Crawford-Bound Bush Slams Congressional Vacation
EmailABC News’ Jennifer Parker Reports: With both the House and Senate in recess, President George W. Bush slammed the Democratic-led body Tuesday, saying Congress should get back to work.
"They need to come back, pass a bill," said Bush during a press conference about Congress’ efforts to attach conditions for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq to a war spending bill.
The President said Congress’ traditional spring recess over Passover and Easter holidays has delayed the passage of emergency Iraq war funding.
"The Democrats in Congress … have left Washington for spring recess without finishing the work," said Bush. "They need to come off their vacation, get a bill to my desk, and if it’s got strings and mandates and withdrawals and pork, I’ll veto it and then we can get down to business of getting this thing done," he said.
The Senate will be out of session this week and the House will be gone from Washington for two weeks — both this week and next.
Widely criticized as the ‘do-nothing’ Congress, last year’s session met for fewer days than any Congress since 1948.
In fact, according to research by ABC News’ John Cochran, under both Democratic and Republican leadership, the work schedule has gradually decreased: In the ’60s and ’70s, Congress met on average 162 days a year; in the ’80s and ’90s, 139 days.
Following the Democratic takeover of the House in the 2006 midterm elections, incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pledged a five-day work week for the House; that pledge, thus far, has not been kept.
"In a time of war, it’s irresponsible for the … Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds," continued the President, adding that the delay could result in the Army being "forced to consider cutting back on equipment, equipment repair and quality of life initiatives for our Guard and Reserve forces."
But getting into a spat over vacation time is risky business and Democrats insist Bush’s criticism is misleading.
"We acted quicker than the Republican Congress has ever acted on a supplemental request on Iraq," said Drew Hammill, spokesperson for Speaker Pelosi, arguing that the Democratic leadership is continuing to work on the supplemental through the Easter recess.
Hammill also said it was ironic that Bush criticized the congressional Easter break only days before taking an Easter vacation of his own.
President Bush plans to spend Thursday through Sunday at his ranch for an extended Easter weekend.
This will be Bush’s 63rd trip to his ranch since taking office. He has spent 405 days, either entirely or partially, at his ranch in Crawford, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS Radio White House correspondent known for keeping meticulous records of the president’s vacation days.
In 2005, Bush was roundly criticized for taking a lengthy vacation of nearly five weeks away from the White House — one of the longest presidential retreats in at least 36 years — when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and left New Orleans engulfed in floodwater.
In a 2006 Washington Post article, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush’s response to Katrina was one of the most damaging events of his presidency.
"It caught a tired White House staff off guard," Fleischer was quoted as saying.
Perhaps smarting from the criticism, last summer Bush spent just ten days at his Prairie Chapel ranch in Texas, where he was dogged by anti-war protests led by Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.
President Bush has also been criticized for not being attentive when he was on vacation at his ranch shortly before the 9/11 attacks.
On August 6, 2001, Bush was vacationing at his ranch when he was given the "president’s daily brief" containing a two-page section entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US."
The President’s sharp criticism of Congress didn’t extend to members of the White House press corps.
"Hope you have a nice holiday," he said to reporters at the end of his press conference.
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The independent, respected Congressional Research Service has said there is NOT a funding issue for the Iraq war until July. But this is just like Bush always does, he says anything–including not telling the truth–to try and make political points. Maybe he will come to his sense while he is on vacation on the strip of waste land he calls a “ranch”.
Posted by: Bob | April 3, 2007, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Yah. I got a “ranch,” too. It’s on the second floor, with a balcony — nice view. What does that moron grow on his “ranch,” besides tiresome?
Posted by: Greg | April 3, 2007, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
Maybe he will come to his sense while he is on vacation on the strip of waste land he calls a “ranch”.
Posted by: Bob | Apr 3, 2007 2:10:07 PM
Bob we all been hoping for the past 6 years that would happen I wouldn’t count on it now …I was thinking maybe the country would be safer when he’s on vacation but his past record indicates that he is so incompetent it does not matter where he is…he can screw it up at home or away with ease…its is his one talent
Posted by: philadelphiakevin | April 3, 2007, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Once again the Decider shows his arrogant hypocrisy. How much longer must thinking people endure such utter perversion?
