tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post3393014701661664356..comments2024-03-29T05:03:05.347+02:00Comments on Dispatches from Vilnius: Obama's summer Reading ListJames Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-32860342960133129812011-08-27T21:24:08.397+03:002011-08-27T21:24:08.397+03:00Do you remember that W.'s people released offi...Do you remember that W.'s people released official vacation reading lists? I thought Obama did that the first year. All I'm seeing now are accounts of what he bought at a particular book store in Martha's Vineyard.Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-86139447919069330192011-08-27T20:41:58.407+03:002011-08-27T20:41:58.407+03:00Obama doesn't even own a vacation home, let al...Obama doesn't even own a vacation home, let alone a ranch. Remember Reagan's ranch?Martihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341915969684349287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-68504164412391173142011-08-22T10:25:22.813+03:002011-08-22T10:25:22.813+03:00Bush took a lot of heat for his vacations as well,...Bush took a lot of heat for his vacations as well, but then he started inviting heads of state to his "ranch," and it was soon dubbed "White House West," or something like that. Convenient way to make it look like you are "working." <br /><br />Of course, Bush never really worked a day in his life. Everything was handed to him. It was a nice cakewalk.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-4704910290627794852011-08-22T07:19:32.331+03:002011-08-22T07:19:32.331+03:00Saw an article on this the other day where it stat...Saw an article on this the other day where it stated that Obama had taken like 62 vaction days as opposed to 180 for Bush at the same point in time.Not sure that was the exact amount but it was quite a difference.9bosox)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-47544201051003006172011-08-22T02:11:59.336+03:002011-08-22T02:11:59.336+03:00Yeah, the elite have "earned" it. Obama...Yeah, the elite have "earned" it. Obama needs to work twice as hard because, well, you know, he's not one of us. <br /><br />This reminds me of one of the stories related in the bio of his mother, about how the young Barry would skip along while Indonesian kids would throw rocks at him and call him racist names. To which his mother would reply, it's okay, he's used to it.avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-78157843526814301012011-08-22T01:48:10.586+03:002011-08-22T01:48:10.586+03:00Strange how the right objects to Obama's hiatu...Strange how the right objects to Obama's hiatus, but continually defended Bush and Reagan's prolonged vacation times. Those two took far more time off from the White House but, as usual, it's OK when a Republican does it.Tripplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16568801152695491482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-44964008179035764402011-08-21T23:31:32.966+03:002011-08-21T23:31:32.966+03:00I thought Bush Jr. sold his ranch after he moved t...I thought Bush Jr. sold his ranch after he moved to Dallas, but I guess he held on to it. He even visited at least once since 2008 to ride his bike. So I guess it wasn't all just ranch hand optics -- although I still think he bought it after he was elected because Rove told him to.avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-6825201757264385432011-08-21T19:51:11.010+03:002011-08-21T19:51:11.010+03:00Yea, I think he bought that "ranch" in 2...Yea, I think he bought that "ranch" in 2000. <br /><br />I imagine Obama has chosen MV as much for its relative isolation as the Kennedy and Clinton legacies.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-37366893575718453042011-08-21T16:30:09.385+03:002011-08-21T16:30:09.385+03:00This is a wonderful book. And unlike the book on H...This is a wonderful book. And unlike the book on Henrietta Lacks, which I read around the same time, she is completely sympathetic (or empathetic?) with her "informants."<br /><br />Speaking of sympathetic, I have no problem with the choice of Martha's Vineyard although it does seem to be slightly tone deaf with the rest of the country. But it's small enough that he can walk avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.com