Herr Bush Enjoys Vacation As Gaza Burns

[Political Tiger]

Bush Refuses To Interrupt His Final Vacation As Middle East Crisis Escalates

In an effort to “prevent Palestinians from attacking towns in southern Israel with missiles,” Israel today undertook its third day of offensive military airstrikes in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, raising the death toll to more than 300. The Palestinian casualty numbers have been described as the highest over such a brief period since the 1967 Six-Day war. Scores of Israelis have been wounded — and at least one killed — by rocket attacks fired by Palestinians. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called the situation “all out war.”

While Bush has been briefed on the situation by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, he has opted not to interrupt his final vacation as president to make a public statement on the crisis. For someone who has enjoyed the most vacation days as sitting president — including days spent relaxing in comfort during Hurricane Katrina and in the lead-up to 9/11 — it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Bush prioritizes vacationing over crisis management. ABC News reports:

Even an emerging crisis in the Middle East, one he pledged to resolve just 13 months ago, has not drawn President George W. Bush from his final vacation before leaving office. Despite his personal pledge at Annapolis last year to broker a deal between Israel and the Palestinians before 2009, this weekend Bush sent his spokesmen to comment in his stead. <…>

Since departing Washington for Crawford on Friday, President Bush has made no attempt to be seen in public. In fact, he has yet to leave his ranch.

Today, in a press briefing delivered from the “Western White House” in Crawford, TX, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe was asked what is on Bush’s schedule today. In addition to receiving “updates on the ongoing situation,” Johndroe said, “I expect he’ll probably ride his bicycle today and spend time with Mrs. Bush.”

MORE:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/29/bush-vaca-middle-east/

[firedupdem]

1. Jeez....nothing surprises me anymore with this guy. n/t

[Cha]

5. Like bush's word ever meant

bupkis.

"Even an emerging crisis in the Middle East, one he pledged to resolve just 13 months ago, has not drawn President George W. Bush from his final vacation before leaving office. Despite his personal pledge at Annapolis last year to broker a deal between Israel and the Palestinians before 2009, this weekend Bush sent his spokesmen to comment in his stead."

[firedupdem]

6. why is he even on vacation? he's about to be unemployed...

fucker....

What an asshole!

[Political Tiger]

7. That's a good point!

Not to mention that Christmas is already over!

[Cha]

8. Maybe 'cause it's

on our dime. Since every situation is actually better without the lazy sonavabitch ..it's probably just as well and another reason that January 20th can't come too soon.

[firedupdem]

9. yep...you are so right...he's useless anyway... n/t

[alsame]

2. "People are dying? Well, that's too bad, I'm on

vay-kay-shun." Smirk

Same response to Katrina and the tsunami.

[floridablue]

3. Roadmap to Peace ??? Did it go through Texas ?

[Cha]

4. Rec'd~ This sounds like bush's MO

throughout his whole sic presidency. I want that mental fog that is surrounding laura bush to be penetrated and for her to realize this is just one reason why bush's coup was a Failure.

[Liberalboy]

10. 22 days from being unemployed...

and he's on vacation.

That's your legacy Shrub