Gorbachev to help elder Bush celebrate birthday

MOSCOW -- Mikhail Gorbachev, whose 1991 resignation cemented the Soviet Union's breakup during the administration of former President George H.W. Bush, will attend the elder Bush's 80th birthday celebration in the United States next month -- but he won't join him in a parachute jump, the Interfax news agency reported.

Bush invited the last Soviet president to his birthday during a visit to Moscow last year, Interfax quoted Gorbachev aide Vladimir Polyakov as saying.

Bush, a former Navy pilot who bailed from a crippled plane during World War II, has gone skydiving twice for fun since 1997 and plans another jump, in Texas, to mark his 80th birthday.

"He asked Gorbachev to jump with him, but this idea was politely refused," Interfax quoted Polyakov as saying. "Gorbachev said he's rather greet Bush on the ground, with flowers."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2587900

where George Sr. moves next door to Homer

No doubt he'll jump for joy. It'll be such a special occassion for all Americans, won't it?

Oh well, at least Bush the Elder but not Wiser is jumping out of a plane tomorrow.

Here's hoping he forgets his parchute when he jumps.

It's good to know he's still doing SOMETHING...even though he's going to an asshole's birthday party...