ARMSTRONG BIKES WITH PRESIDENT OVER SHEEHAN GRAVE

[Jon8503]

By Greg Palast

Crawford, Texas - Celebrity bike champ Lance Armstrong joined President George W. Bush this weekend at the Crawford Ranch to celebrate the thirtieth day of the President's vigil against Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in action in Iraq.

Armstrong, fresh from his victory in the Tour De France, is seen here with Mr. Bush riding across the symbolic gravesite of Casey Sheehan, deceased Army specialist, son of the bereaved Mrs. Sheehan.

"We must stay the course," said a resolute Mr. Bush who vowed to
"extend my vacation as long as necessary to accomplish this mission" and force Sheehan to give up her siege of the Western White House.
Armstrong set an upbeat tone when he said, "You know, I overcame cancer to become a hot-shot biker. It takes hard work and a belief in yourself that says, "Never give up, never say 'die.'"

A Presidential spokesman said that given the Commander-in-Chief's
limited work schedule and attention span, he would not have time to see Mrs. Sheehan. However, a place in the schedule had to be made for Mr. Armstrong because the celebrity peddler, like the President, has several major corporate sponsors with urgent needs. Armstrong said he thought it inappropriate to politicize the office of
the president, noting that his own appearance at the ranch was arranged by the Discovery Channel, "for craven commercial purposes only." Mr. Bush, backing over the symbolic gravestone, said he understood the difficulty of military families with kin in Iraq. During the war in Vietnam, the President was a combat pilot assigned to protect Houston from Viet Cong attack.
--
www.GregPalast.com.

[redwitch]

1. hubby just showed me this tonight

so sad Lance sold out. shame on him.

[KittyWampus]

9. Shame On Him For What? Lobbying For Cancer Funding?

[Peace Patriot]

2. You're right, Greg! Laughing is the best medicine! --and, in times like

these, just about the only refuge of sanity that remains. Thank you!

[Kolesar]

4. lol

Had me going until I read: "extend my vacation as long as necessary to accomplish this mission"

[Fatima]

3. Palast was being a bit tongue-in-cheek here -nt-

[pocket]

5. I had high hopes for Lance when he was meeting with Kerry

but fuck him. He can go to hell!

[Jon8503]

7. Not so sure how smart Armstrong is. Think about it over 60% of

this country is dissatisfied with Bush. There is a very good possibility a lot of republicans could fall in 2006.

I don't think Armstrong is going to be that big after a while anyway.

He is not like a football, basketball, socker, baseball or pro star that is always in the limelight.

Armstrong just finished his highlight and I think he blew it by bypassing Cindy and going straight to Bush.

You know, he could have taken the high road and done both. How do you think that would have looked if he had stopped by and saw her and shook her hand and then go on and see Bush.

He had his own favors in mind. The hell with her and other mothers or the guys fighting.

[peekaloo]

6. lol.

laugh to keep from crying.

[hopein08]

8. Don't flame me but I think Lance would be a "good" politician...

he cozies up to the Democrats (Kerry at the Tour de France) and then courts the Repubs for cancer research money (biking with Bush). At least he'd be a good lobbyist. He's in it for something, as most people in that position would be, so let him.

[Brightmore]

10. Why are people getting mad at Lance Armstrong?

It's not like Cindy Sheehan wants to meet him.

Lance Armstrong isn't even pro-war.

[StefanX]

11. Didn't realize it was satire till I got to the part where

Armstrong said it was "inappropriate to politicize the office of the President"!

Very good!

Why is Armstrong hanging out with Bush? Doesn't say much for Armstrong.