WESTLAKE, Ohio, Oct. 28 -- As the president's entourage traveled by helicopter from Troy, Mich., to Saginaw this morning, one of the choppers carrying equipment and some members of the White House staff suddenly plunged.
The craft recovered after a few seconds, but it must have seemed like much longer to those aboard, a couple of whom were reported to be praying or crying. Early indications are the problem occurred when the helicopter blades hit a bird.
President Bush was not on the craft that suffered the bird strike.
Upon arrival in Westlake from Saginaw, Bush was unlikely to encounter any such mishaps.
That's because demonstrators stationed outside the park where the president is scheduled to speak have erected a huge inflatable rat, which, if nothing else, should frighten away the geese.
