Via Dan Riehl, who notes that there was indeed some important Iraq news today worth asking about. I don’t really begrudge The One the right to duck questions on his vacation, especially when he’s lining up a primetime address on this subject for next week, but this is a classic “What if Bush did it?” moment and, as such, simply Must Be Blogged.

If this dopey quote had come out of Dubya’s mouth, tell me it wouldn’t already be a slogan emblazoned on a t-shirt at Zazzle underneath a Bush/chimp photo comparison:

As the president walked around the restaurant, some cordoned-off reporters shouted out to him questions, including one about the war in Iraq. Next Tuesday night, the president will deliver an Oval Office address at 8 pm ET, in which he will mark the occasion of the withdrawal of US combat troops from the country.

But the president was in no mood today to discuss the issue with reporters in that setting. He ignored questions for a bit, then turned to the reporters.

“We’re buying shrimp, guys,” he said, smiling. “Come on.”

That’s via an excruciatingly bored Jake Tapper, who’s also got a hot item up about Obama having a great time on his vacation. I searched in vain for video of the magic moment so you’ll have to make do with the flashback below from Campaign 2008. Cool Hand Luke is usually unflappable, but don’t get between the man and his lunch. Exit question: Think he’ll credit Bush for the surge in his Iraq speech next week? I know it’s off-message in light of the Dems’ Bushitler messaging for the midterms, but since he’ll be taking the credit for winding down combat operations, sharing a tiny bit with Bush is low-cost.

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