Bush on vacation!

[eestlinc]

Does anyone else see the incongruity between the amount of vacation time offered the average worker in the US (which is maybe 2 or 3 weeks) and the President taking 5 consecutive weeks off at his whim?


also, while the President doesn't get paid that much in salary (approx $175,000 a year I think), he also gets pretty much everything free care of the government. Free house, free food, free airplane travel, free healthcare, etc.

[edczxcvbnm]

I swear, you people will jump at every insignificant opportunity to criticize the President.

Maybe I should criticize you for going on vacation.

When I am at a job that will let me take 5 straight weeks of vacation as well as MORE time off here and there...then you can critizie me. As it stands right now most people don't take 8 weeks plus of vacation a year.

[DocFrance]

From the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080201703.html

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.

The Oval Office is wherever the president of the United States is," said Kenneth M. Duberstein, who was Reagan's last White House chief of staff. "With the communications being what they are, the president can communicate instantly with whomever he wants anywhere in the world."

When you or I go on a typical vacation, do we bring our work with us? I know I usually don't. The President going on vacation doesn't mean he's not having anything to do with leading the country - far from it.

With that being said, I just had to add a caption to this photo that struck me as amusing:



"Go long."

[eestlinc]

it is true the President is never really completely on vacation. But it still sends a message regardless.

[Meat Puppet]

i hope he gets his kids a nice present

[VampireCrono]

Everyone is entitled to a holiday. You try running a country. - I'm sure it ranks as one of the most demanding jobs on earth, why can't Bush have a holiday? Sure America might be "in alot of crap" as you say - but it's the same as being a doctor or nurse. The hospital might be bombarded with injured people, but who jumps down their necks when they want and need a holiday?

I think you're the one being selfish having a go at Bush.

Rusty ftw. I agree with Rusty completely. Running a country is far harder than it seems like. If you say that running a country like America every day is easy, then you're either a superhuman or ignorant. Regardless of the situation America is in right now, everyone needs a vacation once in a while to become unstressed. Being a president means you will be put under a lot of stress, and I'm not talking about "OH NOES WHAT DO I WEAR TONIGHT" stress, I'm talking about real stress. Look at Bush before he entered office and look at him after. Even though he has been in office a long time, notice how he looks a lot older than he would if he did not hold such a high political position. That's because he is stressed a lot, and stress ages your body faster than normal.

[eestlinc]

If you aren't willing to put in the time necessary to be President of the United States, don't run for the office.

[edczxcvbnm]

From the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080201703.html

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.

The Oval Office is wherever the president of the United States is," said Kenneth M. Duberstein, who was Reagan's last White House chief of staff. "With the communications being what they are, the president can communicate instantly with whomever he wants anywhere in the world."

When you or I go on a typical vacation, do we bring our work with us? I know I usually don't. The President going on vacation doesn't mean he's not having anything to do with leading the country - far from it.

With that being said, I just had to add a caption to this photo that struck me as amusing:

"Go long."

I am not in a job position that gives me that kind of time off or is that demanding. My father however has held such jobs and did have to do work on vacation every day if only for a few hours.

[Palindrome]

A little note to the people suporting his vacation. Bush has taken more vacations than any president. He has taken longer vacations than any president. And he is the only president to take a vacation in wartime. (I know it is not officially a war but when US soldiers die every day you don't take a effing vacation)

[The Man]

Iraq isn't a war? News to me.

I'm not pleased with a lot of things about the administration, but I've learned to stop caring about it beyond the ballot box and occasionally writing letters to my senators & representatives. It's much better for my sanity this way.

[Shlup]

They mentioned how much vacation time Bush takes in Fahrenheit 9/11, then I watched Fahrenhype 9/11 and they showed the President's vacation itenerary. He does a lot of freaking work. I wouldnt call that a vacation at all.

[edczxcvbnm]

It doesn't really matter. You don't work at home. You work at the smurfing office!

[bipper]

Yeah, I do agree that the message being sent is extremley bad. A 5 week vacation outta nowhere... However as posted above it is obvius that the president cannot just go hide in a corner for 5 weeks. He will be fufilling his duities using the latest and greates technologies paid for by us. Sides, the man tricked us again, he deserves to live out his lame duck status :rolleyes2

Bush is no longer in direct control of the Iraq skirmish is he? I thought it was like any skirmish over 180 days would be classified as a war and the presidents commander in cheif status would be given to congress? I never really heard much on the political runnings of the Iraq war/skirmish. If anyone can clear that up for me it would be appreicated.

Bipper

[Dudius]

hmmm... you'd think that if the president is doing the amount of work everyone says he is then you'd think that he'd be able to answer questions on the spot and know what the hell is going on. The govornment doesn't allow Bush to answer questions that random people ask him. They have to set up a meeting and know what they're talking about before hand. This is actually true if you pay attention. Bush isn't a very smart guy (there's a few failed oil companies and some college records to back that up), so you'd wonder who is "really" doing all of the work.

I know most of you would agree with me, but I just can't understand, looking at his past actions, would still stand by him. He created the largest deficite by far (and I really mean like over 20 years of deficite combined) in the history of the united states. Unemplyment grew by 30%, and he started this war on "terror" just because the fact that we need that oil, and 9/11 was just used as an excuse to get us there. Plus he's for the rich business class anyways, so most of you would have benefited if you voted against him.

I guess you guys can stand by probably the stupidest (I mean literally) president to walk the United States, but I know I'm not.