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Topic: Massive Obama Travel Bill Remains Secret
mightymoe Joined Sun 11/19/06 Posts: 37362	Fri 03/21/14 07:34 PM
There always have been a few voices raising concerns over wildly lavish travel expenses for the Barack Obama, and sometimes his family, while they are not in residence in the people’s house in Washington; the Washington watchdog Judicial Watch, for example, has watched the dollars fly out since 2009. And WND reported only months ago on estimates that the family’s African vacation tab was no less than $60 million, and possibly as high as $100 million. For what mostly was a vacation. There have been reports that the Obamas spent more than $7 million for JUST travel for JUST three trips in late 2012 and early 2013, including more than $4 million to go to a Hawaiian vacation at Christmas, more than $2.1 million for a trip to California and back for Barack Obama to “dine with high-dollar fundraiser Jeffrey Katzenberg and appear on the ‘Tonight Show’ with Jay Leno” and nearly another $1.2 million for an “Obama family August vacation” to Martha’s Vineyard.” Just this week there’s a report that Michelle Obama, her girls and her mom have been staying in a suite costing $8,350 per night in China, where a “well-placed hotel staffer” told the MailOnline that the staff is “fed up.” “We can’t wait for this to be over, to tell you the truth,” the member of the concierge staff told the newspaper. “The first lady is gracious, and the girls are lovely.” But he said Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama’s mother, has been “barking at the staff.” But exact totals for the Obamas’ travel expenses are impossible to obtain because the government, and others, simply decline to release the figures. The White House, for example, notes that security costs for the first family are not going to be released. The Secret Service says it’s figures are secret. And officials with the Democratic National Committee, who are familiar with the costs because they are supposed to reimburse the government for the campaign use of government airplanes, also have declined to respond to WND requests for information.

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Fri 03/21/14 07:44 PM
par for the white house I don't recall such information being available about an other first families travels either

mightymoe Joined Sun 11/19/06 Posts: 37362	Fri 03/21/14 07:48 PM
par for the white house I don't recall such information being available about an other first families travels either and i thought only the obama's were in the white house right now...

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Fri 03/21/14 07:56 PM
of course they are just mentioning that its not really anything unusual 'reports' have been made on their predecessors as well and 'exact totals' have been unavailable

alnewman Joined Sat 12/14/13 Posts: 4009	Fri 03/21/14 08:02 PM
par for the white house I don't recall such information being available about an other first families travels either Of course you wouldn't recall, why should you. Of course if it were not Odumbo, someone would be screaming their heads off. But of course it is the people's money and they have a right to know.

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Fri 03/21/14 08:08 PM
weirdos scream about this type of things I do recall such weirdos being up in arms about all of the previous presidents trips, as if all first families do on 'vacation' is lay back and relax and as if technology doesn't allow for people in many professions to be 'on call' and able to 'work' wherever theyare but, as to the portion that comes from taxes being accounted for, I suppose the taxpayer should be able to account for it and what better time to START The trend then with this particular first family,,,

mightymoe Joined Sun 11/19/06 Posts: 37362	Fri 03/21/14 08:09 PM
When Bush was in office, Laura Bush took one vacation with her girlfriends every year - to a camping lodge in Washington state, where she and her friends went hiking. This is something they've apparently done for 15 years, so it was a tradition before she became First Lady. And, the cost to have your security detail at a camping lodge in Washington vs. the cost to have your security detail at a 5 star, $1000 a night resort in Spain... well, let's just say Laura's vacations were a lot cheaper. And she only took one per year - Michelle apparently has several this summer. Then, in terms of family vacations - the Bushes went down to Crawford, Texas and spent their vacations at their ranch most of the time. So far the Obamas did a $100,000 weekend in Manhattan, an 11 day vacation in Hawaii, a weekend in Bar Harbor Maine (an expensive place), a week at Martha's Vineyard (which is quite expensive) and for which they flew their dog in a separate plane. I have no idea why they decided they needed a separate plane for their dog. Wasn't Air Force 1 big enough?? They are also planning to go back to Martha's Vineyard next week, I believe. They've also spent time at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, and a long weekend in Chicago. Also, while Bush was in office, he did 24 rounds of golf in 8 years. So far, in less than 2 years, Obama has done over 40 rounds of golf, according to whitehousedossier. com. So Obama is spending about 8 times as much time on the golf course as Bush. Plus Obama's had celebrity b-ball games, etc., that Bush never had. Bush did spend more time away from the White House than Obama did during his first two years, but most of that "off-time" was in Crawford, so the cost to taxpayers was a lot less, and Bush had an office in Crawford where he could hold "The Western White House". I find this an interesting comparison, no?

