Vacation management

Do you remember when George W. Bush was vacationing while Hurricane Katrina bore down on the Gulf Coast like a panjandrum? And how he simply issued a statement from his posh vacation quarters that people should seek shelter - but he stayed on vacation rather than return to Washington to be on hand at the seat of government to manage the emergency?

Oh, I don't remember that, either.

But today, as Irene hurtles toward the North Carolina shore, on track so wreak flooding and devastation all the way north of New York City:

A sun-soaked relaxer-in-chief spent close to five hours at a private Edgartown beach with the first family yesterday — still with no plans to cut the presidential vacation short while other islanders heeding the threat of Hurricane Irene packed up paradise and high-tailed it to the mainland. . . . He had no plans to leave Martha’s Vineyard early — even as emergency crews mobilized around him.

But not to worry! President Laidback is still on top of the situation:

Obama, speaking on Martha’s Vineyard this morning, said all indications suggest Hurricane Irene will be an “historic” storm.

He warned residents in the path of the storm to take the dangers seriously and be prepared.

Gee, thanks, Barry! But we already knew that -- it's exactly what the Weather Channel folks have been saying for days.

Update: Just after 1 p.m. today, the White House announced that President Obama will return there tonight with his family to follow Saturday morning.

The problem is the temporizing and millions of people to be affected by the storm left wondering whether the chief executive will actually be on the job as Irene slams into them. Irene's landfall early tomorrow morning in North Carolina will not be a surprise. Warnings and evacuations there began two days ago. A simple statement yesterday or even Wednesday from the White House would have avoided what almost became a Katrina moment for President Obama. It would have needed to have been only a couple of lines: "The president receives frequent updates on the progress of Hurricane Irene and its forecasts. He will return to Washington in time to oversee federal relief efforts from the White House." End of story.