sisyphusshrugged | there's free publicity and there's free publicity

and the free publicity you want is probably not the free publicity you get when you have the state police and the secret service turn away the triple-amputee veteran, among the many whose service you've slandered for political purposes, at the permanent roadblock outside your ~~vacation bunker~~ ranch

Former Democratic Sen. Max Cleland tried to deliver a letter protesting ads challenging John Kerry's Vietnam service to President Bush at his Texas ranch Wednesday, but neither a Secret Service official nor a state trooper would take it.

The former Georgia senator, a triple amputee who fought in Vietnam, was carrying a letter from nine Senate Democrats who wrote Bush that "you owe a special duty" to condemn attacks on Kerry's military service.

"The question is where is George Bush's honor, the question is where is his shame to attack a fellow veteran who has distinguished himself in combat?" Cleland asked. "Regardless of the political combat involved, it's disgraceful."

Encountering a permanent roadblock to Bush's ranch, Cleland left without turning over the letter to anyone.

"I have a letter signed by nine members of the U.S. Senate, all of whom have served honorably and I'd like to hand it to a responsible officer here on the gate," Cleland said as he tried to deliver it to security personnel at the roadblock. He accused a member of the president's security detail of trying to evade him.

"I am just going to return the letter and make sure it gets in the mail," Cleland said as he returned to his car.

Yep, triple-amputee veteran just sitting in a wheelchair in the sun while the rich boy who stayed home sits inside the summer place - damned if he isn't on vacation again - and refuses to see him.

This oughta play big with the red states.

You lucky duckies get to read the letter before Our Fearless Leader does.