presidential load
in case you missed it, Bush just left on a 5 week vacation the longest presidential retreat in 36 years.

from the Washtington Post...
"The August getaway is Bush's 49th trip to his cherished ranch since taking office and Tuesday was the 319th day that Bush has spent, entirely or partially, in Crawford -- roughly 20 percent of his presidency to date"

"Bush's long vacations are more than a curiosity: They play into diametrically opposite arguments about this leadership style. To critics and late-night comics, they symbolize a lackadaisical approach to the world's most important day job, an impression bolstered by Bush's periodic two-hour midday exercise sessions and his disinclination to work nights or weekends."

as Towleroad notes: "Meanwhile, 43 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq in the past ten days." CNN has a moving section dedicated to profiling the casualties with heartbreaking photos of our soldiers that have died in Iraq.

Update: from Radosh.net... turning away from the casualties of war seems to be a Bush tradition - check out this insane quote in David Rakoff's new book from Barbara Bush on the eve of the Iraq war... "Why should we hear about body bags and deaths...? It's not relevant. So, why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that." check out Radosh.net's killer transcription from Rakoff's book. (via Lindsayism)