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President 'Vacation' Bush Criticizes Congress for Taking Time Off

Posted by Satyam, Think Progress at 9:34 AM on August 13, 2008.


The vacation president shouldn't be one to talk.
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Yesterday, after meeting with an oil industry front group, President Bush rebuked the congressional leadership for taking a "vacation" without holding a vote on offshore oil drilling:

Last month I acted and I lifted an executive branch restriction on offshore oil exploration. And then I called on Congress to join me and...end the legislative ban. Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership in Congress decided to go on a five-week vacation, a recess, rather than act on behalf of the American consumer.
Bush's dig at Congress for being on vacation is ironic, as he rivals Ronald Reagan for the title of "presidential vacation-time record holder." Some highlights of Bush's time away from the office:


- Attended 95 sports-related events.


- Made 74 trips to his Crawford ranch, for a total of 466 days.

- Made 142 trips to Camp David, for a total of 450 days.

- Attended 327 fundraising events for Republican candidates and causes.
Over the course of his presidency, national catastrophes have taken shape while Bush has been on vacation. When he was in Crawford before 9/11, Bush ignored an infamous memo about an impending bin Laden attack. Similarly, Bush brushed off warnings of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 while at the ranch.

While congressional conservatives held political stunts on the House floor, Bush was kicking back at the Olympics. And as Russia invaded Georgia, Bush attended baseball, basketball, swimming, and softball games in Beijing, where he also made time for an hour of mountain-biking and playing beach volleyball with the U.S. team.

"I think the highlight was getting my picture taken with the teams," he reflected. The AP observed: "Bush was in the mood to talk sports, not policy."

Update: Dana Perino announced that after a “day or two” delay because of the war, Bush will spend two weeks at his ranch in Crawford, TX:
President Bush is scheduled to leave tomorrow for Crawford, but he is going to delay his departure for a day or two.


busholympics3.jpg

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Tagged as: congress, bush, energy crisis, olympics, vacation, ranch


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Impeach
Posted by: Lauren on Aug 13, 2008 10:19 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bill Moyers July 13, 2007 conversation about the need for impeachment. When it is combined with the other recent revelations, I don't see how Nancy Pelosi can continue to cover it up.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Hahahahaahahahaaa...I think you might like this!
Posted by: foreverhope on Aug 13, 2008 10:37 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I phoned Leibermann's office this morning. Left a voice mail for him, told him I am "an older disabled independent voter in Washington State", not entirely untrue as I go after dems or repugs alike if it is necessary. I don't care just want them to do their jobs properly. ANYWAY, my voice got sort of shaky as I explained that I voted for him and Gore in 2000 and I really like him and admire him so much, and McCain too, like him but haven't made up my mind yet (God forgive me) and I am upset with this insinuation or suggestion that Obama is anti-american or even a traitor or doesn't love our country. I said I don't understand that and I don't think it is true and I just really wish they would stick to the issues so I can make up my mind because it is very upsetting! ;-) teehee...

You can leave a message for Liebermann by phoning:

1-202-224-3121

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Our dancing idiot out-to-lunch, one can short of a sixpack, always on vacation decider-in-chief
Posted by: foreverhope on Aug 13, 2008 10:43 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What a stupid fuck. I wonder, if you look in one of his ear can you actually see the daylight on the other side? do ya think?

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» I think you left out... Posted by: chuckjs
» RE: I think you left out... Posted by: Lauren
what about the meeting?
Posted by: sliver on Aug 13, 2008 10:50 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We already knew about the vactions.
The real damning part of the story was that Bush met "with an oil industry front group" and then went out to do their bidding.
Is he the weakest man on earth? He'll do whatever the oil industry tells him?
I guess we already knew that, too, but shouldn't there be a law against such undemocratic practices?

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Look at the bright side
Posted by: drmflorida on Aug 13, 2008 12:27 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
From the numbers, I count over 3 years when Bush was elsewhere. Think about how much worse the country would have been if he had been President full time!

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» RE: Look at the bright side Posted by: astockton
» RE: Look at the bright side Posted by: Lauren
shedreamsofpeace
Posted by: shedreamsofpeace on Aug 13, 2008 5:43 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why hasn't anyone made a comment about the picture of our President with his hand on the bum of a beautiful swimmer. As always, a sleaze bag. Notice that her hand is not touching him...I mean what are you going to do if the President of the United States comes up and puts his arm around you and gropes? Makes you proud to be an Amurican, huh.

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» RE: shedreamsofpeace Posted by: chuckjs
» oh, I noticed Posted by: aislinnluv
» RE: shedreamsofpeace Posted by: Quannah
» It's still sleaze but... Posted by: TennMom
» RE: It's still sleaze but... Posted by: Quannah
» RE: shedreamsofpeace Posted by: beautifulady2003
Bush is 1/2 right....
Posted by: reelectnoone on Aug 14, 2008 7:42 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I agree with Bush for once...Congress should remain in session. But not to vote on drilling but to start the impeachment hearings.

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» RE: Bush is 1/2 right.... Posted by: Lauren
What about . . . . .
Posted by: fcvoigt on Aug 14, 2008 1:23 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What about the picture to the left of the Groper?
I can't smell it from here, but he certainly doesn't LOOK sober.

BTW I can only think of one argument against impeachment. If it worked - and it would have to; the evidence has been embarrassing us for years - then the VIPER would officially be in charge.

Let's wait until they are out of office and then send them to Gitmo for a quality check.

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» RE: What about . . . . . Posted by: Rutannah
King George
Posted by: modeler on Aug 14, 2008 4:47 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Hypocrite. That about says it all. Stupidity is normal for him.

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Out to Lunch, Too
Posted by: beautifulady2003 on Aug 14, 2008 7:48 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In Bush's first term, he spent 40 percent of his time on vacation, up until 9/11/01.

Since then, he's just been out to lunch.

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Why is everyone so upset?
Posted by: Sissy on Aug 15, 2008 11:28 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The more the little worm is out of town, chopping wood in Texas, having his sweaty hand on an athlete's arse, the less trouble he can get into at the White House. Then maybe a country in the Middle East might be kept out of danger...now if we could just get shot-gun Cheney to take some more time off.....

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