Isle stopover fits
Bush’s ‘race’ pattern
He dashed through Tokyo on an overnight layover before sprinting through a state visit in Manila in eight hours. He spent three nights in Bangkok for an economic summit, then hit Singapore, Indonesia and Australia in one day.
White House officials said Bush was trying to accommodate as many countries as possible, within the restrictions of security precautions, time problems and the logistical obstacles of a presidential visit.
"He understands presidential visits are an honor for countries, as well as a burden," White House communications chief Dan Bartlett said.
Bush arrived in Honolulu on a perfect day -- sunshine, light surf and mild breezes at the end of a long, grueling trip. He had not been in the islands for years and never as president.
So, what did he do during his downtime?
Secured in his Kahala Mandarin hotel suite, the president watched television -- Game 5 of the World Series. Unlike many other presidents, Bush does not seem inclined to linger to see tourist attractions or mix with ordinary people.
"Different presidents are going to have different styles, no question," Bartlett said. "Are you going to satisfy every country? No."