alnewman Joined Sat 12/14/13 Posts: 4009	Sat 03/22/14 06:29 AM
When Bush was in office, Laura Bush took one vacation with her girlfriends every year - to a camping lodge in Washington state, where she and her friends went hiking. This is something they've apparently done for 15 years, so it was a tradition before she became First Lady. And, the cost to have your security detail at a camping lodge in Washington vs. the cost to have your security detail at a 5 star, $1000 a night resort in Spain... well, let's just say Laura's vacations were a lot cheaper. And she only took one per year - Michelle apparently has several this summer. Then, in terms of family vacations - the Bushes went down to Crawford, Texas and spent their vacations at their ranch most of the time. So far the Obamas did a $100,000 weekend in Manhattan, an 11 day vacation in Hawaii, a weekend in Bar Harbor Maine (an expensive place), a week at Martha's Vineyard (which is quite expensive) and for which they flew their dog in a separate plane. I have no idea why they decided they needed a separate plane for their dog. Wasn't Air Force 1 big enough?? They are also planning to go back to Martha's Vineyard next week, I believe. They've also spent time at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, and a long weekend in Chicago. Also, while Bush was in office, he did 24 rounds of golf in 8 years. So far, in less than 2 years, Obama has done over 40 rounds of golf, according to whitehousedossier. com. So Obama is spending about 8 times as much time on the golf course as Bush. Plus Obama's had celebrity b-ball games, etc., that Bush never had. Bush did spend more time away from the White House than Obama did during his first two years, but most of that "off-time" was in Crawford, so the cost to taxpayers was a lot less, and Bush had an office in Crawford where he could hold "The Western White House". I find this an interesting comparison, no? Actually quite an interesting comparison, yes. While I really don't like either a$$, I have to say that Bush going to his ranch in Texas was just working from home, not elaborate vacations. But let's ignore that for a moment if we will. The average American that has a full time job (should question if that is still an average) gets a set period to "take" a vacation nominally two weeks. During that vacation they get to spend time away for work to relax and do things personally while still getting paid. Now all of this is at their own expense. So how is it that the president gets to take all of these vacations at the public's expense? Why is it the IRS would penalize one for trying to declare a business trip when the family goes too but that is ok for the president? Why is it that America is running these huge deficits but the Odumbos feel they are entitled to extremely posh vacation when the public must pick up tremendous expenses for the security team and logistics?

Mortman Joined Tue 05/01/12 Posts: 1373	Sat 03/22/14 10:28 AM Edited by Mortman on Sat 03/22/14 10:28 AM
Paid "vacations" and paid travel are just part of the compensation package for our President. If you don't like it, then maybe you should get your congressman to divert his time from trying to repeal Obamacare to work on that.

Conrad_73 Joined Sat 09/29/07 Posts: 22488	Sat 03/22/14 10:35 AM Edited by Conrad_73 on Sat 03/22/14 10:36 AM
Paid "vacations" and paid travel are just part of the compensation package for our President. If you don't like it, then maybe you should get your congressman to divert his time from trying to repeal Obamacare to work on that.

