Posted by Mark Silva at 3:50 pm CDT
BUDAPEST -- This European shuttle diplomacy, with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush flying from Vienna to Budapest this evening, takes a toll on the White House's standard bedtime.
The first lady, suggesting that the first couple lives "above the shop,'' noted today that the president's morning commute enables them to rise at 5:30 am Eastern time each morning and still enable Bush to get to the Oval Office by 7 am Eastern. This also requires an early bedtime, Laura Bush explained to students in a roundtable discussion at the Austrian National Library today, before the first couple departed for Budapest, where they are spending the night before returning to Washington late Thursday evening -- in time, perhaps, for a slightly delayed bedtime at the White House.
All this came up when a student in Vienna asked the first lady about life at the White House.
"Okay, a day at -- a typical day at the White House,'' Laura Bush said.
"Well, I'll give you a workday first. We get up about 5:30 a.m. The president gets up and goes in and gets the coffee and brings it back to me in bed... Very nice of him.''
"Record that, please,'' the president added.
"Then,'' said the first lady, "we have three animals that get up at the same time and they have to go out -- two dogs and a cat. The cat actually doesn't have to go out, but the two dogs do.
"So then we read the newspapers and drink coffee until we finally get up,'' she said. "We eat breakfast about 6:30 a.m (EDT). The president goes to work at the West Wing, which is right there -- we live where we work. It's sort of like living above the shop -- and goes to the West Wing to work at 7 am.
"Usually, I don't go to work until later, around 9 a.m., unless I'm traveling in the U.S,'' she explained. "The president's offices are in the West Wing of the White House. My offices are in the East Wing.. There are about 18 people on my staff, and we -- I have a lot of initiatives that we're working on.''
"And then, usually about 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m., we're back in the residence of the White House,'' she said. " We have dinner.
"A lot of times our girls come over to have dinner with us,'' the first mom explained of the first twins.
"One of them was just living with us, but she just has moved out. The other one lives in an apartment and is teaching school. She's a Third Grade schoolteacher. So sometimes they'll come over and have dinner with us. Sometimes we'll watch a movie in the White House theater. But we do go to bed early. And so that's sort of the typical day.''
These two days in Vienna and Budapest have upset the typical day, but we're here to tell you that the Bushes got into Budapest tonight in a time frame that approximates that East Coast schedule. And they will be up early, with a day of festivities culminating in a speech that Bush will deliver to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution.
Then it's home to Washington.
And bed. And newspapers and coffee in bed Friday morning. "Above the shop."
(Photo: First lady Laura Bush answers a question from a student regarding what a day at the White House is like as President Bush looks on during a roundtable discussion at the Austrian National Library in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, June 21, 2006. AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Comments
Innat sweeeeet?
So the Bushes get up the same time I do and have a morning not unlike mine. Gee, I like them so much better because of that.
One question, though -- is it George or Laura who actually picks up the poop after the dogs and puts it in the garbage? Do they take turns? And do they have a method for getting the dogs to go quicker if they're standing out in the rain in the rose garden, or do they just plead like I do while we all get soaked?
Oh -- and do they read the papers themselves, or does George have somebody read them to him? Is there someone to help with the big words?
Okay, that's more than one question. But inquiring minds need to know.
Posted by: John | June 22, 2006 9:29 AM
This is a great and important story. Ignore that EEEvil Fox News story about WMD's found in Iraq. That's not important, because like Bush is dumb n' stuff so lets just call them Bushies and maybe people will just ignore them n'stuff.
Posted by: JD | June 22, 2006 12:11 PM
No so fast JD.
The weapons are not those that posed an imminent threat to the US. These are chemical agents predating 1991 and not the WMD's Bush was speaking of. Spin it any which way you want but the facts are the facts.
Posted by: drew | June 22, 2006 3:26 PM
Oh Drew, even the White House says these aren't the WMDs they thought Hussein had. Having said that, didn't Clinton bomb Iraq for seven days straight in 1998 because of WMDs? And serin and mustard gas are still lethal chemicals that could be used to kill people and given to terrorists like Zarqawi to use against innocent Ameericans, westerners, etc.
They are still WMDs that had severe lethal potential.
But I know, you looney libs desire to be blind to reality.
But JD, isn't it funny that practically ALL media outlets ignored this story? You think it has anything to do with them not wanting to expose their constant BS and lies about the war and this administration?
Posted by: John D | June 22, 2006 3:41 PM
John,
Wow, so if Clinton did it, it must be OK? Nice logic John. I know this is difficult, but can you think outside of partisan lines? You Bush apologists sound just as pathetic as Clinton apologists.
Oh, almost forgot to go down to your level of name calling.
You right wing, myopic, religious zealot.
Posted by: drew | June 22, 2006 4:05 PM
Wow, I figured the libs would just retreat to the " well of course they are there....we GAVE them to Saddam" argument.
Yup, pre 1991 shells. Exactly the type that after Gulf War 1 (yes there was a first Gulf War, but most libs act like we picked Iraq out of a hat to invade) Saddam was supposed to account for and show inspectors he destroyed....starting the 12 year charade.
Boy...Saddam sure gets the benefit of the doubt from you lefties. Kind of explains the whole Willie Horton thing.
Oh, and Drew.....beside the fact that Bush never said "imminent" , what weapons were you talking about that were a threat to us, so we know in case they show up too.
Posted by: JD | June 22, 2006 4:37 PM
The war, terrorism and the like are really complicated in my mind. I just can't handle it.
Denial kicking in, defense mechanisms up......
OK.... READY......
ITS ALL BUSH'S FAULT!
Ok, I feel better now. Being a lefty is cool and fun.
Posted by: typical lib democrat | June 22, 2006 4:40 PM