Has Anyone Compiled Bush's First Term Vacation Schedule?

[Plaid Adder]

Does anyone know if there is a list out there showing the dates of all the vacations Bush has taken at Crawford since he got elected? I'm just interested to see how many of them coincide with national crises at which a reasonable person might expect their president to fucking SHOW UP FOR WORK.

Oh dear. That anger thing again.

Must work on that,

The Plaid Adder

[Florida_Geek]

1. It is not only this Crawford time but the three dayers at

Camp David. The man is never in the WH.

[NewJeffCT]

2. wait a minute?

you mean that the common Joe doesn't get at least one full week off a month, weekends at an exclusive resort and an additional month off each summer?

[Liberal Christian]

3. I'd never work for anyone who didn't give me more vacation than that!

I mean, REALLY! Harrumph.

[Elbowroom]

4. please

Try to put something together. I was looking for this information yesterday. I am curious to see just how much vacation time this guy has had.

[Liberal Christian]

15. I'm quite sure there is no employment policy that regulates

how much vacation the President is entitled to. Any President. We may disagree with how much time s/he takes, but s/he is not required to adhere to a specific schedule.

If we liked the current occupant of the White House, we might see ourselves understanding his need to take some time to compensate for the many hours and days s/he is working. The truth is that a President's vacation is never vacation because the world doesn't stop. It's just working at a different pace in a different location.

Save your energy for counting up the things that really matter.

[July]

5. Kick.

I think we should keep track.

[snippy]

6. As of last August, Bush has spent 27% of his term on vacation (250 days).

http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20031001.html

[enough]

7. Yes. Washington Post, August 2001

There is an article that has been posted a couple of times on DU. I have searched but can't find it at the moment.

The Wa. Post reporter calculated that Bush* had been on vacation or travelling to and from vacation for 42 PERCENT of the days of his term up to that point. This was an issue because the long August vacation caused a bit of a flap at that time (one of the many issues that were obliterated by 9/11.)

No more time to search now. If I find it later I'll post it here.


I was very pleased to hear Kerry mention the Chimpster's 30 day August 2001 vacation this morning on NPR.

[hexola]

8. Why did he cut the Aug 2001 vacation short? Why? WHY?

This has bothered me since Sept 11...

[Lisa]

20. He claimed that Laura wanted to get back to D.C.

But I think Karl and Co. were worried that the long vacation was getting bad press (especially from the reporters who were stuck following him around in the August heat -- Bush has been known to taunt people if he thinks they are "weak").

[G_j]

9. and how many days before 9-11

I know about the month, but were there more?

[Jack from Charlotte]

14. Before 9/11 we was over 60 vacation days ....

The article below dated Aug., 7th 2001, addresses that. Bush left the Crawford mansion early, just before Labor Day weekend, I think, because the press was on him about his high number of vacation days in only 7 + months in office. However, he didn't go back to Washington. He went to Camp David. So he cut his month long vacation short, because of criticism, and ......went on vacation. After Labor Day, he went back to Washington for ONE week and then went to that Sarasota resort on Sept. 10th for his famous Sept. 11th campaign trip.

I'd love to know the total number of days he spent either on vacation or doing campaign appearances, out of the total of 239 days he was in office through Sept 11th, 2001.

Also, recall Con Rice, said that the administration was, "at battle stations" from Late July on.... because of terrorism threats. Battle stations whilst on vacation, to be sure.

[enough]

10. Here's the Washington Post Article

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline/2001/wpost080701.html

A White House On the Range

Bush Retreats to Ranch For 'Working Vacation'

by Mike Allen
The Washington Post
August 7, 2001

CRAWFORD, Tex., Aug. 6 -- By the time President Bush returns to Washington on Labor Day after the longest presidential vacation in 32 years, he will have spent all or part of 54 days since the inauguration at his parched but beloved ranch. That's almost a quarter of his presidency.

Throw in four days last month at his parents' seaside estate in Kennebunkport, Maine, and 38 full or partial days at the presidential retreat at Camp David, and Bush will have spent 42 percent of his presidency at vacation spots or en route.

Many of those days are weekends, and the Camp David stays have included working visits with foreign leaders. But administration officials, who initially believed that regular trips to the Texas ranch enhanced Bush's image as a rugged outsider, are acting like they may be worried about the perception that he is loafing.

Responding to criticism from Democrats and their fears of long-term damage to Bush's image, his advisers have piled on so many activities for this month-long vacation that the president is likely to feel he is marooned at an overly ambitious summer camp. The White House held a briefing today to announce that Bush had run four miles early this morning, held a 45-minute meeting with four senior officials here and talked by telephone with national security adviser Condoleezza Rice about Macedonia.

Bush will "spend a good portion of the time working," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters today.

more>

[lapislzi]

11. That anger thing

Work it. Definitely work it.

Hone it to a razor sharp point. Make it gleam. Be able to verbally eviscerate your opponent without breaking a sweat.

Uh-oh. Seems like I have it too.

<sounds of whetstone in background>

[Insider]

12. two cents

in his defense, it was a working vacation. he was studying up for the role of a lifetime (with Coach Dr. Rice and his 'Far-ther')

cue sound
"Warrrrrrrtime P-resident"

[stanwyck]

13. I love this statistic

George W. Bush took more vacation during his first 9 months than Harry Truman did during his entire presidency.

[jackstraw45]

16. Who was the real "war president?"

Bush is VACATIONING while all hell is breaking loose in his war in Iraq.

he is ON VACATION.

Just stunning, even for this lowlife President.

[swinney]

17. First 18 months--42% on vacation

A researcher for Washington Post details all a presidents time. Has for decades.

He reported at end of 18 months that Bush had been on vacation 42% of the time.

First 3 years Bush made 37% more campaign trips than Clinton.

Majority of Bush first 4 years will have been vacation or campaigning.

[jackstraw45]

18. Who at the Post?

Do you know the name? Just want a person to source when I spread this around.

Thanks!

[enough]

19. See post #10 above (nt)