Bush's hometown (Crawford) sees business slowdown

[deadparrot]

CRAWFORD, Texas - Near the lone stoplight on Main Street, a for-sale sign hangs from a dusty window where a souvenir shop used to sell cufflinks, cowboy boots and denim shirts emblazoned "The Western White House."

Another gift store across the street is shuttered too, though a sign says it will reopen elsewhere. And the biggest souvenir shop in Crawford is reporting a drop in sales.

The Washington professionals have their polls, their focus groups and their newspaper editorials. But Crawford, the 700-person town where President Bush's ranch is located, has its trinket stores, and they have fallen on hard times, in what some say reflects the president's sinking popularity over the war in Iraq and a daunting influx of anti-war protesters.

Norma Nelson Crow closed her Crawford Country Style store three months ago.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_re_us/crawford_bush

[AndyTiedye]

1. For Those Who Hitched Their Fortunes to **

:nopity:

[Drum]

2. Maybe they'll move the esteemed library there...

since it's W's "hometown."

[SpiralHawk]

10. The truth: Bush is a Connecticut Yankee preppy

He just likes to pretend to be a Texan

because his whole life is a lie.

[bdamomma]

17. * has deep psychological and psychiatric issues, and his

family knows it, that is why they have always supported his sorry ass.

[Drum]

18. ...and I kind of meant that, as well.

:)

[ryanmuegge]

23. Indeed.

[Lisa]

21. good idea -- they can just throw "The Pet Goat" and the coloring books ...

... into the backseat of someone's car, and transport them in a jiffy!

Actually Bush's entire presidential library (minus all the records that he has shredded or locked up) would fit into the back of a Smart Car. (Oh, the irony.)

[silverojo]

3. They should re-open as Cindy Sheehan souvenir shops!

:evilgrin:

[izzie]

4. Nixon took a home in York Village Maine one summer and

no one even likes to recall it. Course he was only vice at that time.

[truthisfreedom]

5. "in what some say reflects the president's stinking popularity over the war in Iraq"

Yep. Stinking purty much sums it up.

[Donnachaidh]

6. Cry me a river Crawford

Why don't you blame it on the REAL culprit, rather than the peace activists? You backed a megalomaniac and LOST.

boo freaking hoo.

[susu369]

7. "I think the president's ratings will go up...."

Bill Johnson, owner of Crawford's largest gift shop, Yellow Rose, said he plans to continue running his store, which also sells crosses, saddles, guns and Western clothing in addition to coffee mugs, T-shirts and other souvenirs.

"I think the president's ratings will go up, and when that happens, the sales go up," he said.

===

Yeah, right.

[twilight_sailing]

16. I've got some old tech stocks

I'd like to sell to this guy. ;)

[Lisa]

22. no kidding -- anyone got any Enron shares they'd like to unload?

I suspect most Americans feel the same way about Bush's popularity ratings.

[flamingpie2500]

8. Seeing as how they built that ranch practically overnight, the town is probably fake too.

In 2008 he will walk away from that place like it never existed. Leaving them all--just like he left the Katrina Victims.

[LiberalFighter]

15. I doubt that his ranch is subject to property taxes or any other taxes

[POAS]

9. Crawford may be the only place

that will be willing to take the Bush Library.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. They could put it in one of the back rooms of a souvenir shop

"Billy Bob's Souvenir Shoppe and Bu$h Lie-brary"

[Vinca]

11. Maybe they should stock a few "Impeach Bush" tee's. nt

[zbdent]

12. Crawford will pick up before too long ...

when the "ranch" puts a "For Sale" sign in the yard 1/22/2009 ... probably get a bargain on land before not too long after that ...

[Justice]

13. Hah! I was just in Little Rock for the first time - town doing very well

the Clinton library is stunning. The gift shop was doing a brisk business!

[Tesha]

19. How tragic for them. (NT)

[Lisa]

20. "when he retires, people who are endeared to him will want to come to Crawford"

Well, I guess they won't need a hotel in town, then -- Bush's folks would normally bunk at his house, wouldn't they? I can't think of anyone else, even his former associates, who would want to make the trip.

[ryanmuegge]

24. Hey, this is just a consequence of the "free market" all of you Texans praise so much, eh?

[mainer]

25. Wanna bet Bush sells it after his presidency's over?

He bought the pig farm to make himself look like a real rancher. Once he no longer needs to keep up appearances, I'm betting that he'll never set foot in Crawford again.

[Thor_MN]

26. The pig farm will undoubtedly be bought by poppy's pals for 4 times it's value

within the next year and a half. Time to give * a little payback corporate friendly policies.

[freethought]

27. Hometown? WTF?

Wasn't * born in Connecticut? New Haven, I believe.
Attention Crawford! Your "homeboy's" roots are as northeastern yankee establishment as you get!
Get a clue!