posted on August 8, 2001 07:47:53 AM new
It was widely reported that the Prez is on vacation for a MONTH! Since he has been regularly taking three(and four?) day "weekends" since in office, this means that the other three or four days of "work" each week got to be too much for him! It begs the issue of whether he really wants to be President at all! BTW- is it true that the bombing of Baghdad was put on hold because all the "powers that be" are on vacation?
[ edited by stusi on Aug 8, 2001 07:51 AM ]
posted on August 8, 2001 08:04:36 AM new
The Washington Post has calculated that
when Mr Bush returns from his holiday in
Texas, he will have spent 42% of his term
of office on vacation. The numbers have
not gone down well with the American
public, most of whom receive a yearly
holiday allotment of just two weeks. A
survey by pollsters Gallup found that 55%
of Americans thought Mr Bush spent too
much time away from the White House.
From the golf course, Mr Bush said he
thought it was important for people to get
outdoors and work. He did not say if he
would be introducing legislation to give all
Americans compulsory month-long
holidays.
The president's holiday favourites:
• Texas ranch: 54 days
• Camp David: 38 days
• Parents' home in Kennebunkport, Maine:
4 days
posted on August 8, 2001 08:12:02 AM new
I am tempted to joke about Cheney running the country, but alas he is also on vacation. Somewhere there is a Congressional intern not on vacation who is running the country!
posted on August 8, 2001 09:04:01 AM new
It is hardly a punch the clock paid by the hour job. No matter how bad you think he is doing or how unsuited you think he is that is sort of a febble complaint to bring up He is working the way more of us should actually. I have had jobs myself where they were more concerned with documenting your attendance and rule following than if you were getting the job done.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:13:29 AM new
Your right Gravid, unlike 'normal' vacations, we take, the President may call it a vacation, but still has to 'work', have security briefings everyday, everything is set up like the oval office where he 'vacations'.
I'm not just talking about Bush, but every President.
Even when riding in a car or in Airforce 1 he is 'working'.
Everyone should know that, its a major big deal, if he is under any kind of anthsesia (sp?) they have to have the V.P. right there and ready, even if he's having a root canal done.... let alone any kind of surgery....
and so its no different than these 'vacations'he takes, he is still running the country.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:31:48 AM new
Yeah, even when he's talking to cows, clearing cedar, or taking a nap, he's working at talking to cows, clearing cedar, and taking a nap.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:39:55 AM new
There is no question but that he gets briefings periodically. I think, however, that a ONE MONTH vacation, particularly in light of his numerous long weekends, is a bit much! I would also assume that most Americans feel the same way.
posted on August 8, 2001 09:47:01 AM newHow can you tell if Dumbya is on vacation?.. With this moron, you can't....In fact, he should take a permanent vacation....far, far away...Out of sight, DEFINITELY out of mind...
posted on August 8, 2001 09:49:02 AM new
Most Americans should be glad that the president is vacating for a month. If only he'd take congress with him.
posted on August 8, 2001 10:00:07 AM new
I think there is a huge difference between "being on the job" and "taking the occasional meeting". Yes, supposedly he is "on the job" 24/7, but let's face it, being on the golf course and all the other purely recreational distractions he seems to require, it seems to me that he is not putting much effort into "the job".
How much actual work is getting done while riding horses, swimming, etc? I'm guessing - none. Being on the clock doesn't guarantee a thing, just that he gets paid for it. I'm not sure he even thinks "presidential" unless he believes he's really at work i.e. at the White House.
I can't do my best work if I spread it out and quit working for long periods of time. If I quit work on a project for 2 weeks, I would have to almost start over to get a grip on the salient facts and reaquaint myself with the work done so far. And Mr. Bush doesn't seem overly skilled at muti-tasking, so I don't think these constant interruptions for recreation is going to encourge a really quality product.
Assuming he actually has the ability to produce a quality product.
How much can he actually accomplish whe he's only willing to "work", actually work, a couple of days at a time?
posted on August 8, 2001 10:20:57 AM new
Well, if his golfing partners are his homeboy buddies from Enron a lot of planning and dealmaking can take place on the golf course.
He's on his own turf, and can gain advantage from that. A guy's got to think about his future, and the future of his familia.
Don't worry, if something happens and he's needed on camera they'll call him with plenty of time to suit up and get into his mock oval office. His publicity people and writers never rest.
posted on August 8, 2001 11:50:25 AM new
Now we're talking about the people who really have to work.
It can't be easy to write his "speeches" when you have to keep the words at two syllables and fill 5 minutes saying nothing at all.
Then the rest of the team has to find a positive spin for his unfortunate "off the cuff" remarks and/or try to make his policies sound like something the republicans think they actually voted for.
His PR & speechwrites probably deserve a raise, even having filled less than a year of their contracts.
Myself, I could never do that sort of work.
It would be impossible to figure out how to put my conscience on vacation for a couple of years.
posted on August 8, 2001 12:03:53 PM new
With the state of communications now it doesn't really matter where he is. He could do the job from the north pole if he wanted. But I think his vacations and frequent absences are politically risky for him. He can't afford to appear to be loafing even if he weren't.
Things like this are important to the people who are in those infamous 'red' states. The same people he claims to have returned to-- the heartland of America. They may not fully understand the scope of the technology that makes it possible for a person to work while thousands of miles from his or her workplace but they do watch the news and what they see is that the president is on vacation, again.
