George W. Bush and Bill Clinton: A tale of two pre-election schedules

Make of this what you will:

The schedule of President Clinton on the Saturday and Sunday before election day 2000:

Friday:

-- Get Out The Vote rally in Oakland, Calif.

-- Rep. Barbara Lee rally, Oakland.

-- Get Out The Vote rally, San Francisco.

-- Get Out The Vote rally, San Jose.

-- Fly to New York.

Saturday:

-- Bronx County Democrats' rally, New York City.

-- Get Out The Vote rally, New York City.

-- Get Out The Vote rally, Long Island.

-- Fly to Arkansas.

Sunday:

--Democratic Party campaign event, Little Rock, Ark.

-- Democratic Party rally, Pine Bluff, Ark.

-- Fly to Washington, D.C.

President Bush's schedule this weekend:

Friday:

-- Private time at the White House.

-- Fly to Camp David, Md.

Saturday:

-- Camp David, Md.

Sunday:

-- Return to the White House from Camp David.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photos:

Top: President Bill Clinton campaigning on Nov. 3, 2000, for Al Gore, in Oakland. Credit: Paul Sakuma / Associated Press.

Bottom: President Bush leaving today for Camp David, Md. Credit: Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images

Show me the money: What happened to Bill Clinton's budget surplus?

When President Clinton left office, the federal budget was showing a $127-billion surplus.

The books are closed on fiscal 2008. The surplus the current President Bush inherited has turned into a record deficit: $455 billion.

That is more than twice the 2007 deficit of $162 billion and beyond the previous record of $413 billion in 2004.

But records are made to be broken.

While Barack Obama or John McCain will submit the next federal budget weeks after Inauguration Day, it will be largely drawn up by Bush's aides.

And regardless of who is inaugurated, as the country copes with the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, the deficit is only expected to grow, our Los Angeles Times colleague Richard Simon reports in today's Times.

As the election campaign closes, look for the deficit report to figure in the debate -- and to add fire to House Democrats' efforts to pass another economic stimulus package to the tune of $150 billion.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo: President Bush and President Clinton on inauguration day 2001. Credit: Shaun Best / Reuters

What do Bill Clinton, George W. Bush have in common?

Turns out Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have something in common.

A fondness for beef.

Former White House executive chef Walter Scheib said that, unlike their wives, who tend toward health food, Presidents Clinton and Bush would have been happy if "we opened a rib joint in the White House basement." He added that any meat covered in cheese made them happy.

In a talk in the Berkshire Dining Commons at the University of Massachusetts, reported by the Republican in Amherst, Mass., Scheib, who served both presidents, said that when it comes to cooking and food, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush are "both adventurous, both like full flavors."

Laura Bush is all about organic. Hillary Rodham Clinton wants to know all the ingredients. And Chelsea Clinton? She  became vegan while in the White House so the first lady asked the staff to teach her the basics.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Mark Booster/Los Angeles Times