Press Have Difficulty at Bush's Ranch
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's fairly obvious by now that President Bush is not overly fond of Washington. Clearly, he prefers to stay at his Texas ranch near Crawford whenever possible. But for the news reporters, the closest accommodations are in Waco. CNN's Dana Bash explains what it's like to cover the most powerful man in the world when he chooses to be in the middle of nowhere.</s>DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the third August of the Bush pilgrimage to Crawford. The president heads for his 1600 acre ranch, it will be five days until he re-emerges. Some five miles down a windy prairie road, inside the Crawford middle school, the White House press corps. TV and radio on one side of the blue curtain, scribblers on the other. Equipped for the thirsty, the hungry, ice cream to their hearts content. Here in the gym, an occasional read on presidential doings.</s>SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: Including visiting with senior staff about important policy priorities, and spending some time on the ranch, clearing brush and fishing and exercising.</s>BASH (on camera): Exercising in this heat? It's so hot, you can see it. We report to you from standup row. And this is the picturesque field behind the school where we work. (voice-over): Crawford is a tiny town. More cacti than people. This year, the first bank opened, a new store. Still, no hotels. Where's the press corp to sleep? 25 miles away in Waco. Driving every morning, passing strip malls, fast food joints and billboards until the landscape changes, a welcome from a familiar face. For a while, the only amusement is watching NBC's thermometer to see how high it'll go. Then visitors. The president takes his guests to this restaurant, the only one in town. Before feeding them, he feeds the newsbies.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Elizabeth, you want to come over here?</s>BASH: After 32 minutes, they emerge.</s>COLIN POWELL, SEC. OF STATE: Eat burgers, what else?</s>BASH: Two days later, the media are called again, off we go. This time, to the ranch. The president in a second round of visiting officials face a press corps trying not to melt.</s>BUSH: Dana, and then Mark, and then we've got to get in before we have a heat stroke out here.</s>BASH: This from a man who's been running in 100 degree plus heat and gives T-shirts to all who endure it. What about the vice president?</s>BUSH: Dick Cheney - he's a great fly fisherman.</s>DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT: Not a member of the 100 degree club.</s>BASH: Don't worry, Mr. Cheney, neither are most of us. Dana Bash, CNN, Crawford, Texas.