- NEW YORK -- President George
Bush has spent more than 40% of his presidency at one of his three retreats,
sparking criticism from Democrats that he is not taking his job seriously
at a crucial time in US history.
-
- Mr Bush was on his 33rd visit to his ranch in Crawford,
Texas, at the Easter weekend, where he has spent 233 days or almost eight
months since his inauguration, according to a tally by CBS news. Add his
78 visits to Camp David and five to Kennebunkport, Maine, and he has spent
all or part of 500 days out of the office while in office.
-
- Mr Bush was at his ranch on August 6 2001 as part of
a month-long holiday when he received the briefing warning of Osama bin
Laden's determination to attack the US, which has become a focal point
of the 9/11 commission of inquiry.
-
- On Thursday the president watched his national security
adviser, Condoleezza Rice, give her testimony on television, then toured
his ranch with the chief executive of the National Rifle Association, Wayne
LaPierre, before giving an interview to Ladies Home Journal.
-
- Regardless of what is going on in the world Mr Bush is
usually in bed by 10pm and wakes at 6am. As governor of Texas he would
be in work by 8.30am and out by 5.30pm. In between was a 90-minute to two-hour
break for exercise or a nap.
-
- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2004 http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1190302,00.html
|
