More Political Bullshit!

Ummm...were you just as incensed when Bush traveled around the country in 2002 and 2006, or when Clinton, Bush#1, and every president for the past five decades jetted around the country to shore up support in off year elections?

Or is Obama somehow different from every other party-shilling whore-to-the-system president in his efforts? Seems to me he sinply does what every recent president has done in this respect.

Just playing neutral middleman here...I think the overall point would be "Isn't the leader of the free world's time more valuable than having him hit the "rubber chicken" fundraiser circuit every couple of weeks outside of election season and all over the nation during the non-presidential election season?"

I dunno...HM is right, everyone has done it. I remember being in Hawaii when GHWB came out there for literally 12 hours for a fundraiser. No public appearances, no public events--just a "X"-thousand dollar a plate dinner at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and he was gone. Seemed a bit wasteful to fly the President all the way out to Hawaii (5 hrs from the West Coast) and not have him out among the people of the 50th state, since it's a rare visit. But, that's the way it went...

Pres. Obama seems to be continuing the tradition. Until someone that occupies the office decides not to do it, it will continue to be done. Brings in a ton of money for the party or the candidate.

I think this is an interesting discussion and could just as easily apply to vacations, golf, etc... or anything the president (whoever may hold the title) does that isn't 'official work.'

We all know that no matter what, the president is always 'working' if only because he is constantly accompanied by teams of people in case of an emergency that would require his attention.

So under those circumstances, when does a hour, or a day, become his own to spend as he chooses?

Then, let's complicate matters with the cost of him having time away from the White House due to the security and other needs whenever he does leave the Oval Office.

I'm not saying that the number of times Obama has played golf or gone on vacation is what the American people consider acceptable, especially in our current economy. But is he not allowed to spend at least some of his time on personal pursuits even if he decides to use some of that time campaigning for others or himself? Does the state of the economy or other national issues like war or terrorist threats change what might otherwise be okay?

"Does the state of the economy or other national issues like war or terrorist threats change what might otherwise be okay?"

IMHO, it absolutely does. Michelle Obama's recent trip to Spain -where she took along a few dozen of her closest friends on our dime was, IHMO, not okay.

And the upcoming (next week?) trip the President et al are taking to India. The ENTIRE Taj Mahal hotel (570 rooms) has been rented; 40 aircraft will be going along with 3 Marine helicopters (known as Marine One when the President is on board); 6 armored cars......and the list goes on and on. It is said to be the most expansive trip ever taken by a US President.

I'm well aware of the security necessary when the leader of the free world is abroad but this seems a bit much. I wonder how many "friends" will be along on this trip? And, was this trip really necessary......given all that we face right now?

I have to believe if this was Bush 43 taking such a trip at such a time that the media would have the public whipped into a frenzy over it.

But since it's "their guy", it appears the trip has hardly received honorable mention. I hate the double standards applied by a so called objective media.

Just give us the facts. Most of us are intelligent enough to figure out what to think about it on our own.

I couldn't even get passed your first sentence without responding. The Spain trips expenses were paid for by the Obamas and their friends. That has been proven and rehashed over and over again. Yet, people always want to hang on to untruths until they actually believe them. Ridiculous.

All those trips are a dog and pony show.
Spend millions and millions of taxpayer dollars for what? To try to convince these backward countries not to hate us? Fuck them. You don't see China globetrotting trying to buy other countries approval. That is why China owns us now.

This is interesting...no folks pissed off when Nixon visited China, or Reagan in Russia or Bush, the son, in Africa or in Baghdad before and during the "shoe-throwing event?" Geez...those dog and pony shows must have paid off when the world united with us during the first Gulf War or immediately after 9/11. And as for China owning us, it is because we handed them the keys to our treasury; it was not a midnight "coup de etat." And, we continue to do that today every time we purchase a "made in China" article.

Nixon negotiated a treaty with China if I remember right. National business.

Reagan negotiated and signed treaties with Gorbechev--I do remember that. National business.

The Bush "dance tour" in Africa I could have done without, but he had committed millions of dollars to fighting AIDS in Africa, so I guess thats how it became national business.

Both Bush and Obama have been to Iraq (along with their VPs on separate trips). That's where our troops are and I don't think anybody would bitch about that. Morale-boosting national business.

I think the issue here are the campaign trips that both parties take when they occupy the White House. The White House should not be a political prize used for $30,000 a plate fundraising dinners for one party or another. Just sayin'....

Mike, I didn't intend to single out Obama. I meant all these politicians now and over the years. Biden is in town today.Who's paying for that? I'm only talking about these campaign junkets they go on.
Maggie, No,he shouldn't be allowed to do anything on his personal time. Its not like you going to put-n-bay for the weekend costing a few hundred dollars. When a president goes out of town for a weekend, it cost millions of dollars. Taxpayer dollars.

This is interesting...no folks pissed off when Nixon visited China, or Reagan in Russia or Bush, the son, in Africa or in Baghdad before and during the "shoe-throwing event?"

They weren't black.

"I couldn't even get passed your first sentence without responding."

Of course you couldn't - it's that knee-jerk reaction you have to most every post here.

"The Spain trips expenses were paid for by the Obamas and their friends. That has been proven and rehashed over and over again. Yet, people always want to hang on to untruths until they actually believe them. Ridiculous."

Not entirely true - there's this little matter of all the necessary security involved - estimated at anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000 - true costs can't be revealed for security reasons - that were paid for by those of us who pay taxes.

Given the economic circumstances so many find themselves in, I think it would have made more sense for "the Obamas and their friends" to have chosen a vacation spot here in the US.

"They weren't black."

Nice of you to play the race card.Remember,Obama is just as much white as he is black.Why is it if anyone disagrees with Obama the race card is played?He never would have been elected if it weren't for the white vote.What is your point with that comment?

What is your point with that comment?

To be inflammatory. Always.

"They weren't black" another award winning post by dhr. That degree in Obama-nomics is really paying off for you. I just can't wait for your next post on how smart you are.

Please give us more of that wonderful discourse as I didn't know Al Sharpton posted here.

There's several Sharptons posting here.

Are you guys trying to convince yourselves that you're not racist, or something?

Which part of Obama do I not like?It it that he is half white?NO!Is it that he is half black?NO!Is it that I don't like his liberal agenda?BINGO!That answer is a yes.So I guess if not liking his agenda makes me a racist in your eyes,then so be it.I just do not like the direction he is taking this country.Spin it any way you want to,but for me,his race has nothing to do with my dislike for him.

Buckeye, I don't allow others to define me as a racist. They can't fire me, demote me, or anything else. Who gives a shit when some twirp constantly refers to women as c-words, and then calls others bigots, etc.? Eff 'em!

Social classes exist. Have fun in your rightful place at the bottom!

Al Sharpton write that post for you dhr or you dig up a line from some blacksploitation movie from 75? Your next post should include something like "I'm gonna get you sucka!"

What do you think your post even means?