Off-Duty Bush Home on the Range

Washington Post ^ | 8/10/02 | Scott Lindlaw

[Jewels1091]

CRAWFORD, Texas –– President Bush is filthy, his wrist is bleeding and sweat is dripping from his chin. But he is exuberant as he hauls freshly cut cedar to a burn pile.

"We're lifting weights!" he says, a thick log on each shoulder. Throwing them onto the pyramid, he cries: "Oh, baby!"

This is Bush Unplugged at the Texas ranch he loves. It is the president in his anti-Washington mode, in a world where he can roam canyons, jog across the open prairie, fish for bass and rescue his beloved oak trees from the suffocating cedar.

[Jewels1091]

Read the rest of the article it is interesting!!!!!

I love that....."Most Americans don't sit in Martha's Vineyard, swilling white wine," he says

Any ideas on who his arrow was pointed at?????

[dennisw]

Best Wash Post article I've seen about GWBush. Must be the editors are on vacation in Martha's Vineyard.

[sinkspur]

Bush says he will work the phones some more, probably go fishing, maybe hunt dove

Uh, better not.

Dove season doesn't start until Sept. 1.

[dawn53]

Good article!

[Wphile]

Enjoy!

[Hipixs]

---

President Bush clears non-native cedar from the oaks at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, which he says robs the native oaks of water and light. The President is vacationing at his 1,600 acre ranch for nearly a month-long stay and allowed an AP reporter to spend a morning with him. (AP Photo/The White House, Eric Draper)

[deport]

Everyone is soon covered in dirt, bugs and tree debris. The payoff comes when sunlight begins to pour into formerly dark oak groves.

Yep, I can just see it now.... Hill donning her work gloves and pitching in to clear brush.... LOL.

[willgetsome]

The Libs hate this guy! Why? Because his interests, passions, and habits reflect that great swath of red on the 2000 election map.

While Libs are drinking lattes, eating sushi, and engaging in "intellectual" discourse about some hauty article in the New Yorker or the New York Times written by some sophisticated poser, Bush is clearing trees with a chainsaw in some hot, dusty canyon while chewing bubble gum.

[madison10]

Is he staying there until AFTER Labor Day? That would explain the dove hunting remark. Cannot a person shoot on their own property?

[Miss Marple]

Thanks! I love his leaving the reporter, 22 years his junior, in the dust! Ha!

[Notforprophet]

Good post! It's nice to hear the POTUS is relaxing and enjoying himself. His job is arguably the hardest in the world, and he deserves every minute of this vacation.

[Miss Marple]

Thanks for the picture! I am saving it, as this is MY president, covered with dirt in old clothes!

Boy, you know the liberals can't stand it! Ha!

[pittsburgh gop guy]

"Bush finishes his three miles in 20:58. Not bad, he says. His best run on this circuit was 20:40."

Our President is FAST! Hell - he has 25 years on me, and I have been running for 5 years, and my fastest 3 miles is just a little faster. What a stud W is!

[Jewels1091]

[Jewels1091]

[ivegotabrain]

Yeah, 'cause playing golf at Kennebunkport is soooo different from swilling wine at Martha's Vineyard....

[McLynnan]

Our W can run circles around men half his age!

There is a patter of footsteps and a rumble of off-road carts behind Bush. Even at this remote place patrolled by fighter jets and by Secret Service agents in sniper towers, Bush is trailed by a security detail.

Miss Marple, this seems to confirm the local rumors about deer blinds, etc.

Here he is at Ridgewood Country Club in Waco this morning for his round of golf. I can't tell for sure, but that looks like David Sibley, former Texas State Senator. Very steamy here today.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I agree. I can relate so much to this article and to President Bush's mindset it isn't even funny.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

If its on his land he can hunt it when he wants and more power to him

[dawn53]

Yeah, 'cause playing golf at Kennebunkport is soooo different from swilling wine at Martha's Vineyard

You got something against golf?

[mystery-ak]

sigh!.....no axe or chainsaw pics.

[sinkspur]

If its on his land he can hunt it when he wants and more power to him.

Thanks for the clarification. I've always had to hunt elsewhere; not many dove on this little quarter-acre.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

What's the rumor about deer blinds? That Secret Service Agents are using them?

[solo gringo]

Good to have you home Mr.President we pray for you and the Misses each day ,thanks for your leadership.You know how much this country needed you and so did we.Have a good rest and god bless.

[McGavin999]

What a GREAT picture. And the libs wonder why we love this president. Just look at him. The most powerful man in the world dripping sweat from an honest day's work.

He's us.

[The Great Satan]

"Most Americans don't sit in Martha's Vineyard, swilling white wine," he says.

