President Bush arrives in Seattle

President Bush spoke to about 400 people at a private fundraiser in Medina this morning, weaving stories about the history of the Oval Office with his hopes for democracy in the Middle East.

Guests began arriving at the 8,000-square-foot mansion belonging to Microsoft corporate Vice President Peter Neupert and his wife, Sheryl, at about 7:30 a.m. There was a long table spread out with coffee, bagels and fruit, but the president was the star attraction, said Diane Tebelius, chairwoman of the Washington State Republican Party.

"This was ablsolutely the best political event I've been to, and I've been to a few in my life," she said.

After contributors paid $10,000 for a photograph with the president, Bush gave a 45-minute speech, describing how various occupants of the White House approached the job, as well as humorous stories of the Kennedy children romping around their father's desk. He also mentioned the opposition Abraham Lincoln faced as he led the nation through the Civil War.

During a recent White House meeting with Iraqi businessmen maimed by Saddam Hussein, Bush recalled, he told them to go back home and build their own democracy.

"He couldn't have been any nicer," enthused Tebelius.

The event was expected to raise as much as $800,000 for Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Bellevue, who is facing his first re-election bid this November, and the Republican Party.

Meanwhile, Democratic boosters heralded their candidate, political novice Darcy Burner, at a rally at Westlake Center in downtown Seattle.

Burner told a crowd of about 300 party faithful that Reichert was a loyal vote for a misguided president.

"I am going to stop George Bush," she said. "I am going to defeat Dave Reichert in November because he will never stop George Bush."

Bush arrived at Boeing Field aboard Air Force One at 9:46 a.m. today. Among those greeting the president at the airport was state Sen. Luke Esser, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn and Spc. Dylan Sheaffer, an Issaquah soldier whose two brothers also serve in the military. His parents, James and Sheryl Sheaffer, also attended.

Also on hand was Norma McQuiller, a volunteer mentor with Communities in Schools of Renton, who Bush presented with the President's Volunteer Service Award.

In the receiving line, Esser said he shook the president's hand, and asked him about sports. "I said 'Welcome to the land of the Seattle Seahawks.' I asked if there's anything he could do about the horrible officiating at the Super Bowl. The president just shrugged."

Sheryl Sheaffer said she exchanged positive words with Bush.

"He thanked me for my family's sacrifice and said stay strong, we're winning the war because of families like ours."

She said shaking hands with the commander in chief was a high honor. "He's my sons' boss. I finally got to meet my sons' boss. It was very thrilling."

Before taking off from Boeing Field, Bush met privately with Brian and Shellie Starr of Snohomish, whose son, Marine Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, was killed in Iraq last year.

Bush met with the Starr family for about twenty minutes at the King County Airport. At about 12:40 p.m., he bypassed a waiting limousine and walked the tarmac to Air Force One, accompanied by a small group of aides and security. Before he got to the plane, rain began to fall in sheets, soaking the president as he continued to wave to well-wishers.

At 12:50 p.m., Air Force One took to the skies, carrying the president to another fundraiser in New Mexico.

Staff reporters Alex Fryer, Ashley Bach, Susan Gilmore and Jim Brunner contributed to this story.