"Tone-Deaf" Obama Mocked By NY Times For Vacationing While World Burns

a reply to: Grimpachi

Ok ill play. It seems like you are concerned with the numbers. Bush did take many more days, however the point is substance. I do beleive Bush used his ranch as a working location while vacationing, as he has openly stated he disliked the whitehouse. Obama on the other hand, takes lavish over the top vacations, I think you will find he has outspent Bush by a huge margin.

No one is arguing how may one took over the other, because Obama is the current president. People are hurting and it is pissing everyone off that we take a cut while he lives like a king on our dime. "Skin in the game"

And I googled this. Like I said before, if you aren't sure about something, google it.

It’s worth noting that there was a difference in the two presidents’ patterns of vacations. As the USA Today article noted, Obama doesn’t own a vacation home, unlike Bush, who owned his ranch. So while Bush essentially used the ranch as as a working White House, Obama has traveled to a variety of destinations, including his native Hawaii. Because of this, the government may have been able to accrue some per-trip cost savings for Bush by going repeatedly to one location. But since the White House is traditionally tight-lipped about costs and security details for presidential travel, it’s impossible to know how the total cost of Bush’s travel compares to Obama’s.

www.politifact.com...

a reply to: Bassago

Dear Bassago,

Your reply, measured and relevant, helps point out the problem.

How about telling Israel if they don't stop bombing children the US is done with them?

What other steps would you like to see Israel take to prevent that? Surely you don't think they look for children. Do we have evidence that Israel is trying to hit children? But we do have evidence that in at least one case of a house owned by a Hamas "soldier," with rockets in the basement, Israel sent a phone call and knocked on the roof. The response? Everybody rushed up to the roof to prevent Israel from bombing.

And does "being done with them" include cutting off the funding for the purely defensive Iron Dome system?


Each Iron Dome missile costs about $40,000 the cheapest of the Palestinian rockets go for under $1000.

How about telling Hamas if they don't stop firing rockets he will go to the UN and push for intervention against them.

That doesn't even scare me and I'm a fraidy cat.

The UN? China and Russia will allow the UN to send troops to stop Hamas and the rockets? Hamas will ignore it, and rightly so.

How about actually meeting with Putin to resolve the problems in Ukraine (which I lay at the feet of George Soros NGO's and the CIA.)

Reagan and Bush could have worried Putin, but Obama has been brushed aside like a pesky fly, and he's taken it. Obama's got nothing, except the ability to irritate our friends, and make our enemies more confident.

Depending on how drastic you want to be, there are a few different solutions (short term, anyway) to the Mid-east. The Ukraine? There hasn't been any pressure brought to bear on Russia (at least publicly). I would think that the shot down plane would cause nearly any American leader to say "Enough! We're supervising the Investigation conducted by an international science team. If this came from anyone connected to Russia, we will work with Ukraine, EU, NATO, and the Criminal Court to get all involved charged with crimes. We'll also provide a safe escort for all the Russians back to Russia, and help provide Ukraine with security tools." But, as you say:

There are lots of things a real leader could do. Unfortunately Obama isn't a leader.

With respect,
Charles1952

originally posted by: charles1952
a reply to: Bassago

But, as you say:

"There are lots of things a real leader could do. Unfortunately Obama isn't a leader."

Well he did come to my state to eat at charcoal pit. While in Delaware, he came to chime in on the repair to the 495 overpass that has been shut down due to structural damage and has caused marginal traffic delays.

However, what wasn't reported is the fact that the project to repair the supports to the overpass or bridge or whatever it is, is already in progress. Just like everything else he does, its a campaign photo op.

a reply to: charles1952

What other steps would you like to see Israel take to prevent that? S

Hey have you noticed since Obama has been 'negotiating' with Iran Hamas went on a rampage ?

Billions of assets have been unfrozen etc.

originally posted by: hammanderr
The world was coming to an end in the 90's when Clinton was getting action in the oval office from interns. Democrats quit their party and went Republican. He was a draft dodging liar. He was the biggest disgrace in the history of the office. He was impeached. But it was all HW Bush's fault.

But the economical surplus we had with Clinton, (like $4 trillion) was the biggest disgrace to the office? but the over $20 trillion debt since Bush and Obama, somehow, I don't know how, makes him worse? So he was getting a little action in the office and was impeached. But after everything Obama has done, over stepping congress and more, appointing his on little task force of people to enforce laws Congress shut down, but he enforces the same doesn't matter? His extreme disregard for our Constitution, WHY has impeachment proceedings not been carried out on him?

Obama IMO is the "biggest disgrace to the office". He does what he wants to, when he wants to. And because he is the first black "minority" president, his # don't stick and everything flies. Don't question his actions as a majority because you are then being racist.

I can't believe people were so blind and out of touch with what has been going on that this fool was re-elected to a second term. And I bet, if he could have his way to further breach the constitution, he would run for a third term, just to finish what he has started and not finished.

