The Mahablog: L'état n'est pas lui

In today's Boston Globe, Joan Vennochi reveals why President Bush enjoys his August vacations in Texas.

He is currently immersed in a five-week stay away from Washington, the longest presidential retreat in at least 36 years, according to The Washington Post.

A presidential spokesman said the time in Crawford is a time for Bush to ''shed his coat and tie and meet with folks in the heartland and hear what's on their minds."

And I bet that spokesman delivered that line with a straight face. Where do the Republicans find these people?