(01-03-2012 05:09 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  And I would hope we can all agree that the money spent to insure the safety of our President and his access to constant information, regardless of party, should not be limited. Period!

I'd make an exception in this case.

(01-03-2012 02:13 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  He still spent nearly nearly 900 days in Crawford and Camp David, yes he was working some of those days, but when is the POTUS ever truly on vacation and out of touch?

Bush's numbers are certainly skewed because he did take meetings from his ranch, but c'mon, be real man, they were still vacations. Even if 2 out of every 3 days at Crawford were a work day, that would still be some 160 vacation days at Crawford alone.

Don't mean to speak for most on here, but I will...

I think many are upset over Obama's travel/vacations/spending because as he's jetting across the country and Pacific Ocean to vacation (and his wife jets across the Atlantic for a lavish european getaway), we're worrying about how to get to DisneyWorld, or how to pay for tickets to Six Flags, or even a trip to Gatlinburg for a weekend. That's if we're even thinking of taking a vacation.

Now, many on here are of the ilk where we don't mind someone doing something lavish that they can afford. The issue is that he isn't using his own money. He's using OUR money to take two planes cross-country (and to other locations), Mrs. Obama is using OUR money to fly to Europe for one day of "official business" and 13 of personal tours. They aren't traveling to a set location already set up for Presidential activities like Camp David and Crawford, TX were/are and that his home in Chicago could be set up for.

He can't stay on vacation enough to suit me. He can't be as dangerous in Hawaii as he is in DC.

(01-03-2012 05:38 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 02:13 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  He still spent nearly nearly 900 days in Crawford and Camp David, yes he was working some of those days, but when is the POTUS ever truly on vacation and out of touch?

Bush's numbers are certainly skewed because he did take meetings from his ranch, but c'mon, be real man, they were still vacations. Even if 2 out of every 3 days at Crawford were a work day, that would still be some 160 vacation days at Crawford alone.

Don't mean to speak for most on here, but I will...

I think many are upset over Obama's travel/vacations/spending because as he's jetting across the country and Pacific Ocean to vacation (and his wife jets across the Atlantic for a lavish european getaway), we're worrying about how to get to DisneyWorld, or how to pay for tickets to Six Flags, or even a trip to Gatlinburg for a weekend. That's if we're even thinking of taking a vacation.

Now, many on here are of the ilk where we don't mind someone doing something lavish that they can afford. The issue is that he isn't using his own money. He's using OUR money to take two planes cross-country (and to other locations), Mrs. Obama is using OUR money to fly to Europe for one day of "official business" and 13 of personal tours. They aren't traveling to a set location already set up for Presidential activities like Camp David and Crawford, TX were/are and that his home in Chicago could be set up for.

But you have to take into account that outside of fuel costs that most of the presidential costs are there whether he is in the White House or in Hawaii. He (and the first lady) still have office staffs and security details. Air Force one staffs, flight crews and the like have to be ready to take off at a moments notice so they are always incurring an expense and it goes on and on.

And you cite one of Michelle's travels as one day of business and 13 days of personal stuff. And even though you don't provide an exact vacation so we can investigate the veracity of your claims...there is still an inherent value to her travels even if it is as you say "personal tours". The first lady, regardless of party, does have political standing and is always representing our country 24x7 just like the president. And even on vacation, they are still acting on behalf of our country. You just can't put a cost on that, sorry.

(01-03-2012 06:39 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 05:38 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 02:13 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  He still spent nearly nearly 900 days in Crawford and Camp David, yes he was working some of those days, but when is the POTUS ever truly on vacation and out of touch?

Bush's numbers are certainly skewed because he did take meetings from his ranch, but c'mon, be real man, they were still vacations. Even if 2 out of every 3 days at Crawford were a work day, that would still be some 160 vacation days at Crawford alone.

Don't mean to speak for most on here, but I will...

I think many are upset over Obama's travel/vacations/spending because as he's jetting across the country and Pacific Ocean to vacation (and his wife jets across the Atlantic for a lavish european getaway), we're worrying about how to get to DisneyWorld, or how to pay for tickets to Six Flags, or even a trip to Gatlinburg for a weekend. That's if we're even thinking of taking a vacation.

