Kerry: Not on Vacation

Matt Drudge offers a rather humorous photo montage in response to Kerry’s recent statement,

So here’s what we’re going to fight for, and we’re going to fight for it every single day, not just through this election, but from the day we win until the day we raise our hands and every day thereafter. You’re not going to have to look for us on vacation. You’re going to find us working for America.


Click image for full size version.

Of course, I’d note that there’s not much need for a vacation when one never reports for work. Theoretically at least, he and Edwards are not being paid to run for president but rather to legislate, which often entails showing up to cast votes.

FILED UNDER: 2004 Election, Humor, ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. McGehee says:

    Four and a half hours and no complaints about this post?

  2. OK, I’ll bite:

    If you are a supporter of President Bush, do you really want to start a discussion of vacation time? Is that really a winning comparo, given all we now know about August 2001 in Crawford and the infamous PDB?

    What’s next, making fun of Edward’s viasage as lacking a vice presidential scowl? How about Kerry’s insufficient ties to Ken Lay and Enron?

    You may want to rethink this strategy . . .

  3. Paul says:

    (Sorry, I no longer couch my words)

    Barry if you saying the PDB was important you are either a liar or an idiot.

    Grow up and smell the coffee.

  4. Attila Girl says:

    Poor Barry. He’s one of those people who gets his “information” from Michael Moore “documentaries.”

    The reality, of course, is that Bush was doing a lot that August–at Crawford, and away from it. His travel records from that time are public, and show a hectic schedule. Even Michael Moore’s picture of him at the ranch show him next to Tony Blair, for crying out loud.

    And of course Barry hasn’t actually read the memo in question, but is making inferences based on its title.

  5. James Joyner says:

    Presidents take “vacations” all the time; they should probably take more. It’s the most stressful job in the world. The reason they can get away with it is because they are never really off work–they’re getting briefed and making decisions daily. The only thing they get is a change of scenery and fewer interactions with the press and routine appointments.

    Legislating, on the other hand, is a communal act. When Kerry and Edwards are on the campaign trail and Congress is in session, they’re missing out on most of what’s going on.

    Certainly, politicians campaign during campaign season. But legislators campaigning for reelection or even elevation to the Senate tend to do it during the long weekends and other breaks in session. Kerry and Edwards have been in permanent campaign mode for two years.