EDIT: As for draft dodging, back in the early years, specifically the civil war era, you could pay, was it $500 or $5,000, IF you were drafted, to not go to war? He wouldn't be the first, and I'm sure the draft will come up again, and he wouldn't be the last. Not that any of those hundreds or maybe even thousands, of Americans that fled to Mexico or Canada to evade the draft was any worse than the President.

a reply to: sicksonezer0

Oh I know Bush liked to hide out at his ranch I even heard he got lost there once. Wouldn't it have sucked if an emergency came up and they couldn't find him?

From my understanding all presidents even while on vacation still have meetings and run the country just away from the White House. They still have the Football close to them. Now if the complaint is that Obama is actually spending time away at vacation places then I give you that as for the cost well to me it doesn't compare to the real problems of this nation.

The government knows how to waist money like no one else. I was in the military for years and have seen it first hand especially near the physical year when they were trying to spend up the budget. I have seen 15 K brass chains and full tool boxes either buried or thrown away in multitudes. A good way to waste a million or two was to have a live fire exercise so while I will admit his vacations may cost a bit they are nothing compared to what goes on everyday so I don't really feel the need to nitpick them. I just have some perspective on it is all and can't be bothered with hyperbole.

Government spending is baaaad mmmkay I get that but it isn't just him or this administration and it is far from new news.

The president can do whatever the F he wants... He is the president. I'd be taking vacations every other week.

a reply to: charles1952

Hi Charles, good to hear from you.

Surely you don't think they look for children. Do we have evidence that Israel is trying to hit children?

No I don't think they're specifically hunting children though I also think they don't care how many they kill as evidenced by the four children blown up on the beach. My take on Israel is they would just as soon kill everyone and be done with it. Once I was a supporter of Israel, not anymore.

And does "being done with them" include cutting off the funding for the purely defensive Iron Dome system?

Yes and cutting off all other funding as well. As I said I used to be a big supporter of Israel. Now I see them for the apartheid nation they are. Don't get me wrong, Hamas needs to be hammered as well and both issues should be being addressed by our POTUS before the UN Security Counsel... but Obama's on vacation.

there are a few different solutions (short term, anyway) to the Mid-east. The Ukraine? There hasn't been any pressure brought to bear on Russia (at least publicly).

Well the ME is now a huge bonfire with ISIS so I'll leave that aside. Ukraine, first thing I'd suggest is arrest George Soros and everyone affiliated with his NGO's for destabilizing a democratically elected government.

There has been pressure on Russia with sanctions. These IMO are totally out of line and based strictly on the fact that the US wants NATO in Ukraine, will browbeat the EU to achieve this and doesn't care that we had previously agreed with Russia on no NATO expansion into previous Soviet states. We are shown as liars to any who wish to look.

WASHINGTON — William J. Burns, a career diplomat who led the Obama administration’s back-channel negotiations with Iran, plans to step down as the State Department’s second-ranking official in October, administration officials said on Friday.

www.nytimes.com...

The United States has released $1 billion in cash assets to Iran in April alone under the interim nuclear deal aimed at ratcheting back Iran’s nuclear program, according to the White House

freebeacon.com...

US officials are contemplating unfreezing some of the tens of billions dollars of Iranian assets in blocked accounts around the world, to give them bargaining chips to take the table with Iran, now that substantive negotiations have finally begun, the New York Times reports today.

www.theguardian.com...

The latest flare up in Israel and Palestine is about things bigger than that patch of dirt.

Obamas epic weak foreign policy enabled that latest crap.

a reply to: ThisIsMyRifle

I'm sorry for the disagreement, but I have another take on Clinton's "surplus." Here's the site from which I obtained my information:

www.craigsteiner.us...

I'm also sorry that I don't know how to upload tables, so I had to retype it.

FY..........................Debt.........................Deficit

1993.................. $4.41 Trillion
1994...................$4.69..........................$281.26 Billion
1995...................$4.97..........................$281.23
1996...................$5.22..........................$250.83
1997...................$5.41..........................$188.34
1998 ...................$5.53..........................$113.05
1999....................$5.66..........................$130.08
2000................... $5.67..........................$17.91
2001 ...................$5.81..........................$133.29

As can clearly be seen, in no year did the national debt go down, nor did Clinton leave President Bush with a surplus that Bush subsequently turned into a deficit. Yes, the deficit was almost eliminated in FY2000 (ending in September 2000 with a deficit of "only" $17.9 billion), but it never reached zero--let alone a positive surplus number. And Clinton's last budget proposal for FY2001, which ended in September 2001, generated a $133.29 billion deficit. The growing deficits started in the year of the last Clinton budget, not in the first year of the Bush administration.

Keep in mind that President Bush took office in January 2001 and his first budget took effect October 1, 2001 for the year ending September 30, 2002 (FY2002). So the $133.29 billion deficit in the year ending September 2001 was Clinton's. Granted, Bush supported a tax refund where taxpayers received checks in 2001. However, the total amount refunded to taxpayers was only $38 billion . So even if we assume that $38 billion of the FY2001 deficit was due to Bush's tax refunds which were not part of Clinton's last budget, that still means that Clinton's last budget produced a deficit of 133.29 - 38 = $95.29 billion.

