In his usual odd commentary segment on Sunday’s "60 Minutes," CBS commentator, Andy Rooney decided to take a look at presidential vacation habits, and observed that while "President Bush has made 66 trips to his Texas ranch since taking office...having spent 436 days away from the White House," Jimmy Carter "took off only 79 days."
While Rooney recited a long list of presidents in his wandering train of thought, including Clinton, Reagan, Johnson, and Kennedy, he made sure to emphasize the contrast between Bush and Carter. Despite Andy’s admiration for Carter’s workaholic presidency, I think there are many who wished Jimmy had taken a few more years off.
Rooney then ended with the typically sarcastic conclusion that: "President Bush is back in the Oval Office now, so everything ought to be all right again in Washington."
Here is the full transcript of Rooney’s astute political observation:
ANDY ROONEY: "Being President of the United States must be a terrible job, but one of the worst things about being president is that someone keeps track of every little thing you do. I'd hate to have someone following me around all day, counting everything I did, particularly when I'm on vacation.
President Bush has made 66 trips to his Texas ranch since taking office. He'll pass Ronald Reagan's record of having spent 436 days away from the White House. Many of President Bush's critics are being critical of him now for all the time he spends away from his office. But I'm not critical or envious at all because, for half the money in the U.S. Treasury, you couldn't get me to go to Crawford, Texas, at this time of year. When it gets cold at night there, the temperature can dip way down, sometimes below 100 degrees.
Vacations are easy for our presidents. They don't have to go through security at the airport. They don't have to take off their shoes or empty their pockets. All presidents have to do when they leave Washington is climb the steps of Air Force One, smile, and wave "good-bye" to us. Eisenhower played a lot of golf on his vacation. The first George Bush played golf. Bill Clinton played golf, but not very well. President Kennedy took his vacations at the family compound on Cape Cod. It was always called a compound, whatever that is. Lyndon Johnson took off 484 days in five and a half years in office. That's a world's record for a president's vacation. Lyndon also rode his horse on vacation. Reagan looked good on a horse, of course. Several presidents have gone to Florida for their vacation. Warren Harding was the first, but after that, Harry Truman went to Florida often. He wore his Florida clothes down there.
Jimmy Carter often went to his peanut farm in Plains, Georgia. But in four years, Jimmy took off only 79 days, and that's another record for a president. Jimmy was a good sport, too. He played softball with the reporters. Bill Clinton went with the smart crowd to Martha's Vineyard. President Bush is back in the Oval Office now, so everything ought to be all right again in Washington."
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Carter Should Have Taken off 1460
September 25, 2007 - 17:14 ET by Lame CherrySince Carter is the biggest disaster as a world leader in history, he should have taken off 1460 days.......or his entire 4 years.
Geezer Rooney can talk smart like he did about Patton being that New York City was kept from being vaporized by an al Qaeda purchased Soviet nuke in the days after 9 11, but all he proves is what an old fool he is.
Earth to Roony, even Bill Clinton wanted nothing to do with Carter.......Clinton went to REAGAN AND NIXON not that putz from Georgia.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Leap years!
September 25, 2007 - 20:40 ET by UnsaneWhy on earth would you have wanted Carter to not be on vacation on 29 February 1980?
(Just having some fun with you, Presidential terms are 1461 days.)
:-)
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Jimmy Carter took the least
September 25, 2007 - 21:19 ET by motherbeltJimmy Carter took the least vacation because he allowed himself to be made a virtual prisoner in the White House by the Ayatollah Khomeini.
Killer Rabbits
September 25, 2007 - 17:24 ET by ThisnThatCarter couldn't take days off because of the Killer Rabbit infestation near his home in Plains, GA. He was a virtual hostage in the White House, afraid to take that first step towards a well-deserved vacation. Who knows what evil lurked in the hearts of those rabits -- thank God Jimmy wasn't attacked again.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
.........." Jimmy Carter
September 25, 2007 - 17:47 ET by MidAmerica.........." Jimmy Carter "took off only 79 days."
