Bush’s Bummer Summer

It’s vacation time for Bush — yet again — but he can’t seem to enjoy the little league games, mountain biking and barbeques as much as he used to. The summer has become a bit of a drag for the lame duck “war president.”

In Iraq today the administration announced it has given up on a few little things like a model democracy, an oil industry run by Iraq, or on basic security and economic goals. It’s unclear whether there will even be a constitution to vote on in in Baghdad tomorrow. And fourteen soldiers died recently in the deadliest roadside bombing so far.

Back home things are not much better for Republicans. After years of toeing the line, Frist has split with the President over stem cell research. GOP incumbent Congresswoman Jean Schmidt just barely won an election against Democratic Iraq war vet Paul Hackett after Hacket called the President a “chicken hawk.” Republican Lobbyist Abramoff’s indictment theatens Tom Delay. Republican Senators are promising to amend the president’s defense bill to change the Pentagon’s treatment of terror suspects in U.S. custody. And finally, there’s a grand jury investigation into the Plame outing that has shown Karl Rove to be a little less than truthful on some important points.

Another summer bummer for Bush has been his approval numbers. They are in the toilet at 42%, with more drops likely if the war drags on and more White House scandals are revealed. Back in 1973 Nixon’s approval numbers tanked in the 30s with the help of another blundered war and a scandalized White House.

But the real burr under Bush’s saddle is a sunburned mother standing outside his ranch in Crawford who refuses to go home until she talks to Bush. She has the nerve to want a reason why her son had to die in Iraq. Bush has responded by making a statement to the press, Then cruising past her in his armored limo with the windows rolled up, on his way to another Republican fundraiser.

After all, he is on vacation. — T