The president and first lady return to the White House following a three day absence which included a stay at the Bush ranch at taxpayers expense.
President Bush was in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Monday, speaking at a dedication ceremony for the Oklahoma City National Memorial Center. The museum honors the victims of the terrorist bombing which took place nearly six years ago. On April 19, 1995 a truck bomb destroyed most of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 victims.
There was a moment of silence for all the victims, lasting for 168 seconds, during which the president could be heard lightly snoring. Later he spoke to the somber crowd.
"There was perhaps no greater a tragical event than the bombing of the Alfred E. Neuman building," the president said, using the name of the Mad magazine figurehead in place of the correct building title.
While the president did not mention convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh, he did warn that Americans should watch out for the disturbed. "Many tragistic events could have been prevented by reporting on the activities of the deranged. Like the shootings in our schools. Or, as some have suggested, my election as president."
Timothy McVeigh, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 16th at a federal prison in Indiana. It will be the first federal execution in 37 years.
The irony is not lost on Bush, who oversaw a record breaking number of executions while governor of Texas.
"I would like to thank everyone involved for waiting until I was president for this execution," said a beaming Bush. "This is the bestest present I could have ever hoped for. I thinks it's long overdue for federal executionisms to begin solving this nations problems."