Yes but mr. carter took all of his second four years off while Mr. Reagan filled in for him.
Mid,
September 25, 2007 - 17:52 ET by Dave RLOL-Thank God for small favors.
-And big ones, too.
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
Andy Looney.
September 25, 2007 - 17:49 ET by Dave RI long ago ceased watching 60 Minutes, but I have to wonder:
Did Andy Rooney say that with a straight face?
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
While "technically" not a presidential vacation...(or was it?)
September 25, 2007 - 17:51 ET by rx4music...why didn't Andy mention Slick Willie's trip to Africa? They needed 3 - C130's and a battalion of Marines to escort the whole lot of them. It cost a ridiculous amount of tax-payer money and what was gained by it?
By the way, Bill Clinton was too busy playing golf to come to the phone when the military had OBL in their sites and needed him to make the decision to take him out. He must really love his golf...
"I used to be disgusted, but now, I try to be amused..."- E. Costello
rx4.... Exactly! Clintoon
September 25, 2007 - 18:01 ET by bigtimerrx4....
Exactly!
Clintoon was on vacation constantly.
Every-time a new scandal popped up...he was GONE.
Which was A LOT!
Golf was a constant given with him, he even considered that work, because he even had to cheat and lie with that game.
...Every-time a new scandal
September 26, 2007 - 05:49 ET by motherbelt...Every-time a new scandal popped up...he was GONE.[ ] Golf was a constant given with him, he even considered that work, because he even had to cheat and lie with that game.
ROFL. bt, I couldn't help it. When I read that line, one of my all-time favorite movie quotes popped into my head:
Not only are ye a cheat, ye're a gutless cheat as well. Doyle Lonergan to Henry Gondorf in "The Sting"
"Andy Rooney Raves..."He
September 25, 2007 - 17:57 ET by Chris Norman"Andy Rooney Raves..."
He rants also. It's really time for this silly old liberal to yield the camera to a new silly younger liberal (you don't think they'd put a conservative on, do you?)
I don't think i would have
September 25, 2007 - 18:33 ET by hillbillyhatfieldI don't think i would have brought that up. I think i would have lied and said he stayed on vacation.
Presidential vacations
September 25, 2007 - 18:48 ET by BradyAnother terrible thing about being president ,besides having people like Rooney making comments about you, is that you don't have vacations like normal people. Does Rooney really believe that Bush or any other president doesn't get up at dawn for their morning briefing? Or that the last official act in the day isn't a final breifing? I say if visiting the ranch gets Bush out of the District of Cesspool it has to be a good thing.
Brady, that's the same thing I think every time these fools
September 25, 2007 - 19:03 ET by RJbring up this phony issue. With today's high-tech communications, the President is never really "off."
And, yes, getting away from Washington is good for the mental health of all our elected leaders.
Brady
September 25, 2007 - 19:03 ET by Conservative_in_mass.I couldn't agree more. This buffon Rooney measures presidential performance in terms of "time off". As you say, there really is no "time off". Being responsible for the greatest nation in the free world takes its toll on you, regardless of party affiliation.
The proof is in the photos; look what four or eight years in office does to these guys. Even to the clueless idiots like Carter, the job takes its toll.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
I wish the Bas***d took
September 25, 2007 - 18:54 ET by Conservative_in_mass.I wish the Bas***d took more time off. Maybe the "misery index would have stayed in the low twenties.....Geesh.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
Is a President ever really on vacation?
September 25, 2007 - 18:58 ET by nkviking75A great many of Bush's trips to Crawford have involved foreign heads of state, so those don't strike me as vacations. Sometimes he stays there if he's speaking in the West or Midwest either before or after.
A president is never totally on vacation. He gets briefings every day, he's constantly surrounded by security, and any recreational activity can be interrupted in a heartbeat. He also has the resources available to resume his duties wherever the need arises.
