Mr. President, Why Skip Vermont?
In nearly eight years, Bush has been to every state except Vermont.
Aug. 24, 2007 — -- Vermont's got ice cream, maple syrup, lumberjacks and some of the Northeast's best skiing.
What the Green Mountain State doesn't have is a visit from the president and Vermonters are none too pleased about getting the cold shoulder from the leader of the free world.
If Air Force One gave frequent flyer miles, President Bush would have a platinum card. In six years, he's been to 62 countries, some of them more than once.
At home, he's been to 49 of the 50 states, many of them more than once.
Vermonters, who have a reputation for leaning a bit to the left, have their own ideas why the president has never visited.
"I think he understands the people of Vermont have strong disagreements with his views," Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ind.-Vt., said.
Vermonters tend to be eco-smart and gay-friendly, having legalized civil unions in 2000 — it's the second state to legally recognize same-sex partnerships. And unlike Bush's Texans, Vermonters prefer Birkenstock sandals to cowboy boots.
Per capita, Vermont has lost more sons in Iraq than any other state.
Biking and Ice Cream: Who Could Ask for More?
A popular vacation destination, Vermont offers top-notch skiing in the winter, boating on Lake Champlain in the summer and hundreds of miles of biking trails.
But it seems Bush would sooner ride his bike in Europe than the Green Mountain State.
This month, the president told reporters he'd even consider vacationing in France, if his new friend, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, invited him.
"Course I would go. Absolutely. Especially if he could find me a place to ride my mountain bike," Bush said.
But Vermonters argue that Bush could practically ride his bike from Kennebunkport, Maine.
"We've got some of the greatest places for mountain biking you'll find. Certainly more challenging than the flatlands of Texas," Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said.
If scenic bike trails aren't enough, Vermont is the home of ice cream tycoons Ben & Jerry. One of the company founders Ben Cohen has created an array of ice cream sundaes in an attempt to entice a presidential visit.
"Two scoops on the left and one scoop on the extreme left, and I believe that one is Rocky Rove," Cohen said, pointing to a couple of sundaes.
For now, though, the president seems to be sticking to his Bluebell ice cream, straight from the heart of Texas.