Posted by: Archie1954 | April 3, 2007, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
Dubya’s quoted as saying something about the “Democratic leadership” – not the “Democrat leadership.”
Has he finally learned to speak English, or is ABC editing what he says so he doesn’t sound like a complete idiot?
Posted by: DKB | April 3, 2007, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
If Bush and Cheney think their unitary executive theory will hold water, then he should sign the bill and issue a signing statement that he’s going to ignore the withdrawal and benchmark language.
Oh yeah, and considering that Bush has worked less than any president in recent memory, he’s one to be calling people to get back to work.
What a putz.
Posted by: Leonard | April 3, 2007, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
So far as I understand it, the only threat to funding has been made by Mr. Bush. If congress passes funding, and Mr. Bush blocks those funds with a veto, isn’t he the one standing in the way. Sure, he’ll have an excuse… “I voted against the funds before I voted for them.”
Posted by: Andy | April 3, 2007, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
PLEASE WAKE UP PEOPLE…IF YOU STILL BELIEVE OUR LIAR IN OFFICE, YOU ARE LIVING IN A DREAM WORLD…and now ABC is also pumping up IRAN NUKE scare…YOU THINK WE SHOULD BELIEVE ABC AND THEIR UNNAMED SOURCES?
Posted by: Doug | April 3, 2007, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
How can we believe anything that comes out of this despot’s mealy mouth?
Posted by: lawton watson | April 3, 2007, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
This is a sick joke. The entire legislative power in our federal government rests with the Congress, but this president has the gall to tell Congress that if they don’t do it his way, they didn’t do it right. For that matter, why has the media been so complacent in allowing him to remove his veto from the equation? The fact is, Congress passed the spending he wanted and more; it’s not Congress keeping this bill from becoming law, it’s Bush’s veto. Any impartial viewer sees this display for what it is: A spoiled kid throwing a temper tantrum because he didn’t get his way. Mr. President, grow up.
Posted by: HiFi | April 3, 2007, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
It is time that all members of congress do what everyone else does”work”.
We have a prsident who flies somewhere nearly everyday. We have a vice president who does likewise.
It is hard to determine how many memberss of congress do the same. What a cost. Global warmin, I guess!
Another thing, I am tired of everything beiing Clinton’s fault. The republicans must think a lot of Clinton. They try awfully hard to be like him.
Posted by: Franklin Louden | April 3, 2007, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
This coming from a president that has spend more time away from the White House then any other in history.
After all we’ve seen from this failure should we expect any less?
Posted by: Com-n-sense | April 3, 2007, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Everyone knows Bush lies. They probably could use all those billions of unaccounted for money to fund the war. Make all of them empty their pockets.
Posted by: Franklin Louden | April 3, 2007, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Mr. Bush is certainly a DIVIDER not a uniter.
Posted by: Janay | April 3, 2007, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Blah Blah Blah…that’s what the public hears when Bush is talking. He oughtta shut his pie hole. Everytime he opens it he loses more ground for Republican candidates in 2008. Not that he cares about his fellow Republicans but by all accounts he does care about his “legacy”. His behavior reminds me of the last blasts of a bully just before he gets the bejeezus knocked out of him. That will be his legacy.
Posted by: bonifacia | April 3, 2007, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
How dare you call it a waste land. Our chief is investing in “switchgrass technologies.” How embarrassing, he actually manages to sneak in a partison attack on Pelosi visiting Syria during his press conference.
soon to be President Pelosi’s right, “calm down with the threats.”
Posted by: Julian | April 3, 2007, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
It was the previous, GOP-led Congress that won the title “do-nothing”. Not the current Congress led by a Democratic majority. This article is misleading in parts.
Bush is such a cheezeball to criticize Congress about vacation time, when he has taken more vacation time than any 4 presidents put together.
Posted by: David | April 3, 2007, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Bush is hurry to get to his “ranch” so that he will be there in time for his neighbor, Ted Nugent’s, annual Easter Egg Hunt and Bunny Slaughter.
