Bush Farewell Message to Media Has Familiar Ring

Vice President George Bush poked some fun at himself and at the media traveling with him Monday, giving them a recorded farewell message.

In the message, played aboard the media jet, Bush used a string of his well-worn campaign slogans and the stump-speech lines reporters know by heart.

The tape was played as Bush and the press charter flew to his adopted home state of Texas for Election Day from his final campaign stop in St. Louis.

“We’ve come a long way together,” he said. “We’ve solved the vision thing. You never use the ‘W’ word around me any more.” He was referring to his tendency to use “thing” as a catchall word and the “wimp” label that dogged him early in the campaign.

He said he knew reporters had worked long and hard hours away from their homes and families to cover him.

“I’ve seen you rushing with the cameras and the mikes when I unexpectedly walk one way instead of another,” he said. “And I’ve seen all this and looked at you and thought: ‘Tough, too bad, who cares. It’s your problem, get a raise. Get a real job, get a haircut.’ ”