Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Olé! How's your summer going?

How's your summer going?  Any vacations taken or planned?  Were you racking up those airline miles all year so you can jet set around the world while a big portion of America is sweating their butts off standing in the unemployment line?  I didn't think so.  And if you were, I think that's great because you worked hard for your money and are paying for your trip on your own dime.

Believe me, I don't begrudge the POTUS a break from the White House once in a while.  It's got to be a stressful job.  Playing golf a couple of times a month isn't going to cut it, especially if the rest of the family has to sit in the White House biding their time while Barry's out hitting the links.  It's understandable that the Obamas need a little time away from that big, old house in DC to partake in a little R&R.  It's the least we can give them as a great, big "thank you" for all BHO has been doing for us these past 18 months.

Now let's see...here's the Obama's vacation itinerary since March 2010:
The summer started with a Memorial Day weekend trip to Chicago; the family went to the Camp David presidential retreat before July 4; they weekended in Maine, sightseeing in Acadia National Park, departing on July 16 and returning Sunday afternoon July 18. Mrs. Obama took her daughters and her mom, Marian Robinson, to Los Angeles in June. In March, over spring break, Mrs. Obama with her daughters, mom and some pals hit New York for a round of Broadway shows.
 The author of the article above forgot to mention the Obama's vacation to North Carolina in April:
Obama and first lady Michelle Obama landed in the Blue Ridge Mountains and made a quick stop at Twelve Bones Smokehouse on the way to their resort. The White House said the first couple ate ribs, macaroni and cheese, greens, baked beans, corn bread and corn pudding and washed it down with sweet tea.
And then a short time later, they set about working off the meal; the Obamas went on a mountain hike and the president then hit the golf course.

Let's look at the calendar and check out the Obama's vacation itinerary for August and beyond:

On the weekend of Aug. 14, the first family weekends on the Florida Gulf coast, part of an appeal by President Obama and the first lady to encourage gulf tourism in the wake of the BP oil spill. Between Aug. 19 and 29, the first family will vacation on Martha's Vineyard, where they spent part of last summer. No dates have been announced for the Spain trip.
I hear Spain is lovely in August.

While BHO spends his 49th birthday at the White House with Bo and Malia, Michelle and Sasha will be soaking up the sun on another summer vacation.  It's being touted as a "private vacation" to Spain, with a visit to the monarchs thrown in for good measure. 
While the trip is being described as "private," "while in Spain, Mrs. Obama will pay an official visit to Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain at their invitation," the White House said, with the activities to be closed to the press.
"Private", huh?
Since many of you ask when there are stories about presidential vacation travel: Mrs. Obama always flies on a U.S. government plane; she pays "personal expenses" herself. Her friends are not flying with her. She will travel with "minimal" staff.
What are the "personal expenses"?  Meals?  Drinks?  Taxi cabs?  Is she paying for that goverment plane?
Does that mean Michelle is personally picking up the tab for all of those rooms at the Villia Padierna?
Despite the unusual choice of holiday destination, Mrs Obama, who will be on the Costa del Sol between 4 and 8 August with nine-year-old Sasha, has reserved 30 rooms at a five-star hotel.

It is thought Mrs Obama has booked the rooms at the prestigious Villa Padierna, a golf and spa resort located along the coast from Marbella.

With a reputation as Spain's most exclusive hotel, room prices start at 250 euros (£210) for a standard double and rise up to 5,000 euros (£4,175) for a private villa within the gardens.

I'm getting jet lag just writing this post.

And along with vacations galore, parties continue to rock the White House.

The unemployment rate is flirting with 10%, Americans have lost a big chunk of their savings, our national debt is in the trillions of dollars, our taxes are going up, our health and finances have been taken over by the Regime, we're in the midst of a major environmental tragedy and our troops are fighting 2 wars.  I think a little sensitivity to the condition of the "great unwashed" is called for right now, after all, the royal POTUS family is partaking in their joviality at the expense of the "great unwashed".  Maybe they could sacrifice just a little and limit the fuel mileage on that big ole' Air Force One.  Maybe give the pilot a break for his vacation.

At least the mystery is over as to where the money Obama gets from ending the Bush Tax Cuts is going to go.  Fill 'er up...time to start planning their 2011 vacation schedule...oh, and don't forget to order the wagyu beef.  And a thought just crossed my mind...I can't wait to see the big bash they throw for the POTUS's 50th birthday next August.

