Duck & Cover: Connecticut

President Bush was a big draw in his birth-state of Connecticut this week.

War opponents turned out to protest, Bush-backers turned out to counter protest. Coast Guard Cadets saluted their Commander in Chief as he delivered their commencement address -- billed for days as a major policy speech. Turns out, he rehashed the connection between Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The later died of a bad case of smart bomb last June.

But guess who wasn't there.

The state's Republican Governor -- Jodi Rell (pictured).

She says she just couldn't get out of a meeting with Massachusetts Gov Defal Patrick (D-MA).

Back during the 2006 campaign, we kept you posted on all the Republican politicians who ducked any appearance with Mr Bush -- fearful of a photo of the two together showing up in an opponent's campaign ad.

Looks like President Bush still has the "Duck and Cover" touch -- a year and a half before the next election. (The Day)