Dog Days of August

Q. Could I have one last — I’ve been away for a month. (Laughter.)

ARI FLEISCHER: Do we have a consensus? Democracy will prevail. All in favor? Opposed?

Q. He can have another month.

MR. FLEISCHER: Boy, you guys really don’t like me.

Q. What do you mean you’ve been away for a month? Did they let you out?

Full Transcript

Down Time

Q. Ari, I don’t mean to sound sarcastic when I ask this. (Laughter.)

ARI FLEISCHER: It’s a Friday, it’s almost recess, don’t do it. (Laughter.) I take your question. Anybody else?

Q. Thank you.

Q. Why does the President like to go out to his ranch for the whole month of August? What does he plan to do? And that’s — (laughter) —

MR. FLEISCHER: Will you be there?

Q. Yes, I will.

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, that’s why. President Bush is not from here; he is from Texas. (Laughter.)

Q. Was that sarcastic?

Q. Did you mean to sound sarcastic? I’m meaning to use this. Can you start that again? (Laughter.)

MR. FLEISCHER: I’m new in town, but I don’t think the networks could possibly work that way.

President Bush is from Texas. His home is in Texas. When his presidency is over, he looks forward to returning to Texas. But he is not of the Beltway, he is not from Washington, he is from the state of Texas and he enjoys going home to Texas. While in Texas, he will have a working vacation there…

The President enjoys getting out of the Beltway. The President enjoys being in the country. He is looking forward to what he calls his “home to the heartland” visit, where he will be based in Crawford, Texas but will, from there, travel to the rest of America to meet with a wide variety of Americans, to listen to their concerns, including union workers, including people concerned about our nation’s defense, including people who are fighting for social justice through Habitat for Humanity. And that will be the essence of what the President does.

He’s also enjoying a little down time and a little running, and a little cedar clearing.

3 Aug. 01