I know everyone hates George W. Bush. But I am sick of stories like this one.
Why doesn’t anyone ever point out that Congress takes off the whole month of August, too?
I Hate to Talk Politics, But . . .
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Heck, practically all of Europe take of July or August…we Americans just have that got to do more mentality – especially in the computer age. I think we all need to learn to relax more. Maybe the media should take August off, too!
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George G.? Anyway, hate to break the news, but there is one person who likes our President – me. So there.
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I am curious as to why you dislike the story, Mel…
I am sure that most people wish their companies would allow that kind of “flex time” at their workplace.
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Heck, practically all of Europe take of July or August…we Americans just have that got to do more mentality – especially in the computer age. I think we all need to learn to relax more. Maybe the media should take August off, too!
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George G.? Anyway, hate to break the news, but there is one person who likes our President – me. So there.
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I am curious as to why you dislike the story, Mel…
I am sure that most people wish their companies would allow that kind of “flex time” at their workplace.
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20% of his presidency spent at his ranch? I didn’t realize he’d been elected to be president for only 80% of his term.
The quote about him going to Texas to “reconnect with everyday America” is, in my opinion, another sign of how out of touch he is with everyday America. There is much more of America than his home state.
I’m rather sick of such stories also. But for different reasons.
Suzanne
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Isn’t it interesting that the two presidents who espoused the great “American Work Ethic” and “Pulling oneself up by the bootstraps” are noted for their vacation time.
Because the President is as much a figurehead as anything else (certainly more so than Congress), the voting public would like to see him at least feign some sort of sympathy for their plight.
Many people are out of work. Some haven’t been able to find a job since ohhhhh….2001? Some work two jobs. MANY work a ton of overtime. Geez, the man can’t even give a press conference now and again.
George Bush not only vacations in Texas, he vacations in Maine, he takes a nice exercise break in the middle of the day and he very rarely does overtime. I can handle the other stuff but no overtime? Not acceptable. How many salaried employees out there are expected to put in overtime? Just about all of us.
He gets a 200% raise and we get a 50% president.
In REAL American that would spell…
P-I-N-K S-L-I-P
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20% of his presidency spent at his ranch? I didn’t realize he’d been elected to be president for only 80% of his term.
The quote about him going to Texas to “reconnect with everyday America” is, in my opinion, another sign of how out of touch he is with everyday America. There is much more of America than his home state.
I’m rather sick of such stories also. But for different reasons.
Suzanne
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I was thinking alot about this yesterday (how could I not when it was all over the media). Being a pastor’s wife I tend to get frustrated (on a good day just amused) that folks think their Pastor only works on Sunday, or that when he’s in the office he has time to just sit and chat for an hour about nothing, or call the house during the evening on any day of the week and expect him to be home (while he’s either at a meeting, counseling session, home visit, hospital visit, studying for and preparing a sermon, or even just running errands for copy paper, Sunday school supplies, communion wafers, etc.)
The President, in this same way, doesn’t just have a “job”. It’s his life. There are issues, meetings, office work, etc. etc. that happen at any hour of the day, any day. He doesn’t clock in at 9am and out at 5pm. He is the leader of the free world, and only a man for cry’n out loud. There is stress to be lifted, family to be with, and other things that keep him grounded. And, even though I am unapoligetically Republican … I would say this about any President.
Besides the fact, part of his “job” is to appoint folks to work with, under, around him that see that what needs to be done is getting done. Does anyone really think he just disappears to Texas for a month without updates and communications with Washington on a regular basis?
Sorry, got a bit hot under the collar there after I read some of the responses. Mel, I wanted to let you know I’ve only recently come across your blog, and I am enjoying it very much.
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I was thinking alot about this yesterday (how could I not when it was all over the media). Being a pastor’s wife I tend to get frustrated (on a good day just amused) that folks think their Pastor only works on Sunday, or that when he’s in the office he has time to just sit and chat for an hour about nothing, or call the house during the evening on any day of the week and expect him to be home (while he’s either at a meeting, counseling session, home visit, hospital visit, studying for and preparing a sermon, or even just running errands for copy paper, Sunday school supplies, communion wafers, etc.)
The President, in this same way, doesn’t just have a “job”. It’s his life. There are issues, meetings, office work, etc. etc. that happen at any hour of the day, any day. He doesn’t clock in at 9am and out at 5pm. He is the leader of the free world, and only a man for cry’n out loud. There is stress to be lifted, family to be with, and other things that keep him grounded. And, even though I am unapoligetically Republican … I would say this about any President.
