Bush didn't want inconveniencing THOUSANDS of commuters to get in they way of his duty.
Coming from WaPo:
Wouldn't it be nice to have the highway all to yourself? All alone during rush hour, whizzing down Interstate 395 with not a single car or bus to get in your way? Alas, even the leader of the free world doesn't get that kind of treatment.
Not that he didn't ask.
On Tuesday, the Secret Service asked Virginia officials if they would be kind enough to shut down all of the HOV lanes on I-395 from 1 to 7p.m. the next day so President Bush could get where he needed to be, according to state officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of discussing the president's travel.
The story is
HERE
Next, they will want POV (Presidential Occupancy Vehicle) lanes.
More from WaPo:
The request was made ahead of a fundraiser for Sen. George Allen, R-Va., held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at a house near Mount Vernon--a good hour's drive from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. during a typical rush hour.
snip...
An e-mail prepared by state experts who monitor traffic captures the issue:
``There will be approximately 8,600 cars using the HOV lanes over a three hour period (4 to 7pm). This equates to approximately 20,000 to 22,000 people. If the HOV lanes are closed, according to the District's estimate the back up of traffic in the general purpose lanes will not be cleared until 10 p.m.''
In other words, a nearly endless traffic jam.
The Allen campaign denies any knowledge of the incident.
``I'm not aware of any such thing,'' campaign manager Dick Wadhams said. ``We would not have supported such a proposal. Oh my Lord. Wow. No. Not aware of any such proposal. Certainly grateful it didn't happen that way.''
It didn't, the state officials said, because folks in Virginia worked ``into the night'' to convince those in Washington of the commuter--and political--nightmare that could ensue, one Richmond official said.
Bravo for the diligent Virginia state officials. Although the resulting traffic jam would have been a PR disaster for Allen.