Prez Leaving D.C. Heat Behind
President Bush is beginning a monthlong respite away from Washington's political tussles and August humidity with a long New England weekend at his family's summer home.
Bush was leaving for Kennebunkport, Maine, at midday Friday after welcoming the U.S. men's World Cup soccer team to the White House. The American team defied predictions of hapless defeat, turning in the most successful U.S. World Cup performance in 72 years by advancing as far as the quarterfinals in the June tournament in South Korea and Japan.
Bush aides were mostly mum on the president's plans during his nearly four-day getaway at Walker's Point, the estate where the Bush family has summered for more than 100 years. But the visit will no doubt feature a mix of boating, fishing and golf with Bush's famously competitive father.
The six-acre coastal compound is owned by Bush's parents, former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara.
In the only event on his schedule, the president was headlining a Saturday afternoon fund-raiser to boost the re-election hopes of Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
On the way back to Washington on Monday, Bush was stopping in Pittsburgh to gather up more campaign cash, for the gubernatorial bid of Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher. Bush raised $1 million for Fisher in April.
White House aides were not commenting on reports from local officials that Bush also was considering a stop Monday at the Quecreek Mine near Somerset, Pa., where nine miners were rescued after being trapped underground for more than three days.
On Tuesday, Bush undergoes his annual physical examination before departing for his ranch in Crawford, Texas, for the rest of the month. He returns around Labor Day.
Starting Friday, Bush will be away from Washington for all or much of 32 days. He has trips or events — either official functions or fund-raisers for GOP candidates — scheduled on 15 of those days.
The White House has repeatedly referred to the work Bush plans to do from Crawford. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer earlier this week called questions about the president's time off during war and economic uncertainty as "part of the silliness of Washington."
"Believe me, I work for him. Would that it were a monthlong vacation," Fleischer said. "The fact is, he's probably going to be down to about two weeks, just like everybody else."