Bush criticised for four-week vacation

Americans famously take short holidays – unless, of course, their name is George Bush. The 43rd President is spending the entire month of August at his ranch in Texas.

But yesterday, in the face of Washington Post accusations that he has spent 42 per cent of the time since his inauguration on holiday – 54 days at his ranch, four days at his parents' holiday home in Kennebunkport and 38 days at the presidential retreat, Camp David – Mr Bush was forced to justify himself.

According to an opinion poll published yesterday, 55 per cent of Americans think his 31-day break is too long, a finding that reinforces the widespread perception of Mr Bush as a little too laid back for the job.

Not so, the President told reporters before an early-morning round of golf . "Washington DC is a fine place and I'm honoured to be working in the Oval Office and staying in the compound there. But I'm the kind of person that needs to get outdoors," he said. "It keeps my mind whole, keeps my spirits up."

White House officials have billed the trip as a "working vacation" that will allow Mr Bush to mull over matters of state and meet "real Americans" around the country. He is also due to come up with a decision on federal funding for stem-cell research. But so far it's been a case of pottering around the ranch, leaving the White House press corps scrambling to survive in the heat.