No, I don't begrudge them at all.

18 comments:

  1. I'm not going anywhere, no rest for the wicked and the righteous don't need it... I'll let you decide which applies...

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  2. American:
    How about "wickedly righteous"?

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  3. Madam C.L.

    What a delightful morsel delivered up for inspection! It is to be savored your wonderful documentation of this idiot's uncaring and insensitive behavior.

    Thank you for your excellent research work.

    ~TWP

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  4. Well, Obama and his family are not that far removed from the rest of us I hear....Except me, I haven't hit a golf ball all summer, no vacation until Feb. I am one of the blessed ones to be working in this O Carter economy.....

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  5. Obama may party. But we will be nipping at his heels.

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  6. This is the kind of thing that I don't get myself excited over. Bush spent a great deal of time at his ranch and the left made a big deal out of that. We don't pay for their personal vacations with the exception of the secret service, which we pay for anyway no matter where they are.

    The one thing that I am a little critical about is him going to the gulf. Anytime they travel somewhere, it is very disruptive to the local people. I think he should stay away so those people can work. They need the money.

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  7. Randy:
    No golf this summer and no vacation until February? Sorry to hear that.

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  8. JACG:
    My point is, that in these hard times for our country, the president should be a little more sensitive as to how he spends our tax dollars. Our economy wasn't in the tank when President Bush spent time at his home in Crawford, TX. Times are different now...the economy is a disaster and many people are out of work. The Obamas think nothing of hosting lavish weekly parties at the White House and flying government airplanes around the world for their vacations. It's a lot different than spending time at his own home in Chicago.
    As for their vacation at the Gulf Coast...strictly political.

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  9. UKs David Cameron might not be perfect but at least he had the grace to travel to Washington on a standard British Airways flight and I doubt if he has any holiday plans at all.

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  10. banned:
    That's exactly what I mean. I'm not saying that Obama should fly commercial, but a little show of concern and empathy can go a long way.

    The following is a report from the first year of Obama's presidency:

    http://washingtonalert.org/2010/01/desiree-rogers-stages-one-party-every-three-days-in-first-year-of-obama-reign/

    In fact, according to the Chicago Tribune, the stylish Ms. Rogers and the party-hearty First Couple hosted no less than 170 parties and social events through December 3 of 2009. And that does not even include the 17 parties and 11 open houses – feting more than 50,000 guests – ABC News reported the Obamas hosted throughout the Holiday Season.

    For those not counting, that means by January, 2010, Ms. Rogers had staged one gala White House event every three days throughout the first year of the Obama Administration, making the once austere Executive Mansion look more like party central.


    That's a bit much.

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  11. I'm "retired" and I still work 7 days a week. How much of my Taxed retirement is going to this trip I don't get to enjoy?

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  12. Hi Conserv. Lady! I'm one of the unemployed sweating at home with no A/C cause I can't afford a new furnace.

    I am now very tired and jet lagged from reading your fantastic post about all the trips, parties, and fun obummer & co have stolen from us taxpayers.

    I hope we don't have to read about his 50th birthday party in the WH, because hopefully he'll be impeached by then. It's very disgusting what they are doing.
    When he's impeached and outed as the fraud he is, we should also DEMAND they pay back ALL the money they wasted on their "royal" lifestyle. That would help the nat'l debt a whole lot.

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  13. Odie:
    I'm not sure how much of our taxes go to the trip. I would imagine her staff's salary and the government airplane. And I really wonder if she's paying for those 30 rooms herself.
    It would be nice to see an expense sheet on who pays for what, otherwise misconceptions on this subject will continue.

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  14. Bunni:
    The least they could do is invite us all to one of those big White House parties.

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  15. Papa Bear and I take care of our injured Marine 24/7. We have got to get away by ourselves for a total of 11 days in 15 years. No more days are planned in the near future.

    I think I read somewhere that Bush took 99 vacation days during his 8 years in office. So far Barry has 33 in 18 months.

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  16. Mamma Bear:
    My heart goes out to you and your family. I thank your son for his service to our country and I will remember you all in my prayers. I hope you will find some support to help you in the care of your son. He is very lucky to have such wonderful parents.
    Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you will come back again soon.

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