Let's get physical: Bush's obsession doesn't fit job

Houston Chronicle ^ | 7/30/05 | JONATHAN CHAIT

[WillMalven]

Earlier this month, when President Bush met with Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III to interview him for a potential Supreme Court nomination, the conversation turned to exercise. When asked by the president of the United States how often he exercised, Wilkinson impressively responded that he runs 3 1/2 miles a day. Bush urged him to adopt more cross-training. "He warned me of impending doom," Wilkinson told The New York Times. Am I the only person who finds this disturbing? I don't mean the fact that Bush would vet his selection for the highest court in the land in part on something utterly trivial. That's expected. What I mean is the fact that Bush has an obsession with exercise that borders on the creepy.

[WillMalven]

Can you believe this? What next, "President Bush Doesn't Brush After Every Meal"

[MikefromOhio]

ahhhhhh...

so since the President is fit, works out, and doesn't embarrass himself by running around with flabby pasty white thighs and enter a McDonald's, its a problem for the MSM.

They are past desperation. the Liberals have officially entered that stage when you know no one is listening to you, but you are complaining anyway. Kinda like a whiny 3 year old or the old man who wishes the 20's would come back or something.....

[Galtoid]

This guy needs to get a life. Jeez.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah he does.

[Dark Skies]

The notion of a connection between physical and mental potency is, of course, silly.

This person obviously doesn't speak from experience. As a regular exerciser who sometimes lays out for a few weeks, I can absolutely say that I am sharper and more alert when I exercise. Not only is it good for the mind but it is good as a mood elevator and stabilizer.

Considering the stress the President is under, I think a strenuous exercise program is a must.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Unfortunately, most of us have more demanding jobs than he does.

Yeah, writing left-wing petty swill is very time-consuming and works up an appetite. Ironically, the "writer" could have used this time to exercise instead of writing this column.

[Mr Rogers]

I try to run mid-day alot - find it clears my mind and makes me much more productive in the afternoon. Often I start a run with a puzzle on my mind, but finish it with some ideas on how to proceed.

If I were the President, I would still try to run daily - it HELPS me with my work. It is not a distraction.

[bitt]

Unless the President is a drunken, irresponsible womanizer that also suffers from inadequate personality disorder, he is "out of the mainstream" and not to be trusted.

This picture suggests how evil and out of touch he is with the general democrat population...why, he actually looks happy and self-assured!

[t2buckeye]

So much better to be like Clinton...eating cheese fries, hamburgers (who could ever forget the SNL skits with Phil Hartmann as Clinton stuffing fast food down his gullet) We know that Clinton showed NO self control or discipline in ANY part of his life...yet the NYT loved him. But we now know what Clinton's lack of seriousness in office has caused....
Bush on the other hand is punctual and disciplined; he does what he says he will do...
And the TImes can't stand it

[Flightdeck]

I thought the Post already did this hit piece. I know Michael Savage was screaming about it last week at least.

[bitt]

yes, this piece was run in many papers...but they liked the innuendo so much, they HAD to run it again...

[vaudine]

Smack this jerk on the bottom, change his diapers and give him a passifier before putting him down for a nap.

vaudine

[ONETWOONE]

To me as a military retiree, it's comforting to me that the Commander in Chief can probably lead the pack of most active duty forced run.

[silverleaf]

This was in the LA Times a week ago or so....

So even after a week of ridicule, the left hasn't yet been shamed by running this hit piece about Bush's exercise chit-chat with a USSC nominee...and implying it is evidence of some kind of character flaw?

[Yasotay]

"He warned me of impending doom,"

But Bush is right about cross training .... the knees can only take so much ..... besides running is for cowards :)

[CindyDawg]

Scratch that one off the list.

[John Valentine]

This guy needs to get a life. Jeez.

He has a obsession with the Presicent that borders on the creepy.

[BellStar]

Chron.Com is not thought of as a real newspaper by the vast majority in it's readership. Most of us go here .

http://www.lonestartimes.com/

[t2buckeye]

Exactly. I certainly can picture President Bush running with the troops. The article is shamelessly biased Bush-bashing, and newspapers STILL wonder why their circulation is dwindling!

[BonnieJ]

Of course it was entirely acceptable to eat pizza and play cards and have interns over until 3 a.m. Oh and remember Bill Clinton's "sports injury"...He fell off the steps at some golf pro's home in the middle of the night. VERY suspicious (what was he inhaling then?) but the media treated him like a hero as he limped around for weeks and had physical therapy, etc.