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Jewish World Review July 23, 2002 / 14 Menachem-Av, 5762

Laura Ingraham

Laura Ingraham
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Consumer Reports


No time for vacation


http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Okay, imagine that you're the President of the United States during a period when our 401(k)'s have been decimated, Bin Laden is still MIA, and the Pentagon is readying war plans for an Iraq invasion. Would you: (a) work through the foreign policy and domestic issues at the White House; (b) visit areas hit hardest by the corporate scandals; or (c) take a vacation?

President Bush has chosen c). Wrong! Since September 11th, the President has rightly reminded us that we should be prepared to sacrifice during the uncertain times ahead. Presumably, the same man with a bullhorn, who inspired us from the rubble of the World Trade Centers, didn't exempt himself from his own challenge. In addition to the war against terror, we now have shattered investor confidence that threatens to adversely affect other parts of our (still relatively healthy) economy. Add Iraq to the mix and who knows where the markets will go. (Can you say higher oil prices?)

When the White House announced that the President would be spending the month of August at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, the emphasis was on the fact that he would spend at least a few days a week on the road to talk about homeland security and other issues. And of course, he'd be briefed daily, top aides would fly in, there would be business between the brush clearings. But to put it in Texas terms--that pig don't fly.

It is abundantly clear that the President doesn't like Washington. His father didn't like it either. (Flashback to speedboat chases in Kennebunkport.) And sure, everyone needs time to recharge their batteries--but a month? Now? Mr. President, this is one of those times for sacrifice--this is a time when the country needs to see you working--hard. That means you have the barbecue flown in.

If you feel homesick, get someone in Crawford to gather up some tangled branches, Fed Ex them to the White House, then push them around the South Lawn with a tractor when you need a break from the briefing books. The public needs to believe that you really believe the best is yet to come. You fought it out vote by vote with Al Gore because you wanted the job, remember?

At least there are no speedboats in Crawford.

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JWR contributor Laura Ingraham is the host of a radio show syndicated nationally by Westwood One Radio Network. Comment by clicking here.

07/16/02: Is Homeland Security all wet?
06/25/02: The firing season has arrived
06/18/02: Picking the next chief
06/11/02: Intelligence coup, with much more to do
06/07/02: The Bush administration's foul ball
05/30/02: Post-feminism in the aftermath of 9-11
05/23/02: The press gunning for Ashcroft
05/19/02: El Jefe basks in Carter's Light
05/15/02: Former presidents who don't understand the word "former"
05/07/02: Ozzy deified, many mortified, drugs glorified?
05/01/02: Bush: "California here I come ... sort of"
04/27/02: The good news about conservatives versus Bush
04/17/02: While the cat's away....
04/09/02: Preview of 2004: See how Dick runs!
01/29/02: A kinder, gentler human-rights violator?
11/27/01: Military tribunals provide streamlined justice
09/07/01: Scariest animal wears pants
08/17/01: Depressed after seeing uncut version of Apocalypse Now --- and for good reason
07/20/01: The other, maybe more important, news
06/22/01: Washington's pro-Bono worship is unnerving
06/01/01: Burying conservatism
05/17/01: Ashcroft's abuse of power

© 2002, Laura Ingraham