Carter is the worst president of my lifetime and perhaps of all time. The only standard he set is how not to do the job.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Perhaps poor Prez. Jimmuh
September 25, 2007 - 19:01 ET by drillanwrPerhaps poor Prez. Jimmuh and First Little Lady Roz just didn't have the patience to sit in those pesky gas lines?
Okay Andy he lived in
September 25, 2007 - 19:33 ET by Airforce_5_OOkay Andy he lived in Plains Ga. There is a reason it was called Plains you know like there was nothing there. What the heck was he going to do, Drink Billy Beer with his brother while planting peanuts?
I would stay in DC too.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Is this journalism? Carter
September 25, 2007 - 19:46 ET by Free ThinkerIs this journalism? Carter apparently took off his wholePresidency. Bush has accomplished more positive for this country during his terms than Carter has his entire life.
This is such balderdash --
September 25, 2007 - 20:35 ET by Richard RomanoThis is such balderdash -- Rooney is an old fool who is on his way out, just like his fellow old fools Rather, Koppel, and Cronkite.
Bush has indeed done more -- and the man had to face a horrific event in the early part of his presidency, where 3000 innocent people were murdered. What did Carter do? Basically allow Iran to become the worst terror supporter in the world; so, if he would have taken more time off, perhaps the Shah would still be in power!
Basically allow Iran to
September 25, 2007 - 20:45 ET by FishFace222Basically allow Iran to become the worst terror supporter in the world; so, if he would have taken more time off, perhaps the Shah would still be in power!
That is one point that cannot be mentioned enough. If Carter had supported the Shah, the world may be a much more peaceful place.
Football (not the sport)
September 25, 2007 - 20:43 ET by UnsaneSo, Bush takes a lot of vacation? I suppose, by implication, Andy, that Clinton and Bush the Elder and Reagan did also?
This little information may come to a shock to many a naval officer out there with that briefcase handcuffed to their wrist...
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Dear President Carter, I
September 25, 2007 - 21:06 ET by JABDear President Carter,
I would like to thank you for allowing me to become who I am this day. Your policies during your presidency gave me the fortitude to become what I am. My days of learning from my father what aluminum cans were are invaluable to me now, as well as the prices of 16 & 32 ounce (returnable glass) Coke Bottles to ensure we met our monthly expenses.
Also, you taught me patience beyond human comprehension in those long gas lines that seemed never ending. Now, loaded with the knowledge of your failed policies forced upon me, I know how to manipulate better pricing for almost everything in my business and life in general.
Once again, President Carter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me about the hardship of someone else’s failed economic plans.
Now, PLEASE just go away to your dirt farm you should have never left.
"Too bad Ignorance isn't painful..."
I only wish Jimmy Carter
September 25, 2007 - 23:20 ET by fitzfongI only wish Jimmy Carter would have taken vacation the entire 1461 days of his reign of error. The world would be a better place if he had.
}}---> Carter's Iranian Vacation
September 26, 2007 - 02:22 ET by Cool ArrowSeems to me Jimmy Carter took at least 444 days of vacation at the end of his presidency. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
OK, I stand corrected. He did call in a peace offering of some troops in helicopters to the Iranians, but that's all I remember.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Nice one. Ba-zing.
September 26, 2007 - 12:42 ET by fitzfongNice one. Ba-zing.
That explains it all!
September 26, 2007 - 08:58 ET by CrashNow we know why Carter was such a crappy President.
Let me see if I get this
September 26, 2007 - 11:30 ET by stratmanLet me see if I get this right.
Lyndon Johnson took off 484 days in five and a half years in office while he cranks up the war machine in Vietnam and the nation is beset by numerous violent racial riots, yet Rooney gives up not whittle of spit.
George Bush takes off 436 days in seven years with a better economy and a global war that is making strides forward (and not even close to be as deadly for American troops as Johnson's Vietnam), and Rooney has nothing but snark for Bush.
Maybe if Bush rode a horse or played golf instead of clearing brush, working on fencing or making his Crawford home the paragon of "green" when it comes to environmentally friendly Rooney would be "all right again".
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.