WASHINGTON (CNN) - Only one thing breaks the sound of silence at the White House today – the pounding of hammers outside the north fence as workers construct the inaugural parade grandstand.
President Bush, for the fifth day in a row, has no public events on his schedule. Even the daily White House briefing has been cancelled for Tuesday.
Mr. Bush and First Lady Laura cast their ballots for John McCain via absentee ballot on October 24th. In every preceding election, the President voted in person at the polls in Crawford, Texas.
Related: Bush absent from the campaign trail
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino says President Bush plans to stay at the White House tonight and watch election returns come in with family and friends, while celebrating Laura Bush's 62nd birthday.
At the White House briefing Monday, Perino commented not only on the president's absence from the campaign trail – but from the ballot.
"It's the first time in 14 years that President Bush hasn't been on the ballot," said Perino. "And that's a different role for him than in the past."
Regarding President Bush's dropping out of sight this week, Perino explained, "Look, we are realistic about the political environment that we are in. The Republican Party wanted to make this election about John McCain, and that's appropriate."
Perino blamed the President's low 28 percent approval ratings in part on unpopular actions he's taken like proposing the 700 billion dollar financial rescue plan.
"And often when you do big things and you make tough decisions, they're not popular. President Bush understands that," said Perino. "When he goes home to Texas, President Bush will be able to look in the mirror and know that he was true to his values and true to his principles. And that's what keeps him going."
From CNN Politics
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It is a sound that I am loving! And will be loving it for the next Eight years!
Obama Today!
AWOL
What else is new?
Too bad he didn't stay away for the past 8 years
He should come out and hang his head and apologize to the American people for the mess he got this country into. And that slimebag Cheney should too!!
He was preparing the way for this "Messiah". Now that he has arrived, Bush's role must decrease while the annointed One increases.
This is no surprise. In the 8 years holding fraudulent presidential office, Mr. Bush has taken an accumulated 2 years in vacation time.
Bush is probably curled up in the fetal position somewhere in the White House !!!!
loser
The president has no one but him and his party to blame for this. But I betcha he and the first lady voted for Obama.
He was true to his values, no doubt about that. And that's why republicans are losing. Bush's values suck.
He may have been true to his values, but when your values are "Lie, Cheat, and Steal" – that's a problem.
I honestly think that President Bush believes that McCain very well may lose. Go OBAMA!!!!
He'd better cocoon himself up in there for the next three months. It seems like the country runs better when the Bush hibernates!!!
Don't show your ugly face to this nation again, you horrible man!!
Crawford must be so proud.
Maybe he's beginning to realize that the country hates him beacause he is the worst president EVER.
Yeah, and those value would be what? Lies, murder, and robbing Americans of their life savings; while he lined his pocket. Now, to leave the white house to go back too Texas and live like a fat hog. He deserves a 0% for his Presidential ratings; he destroyed this country.
The sooner Bush is history the better. He must be the worst US president of all time. Sadly, the next president will still have 77 days to work with this joker and his evil sidekick, Cheney.
It is interesting George Bush is spending his last days at the White House while he spent the bulk of his presidency in Crawford, TX.
Isn't it vacation time?
Why would this be any different?
This president has been missing in action for the past 8 years! He has taken more vacations than any president in history. He came up with more numskull Ideas than any president in history and certianly is the least liked president in history. Bush, your poll numbers show it – you are the lowest rated president – more than any other ever- and history will show it!
So why not vote for someone you can identify with!
The way Bush has performed, he's fortunate they're not constructing a gallows outside the White House.
He screwed up every thing
Everyone vote!
Of course you will!
All this stuff could be avoided if America would vote-by-mail like we do in Oregon.
Best thing is NO MEDIA hanging around polling places because we don't have polling places...or hanging chads, or bad weather problems, or transportation problems, or bad voting machine problems.
It is quiet and serene here today! In Oregon, the vote-by-mail state and the most BEAUTIFUL STATE IN THE WORRRRRLD!
Does anyone else get the impression that Dubya is taking advantage of this down time to catch up on Tiny Toons?
McCain supporters are angry this morning