Posted by: polymer noyz | April 3, 2007, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
The 110th Congress has already passed more important legislation since January then the entire 109th did in two years. They passed an Iraq bill, if Bush wants to support the troops all he has to do is sign it when it hits his desk. The rest is just more politics on the part of the White House. Mr. President the American People saw past this crap last Novemeber. It is time for you to catch up.
Posted by: Agjobs | April 3, 2007, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
This article is dead-on by pointing out that this president, of all people, should not be criticizing others on timing or length of vacations. I’m wondering where he gets this idea that the Democrats are delying things by months. I hope he and Senator McCain are having fun in the dream world they live in where facts hold no sway over opinion.
Posted by: Austin | April 3, 2007, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
It’s such a disgusting shame that the main stream media is so beholden to the current administration to the point that it goes along and misleads the public with half-truths, outright lies, and/or completely withholds information. Of course this is just another lie by Bush –he and his Republican congress (former majority) were on a 6-year vacation! They never did anything –and truly got nothing done except for line their pockets and their cronies pockets with money (tax payer money that is!). All the spin and lies are just disgusting –it’s getting old! I cannot wait for these clowns to get the heck out of the white house so we don’t have to listen to their BS anymore!
Posted by: Bill Hodes | April 3, 2007, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Does this president even listen to himself? When he signed that horrible bankruptcy bill a couple of years ago, he had the temerity to say Americans had to learn about fiscal responsiblity, all this while he was driving the entire nation into a record defecit. He is an embarressment to our great country.
Posted by: Rob | April 3, 2007, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
The Commander-In-Cheep’s a fine one to talk.
Congress just goes on vacation for a couple of weeks. He is Out-To-Lunch all of the time, spent hald his adult life drunk, and shows many signs of being consumed by insanity as his full time working load.
Posted by: Marnie | April 3, 2007, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
There’s nothing I like better than unbiased journalism. If anyone comes across any, let me know.
Posted by: jag | April 3, 2007, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
Why does the press still call the President’s Texas residence a ranch? It’s really a huge estate with a few token animals. The term “ranch” was introduced by Bush’s PR people early on to give the idea that Bush is some kind of cowboy.
Posted by: Ken | April 3, 2007, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
Thank God there is some examination — FINALLY — of this president’s empty rhetoric. Virtually every word of his press conference today was easily refutable. One example: his criticizing the Democrats for harming the troops when it is HE who is sending wounded troops back into battle (see salon.com), shortening their leaves between rotations and opposing a bill that would guarantee that they are properly trained and equipped. Oh, and second-guessing the generals? Is this the same president who ignored his Joint Chiefs of staff who were united in their opposition to the surge, and who has repeatedly canned military generals who don’t agree with him? His hypocrisy knows no bounds, and it is about time (long past, actually) that he is called on it.
Posted by: Rachel | April 3, 2007, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
…
George W. Bush: I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you.
[brandishes a golf club]
George W. Bush: Now, watch this drive.
..
Posted by: wellstoner | April 3, 2007, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
Even as our political leaders take vacation time off, global poverty continues to remain a serious concern. Every 3.6 seconds a child dies of hunger. It is due time that our leaders address poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals as agreed to seven years ago.
Posted by: jmd26 | April 3, 2007, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
George W, our worst president ever, once again demostrated his lack of character by insulting only the Democrats for being on vacation, right before he goes on vacation….this man has no shame
Posted by: ohgee | April 3, 2007, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Oh, this is RICH coming from a guy who’s on a PERMANENT vacation. Let’s see, how many vacations has Chimpy taken during his term so far? Who was on vacation when a certain “memo” popped up, “Bin Laden determined to attack inside U.S.”? This guy needs to GO. And NOW.
Posted by: Veronica | April 3, 2007, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
Does anyone believe anything that this man says?
Posted by: ed | April 3, 2007, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
Bush has vetoed only one bill in 6 years. However, he has used and abused “signing statements” that have the effect of “line item veto”
in record numbers, like no other president in history. Now he vows to veto the impending reconciled bill FULLY FUNDING the warS but with conditions or benchmarks for eventual withdrawal of troops. The threat of that veto is theater like “mission accomplished” kind of bravado to salvage his dismal approval ratings. People should ask why he doesn’t attach a signing statement to the items he does not approve, knowing that to prevail, Congress will have an uphill battle in courts. Of course, when those deadlines are not met, a battle will ensue but the troops can continue the failed campaign.
