Detroit News: Is Bush the wartime president or the vacation president?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0508/15/B06-280425.htm

Is George W. Bush the wartime president or the vacation president? That seems like an obvious question following a recent report that Bush has spent more than 20 percent of his time as president hanging out at his vacation getaway on his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Bush, who has made a point of emphasizing his status as the leader of the nation's war on terrorism, is currently on a five-week stretch at the ranch, a luxury most Americans can only fantasize about. That's the longest stretch away from the White House of any president in 36 years, according to the Washington Post.

The Post noted, "The August getaway is Bush's 49th trip to his cherished ranch since taking office and the 319th day that Bush has spent, entirely or partially, in Crawford -- nearly 20 percent of his presidency to date, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS Radio reporter known for keeping better records of the president's travel than the White House itself. Weekends and holidays at Camp David or at his parents' compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, bump up the proportion of Bush's time away from Washington even further."

This comes at the same time when the almost daily reports of roadside bombings and other insurgent attacks continue to take a deadly toll on United States soldiers and other personnel working to help implement democracy in Iraq. So far, more than 1,800 Americans have lost their lives since the invasion of Iraq two years ago and more than 14,000 have been wounded, many with permanent disabling injuries. The image of the Republican president callously at play while troops risk their lives is pretty much a political target with a bull's-eye on it for Democrats and other critics of the president.

[noamnety]

1. The Detroit News is a conservative paper

They endorsed Bush in 2000. In 2004, this was their endorsement:

"Four years ago, the choice was clear. We endorsed George W. Bush based on his promises of fiscal conservatism, limited government and prudence in foreign affairs.

Today, we sadly acknowledge that the president has failed to deliver on those promises.

At the same time, we are fearful of the approaches to government advocated by the Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry, because they are at odds with the conservative vision of government that has long shaped this newspaper's editorial positions.

So we are left with a decision we detest but are nonetheless compelled to make: The Detroit News will not lend its endorsement to a candidate who has made too many mistakes, nor to one who offers a governing philosophy that we reject."

[Skittles]

2. in other words, they have blood on their hands

they can go to hell

[noamnety]

4. That's one way to look at it

and I can't fault you for that, certainly.

Another way to look at it is that they are a conservative paper, and have (finally) figured out that this is not a conservative president, nor a conservative administration. As bad as the Detroit News is, BushCo is too fringe radical for them, and they know it.

[Skittles]

5. again, they can f*** themselves

I feel nothing but disgust and contempt for these bastards who supported this incompetent, lying piece of SHIT. NOW they get it? AT WHAT F***ING COST? THEY CAN GO TO HELL.

[noamnety]

8. Um ... nobody here is defending them

They don't have a good history in this town anyway because of their labor relations.

Given a choice between them continuing to sing Bush's praises, or denouncing his actions, I prefer the second option. That's all I was trying to say.

[poetsdream]

6. I think they are waking up

You're right, the Det News is a conservative paper; but they are in a town where unemployment and government policies have had a devestating impact on its citizens.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

3. Sounds like a mandate to me!

Bush should be proud of himself for inspiring such a ringing endorsement.

[opihimoimoi]

7. Too Little Too Fuckin Late.....The DNews is cleaning its ACT...

Fuck um, Its too fucking late guys, the Nation is fucked and you were part of it.

Stay with him, stay the course, keep losing, keep dying, keep paying higher gass, Fuck it all, go outside and punch the guy to your right.