Reflections on the "New American" Revolution
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Bush's long retreat
... even for a man famed for taking long, luxuriant holidays, this year's presidential vacation is breaking records. When George Bush boarded Air Force One at Andrews air force base just outside Washington on Tuesday to make the journey to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, it signalled the start of nearly five weeks away from the White House, believed to be the longest retreat in at least 36 years.
The extended August break has drawn fire with Democrats accusing Mr Bush of running away from a growing political scandal surrounding his chief political adviser, Karl Rove. In response the White House has spent much of the last week emphasising just how busy the president will be over the summer.
But less than five years into his eight years in office, Mr Bush is closing in fast on the record set by Ronald Reagan who spent 345 days - nearly one eighth of his presidency - at his Santa Barbara ranch ("It just seems a lot easier to sort out a problem when I'm on a horse," is how the Gipper defended his vacations in his autobiography).
This year's getaway is Mr Bush's 49th visit to Prairie Chapel ranch near Waco, and the 319th day that he has spent entirely or partially in Crawford since he was sworn in, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS radio reporter famous for keeping better records of the president's travel than the White House itself.
... Mr Bush told reporters on Monday: "I have a busy couple of weeks down there."
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