What Bush Did on his Summer Vacation--August 9

While the libs continue to whine about the President taking such a long vacation and the Dems employ their negative slash and burn techniques, Bush was WORKING.


President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney meet with the President's Economic Advisors Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, at the ranch in Crawford, Texas, where they discussed the strength of the country's economy. White House photo by Eric Draper

The Economy was at the top of yesterday's agenda.

"President Bush met with his economic advisors to discuss the strength of our economy. From new jobs to GDP growth to increased productivity to low inflation, America's economy today is strong. The economy has generated nearly 4 million new jobs since May 2003, and the unemployment rate is 5 percent, the lowest since before September 11."

President George W. Bush stands with his economic advisors as he addresses a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005 at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas, following a meeting to discuss the strength of the U.S. economy. From left to right are Dr. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman; U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao; U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns; U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow; U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez; OMB Director Josh Bolten and assistant to the President on economic policy, Allan B. Hubbard. White House photo by Paul Morse

After the meetings, the President, flanked by his economic team, made a statement to the press and took a few questions.

Before getting into the substance of the economic discussions, Bush congratulated the crew of Discovery and praised them for a successful mission.

On Tuesday, the President also made a personnel announcement. He will nominate one individual, appoint five individuals, and recess appoint one individual to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to appoint Alan R. Nelson of Arkansas, to be Alternate Federal Cochairperson at the Delta Regional Authority. Mr. Nelson is presently the Director of Communications for Arkansas Governor Michael Huckabee. He is currently the Governor's alternate to the Delta Regional Authority Board. Mr. Nelson graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in communications and a minor in political philosophy from Ouachita Baptist University.

The President intends to appoint Andre B. Lacy of Indiana, to be a Member of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Advisory Committee on the Arts.

The President intends to appoint Lance Edward Armstrong of Texas, to be a Member of the President's Cancer Panel, for the remainder of a three-year term expiring February 20, 2008.

The President intends to appoint Zell Miller of Georgia, to be a Member of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

The President intends to nominate John E. Maupin, Jr. of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Social Security Advisory Board, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring September 30, 2010.

The President intends to reappoint Pamela Nelson of Texas, to be a Member of the Commission of Fine Arts, for a four-year term.

The President has signed the recess appointment of Eric S. Edelman of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. President Bush announced the intention to nominate Mr. Edelman on March 31, 2005, and his nomination was sent to the Senate on May 16, 2005.

Just another day at the ranch.