Posted on 08/03/2006 10:25:57 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
WASHINGTON -- Heading for his Texas ranch, President Bush is taking his shortest summer vacation yet with turmoil in the Middle East and an uncertain future for his Republican Party in fall elections.
Bush left Washington Thursday with a wave, but will return nine days later to tend to the problems abroad and at home that are weighing on his presidency. White House spokesman Tony Snow said the president will travel frequently during August _ a contrast to previous summers when he has spent more time on his ranch and based all his travels from Texas.
The White House fought the image that the president would be tuned out even temporarily to problems in the Middle East, where there was no end in sight to fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was going to the ranch during his first weekend in Texas.
"My guess is he's going to be working pretty hard," Snow said. "So this is not something where he's simply going to be gallivanting and ignoring the realities of the situation."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
A: Anywhere he bloody well wishes.
I only wish the MSM was going to spend longer stewing in Crawford. You can bet the press won't thank 43 for cutting his stay short.
There they go again....Presidents, technically, don't get "vacations." What with daily briefings, a large contingent of White House staff, meetings, and the like, Bush gets an hour or two to go out and chainsaw a tree or so, but it really isn't the kind of vacation the rest of us, including members of the press, enjoy.
The MSM will still find a way to be indignant about this just like they always are. 9 days will still be too excessive a vacation for a man with the most stressful job in the history of mankind. Of course Clinton spending 3 weeks out of the year on a golf course or at "get in touch with your feelings" retreats in Hiltonhead SC, that was a-okay. And Clinton making over 140+ political fundraising trips in 1998 to help line up the Democratic party behind him during the impeachment year, yeah, that was Clinton doing the "important work of the American people" as he claimed impeachment was distracting him from.
Poor Cindy Sheehan will only have 9 days to grandstand for the media in Crawford. I thought she was renting a house this year as well? Oh well
Nedra Pickler is a real PITA, isn't she?
My God, the president, no matter who it is, is never really on vacation. The closest any of them come to that is a change of venue: Truman liked Key West, FDR went to Warm Springs, GA, Nixon enjoyed Key Biscayne.
At least Bush is going HOME.
Where did Mr. Clinton go? Little Rock? Hope, Ark? Nope. He went sailing with Walter Cronkite(Crankcase) in Martha's Vineyard.
Nedra, you are a few fries short of a "Happy Meal."
I don't get it....everytime Bush takes a break....which is never really a break....he gets criticized for it....no matter how long or short it is. When Clinton took a vacation...it was Mardi Gras...and we saw articles on how even the top executive needs a break once in awhile.....
They will hate not being able to cover "Camp Casey" and its hateful, anti-American occupants.
NEDRA PICKLER
WASHINGTON POST
No. No. And No. I'm all done listening to the liars.
And just who (or is it whom) is presenting this "image", mmmmmmm?
LIke Bush is sitting at the pool drinking scotch and soda. He's obviously at work wherever he goes.
If this had been a Democrat president, they'd be calling the place "The Texas White House."
I’m curious -— historically, what was the nature of other presidents’ vacations who were serving during time of war? I’l have to google that and see if I can find out. If anyone knows, I’d be curious to know.
Gallivanting. A wonderful word.
The Clinton’s didn’t own a vacation retreat. They always mooched off of other people.
Looks like Truman took vacation cruises during the Korean War, but I haven’t been able to find any confirmation of FDR’s vacation habits during WWII. Campobello seems to be his preferred place to vacation, but I’m not sure when, or how often, he took vacations there or anywhere during war.
Yes, the Clintons were superb moochers.
Remember the cruise on Mr. Cronkite’s boat in Martha’s Vineyard...just days after Bill revealed his “relationship” with Monica? What a riot.
“Character is a journey.”
One of my very favorite Bill Clinton rationalizations.
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