Leadership, Bush-Style

Suddenly, Bush is all in favor of energy conservation:

[Bush] asked Americans and federal workers to cut back on unnecessary travel to make up for fuel shortages caused by Hurricane Rita. "If it makes sense for the citizen out there to curtail nonessential travel, it darn sure makes sense for federal employees," Bush said. "We can encourage employees to car pool or use mass transit, and we can shift peak electricity use to off-peak hours. There's ways for the federal government to lead when it comes to conservation." The White House also will be looking at ways to conserve, press secretary Scott McClellan said...

With exceptions, of course:

...although that didn't include curtailing the president's travel plans. Tuesday marked the president's seventh trip to the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes in less than a month. ... Bush also has asked that his motorcade be scaled back, his spokesman said, and it was shorter upon his arrival in Texas. However, the multiple-vehicle caravan moved just several yards from his presidential jet and dropped Bush off at an airport terminal for his meeting with Texas officials. ... On Saturday, in a visit to the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colo., some of Bush's briefers were linked from the White House situation room steps from the Oval Office.

Please note that last sentence. Bush flew from the White House to Colorado Springs and had a videoconference with people in the White House. That's leadership, Bush-style: "Do as I say, not as I do." Maybe if somebody sends him a cardigan with the Preznitial seal on it, he'll take the hint.