All right, it was actually a Caterpillar D-10. Anyway, this sounds like quite the incident. Maybe it'll show up on YouTube:
"I would suggest moving back," Bush said as he climbed into the cab of a massive D-10 tractor. "I'm about to crank this sucker up." As the engine roared to life, White House staffers tried to steer the press corps to safety, but when the tractor lurched forward, they too were forced to scramble for safety."Get out of the way!" a news photographer yelled. "I think he might run us over!" said another. White House aides tried to herd the reporters the right way without getting run over themselves. Even the Secret Service got involved, as one agent began yelling at reporters to get clear of the tractor. Watching the chaos below, Bush looked out the tractor's window and laughed, steering the massive machine into the spot where most of the press corps had been positioned. The episode lasted about a minute, and Bush was still laughing when he pulled to a stop. He gave reporters a thumbs-up.
I know I should be tsk-tsking the president right now for unseemly, uncivilized behavior, but the idea of White House press corps members scurrying around with a front-end-loader on their heels is preventing me from doing so.
Also, I'd imagine the incident was somewhat less dramatic than the write-up suggests. Bush seems like the kinda guy who can keep a tractor under control, and we all know how he likes to mess with the press kids. (Via IMAO)
North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, on the other hand? Total threat behind the wheel. An N.C. governor that can't handle a stock car? A state disgrace, I tell you.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member