Whatever happened to Ernie, Bush's 6-Toed Cat? Dumped on the way to W.H.

[kskiska]

Like his namesake, Ernest Hemingway, Ernie has six toes on each foot

Ernie, a tomcat, was found, hiding in a tree, by Spot, the First Dog. Ernie, an orange and white cat, was named after Ernest Hemingway because, like the famous author, Ernie has six toes on each foot. In April 2001, Ernie was kicked out of the White House for his wild ways (among his crimes: shredding White House furniture). Ernie was taken in by Bush family friends in California.

http://www.biography.com/animalographies/presidential-pets.jsp

Then he ran away…

Ernie the cat found!

April 10, 2001 | Since the saga of Ernie the cat has gotten its share of attention from RVB readers, we're happy to provide this update from the Associated Press:

President Bush's former cat, missing for weeks, turned up in the dead of night Wednesday strolling Los Angeles' Avenue of the Stars.

By Wednesday afternoon, the orange and white tabby cat was back with Bush fundraiser Brad Freeman and "doing interviews," first lady Laura Bush's office announced at the White House.

http://archive.salon.com/politics/red/2001/04/10/blue/index.html

(snip)

Lost But Now Found: Barney sibling Ernie the cat, who had been missing for more than 3 weeks in L.A., was found in the wee hours strolling along the city's Avenue of the Stars, First Lady Laura Bush's office announced. A security guard who located the president's kittie got a $1,000 reward. The First Lady's spokeswoman said: "Mrs. Bush is delighted that Ernie is back in the good hands of Brad Freeman," the family friend who took Ernie in after the cat was deemed too wild for the White House furniture. "We're pretty confident that Ernie is going to be safe this time."--ABCNews.com, 4/10/01

http://bushybarney.tripod.com/news0301.htm

And apparently, this donor doesn't much care for Ernie:

(snip)

Freeman said he uses different pitches in asking for money, all depending on whom he is talking to, and that he would never do it but for his friendship with Bush.

"Would I rather go to the dentist?" Freeman mused. "Probably."

And what of Ernie? "Unfortunately, the cat's still alive," Freeman intoned. "So it's what I've got for the next four years."

Or at least until the fundraising for Bush's library begins.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/11/29/letter_ed3__7.php?page=2

[gateley]

1. Cheney shot him. nt

[Olney Blue]

2. "strolling the Avenue of Stars in LA?"

Come on. :eyes:

[MADem]

3. The poor cat is a Democrat...and living with a GOP fundraiser is like doing a Gitmo stretch NT

[JohnnyLib2]

4. Ran off with Socks and joined the Green Party.

:shrug: