down on the way". Therefore, there was no opportunity for photographs. But we Jefferson Fellows tried our best to record some landscape of Bush's Ranch for our readers." Crawford has changed a lot since the President Bush purchased the 1600 acre Prairie Chapel Ranch from a family named Engelbrecht in 1999. Thereafter, it became "The Western White House," where once the buildings were closed and boarded up. Several gift shops have been set up along the main street. One shop is Crawford Country Style, which we scanned to find some exclusives from Crawford. What we found there were all Bush memorabilia only. It was a center promoting Bush and the memorablia consisted largely of key tags, T-shirts, mugs, door mobiles, toys, purses, medals etc. The tiny old jail in it's tin shed still sits on a plot of land just off the main road. One could imagine how the culprits those days would have suffered when they were kept behind the flat steel bars heating up in the scorching sun! The ranch property includes a creek, canyon, waterfalls, and meadows where cattle and deer graze. The Bush family renovated an existing farmhouse and built a new home there. The President may help grow a tourist attraction Just as George and Laura Bush chose Crawford as a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C., many of the town residents are professionals working in Waco who make Crawford their own getaway. The "Western White House," Crawford, is now known internationally as a place for top world leaders to gather while President Bush is in his hometown. The population of Crawford is about 700. After buying a few items, we drove down the long country road to "the ranch." I just knew that our Ford Expedition was probably on some radar screen being watched as we approached. The secret service was evident and although we couldn't get very close, "the experience" of it all was still fun indeed! True, Crawford is little more than a crossroads on a drought-stricken Prairie, bereft of even a grocery store. From afar, it's hard to imagine why the president of the free world would spend so much time in the middle of nowhere and scorching temperatures and that in August. The Washington Post reports that Bush has spent 42 per cent of his presidency at vacation spots or en route - the White House refers to this as a "working" vacation. The President has planned about two trips a week to spread the gospel of "heartland values". President Bush was not born in Crawford but choosing Crawford as his hometown, he created a new tourist destination that made some business for the residents. He does not forget to visit shops and meet people in Crawford whenever he comes to his Ranch house thus sharing their values of faith and family. Bush never drinks alcohol. Next: American Indians complain |
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