The Obamas' European Vacation

Still, I've not been in happy with "Apologize Tour '09" and "Lavish Tour 09" by First Lady, two daughters, and even their grand mother in Europe at biggest economic crisis. Please someone tell me who pay all the expensive of the tour ? Obama or from taxes of citizens?

The Obama's have the worst timing in political history. Why would they take a vacation abroad when the U.S. economy is in the tank? Really makes no sense to me.

=== Never have I seen such a corrupt and no good man in the presidency as GWB.===

The same feelings you have for Bush, I have for Obama.

===Remember he was in Florida on vacation when the 9/11 attack occurred.===

::sigh::

Please tell me where you got this information? And if you are going to count Bush being in Florida as a vacation, then we can start counting Obama's trips for fund raising and politickin' as vacations.

If they were going to go on vacation, why not go somewhere in the US? Spend their money here.

How CAN The First Lady, daughters, mother, nephews, indulge in a private vacation that is costing the tax payers millions of dollars (Air Force 757 flight US-Paris_london_US at $55,000.00 per hour, plus the necessary logistics) while so many Americans are without homes and jobs? Clearly her heart is not with the suffering
americans. It is NOT (as President Obama, loosing his cool, explained to Brian Williams in the NBC interview when asked about the notorious NY date) a question of being entitled to do what past Presidents have done. President Obama knows all too well these are different times and he has therefore proclaimed a "NEW Era of Responsibility". He has expressed sympathy for Americans going through an economic crisis without precedent. He has scolded company executives for their excesses and has stressed a need for sacrifice. Yet as Commander in Chief he shows no personal restraint when it comes to his own personal actions. Surely there are ways of celebrating dates and birthdays that are more consistent with his rhetoric? After all, people voted for him because they wanted CHANGE.

and all of you said FORMER Pres. Bush was always on vacation. Work never followed him. He never worked.
Democrats are so arrogant to believe they can do anything they want, because the media covers for them every step of the way.

I have no quarrels with President Obama's hiatuses at this point b/c they've been brief, bookended by work-related matters, and he's always been working. Even at Camp David he takes work with him. When he was playing golf after the Memorial Day observations, he was contemplating who to choose as the Supreme Court nominee, so he was working.

The First Lady on the other hand I have huge issues with. This romp is hugely distasteful and I'm embarrassed by her insensitive and selfish behavior. Her diva vacation and childish attire makes me want to vomit.

The economy is so bad that Obama's fancy vacation trips seem like a slap in the face. The Obama family is out-of-touch with the American people.

However, I was more upset when Obama played golf on Memorial Day after attending ceremonies. You can't get more disrespectful than that.

The European press said Michelle was going to spend the week in France, but suddenly she left for England.

Perhaps a spat between Michelle and the Sarkozy's???

Is it 2012 yet? These elitist loons have to GO while we still have a tattered Constitution left, not to mention a raped Rule of Law. One termer wonders!

President Obama has been working from day one of his presidency. He is central to everything that is going on. I am very proud that we now have a president who is smart and hard working. In spite of the whining and nitpicking of republicans, President Obama is going to work very hard to solve the problems republicans caused never saying no or wait just a minute about anything Bush wanted. The press called it the other whitehouse because Bush was there so often. Never have I seen such a corrupt and no good man in the presidency as GWB.

Bush began vacationing almost from the moment he got into office. Remember he was in Florida on vacation when the 9/11 attack occurred. And as commented by bcs2k in wonderful detail Bush spent a whole lot of time vacationing. This was probably because they could and did run the government pretty much without him. I think Chaney ran the place. Since I was living in Killeen, TX, during much of Bush's presidency we were always aware of his constant visits to Crawford, TX.

GetReal:" What matters is that people are losing jobs and losing their investments in bonds, which used to be considered secured debts before this administration hit town and started ignoring the rules."
Odd that the courts, including the Supreme Court, do not agree with your accusation above. I guess the Founding Fathers really screwed up assigning the making of laws to Congress and the final word on interpretation of laws to the Supreme Court rather than right wing pundits.

"Meanwhile the president who said that people accepting government money shouldnt head off to vegas on the american people's nickel took his wife to nyc to see a play and have a bite to eat ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLES NICKEL."
So the president's salary package - a pittance compared to private industry even including (secret service required) travel perks - is now exactly equivalent to the bailout of a company that failed through management incompetence? Is this what passes for critical thought on the right?

"Sorry, jhw539, but I'm not in the mood to be lectured to and told I am a sore loser because such behavior bugs me. "
Then don't act like a sore loser and THINK. Complaining about the cost of the President taking a weekend trip is petty, pointless and until the Republicans fall into the Party of No, unprecedented.

notobamafan:"Hey jwh, did you say that when Bush traveled? Have I or have I not read posts from you stating how many vacations Bush took while in office?"

No, it's not a major complaint of mine about Bush, although it can be fun to point out Republican's blatant hypocrisy about it. I generally harp on how the media NEVER brought up the costs of Bush's vacations - any criticism was generally about him being absent from the job during critical junctures (yeah yeah, he had great teleconferencing equipment set up at the ranch...).

"I guess its okay for a liberal dem president to do what was not okay for a republican president to do. If I am mistaken please except my apology."

That apology rings awfully hollow.

The reason Bush got away with going on vacation so much is that he had a "Western White House" and took the work with him apparently...Pres Obama pretends to take weekend and be a private citizen here and there and that doesnt work... once president(glad he retook the oath)always president

notanobamafan- Please list the "vacations" Pres. Obama has taken. He hasn't! The FLOTUS and girls arrived on Friday I believe and he left Sunday. If your counting his dinner date that he went back to the WH the same night, stop being so darn petty!

bcs2k, Obama is going to be right up there with them. he has only been in office for 150 days? How many vacations, although mini, has he taken? 4?5? Don't you worry he'll catch up to and pass ol Bush soon enough. Will you complain about him? Doubtful. What was wrong for a republican president is all of a sudden okay for a liberal dem. president. I don't get it. if its good for the goose its good for the gander. just sayin!

I came across thie information on another board. You bitter republican'ts should read and apologize.
Bush's 77 vacation trips to Crawford cost us $226,072 per trip. That's $17,407,544 so he could ride his bicycle in the woods and clear brush for the cameras. (That's just the estimated cost of flying Air Force One round trip - about two hours of flight time each way at $56,518 per hour. That doesn't include the entourage cost.)

George W. Bush's vacation time = 1020 or 1/3 of his presidency. He set the record for the most vacation time taken by a President.

487 days at Camp David
490 days at Crawford Ranch
43 days at Kennebunkport Compound

Total: 1020 days, more than 1/3rd of his presidency.

 By comparison:

Carter took 79 days in 4 years.

Clinton took 152 days in 8 years.

 Reagan took 335 days in 8 years.

 Bush Sr. took 543 days in 4 years. WITH THAT SAID, LOCK THIS THREAD

"activities"...not "activitie" (sloppy spelling)