Apparently Bush vacation critics "do not understand the modern presidency"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Bush's long vacations are more than a curiosity: They play into diametrically opposite arguments about this leadership style. To critics and late-night comics, they symbolize a lackadaisical approach to the world's most important day job, an impression bolstered by Bush's two-hour midday exercise sessions and his disinclination to work nights or weekends. The more vociferous among Bush's foes have noted that he spent a month at the ranch shortly before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when critics assert he should have been more attentive to warning signs.

To Bush and his advisers, that criticism fundamentally misunderstands his Texas sojourns. Those who think he does not remain in command, aides say, do not understand the modern presidency or Bush's own work habits. At the ranch, White House officials say, Bush continues to receive daily national security briefings, sign documents, hold teleconferences with aides and military commanders, and even meet with foreign leaders. And from the president's point of view, the long Texas stints are the best way to clear his mind and reconnect with everyday America.

"I'm looking forward to getting down there and just kind of settling in," Bush told reporters from Texas newspapers during a roundtable interview at the White House on Monday. "I'll be doing a lot of work. On the other hand, I'll also be kind of making sure my Texas roots run deep."

"Spending time outside of Washington always gives the president a fresh perspective of what's on the minds of the American people,"White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters Friday. "It's a time, really, for him to shed the coat and tie and meet with folks out in the heartland and hear what's on their minds."

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050804/REPOSITORY/508040341/1013/NEWS03

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

1. "Bush continues to receive daily national security briefings"

Did he forget to read the August 6th, 2001 Brief cause he was too busy with other things? :sarcasm:

[unblock]

7. note they said he continues to RECEIVE briefings

always careful not to imply that he understands them or takes and action regarding them....

but yes, i'm sure he does receive them.


then again, jimmy carter and bill clinton and poppy also continue to receive such briefings as well, don't they?

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

8. haha, so true! and its careful to not imply he even reads them

although Dick probably does

[mattclearing]

2. Yeah, with all the town hall meetings he does...

...you know, that haven't been screened by the RNC for loyalty oaths and the like.

:eyes:

[shoelace414]

3. he didn't once meet with George Tenet in August 2001

because George Tenet, like the rest of the support staff for the president LIVES IN WASHINGTON DC.

[non sociopath skin]

4. In my experience, the Neocons don't understand the modern janitor ...

... or factory worker ... or checkout operator .... or office worker ... or bank clerk ... or fast-foot worker ... or hotel maid ... or a lot of other folk who'd like good working conditions and meaningful vacations.

But I'm sure they don't grudge their leader his well-earned rest-time.

:sarcasm:

The skin

[Captain Hilts]

5. I understand the White House moves where he goes...

but that still doesn't explain the short working hours while at the White House or why he's been out at recess when a couple of major incidents took place.

[FloridaPat]

6. The repubs are trying to get everything back to the 1800's. Lest

do the same with the idiot president. Make him put in his 60 hours a week like everyone else. Funny that we haven't heard how much time this guy is on vacation since the first year when it was 45%?

[Celebration]

9. Who cares?

Let him go on vacation. All he does in DC is ride his bike anyway.

[ET Awful]

10. Hey Bush, you lying sack of crap, you don't have any Texas roots

You're from Connecticut.

[Mark E. Smith]

The Kennebunkport Cocaine Cowboy just gets underfoot at the White House

The real reason Shrub takes 5 week vacations is it keeps him from getting in Dick Cheney's way. It's not an easy job running the most corrupt regime in U.S. history, and with Junior safely stowed away at his vanity ranch in Texas Dick has a lot more time to concentrate on important things like making money for Halliburton and Exxon-Mobil-Texaco-Chevron-Arco-Shell etc etc etc.

[BlueEyedSon]

11. Yawn. He's a lazy trust-fund brat who got all his jobs via daddy's friends

[quiet.american]

12. ".....clear his mind..." Of what, exactly? n/t

[Catfight]

13. He's a spoiled brat from New England, his texas roots don't run deep.

They are as fake as his persona of tough guy with morals. He's a fake all the way. He's just as bad as Osma, just a different religious freak.

[tanyev]

14. The only way your Texas roots are going to run deep, buddy,

is if you stop pulling up all that f'ing brush.

[Rambis]

15. WTF? reconnect with everyday "Merica"

He is a silver coke spoon, never had a real job in his life sloth. He knows nothing about america and how to work. John Edward has 11 houses (freeper sister in law) but * has never had a real job. CUT ME A LARGE BREAK ASS CLOWN!

[MichiganVote]

16. The American Shah, George Bush

[peacetalksforall]

17. Let's see, we know English is a problem...the math is also.

Schooled in the Northeast - four years at Yale - two at Harvard? - he's 56? So about 23 years in the northeast. He then goes to Texas to be set up as titular head of a number of companies. Sounds like just corporate roots to me. A lot of poeple have them. But, then he is rewarded with some government jobs.

So why do they call it a vacation if they must struggle so hard to tell us he is working.

[kodi]

18. "reconnect with everyday America"? he was never connected to it.

george bush and his rich, fancypants ilk do not consider america's health and well being any more than a blood sucking leech does its host.

[Javaman]

19. On the other hand, I'll also be kind of making sure my Texas roots run dee

What does that mean????

[applegrove]

20. The modern President lives the lifestyle of the French!

[opihimoimoi]

21. This whole thing smacks of BS...He fucking plays golf and then sleeps

all that shit about signing docs and exercise etc are a coverup while he donns pink tutus and fantasizes with his gay friends.

His face is slowly turning into a Zell Miller, go look.