Washington’s August Break: Just Don’t Call It Vacation Time
Aug. 8 (Bloomberg) — It’s August in Washington and the city is emptying out. Members of Congress left over the weekend and won’t be back until Sept. 4. President George W. Bush goes tomorrow to his family’s seaside compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, for a long weekend before heading for his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Call it a recess, call it a break, just don’t call it a vacation. For lawmakers, it’s a “district work period,” time to meet with voters, raise money or take “fact-finding” trips overseas. White House officials stress the president has regular briefings and is on call 24/7 for any emergency when he’s in Crawford, where he has spent 418 days as president. This year, perhaps more than most, politicians are bending over backward to avoid the appearance of taking a holiday.
Let me begin by asking a question, if I may. How many of y’all have taken 418 vacation days over the past 6 1/2 years? Go ahead, raise your hand; I’ll wait while you count the days. No one? Gee, what a shock, eh?
OK, so I realize that being Presidentiary is not like any other job. Still, we’re talking about MORE THAN 60 VACATION DAYS A YEAR. For those of you who have difficult grasping large numbers, that’s TWO FULL MONTHS of play time. Surely, I’m not the only one who finds this offensive. Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader © manages to steal two elections…and he celebrates by playing the Dilettante-in-Chief © . So much for using his bully pulpit to set an example for his constituents, eh?
Then again, given the asleep-at-the-switch nature of his Presidency, can any of us claim to be surprised that King George the Worst © is using his Reign of Error as his own personal playground? Hey, it’s not like American soldiers are dying in Iraq or anything….