Posted on 08/18/2005 9:36:20 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Singin' The Crawford Blues
By Lisa Fabrizio
August 18, 2005
If it's August and the press is languishing in Crawford, Texas, it's time for the annual Bush vacation media bash. This means that unless there's a kidnapping or runaway bride story to hold the nation's interest, the media will instead launch into their favorite summer pastime; turning the president's visit home into a four-week sentence of derision and contempt.
The media seem not only offended that the president has the audacity to take a month off but that he persists in doing so in the middle of media nowhere. Unlike Bill Clinton who, until he left office, had no private residence to call home, President Bush dares prefer the dry dust of Texas to the haughty climes of chic, liberal playgrounds.
Beginning with his first year in office, his month-long trek to Crawford has occasioned wrath and scorn from the left and their media wing. Barely six months into his first term, USA Today was already chiding (web site) with the headline, "Poll Finds Most are Put Off by Bush Vacation." They immediately tagged him as another lazy cowboy:
Bush's advisers are sensitive to the perception that he doesn't work as hard as some of his predecessors. If Bush returns as scheduled on Labor Day, he'll tie a modern record for presidential absence from the White House -- held by Richard Nixon at 30 days. Ronald Reagan took trips as long as 28 days.
Gratuitous though it was of them to include Nixon and Reagan, there was no mention of President Clinton's frequent soirees which, when covered by the press, often included posed photo-ops of romantic hand-holding or dreamy beach-dancing with his devoted bride and hob-nobbing with Hollywood celebrities. No such treatment is accorded Bush in Crawford as the only thing he brushes up against is brush.
A year later, USA Today returned (web site) to it's now-favorite subject, this time with, "Bush Vacation Plans Draw Heat from Democrat," reporting that, "A leading Democrat criticized President Bush on Tuesday for planning to spend a month at his Texas ranch while the stock market plunges and foreign affairs remain volatile."
In 2003 CBS's website registered (web site) with a little ditty called "Bush Vacation Is Over," where we learned that, "Vacation is over for President Bush, who is back at the White House with a long list of pressing issues awaiting his attention," which of course went on to discuss neglected budget deficits and volatile foreign affairs.
In the August run-up to the '04 election CBS, in an otherwise even-handed piece, (web site) nonetheless couldn't resist citing a DNC press release titled, "George W. Bush: Taking Vacation, Not Responsibility." They dutifully went on to note his total ranch days to date as 254, adding, "The Democratic National Committee loves to needle Mr. Bush about the time spent at his ranch."
And a rollicking 2004 piece by Fred Kaplan in Slate called, "The Out-of-Towner," (web site) posited that Bush's 2001 vacation may have been responsible for 9/11. Kaplan explained "how our government let disaster happen" and concluded, "The 9/11 commission has unveiled many critical problems in the FBI and the CIA. But the most critical problem may have been that the president was off duty."
This year's serving of sour ranch dressing takes on historic proportions as the Washington Post headline screams, "Vacationing Bush Poised to Set a Record." (web site) And, to clarify his position in the slacker hall of fame alongside you-know-who, the subtitle reads, "With Long Sojourn at Ranch, President on His Way to Surpassing Reagan's Total."
In a rare departure, the Post actually makes reference to Mr. Bush's predecessor: "Bill Clinton, lacking a home of his own, borrowed a house on Martha's Vineyard, except for two years when political adviser Dick Morris nudged him into going to Jackson, Wyoming, before his reelection because it polled better."
What the Post fails to mention however is President Clinton's own record-setting performance (web site) as the all time globe-trotting president, especially during the time of his impeachment. Clinton's total of foreign trips--business and pleasure--nearly eclipsed those of his three predecessors combined, at a cost of untold millions to the American people.
Typical of the media's treatment of Clinton was in 1998 when he jetted off to Africa with 1,302 of his closest friends. He was generally let off the hook for his role (web site) in the hideous genocide in Rwanda because, after all, he apologized for slavery, didn't he?
No; media mockery and derision are reserved for he who merely wishes to eschew Beltway bloodsuckers for boots and barbecue. With the Congress and most of DC scattered to the winds until fall, those unfortunate enough to be stuck covering the president will continue to bemoan their lot and bewail his sloth.
In truth, what they really despise is having to endure the 100 degree heat, suffer Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld's ill-advised attempts at cowboy-wear and, worst of all, breathe the insufferable air of red-state America.
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Lisa Fabrizio is a columnist who hails from Connecticut.
Ah, yes, our wonderful "what do the polls say" president. One of the things I admired about President Reagan was that he loved his ranch, and I also admire that about President Bush. Two great presidents who know what life's priorities are.
By the way, for being on "vacation" President Bush sure has been getting a lot done.
Where did Peanut Boy go for his down time?
Not that anybody knew he was gone.
A Cowboy does more in one day (read pre-dawn to dark) the any leftist scumbag does in a week, maybe 2 weeks.
LOL! Probably spent time out on the lake, hunting for that man-eating rabbit!
I don't remember ever hearing about it, or thinking about it, (or caring about it). He may have gone back to his farm, too.
Maybe their Crawford air conditioners could be made to short or otherwise malfunction?
Particularly aggravating is how the libs have been divising ways to disrupt the President when he is in Texas. Last year, we had the Max Cleland grandstanding, and now this year we've got Sheehan.
Another annoyance is how the stays at the ranch are termed "vacation". The President never really has a vacation. Leaving a plot of land in D.C. does not mean he is on vacation. I don't know what the mental block is with people on this issue. This is the 21st Century. We can work anywhere thanks to rapid travel and computers. Many of us have family members that live on opposite sides of the country and perhaps even the world. A lot of people no longer have an office and a desk. If they can do it, I'm sure the President can, too.
Get you some rest GW. We want you fresh for fighting these left wing nut cases.
Hear, hear!
That work was probably more interesting, too. That's the killer. And then after dusk I come on here and Freep a while from the back porch.
The media and other assorted fools can say what they want.Wherever W is,24/7/365,he's at work.
The White House goes with him.And of course the press and other assorted kooks make it their mission in life to give him no peace.
He has the strengh of faith and character that gets him through it all somehow.
Somehow .. I doubt it
And the Press/Media sound like prissy little girls
Tell ya what .. When Congress stops taking ALL of their breaks and actually works a WHOLE week .. then let's talk about the President going on vacation
Those fancy pants candy asses aren't worth a drop of Texas spit.
:)
The stupid media tries to make Crawford and Central Texas sound like a desert....Wouldn't these morons really be in a tizzy if the President owned a ranch outside Midland/Odessa.....or even better... say Fort Stockton, Van Horn or Marfa!
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