Prometheus 6

"I came because George Bush was coming down here and I wanted to see him," said 48-year-old Douglas Stewart of nearby Freedom, who had a U.S. flag attached to his ballcap. "I helped put him in office twice. I'm proud to say I did."

Thunderous Okla. applause greets Bush on July 4
By MURRAY EVANS
The Associated Press
Sunday, July 5, 2009 1:52 AM

WOODWARD, Okla. -- Former President George W. Bush was greeted by thunderous applause on the Fourth of July as he told thousands of spectators in a rural Oklahoma rodeo arena that the U.S. was "the greatest nation on the face of the earth."

Bush was given six standing ovations as he spoke on a warm, humid evening in GOP-friendly Woodward, a town of about 12,000 residents in northwest Oklahoma and the latest in a handful of out-of-the-way places Bush has visited since leaving office.

During a 30-minute speech mostly devoid of political references - he mentioned his successor, Barack Obama, just once in passing - Bush thanked members of the military, spoke about the bravery of injured soldiers he'd met and told stories of people in difficult situations helping others.

"Patriotism comes in all different kinds of forms," he said. "Freedom is beautiful, freedom is precious, freedom must always be defended."

He also joked with the crowd, telling them it was "nice of you to give a retired guy something to do." The former Texas governor even briefly talked football, saying "all I ask is you take it easy on the Longhorns next year," referring to the heated rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma.

Woodward Mayor Bill Fanning estimated about 6,500 people attended Bush's speech. The former president surprised city leaders by accepting their invitation to speak at festivities celebrating the $25 million renovation of a local park.

Seats for the speech - held at a rodeo arena built in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration - ranged from $25 up to $500 for the "Oval Office Ticket" in the first rows with VIP parking and complimentary beverages. Event promoter Landon Laubhan declined to say how much Bush was getting paid to speak.