Dowbrigade

WACO, Texas — President Bush is getting the kind of
break most Americans can only dream of — 33 days away from the office,
loaded with vacation time.

The president departed yesterday for his longest stretch away from the
White House, arriving at his Crawford ranch in the evening for five weeks
of clearing brush, visiting with family and friends, and tending 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 the 319th day that Bush has spent, entirely or partially,
in Crawford — nearly 20 percent of his presidency to date.

Until now, probably
no modern president was a more famous vacationer than Ronald Reagan.
According to an Associated Press count,
Reagan spent all or part of 335 days at his Santa Barbara ranch over
his eight-year presidency — a total that Bush will surpass this month
in Crawford with 3 1/2 years left in his second term.

from the
Boston Globe