We Can't Handle the Truth?

There may now be a new rule: Never get in the way of President Bush heading for his soft down pillow.

Seems Vice President Cheney , in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Monday, landed at Andrews Air Force Base at 8:10 p.m. -- a full two minutes before Air Force One touched down.

But being president means never having to wait your turn. So Bush bounded down the steps, our colleague Peter Baker reports, and onto his chopper before Cheney's entourage even realized what was happening. Marine One quickly powered up, forcing Marine Two to sit on the tarmac until the top bird lifted off.

Marine Two waited barely a minute longer before taking off, producing a rare moment when both presidential and vice presidential helicopters were in the air, flying almost in tandem back into the city.

Cheney may have been disoriented after engaging in an unusual activity -- actually hanging with reporters on his plane during a "surprise" celebration of his 100th fundraiser this election cycle. His staff got a cake marked "100 -- on to victory," and when everyone was in place, summoned the veep from his private cabin to party.

He cut one piece of cake and stayed for a minute or so. A reporter asked which of the 100 was the most memorable. Cheney thought for a moment and said: "Stuff from 30 years ago is easier to remember. The rest is a blur." Then he returned to his cabin.

Unclear if he had any cake, but, if he did, might have slowed him on the tarmac.