[guitarist]

Interesting article. A few points:

-Isn't Chait the one who wrote the "I hate Bush" column?

-He misses the point that Bush is trying to teach people: if I have time to exercise, so do you. Chait is worried about, theoretically, say, a terrorist attack while Bush is out running laps. By the same token, the President ouught not to sleep, take a shower, or do anything else during which one can't easily be interrupted. Kind of silly.

-He also misses a HUGE point. Bush was talking to Wilkinson, his oldest interviewee. It's as if to say, if I am going to appoint you, you can't go off retiring or croaking on me in ten years!

I rather liked the fact that Bush asked him about exercise. But I don't begrudge Chait his column.

[guitarist]

How do I get this on the SCOTUS list???

[MeanWestTexan]

I ask potential employees about exercise habits.

I've even driven by and checked out their lawns.

Slovernly people in private life are slovernly workers.

[sydbas]

Doesn't Chait have anything better to 'opine' about than this idiotic piece of tripe? The depth of liberal Bush bashing has no limits. I'm mad at myself wor waisting time reading it.

[VRWCmember]

Am I the only person who finds this disturbing? I don't mean the fact that Bush would vet his selection for the highest court in the land in part on something utterly trivial. That's expected. What I mean is the fact that Bush has an obsession with exercise that borders on the creepy.

What is disturbing about it Chait? That during an interview the President would talk about something "trivial" like exercise? There's nothing creepy about being human and including things other than judicial philosophies in the conversation.

As for the notion that Bush "has an obsession with exercise that borders on the creepy", Chait must really have some deeply held aversion to physical fitness. For some people, exercise is a daily routine. Is there something creepy about that? Certainly not. I'll be the first to admit that I am out of shape and don't exercise nearly enough. That hardly makes me find it creepy that some people exercise almost religiously. It seems to me that Chait is so desperate to find something to criticize that he has to take an admirable example of discipline and healthy behavior and try to couch it as something "creepy". Chait is obviously the one with creepy issues here -- not the President.

[Getready]

Chait is the guy who wrote that he hates Bush, with a "hate that is white-hot"....I think the quote is fairly accurate, but may not be verbatim.
Mr. Chiat, I worry about someone who hates as much as you do, hate is much worse than exercise.......get help fast.

[floozy22]

It's nice for Bush that he can take an hour or two out of every day to run, bike or pump iron. Unfortunately, most of us have more demanding jobs than he does.

Oh yes, the presidency is not a demanding job. That's why all presidents age about 20 years when they've completed their terms. Putz.

[floozy22]

It's nice for Bush that he can take an hour or two out of every day to run, bike or pump iron. Unfortunately, most of us have more demanding jobs than he does.

Oh yes, the presidency is not a demanding job. That's why all presidents age about 20 years when they've completed their terms. Putz.

[E Rocc]

Interesting criticism, considering that Clinton's exercise habits seemed to consist of jogging to McDonald's or to a mistress's apartment.

-Eric

[CyberAnt]

I agree with all your points.

And .. why wouldn't a President want to know about the health of a person he's going to nominate to a position for life ..?? I don't see anything "creepy" about it.

People who think that way are usually those who don't exercise themselves, and therefore consider anybody who does "creepy". Hmmmmm?? Maybe he didn't get the DNC memo .. the word is "extreme".

This is just more of the PETTY sniping from the left.

[GeorgiaYankee]

Jonathan Chait

[Wonder Warthog]

"Chait is worried about, theoretically, say, a terrorist attack while Bush is out running.."

Mr. Chait is obviously clueless, not realizing that the Secret Service guys are literally "within arm's reach" ALL THE TIME when Bush is out, with instant communcations ready to go.

[1L]

I swear, they will take a swipe over anything. What's next? His bedtime?

If Bill Clinton had done the saem thing, this freakin' idiot would praise him for bettering the health of all Americans.

[SupplySider]

I'd bet $1000 that the author used to deride President Reagan for his long hours of sleep and afternoon naps, too

I want a president who is, as the Boy Scout oath says, "physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight".

Give me a president who gets enough rest and exercise, and keeps his mind at its best for the important decision making.

What a contrast from Democrat presidents. Carter and Clinton wowed us with their frat boy all nighters and workaholic hours, and got almost all the important policies wrong.

[rector seal]

Sometimes he runs to keep his promises.

http://www.techcentralstation.com/071504C.html

[alwaysconservative]

Am I the only person who finds this disturbing?

Yes, Jonathon Chait, you are. You are "unique", perhaps "obsessed past the point of reason", and mostly, you're just "special" in your own way. We don't hold that against you. Now, go and try to play well with the other children.

[ctdonath2]

Am I the only one interpreting "He warned me of impending doom" as referring to something of, er, greater presidential concern than clogged arteries?