Posted by: Jorge | April 3, 2007, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Bush continues to repeat the same speech and the same lame rhetoric from the Rovian dictionary. I am convinced that he actually believes what he says. I am sure that there’s a clinical term for this. Why aren’t er impeaching him?
Posted by: DAVID Adame | April 3, 2007, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
The credibility of this president is a laughing stock. How a president of the united states of america can get away with abject lies and misrepresentation, without being challenged or called to order is beyond me. If all these stone-faced lies is what republican politics is all about, may God help us all. Maybe, afterall, lying is a part of the american culture.
Posted by: al | April 3, 2007, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Last year’s (Republican) congress didn’t manage to get Bush’s supplemental out until June. It didn’t seem to bother him that I can remember. Besides, he would have had the money already if he had put it in the ’07 budget in the beginning instead of deliberately waiting so that he could make inflated claims about reducing the deficit.
Posted by: dan | April 3, 2007, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
oh no, Bush is going on vacation again… seems like something always happens while he is on vacation or right after he comes back… lets all pray…
Posted by: bring them on | April 3, 2007, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
I prefer that Bush be on vacation. He’s just a figurehead anyhow. Someone who hates Washington D.C. as much as he does, can’t control it…..but the likes of Cheney and Rove can.
Posted by: Suzanne | April 3, 2007, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
Sage advice from the worst President in US history. Hopefully, there won’t ever be one worse. Hopefully he’ll go on permanent vacation soon, and leave the driving to someone who actually has a license.
It’s amazing how often his “speeches” end up with him lecturing “down” to everyone, as if his moronic insights had any level of intelligence at all. He, the Decider on all things moral, ethical and honor based. Funny that he’s clearly the most immoral, unethical and honor-free individual in this countries history.
This man knows nothing but politics. He knows nothing of policy, nothing of history, nothing of culture, nothing of morality, nothing of ethics, nothing of honor or duty…only politics.
It’s all just a vicious game to this, the War Profiteer President. Death is the only equalizer that this creature believes in, and thus, uncounted hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi unborn, infants, children, women, girls, boys and men, are now dead as a result of this man’s mindless drive to bring profits to his base, the war corporations of this country. God help America after the years of this Gollum holding the ring of power. The world has every right to hate us now, and I cannot blame them in any way for wanting revenge for the crimes against humanity of this monster. I do however, hope that the innocents of this world are not the ones to pay for these crimes…only the guilty should face the fire…and God knows who they are, as does the Devil. The pit yawns for them…and it shall have them in the end, after their lives are over, when their eternal damnation begins.
Posted by: Stanny | April 3, 2007, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
I am singularly struck by the comments posted here. Not one positive comment about President George W. Bush.
I am deeply impressed. Americans are not as misguided as we have been lead to believe.
Posted by: xoites | April 3, 2007, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
Of course, the difference here being that Bush’s ranch is equipt with everything that he needs to perform his job – whether he is IN the White House or even in DC does not matter.
Congress, on the other hand, needs to be physically present in the Capitol to vote.
Big difference, though from the comments, I expect many of you to be a bit too stupid to realize the distinction.
Posted by: KMan | April 3, 2007, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Cmon ABC…a do nothing congress?
that was the last congress.
So how bout we talk about the current do nothing media?
You got a guy here ready to mobilize a bunch of reservists to support the surge, a commander in chief that is not going allow units to refit and retrain before he sends them back into into the fray, just to ensure he gets his funding on his terms.. and that we get stuck in this bright and shining lie thru 2015
Posted by: duncanidho | April 3, 2007, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
Is this the same president who spent a month in Texas on vacation and during the period of Hurricane Katrina? Bush is not exactly a workaholic – he can barely keep awake past 9pm! I’m sure the Pentagon can keep the war going while Congress gets a bill ready for Bush’s veto. They can always ask their Halliburton pals for a loan if necessary. I think we are good for it.
