* on vacation next week. How stupid is that!

[Raven]

NPR just said that * will be at his ranch during the DNC. That amazed me! I would have thought he'd be out on the hustings or at least pretending to work at the WH. It seems to me that he opens himself up to loads of jokes about being on vacation, yet again. Will someone tell me how this makes political sense? :eyes:

[leftofthedial]

1. his life is a vacation

[Hoosier Democrat]

2. It's a long-standing tradition...

Usually the nominee of the party not holding the convention takes some R & R time during the other convention. Most likely, they're not going to get much (if any) coverage anyway. Kerry will probably do the same during the RNC next month.

[americanstranger]

3. Tradition.

Kerry will probably take the week of the RNC convention off as well. It's always been done that way, as far back as I can remember.

Although Bush will be back on the campaign the day after Kerry accepts.

-as

[gauguin57]

4. "Now watch this drive!"

Guess he and Barney have a hankerin' to dig up some bugs and armadillahs.

[SoFlaJet]

5. Uh oh

now I am starting to get scared for what might happen in Beantown

[Raven]

7. Yup, that's what I thought...

the guy knows something! I realize that there is some tradition at play here, but most presidents have not taken as much heat about the amount of vacation time they have taken. I would think the "war/peace" president would like to look busy...after all, we are expecting big terrorist doins' are we not?

[Bucky]

10. Good for Bush. They want you scared.

Regardless of your politics your fear empowers Bush's agenda.

[Raven]

13. Can't help it...

my kid is going to be at the DNC and I am scared and I won't feel better until it's over. Sad, sad, sad. The ironic thing is that his father (my ex) is going to be there too as he is the Chair of the Alabama Delegation.

[meegbear]

6. He usually doesn't start until August ...

he must really, really, really, REALLY need the rest.

[Bonhomme Richard]

8. Plausible Deniability.....................

He wants to be as far away from Boston as possible when his thugs attack the Democratic Convention.

[scarletwoman]

9. I've got no problem with it, keeps the spotlight on the DNC.

Seems to me that it's preferable to have bush* out of the way cutting brush (or whatever) than holding rallies somewhere and pulling media coverage away from the Democrats. And, as others have noted, it's the traditional thing to do.

Congress will be in recess, won't be much going on in D.C. -- seems like a perfectly reasonable time to hang out in Crawford, imho. I don't see anything at all in this situation to fault him for, sorry.

sw

[LTR]

11. But you know there will be tons of camera crews hangin' out at the ranch!

You know Bush will get quite a few mentions from the ranch.

FOX will probably anchor Convention coverage from there.

[scarletwoman]

14. Whatever...

I refuse to get bent out of shape about it, there's more important stuff to focus on, imho.

sw

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

12. Bush will be on vacation

in late January, 2005. That's what REALLY matters...