Staff "taking PAINS to PRESENT Bush as 'deeply involved'" during vacation

[Bluebear]

Sheryl Gay Stolberg
The New York Times
Published: August 6, 2006

CRAWFORD, Texas This parched Texas cattle town, population 705, has been a haven for President George W. Bush every August, an escape from the buttoned-down confines of Washington. Here, Bush can clear brush, ride his mountain bike along scrubby trails, curl up with a book or kick up his feet for an afternoon siesta.

But this year, reality - in the form of the November midterm elections, the peace activist Cindy Sheehan and the legacy of Hurricane Katrina - has intruded on the president's summer vacation, cutting short his time at his 1,600-acre, or 650-hectare, ranch.

Instead of parking here for the whole month, Bush, who arrived Thursday night, will spend just 10 nights before returning to the White House. During his stay, his aides are taking pains to present Bush as deeply engaged in world events; on Saturday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to arrive to brief him on the Middle East.

"It basically reflects busy times and a busy schedule," said Dan Bartlett, counselor to Bush, explaining the abbreviated visit. It also reflects a political decision made by Bush's advisers, and the president himself, to prevent a repeat of the public relations debacle of last August. That month began with highly publicized protests by Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, and ended with the image of the president on vacation while New Orleans drowned, an image that helped start his slide in popularity...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/06/news/letter.php

[madokie]

1. I wonder if that is the same trees in the last photo op of a year or so

ago :shrug:

[Lisa]

19. I think that photo dates from 2002

http://www.standardtimes.com/daily/08-02/08-11-02/a07wn125.htm

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020812/world.htm

[madokie]

23. 'splains it

[tocqueville]

2. Question is how the man is going to survive his "vacation"

Besieged by Cindy, harassed by Condi about the ME, with a pissed Laura behind his back, no Landis to bike with...
the only thing that can save him from the complete nervous breakdown is the bottle...

[Cleita]

3. And have you seen the latest "Globe"?

They aren't giving up on this story of Laura and Bush splitting up. They said there is a divorce happening on the front page. I didn't pick it up to read the whole thing while standing in line at the market today.

[Ilsa]

5. I can only hope.

Is Pickles there, or only Condi?

Clearing brush. What a stupid-ass photo-op. Like he doesn't have people doing that for him all year. Why isn't he riding a horse out to an area to clear brush? ;)

[Cleita]

8. *whisper* He's afraid of horses.

Shhhhhhhhh.

[Ilsa]

11. LOL. I've heard that. A long time ago one of the

Bush supporters posted a pic (on another message board I visit) of him in the truck with the hat, etc, and a song playing, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys". I dared her to find any pic of Bush on a horse as an adult and she couldn't. I had alot of fun with that one.

[Skittles]

14. he is as phony a cowboy as he is a Texan and a president

what a piece of shit

[peacetalksforall]

4. The stuff of soap opera exaggeration and make believe. mt

[bleever]

6. Condi's gonna "brief" him.

Must. Resist. Wisecrack.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. I thought Condi was gonna "debrief" him.

[dflprincess]

12. LOL

I noticed at the grocery store yesterday that one of the tabloids has a headling about "Bush divorce settlement" or something like that. I must confess I was tempted to buy it (the line being too short to read it while I waited), but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

[Ilsa]

13. Good one! Where's Pickles? Anyone know? nt

[bananarepublican]

20. "Brief", or, "blow" in an impeachable manner? n/t

[Fierce]

7. "Just" 10 nights.

Jayzus H. I should be so lucky.

[bling bling]

25. I know. Poor little President.

:eyes:

And can I just add that I am sick to death of looking at those ridiculous pictures of him toting a bunch of sticks around his ranch for the press. Get real. This guy doesn't cook, doesn't clean, doesn't do any of his own household repairs, and sure as hell doesn't do yard work. Give me a break, already. How many more years do we have to stare at that stupid picture of the pretend hard-workin' cowboy.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

10. I've often thought Politics was Theater

for the most part. The role of Rove as Director proves this point. After Bushs rule of destruction is over, Karl ought to go to Hollywood, He'd be sure to give Spielberg a run for the money as a Director of Immense talent.

~Wish someone would take a long large branch and shove it up~~~ well, you know where.

[MissWaverly]

15. that's what I need a vacation so I can be deeply involved

[rasputin1952]

16. This is incredible:

"curl up with a book or kick up his feet for an afternoon siesta."

I can understand the siesta, but the book! Unless it is a coloring book, I figured one had to know how to read before embarking upon the pages of some tome?

[opihimoimoi]

21. Pet Goat Level....with lottsa Pictures

[Ms. Toad]

17. curl up with a book???

Bush and "curl up with a book" in the same sentence - Ms. Stolberg must be on some pretty strong mind altering substance...

[Lisa]

18. curling up ON a book, I can understand

If Laura happened to leave one on the couch, Georgie might flop down for a snooze, and start complaining about how lumpy it was (not that he would think of getting up and removing the book, of course!).

[Vidar]

22. Even more deeply involved when the bastard is asleep.

[NewJeffCT]

24. Deeply involved with the baseball pennant races maybe?

I hope he's not involved in anything important - he'd just screw it up even more.