Besides the fact, part of his “job” is to appoint folks to work with, under, around him that see that what needs to be done is getting done. Does anyone really think he just disappears to Texas for a month without updates and communications with Washington on a regular basis?
Sorry, got a bit hot under the collar there after I read some of the responses. Mel, I wanted to let you know I’ve only recently come across your blog, and I am enjoying it very much.
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Isn’t it interesting that the two presidents who espoused the great “American Work Ethic” and “Pulling oneself up by the bootstraps” are noted for their vacation time.
Because the President is as much a figurehead as anything else (certainly more so than Congress), the voting public would like to see him at least feign some sort of sympathy for their plight.
Many people are out of work. Some haven’t been able to find a job since ohhhhh….2001? Some work two jobs. MANY work a ton of overtime. Geez, the man can’t even give a press conference now and again.
George Bush not only vacations in Texas, he vacations in Maine, he takes a nice exercise break in the middle of the day and he very rarely does overtime. I can handle the other stuff but no overtime? Not acceptable. How many salaried employees out there are expected to put in overtime? Just about all of us.
He gets a 200% raise and we get a 50% president.
In REAL American that would spell…
P-I-N-K S-L-I-P
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With everything so technical and mobil, he can work where ever he is. I agree with ‘just me’. It’s his life, and I just bet it is NO vacation. Ever.
By the way…I’m taking the entire month of September off. No one will notice, but in my heart, I will be ON VACATION!
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According to George Bush, he does clock in at 9 and leave at 5. This was well documented when he entered office.
But let?s get technical. The President is going on VACATION. It is called a VACATION. If it?s not a VACATION then why is it being called a VACATION? Most other Presidents vacated to Camp David. Except Reagan, of course. Not Bush. Know why? Because he truly wants a vacation. He can?t really vacate at Camp David, can he?
I certainly don?t begrudge the President a vacation but you know what? The man is in office for 8 years at best. On top of that, he knew what he was getting into. Or maybe not. He had to admit in the first 2004 debate?It?s a hard job. It?s really hard. Well duh, no s*** Sherlock who gave you the clue?
Bottom line?there are Americans DYING (did I say DYING, I thought I said DYING because if I didn’t say DYING I meant to say DYING)in Iraq because of this President. I?m sorry but he should be in the Oval Office. Screw vacation. This is his job and he should be doing it in Washington DC.
As his employer I did not agree to telecommunting.
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I was thinking alot about this yesterday (how could I not when it was all over the media). Being a pastor’s wife I tend to get frustrated (on a good day just amused) that folks think their Pastor only works on Sunday, or that when he’s in the office he has time to just sit and chat for an hour about nothing, or call the house during the evening on any day of the week and expect him to be home (while he’s either at a meeting, counseling session, home visit, hospital visit, studying for and preparing a sermon, or even just running errands for copy paper, Sunday school supplies, communion wafers, etc.)
The President, in this same way, doesn’t just have a “job”. It’s his life. There are issues, meetings, office work, etc. etc. that happen at any hour of the day, any day. He doesn’t clock in at 9am and out at 5pm. He is the leader of the free world, and only a man for cry’n out loud. There is stress to be lifted, family to be with, and other things that keep him grounded. And, even though I am unapoligetically Republican … I would say this about any President.
Besides the fact, part of his “job” is to appoint folks to work with, under, around him that see that what needs to be done is getting done. Does anyone really think he just disappears to Texas for a month without updates and communications with Washington on a regular basis?
Sorry, got a bit hot under the collar there after I read some of the responses. Mel, I wanted to let you know I’ve only recently come across your blog, and I am enjoying it very much.
LikeLike
I was thinking alot about this yesterday (how could I not when it was all over the media). Being a pastor’s wife I tend to get frustrated (on a good day just amused) that folks think their Pastor only works on Sunday, or that when he’s in the office he has time to just sit and chat for an hour about nothing, or call the house during the evening on any day of the week and expect him to be home (while he’s either at a meeting, counseling session, home visit, hospital visit, studying for and preparing a sermon, or even just running errands for copy paper, Sunday school supplies, communion wafers, etc.)
The President, in this same way, doesn’t just have a “job”. It’s his life. There are issues, meetings, office work, etc. etc. that happen at any hour of the day, any day. He doesn’t clock in at 9am and out at 5pm. He is the leader of the free world, and only a man for cry’n out loud. There is stress to be lifted, family to be with, and other things that keep him grounded. And, even though I am unapoligetically Republican … I would say this about any President.
