While at his ranch in Crawford Texas following his two-day meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vice President *** Cheney went to Arlington to pay tribute to veterans.

At yesterday's tribute to veterans at Arlington Cemetery, expecting to see our President, the crowd of veterans found Vice President Cheney stepping in for President Bush. In a 10-minute speech, Cheney said soldiers from World War I to "the current fight against terrorism" have served their country valiantly and "kept us free at the land we call home. Free to live as we see fit, free to work, worship, speak our minds, to choose our own leaders," the vice president said. "May the rest of us never take them for granted."

So who is the leader of the free world and who is the real supporter and defender of those who have volunteered to risk their lives for this country's freedoms?  Apparently, Vice President Cheney. 

President Bush has spent four of the past six Veterans Days at Arlington National Cemetery.  He spent this Veterans Day -- his fifth since the invasion of Iraq -- in Texas, at a ceremony for four Texans who died in Iraq.

And who does the President represent? The United States of America or the great state of Texas?  Apparently, Bush won't mess with Texas!