Now, many on here are of the ilk where we don't mind someone doing something lavish that they can afford. The issue is that he isn't using his own money. He's using OUR money to take two planes cross-country (and to other locations), Mrs. Obama is using OUR money to fly to Europe for one day of "official business" and 13 of personal tours. They aren't traveling to a set location already set up for Presidential activities like Camp David and Crawford, TX were/are and that his home in Chicago could be set up for.

But you have to take into account that outside of fuel costs that most of the presidential costs are there whether he is in the White House or in Hawaii. He (and the first lady) still have office staffs and security details. Air Force one staffs, flight crews and the like have to be ready to take off at a moments notice so they are always incurring an expense and it goes on and on.

And you cite one of Michelle's travels as one day of business and 13 days of personal stuff. And even though you don't provide an exact vacation so we can investigate the veracity of your claims...there is still an inherent value to her travels even if it is as you say "personal tours". The first lady, regardless of party, does have political standing and is always representing our country 24x7 just like the president. And even on vacation, they are still acting on behalf of our country. You just can't put a cost on that, sorry.

Yes, you can put a cost on it. It costs less to stay in DC or Camp David than it does to transport his entire staff and who ever they bring with them to Hawaii.

I thought I didn't take vacations at all. Now I know I take 365 of them every year when I go HOME.

(01-03-2012 06:46 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 06:39 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 05:38 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 02:13 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  He still spent nearly nearly 900 days in Crawford and Camp David, yes he was working some of those days, but when is the POTUS ever truly on vacation and out of touch?

Bush's numbers are certainly skewed because he did take meetings from his ranch, but c'mon, be real man, they were still vacations. Even if 2 out of every 3 days at Crawford were a work day, that would still be some 160 vacation days at Crawford alone.

Don't mean to speak for most on here, but I will...

I think many are upset over Obama's travel/vacations/spending because as he's jetting across the country and Pacific Ocean to vacation (and his wife jets across the Atlantic for a lavish european getaway), we're worrying about how to get to DisneyWorld, or how to pay for tickets to Six Flags, or even a trip to Gatlinburg for a weekend. That's if we're even thinking of taking a vacation.

Now, many on here are of the ilk where we don't mind someone doing something lavish that they can afford. The issue is that he isn't using his own money. He's using OUR money to take two planes cross-country (and to other locations), Mrs. Obama is using OUR money to fly to Europe for one day of "official business" and 13 of personal tours. They aren't traveling to a set location already set up for Presidential activities like Camp David and Crawford, TX were/are and that his home in Chicago could be set up for.

But you have to take into account that outside of fuel costs that most of the presidential costs are there whether he is in the White House or in Hawaii. He (and the first lady) still have office staffs and security details. Air Force one staffs, flight crews and the like have to be ready to take off at a moments notice so they are always incurring an expense and it goes on and on.

And you cite one of Michelle's travels as one day of business and 13 days of personal stuff. And even though you don't provide an exact vacation so we can investigate the veracity of your claims...there is still an inherent value to her travels even if it is as you say "personal tours". The first lady, regardless of party, does have political standing and is always representing our country 24x7 just like the president. And even on vacation, they are still acting on behalf of our country. You just can't put a cost on that, sorry.

Yes, you can put a cost on it. It costs less to stay in DC or Camp David than it does to transport his entire staff and who ever they bring with them to Hawaii.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/cost-obam...ation-bush

(01-03-2012 07:11 PM)Paul M Wrote:  I thought I didn't take vacations at all. Now I know I take 365 of them every year when I go HOME.

Exactly the same thing.

(01-04-2012 02:25 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 07:11 PM)Paul M Wrote:  I thought I didn't take vacations at all. Now I know I take 365 of them every year when I go HOME.

Exactly the same thing.

Glad you agree. So tired of hearing for 11 years how Bush going HOME was a vacation.

"Obama and Moochell went to Hawaii".
"Oh yeah, well Bush went HOME and chopped wood so nanernaner."