Priceless!

[kayak]

At 6:30, as he rounds a corner and turns directly into the sunrise, Bush makes a statement that speaks volumes about his passion for this place. Without stopping, he spreads his arms wide toward the sky, beholding the blazing horizon for a few moments.

"Thanks to the good Lord," he says.

Thanks to the good Lord, indeed ..... that we have a real man ... a man of decency and values ..... a man who knows hard work and who is devoted to his Lord, his family, and his country ...... in the White House during these times.

May God bless President Bush and may God bless America!

[uncbob]

Guy's in great shape averaging under 7 minutes a mile for 3 miles at age 56

A hell of a lot faster than bubble butt Clinton or blubbery Gore

[cubreporter]

How come we havn't seen those two running lately???? Those two ran for the camera and nothing else! Bush runs for his health and is for real. A President for the people. Go President Bush...keep up the good work. America loves you ...some won't admit it though. Heh, heh.

[Severa]

Check this out for a laugh:

My 25 yr old husband is a US Navy submarine sonar technician. For PT standards in the 1.5 mile run, he'd have to run it in at least 13:30 (for males 20-29 yrs old, that's in the medium level on the satisfactory category). For males 50-50+ yrs, they have to score a 16:15 to score a medium level on the satisfactory category.

You should have seen the look on my husband's face when I told him Bush can run 3 miles in less than 21 minutes. It was priceless.

[McLynnan]

There was a rumor floating around town long ago that the SS bought up a ton of deer blinds set on very tall stilts for use on the ranch. Makes sense, and they would blend into the surroundings as unobtrusively as possible.

[ivegotabrain]

I've never played golf - looks like fun, but costs more than I can afford. My local recreation district has a "learn to golf" program. Maybe for my birthday....'course then, if I really like it, I won't be able to play anymore, since it's too expensive! Bummer!

Point is, it's stupid for Bush to take a shot at people (and yes, we all know who he meant) who like to vacation at Martha's Vineyard. Most people can't afford to. Most people can't afford to play golf at Kennebunkport. Most people can't afford to take the month of August off of work to vacation at their 1600-acre ranch.

If one is going to engage in snide class warfare, shouldn't one be a member of a different class than the one being attacked?

[Miss Marple]

He was a guest of his father. I think the comment goes more to the press and their brie and wine tastes, than to the public in general. As a matter of fact, most people don't go to Martha's Vineyard to sip wine. Many DO play golf. Case closed.

[GUIDO]

Ok I love the Tshirt, where can I get one? Of course I'd love to get the body in it but we can't havit all can we? hehehe

[dawn53]

Golf is only expensive if you play on a private course.

You can play on any public course in my city and all it will cost is $15.00 for 18 holes (for three to four hours of entertainment, not a bad deal, IMHO.) Pretty nice courses too.

Pick up a set of clubs at a garage sale, and there you go.

Golf doesn't have to be a "rich man's sport."

Try it, you'll like it.

[Selara]

This is the BEST article I have read all day. Thanks for posting it

[The Great RJ]

I'm sure the media jackals are lamenting that they cannot get a good latte, microbrew beer or decent sushi in Crawford, TX and worse yet have to rub elbows with the great unwashed in the heartland.

[lonestar]

Can you remember any Republican senators inviting themselves to the Clinton's Martha's Vineyard vacations?

[Libertina]

Special thanks for posting this Jewels. President Bush is great because he is a regular guy, and more than a regular guy. The best kind IMHO! :)

[surely_you_jest]

Rubbing elbows just might do them some good.

Nah. At least it will piss them off.

[terilyn]

Fun article!

Thanks for the ping wphile.

[Afronaut]

Gee why do the work when he can get some of those Mexicans for 4 bucks an hour?

When is Fox coming?

[Wphile]

Here's another pic from another thread.

[terilyn]

I'm confused...

Is he wrong because he's doing the work himself?

Or is he wrong because he didn't hire "some of those Mexican's for 4 bucks an hour?

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

he hauls freshly cut cedar to a burn pile.

Global Warming Enviro Nut ALERT!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Yeah, 'cause playing golf at Kennebunkport is soooo different from swilling wine at Martha's Vineyard....

Three differences I can see. 1)The family OWNS a home at Kennebunkport and the elder Bush spends half the year there. 2)GWB spends more time in Texas than in Kennebunkport. 3)He doesn't drink white wine.

[ivegotabrain]

What have you got against white wine? I like wine. I buy it in a box.

[GretchenEE]

Wonder if Scott Lindlaw is vying to be the first at the WAshington Post to follow in Major Garrett's footsteps!

Great read. Thanks for pinging me.