A man running his own farm might not have had a real vacation in his lifetime. To him if he takes off his crops won't get in and his family will do without something.
Bush recently said that he doesn't pay any attention to polls or public opinion in general. Is he so confident that he can ignore the perception of the voters? It's as though he doesn't realize that the majority of the voters voted for someone besides him.
posted on August 8, 2001 01:35:45 PM newIt's as though he doesn't realize that the majority of the voters voted for someone besides him.
Yesterday, I went plant-shopping. Walmart, of all places, does have a good variety and less expensive than most. Anyway, there was a rather long line at the register: EVERY person in the line had something NEGATIVE to say about the moron, either:
1) expressing that THEY had NOT voted for him or
2) For those who had, how disappointed they were.
The location (not the comments ) surprized me, because Walmart is not
the cultural and sophistication center of the world...
I believe what bushytail is suffering from is DENIAL....
BTW: the conversation was started by someone STILL waiting for her Tax check....
posted on August 8, 2001 01:40:58 PM new
Have you been in DC during August - ugh! I don't blame him for leaving...plus, he is not really on vacation. The president is president 24 hours a day for 4 years. There's an interesting new book about the history of the White House and its occupants, and this is certainly not unprecedented.
posted on August 8, 2001 02:18:44 PM new
If Bush returns as scheduled in September, he will tie with Richard Nixon for taking the longest holiday in modern presidential history. President Reagan comes in second with breaks of 28 days. President Clinton took a two week vacation...like most Americans.
This president, as you have indicated above is not president 24 hours a day for 4 years.
He can't even open his mouth and make an intelligible remark. I am sure that there is someone in charge who is damned happy that he is beyond the range of a microphone for a few days. THAT is the guy who is on vacation.
Right now, the United States of America does not have a president. And if the guy who thinks he is president, is on vacation, NOBODY
will miss him.
Helen
Ed to remove double sig.
[ edited by Hjw on Aug 8, 2001 02:21 PM ]
posted on August 8, 2001 02:38:40 PM new
I certainly don't grudge the president a month long vacation. This president or any president. The office of president is a high pressure and, as some have noted, 24/7 job.
BUT let's get real! Bush has taken off *way* over a month in the past 7 months! Even overseas news agencies have made note of it. Does he receive updates while on vacation? Certainly. Can he get all the work done on vaction that he can/should while actually at his post? No.
Spending 42% of your time as President on vacation or "resting" is ludicrous!
edited cuz "made" without the "e" just isn't the same!
[ edited by bunnicula on Aug 8, 2001 03:09 PM ]
posted on August 8, 2001 03:21:31 PM new
Regardless what you think of him, he is still the president, and is the president 24 hours a day. I had (and still have) a very low opinion of Bill Clinton, but he still was my president even though I was disappointed in him, and did not vote for him. When I take a vacation, I like to take a cruise and get away from the computer completely. I can do that, but the president can't. He may be working less than in Washington, but is nevertheless working.
Anyway, you are his boss, so you can decide in a few years whether he should continue or not. He does have a one time renewable 4 year contract that is very hard to break. It's only happened once before...
posted on August 8, 2001 04:37:02 PM new"Regardless what you think of him, he is still the president"
No aspersion on you, ahc3, but you're having said the above admonition brought me to realize how often I've heard those words from Republican supporters in the last few months and how I don't think I ever heard them from those same people during the previous eight years about Clinton.
posted on August 8, 2001 04:46:07 PM new
Well, I don't agree with that. I respected Clinton's politic savy. I think he is a very brilliant man. There were other things that I won't mention that I did not respect that overall leaves me with a negative impression of him(mentioning them will only cause a very heated debate) - While I did not always agree with him, or respect him (as others do not respect Bush, and I have to agree that he is not the smartest man to ever be president) Regardless of what I thought of him, he was still the president.
posted on August 8, 2001 04:46:11 PM new
What he does when he leaves is restrict access to the president. He runs from the political heat in Washington and makes himself unavailable to the lobbyists, influence peddlers, others with their own political needs or requirements, and of course, unavailable to the people at large. Even though security measures must be taken, a president should make himself available as a part of his job.
This gives a message that this president wants nothing to do with us.
Contrast it to this guy who'd play saxophone in cameos on popular TV shows, or be seen jogging by in the background on episodes of programs filmed in DC, such as JAG. Those types of things speak of a man who enjoys what he's doing and who likes the people he's doing it for.
Congress is away for August as well. He is timing his break when there is little political activity in Washington) - Congressmen on break are really on break, the president never really is.
posted on August 8, 2001 05:18:46 PM newDoes he receive updates while on vacation? Certainly. Can he get all the work done on vaction that he can/should while actually at his post? No
posted on August 8, 2001 05:39:14 PM new
His "Ghost Writers" must all be on vacation...and the dumb dude is LOST without the writers. And Daddy can only do so much...and is getting tired of those long distance phone bills..
******** Gosh Shosh! My "About Me" Page
posted on August 8, 2001 10:09:12 PM new
ahc3, you are sooo right, but the stupid mistake, on his part, was not telling everyone to pound salt when asked about his personal life. It's (was) nobody's business to begin with.
