From Billmon:

President Bush is getting the kind of break most Americans can only dream of -- nearly five weeks away from the office, loaded with vacation time. The president departed Tuesday for his longest stretch yet away from the White House, arriving at his Crawford ranch in the evening to clear brush, visit with family and friends, and tend to some outside-the-Beltway politics. By historical standards, it is the longest presidential retreat in at least 36 years.

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.

Washington Post
Vacationing Bush Poised to Set a Record
August 3, 2005

The U.S. ranks below 10 other countries in paid vacation
days for workers. In the U.S., the average worker gets 16 paid vacation
days a year, compared to 30 days in Portugal and Spain; 25 days in
Austria, Finland, Sweden and France; and 20 days in Belgium, the
Netherlands and Switzerland. European countries guarantee workers paid
vacation days by law.

Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-VT
Working Families in the Global Economyp>

Staggers the mind doesn't it. Tens of thousands of Americans out of work.... Stop Loss orders keeping soldiers in Iraq for obscene periods of time, other Americans afraid to take a vacation for fear that they will lose their job, and its all Barbecues and pony rides in Crawford. Makes you sick doesn't it?

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Posted by: Je at August 5, 2005 07:01 PM

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