Reply #65: And what I'm stating is that many presidents have conducted business

[MadHound]

From their vacation houses. Did you read my links? Here's a clip about Nixon's Western White House:

"
Residents found cabinet members renting homes next door, because when the President occupied the Western White House, it was business as usual and they all came. Bebe Rebozo and Henry Kissinger were frequently seen around town. The Nixons attended the local churches, shopped in the local stores and shops, and frequently drove to San Juan Capistrano for Mexican food. The nearby supermarket stocked a supply of the President's favorite ice cream-macadamia nut. 

The local police department received a federal grant, enabling them to hire and equip ten additional officers to assist the Secret Service detail. The street leading to Casa Pacifica was renamed del Presidente. Occasionally there were demonstrations, but even Jane Fonda failed to create an unruly crowd. A fire in the President's study was put out by the local fire department. The fire was caused when the President neglected to open the flue. On the President's next visit to San Clemente, the Nixon family paid a visit to the fire station and presented gifts to each of the firemen. 

The dignitaries came and went-diplomats, astronauts, movie stars. President Diaz of Mexico came, as well as Prime Minister Sato of Japan. Former President Johnson celebrated his birthday with the Nixons. Julie and David Eisenhower were often in residence in the small guest house, and Tricia entertained Ed Cox here before their marriage. 
 

On October 28, 1970, a commemorative postage stamp ceremony was held in San Clemente. The President had decreed that the anti-pollution stamp urging us to save our air, water, cities, and soil be unveiled in his town. 

The President signed a bill in March of 1971 giving the State of California 2.5 miles of beach, stretching from San Clemente to San Onofre, opening up the famed Trestles Beach. A total of five million dollars was set aside to create San Onofre State Park. He also took time to meet a tiny heart patient and his family. His secret service detail and the local police department organized a fund raising softball game for the boy-the Secret Service won. The President's motorcade had to pass Concordia School on del Presidente, and the President always waived at the children and sometimes stopped to shake hands and meet them. The school children often made welcome signs for the President or sent him birthday greetings and presented bouquets to Mrs. Nixon. In November 1972, the Nixons returned to vote at Concordia School in the election where he won by a landslide. 

History was made in San Clemente when South Vietnam President Thieu came in April of 1973 to meet with the President and was greeted by the U.S. Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps. In June of the same year, Soviet Communist Party Chief Leonid Brezhnev flanked by a contingent of KGB agents arrived in San Clemente. Before his departure, he and President Nixon signed the famous joint communique on the lawn of the Western White House and met the Skylab astronauts. In the same month, Chinese Envoy Huang Chen arrived. "

Damn, signing bills, consulting with cabinet members, recieving diplomats and envoys, conducting ceremonies out on the front lawn. Sounds suspiciously like what is going on now down in Crawford.

Look friend, all presidents have conducted business away from Washington. FDR did so frequently on his yacht, Kennedy at Hyannis Port, Bush the Elder at Kennebunkport, etc. etc. In fact before the advent of air conditioning it was de riguouer for the Presidents to do business someplace else other than Washington, because in Washington, being the not quite fully drained swampland that it is, is absolutely unbearable in the summertime without AC.

I'm sorry, but I can't get really get worked up about this. Taxpayer funded plaques does not an official White House make, though it does again demonsrate how tacky this guy is. But I think that you are wasting energy on a non-issue here, energy that could be better used on real matters that are threatening all of us, you know, things like the war, the nuclear option, our dismal economy, Peak Oil, voter disenfranchisement, etc. etc. Quite frankly, even if what you are saying is true and this is some sort of minor Constitutional crisis, it ranks so far down the list behind Bush's much graver crimes that it really isn't worth persuing except as a history footnote, after the fact. Geez friend, we have innocent people dying daily because of this bastard's actions, and you're fucking worrying about where the man does his business at? Get a grip and wake up! There are much much more dire things to worry about.

Protesting the war, writing your reps, working with both local and national political leaders, writing about the atrocities being committed in our names in Iraq, these and many more actions will be much more productive against the Bush misadministration than quibbling over some minor technical issue about where he hangs his hat. Why not try contributing more on these fronts rather than getting tied up in minutia that even if successful won't change the direction that this country is headed. There is real work to be done, both in your own local and on a national level. Get out and do it rather than engage in these useless diatribes that don't and won't change anything.