Bush: Clearing Scrub More Important Than Grieving Moms

Bush has finally addressed the question of why he refuses to meet with Cindy Sheehan:

I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say. But I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life.

Bush is asking young Americans to sacrifice their lives for his bogus wars. He is asking families like Cindy Sheehan's to sacrifice their sons and daughters. But he can't give up half an hour mountain-biking.

If your priority in life is balancing work-life time constraints, you don't run for President. Not unless you've been hand-picked as a hands-off, figurehead puppet by an unholy cabal of Fascists, warmongers and "pro-life" hypocrities.

Bush might not be the first US President to ignore an important public issue because he wants more "me time". But he's the first one stupid enough and insensitive enough to say it out loud.

UPDATE: TIME covers Sheehan's vigil this week, reporting that Cindy's son Casey was a virgin altar boy - let's see Karl Rove try to attack them credentials! The article also draws this Vietnam parallel:

In 1965 a group of just 25 antiwar protesters demonstrated outside President Lyndon Johnson's Texas ranch. Within a few years, the handful had turned into a movement.

UPDATE 2: Atrios has more on this. Bush's comments - which came just prior to a two-hour bike ride on the ranch with journalists and aides - included this addendum:

"I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy," he said when asked about bike riding while a grieving mom wanted to speak with him. "And part of my being is to be outside exercising."