Burton defends new vacation

[TheSarge]

After a mid-August trip to America's national parks and a weeklong vacation on Martha's Vineyard, President Obama plans ...

... to take a little more time away from the office next week.

Obama will head to Camp David on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and stay through the weekend, White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters in a Thursday briefing.

Joking that it may have been "wishful thinking" to suggest Obama's current trip out of Washington would coincide with a news-free week, Burton quipped that the president needs a "break from his vacation."

For the second time in just a few days, however, the deputy press secretary emphasized that Obama hasn't disengaged from his responsibilities.

"When you're president, you've always got that job," Burton said.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0809/another_break_for_obama_711b9dd5-47b3-40d2-ba55-4924582858ba.html

He's picking up right where he left off as a Senator...racking up more days away from the office than actually being in it.

[TheSarge]

"As I recall, the previous president [took] quite a bit of vacation himself, and I don't think anyone bemoaned that," Burton said.

That is a bald face lie you POS!   

[DixieBelle]

That is a bald face lie you POS!   

Exactly. Not to mention that when the Bushes were in Crawford, it became the Western White House.

[TheSarge]

Exactly. Not to mention that when the Bushes were in Crawford, it became the Western White House.

I don't recall them telling the media to leave them alone either.

[ironhorsedriver]

Sure, while the rest of us can't afford vacation any longer, let him just whoop it up. It's only taxpayer money.

[Tess Anderson]

Yeah, Bush would take his work with him. Barack Hussein Obama has to be the laziest president of the last 100 years, if not the laziest ever.

[thundley4]

Yeah, Bush would take his work with him. Barack Hussein Obama has to be the laziest president of the last 100 years, if not the laziest ever.

President Bush also had many of his top staff with him at Crawford, and had foreign dignitaries stay there.  Not exactly a vacation, but more of a retreat from the media somewhat.

[Thor]

Not only did Bush typically "vacation" in Crawford, his own ranch, but he didn't go on vacations around the world/ country on the taxpayer's dime. His were typically "working vacations". What a lying piece of shit our Dear Leader is. First was a trip to NYC for dinner on our dime, a vacation to France with his family and now this?? He hasn't even been in office a full year and has used up a lot of time and wasted our dollars.

[Chris_]

Makes me sick to see how the Zero gets away with so much but if it would have been Bush he would have been hung on a cross

[DixieBelle]

I'm gonna try to separate the wheat from the chaff here - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/02/AR2005080201703.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.

"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."

Just as Bush has made these August trips a regular feature of his presidency, so, too, have Democrats made a tradition of needling him about them. This year, opposition politicians are tying his departure from Washington to the CIA leak case that has swept up his top adviser, Karl Rove.

"The White House stonewalling operation is moving to Crawford for the dog days of summer, but they can't hide from the legitimate questions dogging the president and his refusal to keep his promise to fire Karl Rove," said Josh Earnest, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee.

"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."

Bush will not return to the White House until around Labor Day, but his staff has peppered his schedule with events to dispel any impression that he is not on duty. He will visit at least seven states, mostly with quick day trips, including New Mexico, where he plans to sign energy legislation into law. He gets off to a quick start this week, with a speech Wednesday in nearby Grapevine, Tex., then he plays host to President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia at the ranch Thursday. His schedule is clear Friday through Sunday.

At some point, Bush told reporters Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld will visit for consultations. "I have a busy couple of weeks down there," Bush said.

But he will make time for fun, or at least his idea of it. Bush rarely takes the type of vacation one would consider exotic -- or, to some, even appealing. His notion of relaxation is chopping cedar on his ranch or mountain biking through rough terrain, all in 100-degree-plus temperatures in dusty Texas where crickets are known to roast on the summer pavement. He seems to relish the idea of exposing aides and reporters to the hothouse environment.

"I just checked in with the house -- it's about 100 degrees," he told reporters Monday. "But no matter how hot it gets, I enjoy spending time in Texas." [\quote]

[thundley4]

I'm gonna try to separate the wheat from the chaff here - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/02/AR2005080201703.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.

"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."

Just as Bush has made these August trips a regular feature of his presidency, so, too, have Democrats made a tradition of needling him about them. This year, opposition politicians are tying his departure from Washington to the CIA leak case that has swept up his top adviser, Karl Rove.

"The White House stonewalling operation is moving to Crawford for the dog days of summer, but they can't hide from the legitimate questions dogging the president and his refusal to keep his promise to fire Karl Rove," said Josh Earnest, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee.

"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."

