"And that's where we'll build the walk-in closet." Credit: White House photo by Eric Draper

Straight from the “haven’t you got bigger things to worry about?” files: it seems that the Crawford ranch (a.k.a. the world’s biggest producer of cleared brush) has got into a sartorial kerfuffle.

Marques Harper wrote a fairly innocuous story for the Austin-American Statesman and the Waco Tribune Herald about President Bush‘s fashion statements. However, according to the Washington Post, the day after it ran in Waco, she got a call. From the White House.

It seems White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino phoned Harper to complain about him comparing the Presidential garb to Chuck Norris (seriously, like anyone can compare to the man Bruce Lee called America’s best martial artist). The positive side is that at least the White House press office is keeping track of what the Central Texas media is saying.

All of which reminds Chronic of the last time former Clinton campaign adviser and Longhorn alum Paul Begala was in town, talking to the students of UT. “What’s the difference between my ranch and his?” asked Begala of the crowd. “Mine actually has cattle on it.”

This article appears in August 17 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.