Veto Message Nearly a Shutdown Casualty

President Bush wanted to veto Congress’ stopgap money bill Saturday to underscore his determination to shut down the government until a deficit-reduction deal was done, but he apparently had trouble finding someone to type up the veto message.

It seems the “non-essential” clerical staff had been sent home already.

At the White House, many of the offices were dark and tourists with tickets for tours were left standing on the sidewalk as the impact of the budget breakdown was felt.

When Bush made an unusual appearance at the White House driveway to announce his rejection of the continuing resolution, he said he hadn’t actually vetoed it yet. “Need a typewriter in there to get it done,” he said.

Later, his personal secretary, Patricia Presock, could be seen typing frantically at her desk just outside the Oval Office.