Bush will not return to the White House until around Labor Day, but his staff has peppered his schedule with events to dispel any impression that he is not on duty. He will visit at least seven states, mostly with quick day trips, including New Mexico, where he plans to sign energy legislation into law. He gets off to a quick start this week, with a speech Wednesday in nearby Grapevine, Tex., then he plays host to President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia at the ranch Thursday. His schedule is clear Friday through Sunday.

At some point, Bush told reporters Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld will visit for consultations. "I have a busy couple of weeks down there," Bush said.

But he will make time for fun, or at least his idea of it. Bush rarely takes the type of vacation one would consider exotic -- or, to some, even appealing. His notion of relaxation is chopping cedar on his ranch or mountain biking through rough terrain, all in 100-degree-plus temperatures in dusty Texas where crickets are known to roast on the summer pavement. He seems to relish the idea of exposing aides and reporters to the hothouse environment.

"I just checked in with the house -- it's about 100 degrees," he told reporters Monday. "But no matter how hot it gets, I enjoy spending time in Texas." [\quote]

I can just picture 0Bama doing manual work like chopping wood.   I did hear that 0Bama got a callus one time, from rolling too many joints at a party. 

[Ogre]

I don't know, I'm torn on this.  On one hand the dumbass not being at work might actually save us from another of his screw ups, then again we are paying him to conduct the nations business.  I guess we're literally dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't.

[WMD Owl]

I don't know, I'm torn on this.  On one hand the dumbass not being at work might actually save us from another of his screw ups, then again we are paying him to conduct the nations business.  I guess we're literally dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't.

After watching Glenn Beck this week, I don't know who scares me the most, Obama--- or some of these radical nutjob "Czars" that he has making policy.

[thundley4]

After watching Glenn Beck this week, I don't know who scares me the most, Obama--- or some of these radical nutjob "Czars" that he has making policy.

The czars would not be there if not for 0Bama, so that makes him the scarier one.

[seabelle]

I wonder if someone can compare the costs of vacations between Bush and Obama.  Bush did own his ranch and probably saved us a lot of money having some sort of working environment and security always set up.  The Obama camp is like a band of gypsies!

I think even the Clintons stayed with friends and weren't paying 35k/week !  Doesn't Obama have friends like that

[debk]

I wonder if someone can compare the costs of vacations between Bush and Obama.  Bush did own his ranch and probably saved us a lot of money having some sort of working environment and security always set up.  The Obama camp is like a band of gypsies!

I think even the Clintons stayed with friends and weren't paying 35k/week !  Doesn't Obama have friends like that

Just because the liberals elected him...and they will eat dinner with him....doesn't mean they want him and family to stay in their homes.

Nasty thing to say/think....but most probably true....

[vesta111]

The czars would not be there if not for 0Bama, so that makes him the scarier one.

OK-OK so this dude awoke one day 10 years ago and decided he wanted to be president,

Obama was a dream for the people that actually run the country, a good education, youth and half white.   The democrats had found the perfect puppet for the future.

At this time they began to make Obamas a man of mystery and educated him in politics of Chicago.   They saw to it that his ego was fed by influential older black statesmen and celebrity's.

Well planed and everything planed  to the hilt, every one in his family and friends knew there could be no scandal around him and everyone lived the life of a NUN.

Funny Obama was taught how to walk and how to talk, body language and how to take orders from advisers that he had been taught to respect and listen to.

I dote he was the one to choose the czars, I don't think he has the political savvy to do more then he is is told to do.

In fact, this is a man PLAYING being the President.  He is the actor simply reading the scripts others wrote for him.

He has been tying since last January to act the role of what he thinks a president would do, and be. Now  Some times when he is out there on stage he has to ad lib and use his own brain, no script for him to tell him stage right or left.

He is like anyone of us who decides to break away from responsibility and takes their spouse to dinner at a fabulous spot.  Just what do you suppose they talked about at that 2 hour dinner.?  I myself would come close to selling my soul to have a tape of that conversation.

Now he is on vacation with family running away from the White House.  Can anyone blame him for needing a vacation ?

This poor man Obama and family are sitting decoys, They have no idea that for the last 10 years they were set up to take the blame if the powers  that be screw up big time.  

Yes he is being used by the powers, and the white banking and trusts that rule the world.
 
He and family  bought into this plan to make him as important as  Abe Lincoln perhaps even more of a super star of  world history.

Obamas is the decoy that is allowing others to take over our country. Obama is the decoy to knock down what we have in order to rebuild as a totally different country.

Obamas has no idea what is going on, all that paper work, all the people he does not know personally but an adviser told him to talk to the person.

A tragedy in the making, keep an eye on our president, he is as usefull by himself as Tits on a Boar.