It was a Bush, Cheney family affair

By ANNE GEARAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
NEW YORK -- With patrician mannerisms and that instantly recognizable jawline, father George 41, son George 43 and some 80 other Bush relatives were proof this week that politics is the family business of a large and far-flung dynasty.
There are fewer Cheneys, but all of the vice president's immediate family was on hand for the Republican convention -- even an 8-week-old grandson.
For the big finale Thursday, three generations of each clan were onstage as President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney accepted the party nomination.
The tableau was scripted down to first daughter Jenna Bush's teasing references to family disciplinarian Ganny, known to non-Bushes as former first lady Barbara Bush.
Twins Jenna and Barbara Bush, 22 and fresh out of college, represented the full flowering of Team Bush.
Until now, the twins were seen rarely and heard never, and strictly off-limits for the press. The pair had daily campaign events at the convention, although the reviews weren't all good for a giggly stand-up routine introducing their mother in prime time Tuesday.
"I was actually very proud of my nieces," Doro Bush Koch, President Bush's sister, told The Associated Press this week. The twins "really just want to be young girls, be with their friends and move on with their lives, but because they love their mother so much they stood up."
Doro and Barbara Bush the elder made the rounds of Republican women's events, press interviews and other appearances this week, as did Lynne and daughter Liz Cheney. Less visible but here nonetheless were the president's brothers Neil and Marvin and their wives.
With all that love in the air, the few missing faces stood out.
Mary Cheney, the vice president's lesbian daughter, did not join her sister and the rest of her family in the hall Thursday night. There was no explanation, but her absence followed remarks from Illinois Republican Senate candidate Alan Keyes that, as a lesbian, she is a "selfish hedonist."
On Wednesday night, Mary Cheney had sat beside her lesbian partner in the family box to hear her father's acceptance speech, but did not appear with the rest of the family afterward for smiles and waves on stage.
Thegay couple simply left after the speech, and it was not clear whether they jumped out of the more visible onstage family picture or they were pushed.
Where was Jeb?
Also absent this week was Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who may have stayed away to avoid stoking rumors of a presidential run in 2008.
The Bush campaign said Jeb needed to tend to the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. Even if Jeb had been here he probably would have returned to Florida before his brother's acceptance speech Thursday. Hurricane Frances could hit Florida by Friday night and Jeb Bush has called out the National Guard.
No sign either of Jeb Bush's wife, Columba, who has stayed out of trouble since getting fined in 1999 for trying to sneak $19,000 worth of Parisian shopping past U.S. Customs.
Jeb and Columba's daughter Noelle wasn't here either. She entered rehab after a 2002 arrest for prescription drug fraud. Neither was another Bush niece, glamorous model Lauren Bush, who is working overseas. (Lauren's mother, the newly remarried Neil's bitter ex-wife, Sharon Bush, was most certainly not here.)
Noelle's brother George Prescott Bush probably picked up her share of appearances this week. George P., a cute and gawky 12-year-old when his grandfather took the oath of office in 1988, now lends hunk appeal and perfect conversational Spanish to the Viva Bush! Hispanic outreach campaign.
And so the dynasty goes on. There is, inevitably, talk of a presidential run for George P. in, say, 2016.
X Anne Gearan covered the Bush and Cheney families during the Republican National Convention.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.