Besides the fact, part of his “job” is to appoint folks to work with, under, around him that see that what needs to be done is getting done. Does anyone really think he just disappears to Texas for a month without updates and communications with Washington on a regular basis?
Sorry, got a bit hot under the collar there after I read some of the responses. Mel, I wanted to let you know I’ve only recently come across your blog, and I am enjoying it very much.
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Mel, everybody doesn’t hate their president. I, for one, am VERY proud of MY President and get quite perturbed when people read and believe everything out there. NO, I won’t get started on politics, because it is a useless argument. BUT, I will ask people to think for themselves and be loyal to our country.
**stepping down off my soapbox** I could not agree more with “just me” – there is always more than meets the eye. ummmm…how many times do people say to the stay-at-home mom things like “what do you do all day?” **back up on the soapbox** The president has a huge load to carry every moment of his day and night. He NEVER just leaves his job at the office… so there. °Ü°
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With everything so technical and mobil, he can work where ever he is. I agree with ‘just me’. It’s his life, and I just bet it is NO vacation. Ever.
By the way…I’m taking the entire month of September off. No one will notice, but in my heart, I will be ON VACATION!
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According to George Bush, he does clock in at 9 and leave at 5. This was well documented when he entered office.
But let?s get technical. The President is going on VACATION. It is called a VACATION. If it?s not a VACATION then why is it being called a VACATION? Most other Presidents vacated to Camp David. Except Reagan, of course. Not Bush. Know why? Because he truly wants a vacation. He can?t really vacate at Camp David, can he?
I certainly don?t begrudge the President a vacation but you know what? The man is in office for 8 years at best. On top of that, he knew what he was getting into. Or maybe not. He had to admit in the first 2004 debate?It?s a hard job. It?s really hard. Well duh, no s*** Sherlock who gave you the clue?
Bottom line?there are Americans DYING (did I say DYING, I thought I said DYING because if I didn’t say DYING I meant to say DYING)in Iraq because of this President. I?m sorry but he should be in the Oval Office. Screw vacation. This is his job and he should be doing it in Washington DC.
As his employer I did not agree to telecommunting.
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This might be my first time posting here although I read quite often… I have to say that I LOVE our president and if I could I would vote him in for a third term.
As for his vacationing time I’ll have to agree with Just Me that he is “on call” 24/7 even if he is at his ranch, at Camp David, in the bathroom. It doesn’t matter. If something were to happen he would be right there doing what he is supposed to do, lead our country.
I think this of any president, not just GW. Regardless of if the President is in the Oval office or “the office” as my husband would call it, he is our President. No vacation, no time away, can change that fact. When you or I go on vacation, we can truly be gone, not worry about our work, he can’t.
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I kind of see the office of the President as sort of a CEO, and I am a shareholder.
If my CEO was taking 20% of his time to vacation in the Bahamas, I would be a little perturbed. Even under the assumption that the CEO could teleconference and the like, I don’t know many stockholders who wouldn’t be demanding of a more hands-on work ethic.
People also like to say that the President “sets an example” for the rest of the country. As the Commander-In-Chief of the troops, (unlike Congress) I find it discomfiting that while the tours of duty of almost everyone enlisted (even the Reserves) are being extended, Bush sees fit to take an extremely long vacation. That, to me, is a bad example.
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Mel, everybody doesn’t hate their president. I, for one, am VERY proud of MY President and get quite perturbed when people read and believe everything out there. NO, I won’t get started on politics, because it is a useless argument. BUT, I will ask people to think for themselves and be loyal to our country.
**stepping down off my soapbox** I could not agree more with “just me” – there is always more than meets the eye. ummmm…how many times do people say to the stay-at-home mom things like “what do you do all day?” **back up on the soapbox** The president has a huge load to carry every moment of his day and night. He NEVER just leaves his job at the office… so there. �ܰ
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I love George Bush. I don’t call being on call 24/7 in Texas a vacation, but a change of scenery. Just a note: the Clintons when in office had never owned their own home. so had nowhere to go away to.
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This might be my first time posting here although I read quite often… I have to say that I LOVE our president and if I could I would vote him in for a third term.
As for his vacationing time I’ll have to agree with Just Me that he is “on call” 24/7 even if he is at his ranch, at Camp David, in the bathroom. It doesn’t matter. If something were to happen he would be right there doing what he is supposed to do, lead our country.