Posted by: Bob Zimmerman | April 3, 2007, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Why haven’t the Dem’s come out and said we are supporting the troopsby passing a funding bill and if Bush vetos it, he is the one not supporting the troops.
Once again Bush defines words through his stupidity. For example we must be supporting them with inferior medical care after they are injured, after “mission accomplished”, or sending ill-equipped troops over again and again, with less then mandated training. Kinda like his confusion over democracy and dictatorship.
Posted by: manirwild | April 4, 2007, 12:05 am 12:05 am
The Democrats have the President in a box on this one. If he vetos the funding bill for the war effort he will be putting our fighting men and women in jeopardy. His twisted rhetoric is an attempt to innoulate himself from the expected firestorm of citicism he will get for vetoing the military funding bill passed by congress.
In the past his signing statements have been under the radar of the public. But a signing statement disavowing adequate training and equipment for troops going off to battle or the timeline for withdrawal from Iraq will raise up cries for impeachment throughout the land not just from the Democrats.
Posted by: Gail Wilhelm | April 4, 2007, 12:07 am 12:07 am
President Bush says he needs the money and the Democrats are looking for a little respect. If Bush accepts the funding, isn’t that exactly what both will get? The soldiers will be funded while the Dems become “Co-equal”. This silly political showdown could serve a greater purpose. It could prevent a risky Iran sequel. What’s wrong with a little Constitutional respect and accountability? I think Bush should “Shut up and take the money.”
Posted by: Cecil Jones | April 4, 2007, 3:12 am 3:12 am
All this political posturing certainly makes it easy to avoid some of the real problems that need to be addressed. I wish this country could address such issues as health care, education, technology development, infrastructure improvements and so forth with the same passion. The money wasted in the sinkhole in Iraq could be better spent to make us safer and happier in so many different ways.
Posted by: Dirik Lolkus | April 4, 2007, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Congratulations to “stanny” for best post above. He/she is right on!
The Congress can wait until the troops actually “need” the money. They can call in a few military leaders to see what that date might be. They could appropriate part of the amount requested in the supplemental. They could leave out the funding for Walter Reed Hospital and the money for rehabilitation of injured troops if Mr. Bush thinks that is “pork”. They have several options. Whether or not they have the courage to do any of them is another question. Mr Bush is trying to bluff with a pair of deuces…someone must have told him he is holding four aces?
Posted by: kentuck | April 4, 2007, 9:30 am 9:30 am
Hopefully he has a nice time on vacation. Maybe he’ll go hunting with Cheney. That might be a good idea.
Posted by: Joe Blow | April 4, 2007, 11:11 am 11:11 am
I have little repect for or confidence in Republicans. But with so much opinion going against Bush couldn’t just enough of them vote with the Democrats to override the expected veto? That would really be great.
Posted by: Bradley Ewart | April 4, 2007, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
That’s hilarious!
In just over four years, Bush shattered the record for presidential vacation days it took Reagan EIGHT years to set!
336 days.
“The Decider” has finally found something he’s the best at!
Posted by: Quinn | April 4, 2007, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
If funding is so important why don’t they find the $2.3 Trillion dollars the Pentagon lost on Sept 10, 2001? Maybe Bush can look inside easter eggs and it will appear. But yes he has a lot of nerve telling someone else to get to work when he himself has NEVER spent a day doing it.
Posted by: The Decider | April 4, 2007, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
I only hope that our country can survive the next two years with this idiot in the White House. He has squandered our resources, made his “corporate friends “richer on the backs of the middle and lower classes; ignored scientists research on stem cell and global warming research, in addition to the more pressing issues of the war in Iraq, which is killing off our young men. This guy has to be stopped!! How??
Posted by: gail carroll adinolfi | April 5, 2007, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
I hope President and Mrs. Bush have a wonderful Easter holiday. God bless them!
Posted by: Karen | April 6, 2007, 2:57 am 2:57 am
Bush never ceases to amaze me with some of the off the wall comments he can make. The man lives in a world he made just for himself. Thank God noone else can get in that world, he can keep it all to himself. He should be the last person on earth to complain about someone going on vacation. His brain went on vacation a long time ago and has never returned.
Ron
Posted by: Ron N. | April 6, 2007, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm