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As Rome Burns, Bush Plays T-Ball

Fannie Mae, Afghanistan benched as president hosts yet another sporting event

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 17, 2008 9:51 AM CDT
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(Newser) – With Washington roiled yesterday by economic woes and bad news from Afghanistan, George W. Bush spent an hour watching 6- and 7-year-olds play T-ball, Dana Milbank notes in the Washington Post—the 95th sports-related event he's hosted as president, to 45 cabinet meetings. "For a president facing little good news at the office," Milbank writes, "sport is pleasure."

"The game must have looked familiar to Bush in these final months of his presidency: dropped balls, swings and misses, and players running every which way," Millbank continues, observing that the enthusiastic president arrived early, posed for photos, and handed out baseballs to the kids alongside a giant chipmunk mascot. A good warmup for last night's main event—dinner with professional ballplayers.

For a president facing little good news at the office, sport is pleasure, Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post.
"For a president facing little good news at the office, sport is pleasure," Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post.   (AP Photo)
The White House All-Star tee ball baseball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in Washington.
The White House All-Star tee ball baseball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo)
Former major league baseball player Rick Monday, right, cheers on little leaguer Sam Bryant, 5, of Irmo, S.C., during the All-Star tee ball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in Washington.
Former major league baseball player Rick Monday, right, cheers on little leaguer Sam Bryant, 5, of Irmo, S.C., during the All-Star tee ball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July...   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Shay Rubenstein of Dix Hills, N.Y., bats during the White House All-Star tee ball baseball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in Washington.
Shay Rubenstein of Dix Hills, N.Y., bats during the White House All-Star tee ball baseball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
A t-ball game President Bush hosted at the White House yesterday was, by one count, the 95th sports-related event there during his administration %u2014 to 45 cabinet meetings.
A t-ball game President Bush hosted at the White House yesterday was, by one count, the 95th sports-related event there during his administration %u2014 to 45 cabinet meetings.   (AP Photo)
Little League mascot Dugout greets players as they run off the field during the All-Star Tee Ball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in Washington.
Little League mascot Dugout greets players as they run off the field during the All-Star Tee Ball game on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
The game must have looked familiar to Bush in these final months of his presidency: dropped balls, swings and misses, and players running every which way, Dana Milbank writes in the Post.
"The game must have looked familiar to Bush in these final months of his presidency: dropped balls, swings and misses, and players running every which way," Dana Milbank writes in the Post.   (AP Photo)
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At least the kids enjoyed it
Asbury Park Press

And this isn't even the first T-ball game this summer...
Associated Press

 
sports • Cabinet • Bush legacy • Little League • baseball • George W. Bush

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