I think this of any president, not just GW. Regardless of if the President is in the Oval office or “the office” as my husband would call it, he is our President. No vacation, no time away, can change that fact. When you or I go on vacation, we can truly be gone, not worry about our work, he can’t.
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I kind of see the office of the President as sort of a CEO, and I am a shareholder.
If my CEO was taking 20% of his time to vacation in the Bahamas, I would be a little perturbed. Even under the assumption that the CEO could teleconference and the like, I don’t know many stockholders who wouldn’t be demanding of a more hands-on work ethic.
People also like to say that the President “sets an example” for the rest of the country. As the Commander-In-Chief of the troops, (unlike Congress) I find it discomfiting that while the tours of duty of almost everyone enlisted (even the Reserves) are being extended, Bush sees fit to take an extremely long vacation. That, to me, is a bad example.
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I love George Bush. I don’t call being on call 24/7 in Texas a vacation, but a change of scenery. Just a note: the Clintons when in office had never owned their own home. so had nowhere to go away to.
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Does anyone really think that *any* sitting US president ever really gets to take a ‘vacation’??
If so, you’ve got to be kidding me.
Read some biographies of US presidents, past and present, conservative and liberal. then tell me if you still think they’re actually ‘vacationing’ whether they’re in Texas or Martha’s Vineyard. Try to be non-partisan about it, and imagine yourself in the position. Think you’d ever be able to ‘relax’?
Vacation?? Yeeeeah, I don’t think so. It’s a change of scenery maybe, but I wouldn’t consider any period during a four year term serving as the de facto leader of the free world 24×7 a ‘vacation’.
I think most of us would rather work 52 weeks a year at our regular joe jobes w/out a break, given the choice. Just my USD$0.02.
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what really makes me crazy is this unreasonable belief that some people have that just by the position someone has they are owed our respect, that a title deserves blind allegiance. it negates independent thought.
as for the idea of GW having 5 weeks of vacation. I think its kind of unacceptable that he makes such a big deal about it. Are the kids fighting in Iran getting 5 weeks vacation? Even the majority of the working public don’t get more than 2 weeks off, and fewer still can afford to go on a vacation at all. Congress takes the month off….but its off of the work of congress, and out of Washington, back to their communities to work there.
but honestly more frightening than a poor leader, is the people who follow him just because he is the leader. reasonable, intelligent people who some how do not seem to see the same things I (and many others) can see, blinded by their attitudes and big words.
cris
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Does anyone really think that *any* sitting US president ever really gets to take a ‘vacation’??
If so, you’ve got to be kidding me.
Read some biographies of US presidents, past and present, conservative and liberal. then tell me if you still think they’re actually ‘vacationing’ whether they’re in Texas or Martha’s Vineyard. Try to be non-partisan about it, and imagine yourself in the position. Think you’d ever be able to ‘relax’?
Vacation?? Yeeeeah, I don’t think so. It’s a change of scenery maybe, but I wouldn’t consider any period during a four year term serving as the de facto leader of the free world 24×7 a ‘vacation’.
I think most of us would rather work 52 weeks a year at our regular joe jobes w/out a break, given the choice. Just my USD$0.02.
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what really makes me crazy is this unreasonable belief that some people have that just by the position someone has they are owed our respect, that a title deserves blind allegiance. it negates independent thought.
as for the idea of GW having 5 weeks of vacation. I think its kind of unacceptable that he makes such a big deal about it. Are the kids fighting in Iran getting 5 weeks vacation? Even the majority of the working public don’t get more than 2 weeks off, and fewer still can afford to go on a vacation at all. Congress takes the month off….but its off of the work of congress, and out of Washington, back to their communities to work there.
but honestly more frightening than a poor leader, is the people who follow him just because he is the leader. reasonable, intelligent people who some how do not seem to see the same things I (and many others) can see, blinded by their attitudes and big words.
cris
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I don’t think it has to be a matter of hates him/loves him. I’m sure it’s a tough job being president no matter who you are and the president deserves to go on vacation. The trouble I have is that it’s also a tough job to be a firefighter, garbage man, single parent, etc. and they deserve more vacation time, too.
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I don’t think it has to be a matter of hates him/loves him. I’m sure it’s a tough job being president no matter who you are and the president deserves to go on vacation. The trouble I have is that it’s also a tough job to be a firefighter, garbage man, single parent, etc. and they deserve more vacation time, too.
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