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Sat 03/22/14 10:36 AM
When Bush was in office, Laura Bush took one vacation with her girlfriends every year - to a camping lodge in Washington state, where she and her friends went hiking. This is something they've apparently done for 15 years, so it was a tradition before she became First Lady. And, the cost to have your security detail at a camping lodge in Washington vs. the cost to have your security detail at a 5 star, $1000 a night resort in Spain... well, let's just say Laura's vacations were a lot cheaper. And she only took one per year - Michelle apparently has several this summer. Then, in terms of family vacations - the Bushes went down to Crawford, Texas and spent their vacations at their ranch most of the time. So far the Obamas did a $100,000 weekend in Manhattan, an 11 day vacation in Hawaii, a weekend in Bar Harbor Maine (an expensive place), a week at Martha's Vineyard (which is quite expensive) and for which they flew their dog in a separate plane. I have no idea why they decided they needed a separate plane for their dog. Wasn't Air Force 1 big enough?? They are also planning to go back to Martha's Vineyard next week, I believe. They've also spent time at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, and a long weekend in Chicago. Also, while Bush was in office, he did 24 rounds of golf in 8 years. So far, in less than 2 years, Obama has done over 40 rounds of golf, according to whitehousedossier. com. So Obama is spending about 8 times as much time on the golf course as Bush. Plus Obama's had celebrity b-ball games, etc., that Bush never had. Bush did spend more time away from the White House than Obama did during his first two years, but most of that "off-time" was in Crawford, so the cost to taxpayers was a lot less, and Bush had an office in Crawford where he could hold "The Western White House". I find this an interesting comparison, no? not really so, Obama spends time on a golf course, Bush spent it on the Ranch both were/are still on call wherever they go and technology allows them to work wherever they go as for the first ladies, you have incomplete information,, http://www.ntu.org/governmentbytes/7-9-13-first-lady-international-flights-vacations.html good rules of internet: 1. Beware of making the internet the reality of the world. 2. Just because we 'hear but' or 'read about' something in media , doesn't mean its been verified 3. Just because we 'don't see' something in media, doesn't mean it doesn't exist and 4.Just because we see something 'more often' than we see something else in the media,, doesn't mean it HAPPENS more often in life,,

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Sat 03/22/14 10:42 AM
also the 'average' full time job has a set number of hours that the employee is responsible for a set list of tasks the presidency is not average in any way,,, 24/7 responsible for any number of unforeseeable tasks,,,

Conrad_73 Joined Sat 09/29/07 Posts: 22488	Sat 03/22/14 11:01 AM
It's still all Bush's Fault,though Obama administration will still recognize George W. Bush We've just heard that the Obama Administration will be honoring the 43rd President of the United States by naming the gap between the tectonic plates beneath CALI after him. The area will now officially be referred to as "Bush's Fault."

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Sat 03/22/14 11:07 AM
'fault' seems to be a go to for certain people I personally believe all presidents have been responsible for good and bad things,, and none of them have yet nor will be able to uniquely and singlehandedly 'destroy' America America has come through a lot of ********,, and will go through plenty more so far none of it has toppled her,,,and I suspect it will be a while before the weight of all the BS together will finally be heavy enough to topple her I suspect THIs president will also not be the one under whose administration that final overburdening load will be dumped,,,

mightymoe Joined Sun 11/19/06 Posts: 37362	Sat 03/22/14 11:24 AM
It's still all Bush's Fault,though Obama administration will still recognize George W. Bush We've just heard that the Obama Administration will be honoring the 43rd President of the United States by naming the gap between the tectonic plates beneath CALI after him. The area will now officially be referred to as "Bush's Fault." that sounds pretty liberalish...lol

alnewman Joined Sat 12/14/13 Posts: 4009	Sat 03/22/14 12:14 PM Edited by alnewman on Sat 03/22/14 12:14 PM
Paid "vacations" and paid travel are just part of the compensation package for our President. If you don't like it, then maybe you should get your congressman to divert his time from trying to repeal Obamacare to work on that. Really, and from where did these words of wisdom come from? Just what part of the enumerated powers does it state any of this other than the complete repeal of Odumbocare. But it does state: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

alnewman Joined Sat 12/14/13 Posts: 4009	Sat 03/22/14 12:15 PM
Paid "vacations" and paid travel are just part of the compensation package for our President. If you don't like it, then maybe you should get your congressman to divert his time from trying to repeal Obamacare to work on that. Exactly!!!

Smartazzjohn Joined Sun 06/03/07 Posts: 4844	Sat 03/22/14 12:21 PM Edited by Smartazzjohn on Sat 03/22/14 12:22 PM
Since Obama is now changing labor laws with his pen by executive maybe soon he is going to be billing the taxpayers for all his overtime since he is on the job "24/7" !!!!! Maybe he will even sign an order so his Kool-Aid drink zealots will get paid for the time they spend trying to promote his agenda by spreading his propaganda.