Clinton clearly did not achieve a surplus and he didn't leave President Bush with a surplus.

As an interesting sidelight, the national debt went up more during the first three years and two months of the Obama administration than under the entire eight years of Bush.
www.cbsnews.com...

I think you'll have to adjust your understanding a bit.

Reagan and Bush could have worried Putin, but Obama has been brushed aside like a pesky fly, and he's taken it. Obama's got nothing, except the ability to irritate our friends, and make our enemies more confident

a reply to: charles1952

True, True, True and how does the world see obama, as a joke,,, that's how!
I often talk to my old colleagues that still work in Beijing, They actually have a very hard time, believing we've allowed him to stay this long in office.
How is obama seen,,,,,,

originally posted by: Bassago


How about telling Israel if they don't stop bombing children the US is done with them?

There are lots of things a real leader could do. Unfortunately Obama isn't a leader.

I can agree about Israel. I don't care much for them. I'd love for us to stop sticking up for them when they do such terrible things, their just as bad just from a different angle. But it isn't very realistic. Thinking of such a thing is practically a taboo in this country.

How about telling Hamas if they don't stop firing rockets he will go to the UN and push for intervention against them.

As far as Hamas goes, Obama doesn't need to be the one to speak up and request the U.N. to do so. The U.N. is comprised of many countries, many leaders in other countries can speak up as well or take action. The more the better. Though the U.S. is a powerful country and what we have to say carries more weight usually, I'll agree to that. Though we shouldn't have to babysit and make sure everyone places nice all of the time. I don't like this whole "global cop" duty we're somehow supposed to uphold.

How about actually meeting with Putin to resolve the problems in Ukraine (which I lay at the feet of George Soros NGO's and the CIA.)

If Obama meet with Putin they may work out a bit of a deal, out of respect for each others power, but ultimately Putin isn't afraid of Obama at all. He wants control of Ukraine/Crimea (mainly Crimea) because he views that there are a lot of ethnic Russians in the country, and he feels it's his duty to accommodate them. And of course there are more underlying gains he wants to achieve there. Overall I highly doubt Obama would do hardly anything to change his mind.

I dono the further he is from the Camera giving "red lines" the better!

Why at it why not send Kerry and McCain on holiday to keep them out of trouble?

Maybe get them to fly Malaysian airlines sure tickets are going cheap!

a reply to: Bassago

Ukraine is burning.

Not part of America none of our business.

Gaza is burning.

Not part of America none of our business.
The people that think America should be the worlds police are one of the problems with this nation.

Southern US border is burning.

There are departments of the government that deals with this because the President doesn't micromanage unless you want a dictator in office.

I'm going to leave this here. Take it how you want. Article is from this time last year.

Al Sharpton defends Obama family vacation, saying George W. Bush spent more time away

Sharpton said that Obama "has taken 92 days of vacation since he was sworn in," compared to 367 for President George W. Bush at the same point in his presidency. While this discrepancy is explained by the fact that Bush often worked from a family home in Texas whereas Obama has no equivalent family retreat, Sharpton has correctly cited data from the leading authority, CBS News’ Mark Knoller. The statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information, so we rate the statement Mostly True.

originally posted by: sicksonezer0
Lol, he went to charcoal pit. Good im glad, that place sucks. My girlfriend is always trying to get me to go there, its a old run down hamburger joint on rt 202 that serves 3 day old frozen microwaved burgers. The milkshakes there aren't bad.

I live 1/3 of a mile from it. Depending on how the wind blows, I can smell the 'food' there cooking. The food is known to be very sucky ... and the shakes are known to be very good. I was fortunate enough not to be home when the motorcade went by. But unfortunately, a few hours later, I was in the Super G pharmacy down the road when a gaggle of women came in all excited about having seen Obama at the Charcoal Pit. 'He's a regular guy'. 'He's down to earth'. They actually said that. They bought the photo op. I wanted to puke.

He's doing photo ops at the Charcoal Pit and the world is going to hell ... and we have a massive civilian invasion on our border, a crisis, ... yet he eats Charcoal pit slop and takes photos ...

a reply to: FlyersFan

Yeah regular guy.....if he had a contingent of brainwashed Secret service goons and Marine who will beat the crap out of or more likely kill anyone that looks odd at him.

I can't believe you have the nerve. This was the last thing I thought would be brought up. Check presidential vacations lengths Here

As you can see George W was on vacation for 6 months while AT WAR.

a reply to: damwel
You do realize that most of Bush43s 'vacations' were at the ranch in Texas ... at a much reduced cost to the taxpayer ... and that it was always a working vacation. It was called 'the Western White House' because it was working vacations. You do realize that .. right? Both Bush43 and Obama took 'vacations' .. but different kinds ... and Obama's spending and his vacation habits can't be dismissed.