President Bush came to visit last the week.  Not me personally, but he did come to our state to help raise money for John McCain's presidential campaign.  I was going to try to make it to the $70,000 per couple dinner party, but I couldn't get away from work on time.

I did get to see the motorcade.  Not on purpose.  I was trying to get home, but the entire street was shut down where I usually catch my bus so I joined the rest of the onlookers for the parade.  It was quite the production.  Policemen lined the streets telling everyone to stay back.  There were several undercover cars that had men with binoculars that drove through minutes ahead of the president, looking for threats in or on the surrounding buildings.  After that, more police cars and motorcycles.  Finally we saw the motorcade.  There was a suburban full of secret service agents with assault rifles in the lead, followed by two limousines with flags on both sides.  They looked exactly the same, and they drove by so quickly, I wasn't sure if I was looking at President Bush's profile or that of his stuntman body double.  To top off the disappointment, my bus was 1/2 hour late because of all the hullabaloo.

I can't help but wonder if the cost of flying him and his posse out here and shuttling them all around town doesn't cost more than any funds raised for the Republican Party.  I would be interested to know the figures on either side.  Maybe it's worth it, though.  According to at least three news outlets, Utah is "a formidable money machine" when it comes to supporting their favorite nominees.  Yuck!  I can't imagine a candidate I could like well enough to send a check to.