Dodo_David Joined Fri 08/13/10 Posts: 48912	Sat 03/22/14 01:31 PM
For what it's worth, I don't use the overtly-subjective anti-Obama online tabloid World Net Daily as a primary news source. Anything that it reports needs to be verified, because that website is infamous for spreading false information ... kind of like Daily Kos.

alnewman Joined Sat 12/14/13 Posts: 4009	Sat 03/22/14 01:36 PM Edited by alnewman on Sat 03/22/14 02:00 PM
not really so, Obama spends time on a golf course, Bush spent it on the Ranch both were/are still on call wherever they go and technology allows them to work wherever they go as for the first ladies, you have incomplete information,, http://www.ntu.org/governmentbytes/7-9-13-first-lady-international-flights-vacations.html good rules of internet: 1. Beware of making the internet the reality of the world. 2. Just because we 'hear but' or 'read about' something in media , doesn't mean its been verified 3. Just because we 'don't see' something in media, doesn't mean it doesn't exist and 4.Just because we see something 'more often' than we see something else in the media,, doesn't mean it HAPPENS more often in life,, The not really would be based on the misleading and incomplete information of the referenced source. While it did include the purpose of the trips for Ms Odumbo, it didn't for Laura Bush (what a classy lady, too bad about the idiot) so let's correct that: During her husband's second term, Bush was more involved in foreign matters. She traveled to numerous countries as a representative of the United States. As First Lady, she took five goodwill trips to Africa. The purpose of these has mostly been to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and malaria, but Bush has also stressed the need for education and greater opportunities for women. She has taken many other trips to other countries to promote and gain support for President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief; these countries include Zambia (2007), Mozambique (2007), Mali (2007), Senegal (2007), and Haiti (2008). In mid-2007, she took a trip to Burma where she spoke out in support of the pro-democracy movement, and urged Burmese soldiers and militias to refrain from violence. Later that October, she ventured to the Middle East. Bush said she was in the region in an attempt to improve America's image by highlighting concern for women's health, specifically promoting her breast cancer awareness work with the US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research. She defined the trip as successful, saying that stereotypes were broken on both sides. And this is compared to: March 31-April 5 2009, UK, France, Germany, Czech Republic, First presidential trip to Europe. Michelle Obama accompanied POTUS. June 5 – June 11, 2009, France, UK, Vacation with her two daughters. Used the C-32 to fly there. July 6 – 11, 2009, Russia, Italy, Vatican, and Ghana, Accompanied POTUS on an official tour. September 30 – October 2, 2009, Denmark, Accompanied POTUS, but arrived there before he did (they traveled on separate planes). December 9 – 11, 2009, Norway, Accompanied POTUS to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. April 13-15, 2010, Haiti, Mexico, First solo international trip as First Lady (as an aside, Haiti, goodwill trip after quake, but Mexico, "The White House says the three-day visit is taking place "in recognition of the deep ties between the United States and Mexico.", giving away the US) August, 2010, Spain, Personal trip with one of her daughters. Used the C-32. November 6-11, 2010, India, Indonesia, Germany, Accompanied POTUS to India and Indonesia, but decided to return to the U.S. before the President (Obama went on to visit South Korea and Japan). However, she made a one-day surprise stop in Germany to celebrate Veterans’ Day. (Dang that is sure the long way around to go from Indonesia to US by way of Germany). March 18-23, 2011, Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador, Accompanied POTUS on an official tour May 23-26, 2011, Ireland, UK, Accompanied the President, but returned to the US by herself (Obama went on to visit France) June 21-26, 2011, Botswana, South Africa, Her second solo international trip as First Lady. Used the C-32 (Judicial Watch calculated the total cost to American taxpayers: $424,142 for use of the aircraft)( Goodwill trip about HIV/AIDS, "The first lady is traveling with her daughters, Malia, 12, and Sasha, 10; her mother, Marian Robinson; and a niece and nephew, Leslie and Avery Robinson, 15 and 19, respectively. She began the trip Monday, spending two days each in Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa before moving on to Botswana." Well so much for goodwill). 2012, No trips abroad. Spent her vacation in Colorado and Hawaii. Absolutely nothing to do with Campaign, would it. March, 2013, The Bahamas, Spring break trip with her daughters. The Secret Service and her spokesperson refused to provide any details, but media reports show that the First Lady and her daughters spent at least six days there (March 24-29). June 17-19, 2013, UK, Germany, The First Lady and her two daughters accompanied POTUS. June 26-July 3, 2013, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Family trip to the African continent. And now China: "Michelle Obama and daughters kick off China tour with sightseeing day." "But the first lady is not engaging in any formal talks on issues such as human rights or global politics. Her trip to China is purely for cultural reasons." So no they don't compare do they. One represented the United States and the other obliterates the United States. Wow, four stooges and a first family. And I especially like the look on the President of China's face, "Oh crap, is this job really worth having to suffer this?"