Which is worse: receiving a watch as a gift or denying regular Americans access to White House tours as President, yet offering those that can fork over 500k a VIP all access tour?
Ahem:“Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also made trips to multiple African nations involving similarly laborious preparations. Bush went in 2003 and 2008, bringing his wife on both occasions. Bush’s two daughters went along on the first trip, which included a safari at a game preserve on the Botswana-South Africa border.” (The Obamas canceled their safari.)
“Obama’s trip could cost the federal government $60 million to $100 million based on the costs of similar African trips in recent years.” Similar African trips, such as George W. Bush’s. This is Obama’s first such trip apart from a stop by Ghana, whereas Bush and Clinton had multiple such trips.
“A report from the Government Accountability Office found that Clinton’s 1998 trip to six African nations cost the U.S. government at least $42.7 million.”
““The infrastructure that accompanies the president’s travels is beyond our control,” said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for strategic communications. “The security requirements are not White House-driven, they are Secret Service-driven.””
“This is what you need to support the American presidency,” Atkiss said of the requirements, “regardless of who the president is.”(http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-trip-to-africa-poses-special-challenges-enormous-costs/2013/06/13/29d9270a-cd29-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story_2.html)
We don’t have a lot of resources to help with this in Africa, as we do in Europe, for example. Unless you think it’s important for us to say, in effect, “we are important everywhere in the world…um, except Africa,” this trip has diplomatic value to the US.
So quit quoting this as if it actually means something, please. This trip is standard operating procedure for any president.
Bush W took more days not in the White-House than any other president. Yes I agree that Republicans feel ENTITLED to many things that they scream if any one else would do it.
Cheney spent more days in his undisclosed location than Bush spent in the White House……..The real humor comes when Republicans fight each other. Newt Gingrich: “I only cheated on two ex-wives and one current wife!” Rush Limbaugh: “Oh, yeah? I cheated on three ex-wives and one current wife, and did part of that while being a drug addict!” Before rabid conservatives get all, like, you know, RABID……let me point out that I’m a pro-life moderate. Just saying.
And in case anyone is still looking: Governor McDonnell is sporting a new Rolex contributed by the head of Star Scientific. He also conrtibuted fur coats, a $10K shopping spree, and other gifts to the Governor’s wife. And $15K towards their daughters’ wedding. More numbers coming up all the time. None of these were declared, in violation of state and federal law. Meanwhile, the dietary supplements that Star Scientific makes have been promoted at official gatherings in the governor’s mansion.
Remember that this person has been on the Republicans’ short list for VP or President in 2016.
@omnious: You are right in your characterization, but Mr. Cuccinelli is running for Governor (not Lt. Gov.), as Va does not allow a governor to succeed himself. He is also involved in the Star Scientific cesspool, and he has instigated an embezzlement charge against a governor’s mansion chef (he is currently Attorney General). The chef broke the story about the wedding financing, and many believe that the suit is in retaliation. I’m willing to wait for the trial, which (unhappily for the Republicans) will start just a couple weeks before November’s gubernatorial election.
Just to help you out-of-staters understand what’s behind the ’toon. Feel free to resume your arguing and name-calling.
First of all it wasn’t a vacation, it was a state visit or don’t you bother to read the news. Did you whine like that when Bush went on state visits or is it that Obama went to Africa that bothers you? Laura Bush went to Africa 5 times. It is pn the cost of those trips that cost of this trip is estimated. this is only the second trip Obama has made to Africa since becoming President. Let’s talk in dollars. In 2008, Bush’s last full year office, more than $1.59 billion – that is with a ‘B’ – were spent on White House expense, including travel and security.In 2011, the last full year that data is available for the Obama Administration, $1.4 billion were spent on White House expenses. That means even with whatever inflation there may have been over a 3 year period, White House expenses were cut by more than $190 million.Let’s talk days. Bush took 1020 vacation days over his 2 terms. If his idea of fun is to clear brush in 100+ °F heat, let him at it. But let’s be honest, most normal people don’t really enjoy that.Barack Obama has taken 131 days in his first term. Showing good judgement, he likes to go to Hawaii in the winter. Like all presidents in the modern age, he is always in touch with Washington and updated on urgent matter.The vacation his daughters and wife take are paid for out of the Obamas’ own pocket. The security is paid for by the taxpayers but that was also the case when the Bush girls went to places like St. Tropez.-From the Daily Caller, a conservative online publication. The last paragraph states how much was spent in 2008.-http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/08/how-it-costs-taxpayers-1-4-billion-a-year-to-fund-the-white-house/-From the conservative Washington Times, the history of presidential vacations. Compare W’s numbers to Obama’s and Clinton’s:-http://c.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/ad-lib/2013/jan/7/president-obamas-back-hawaii-how-many-vacations-ha/-From the same conservative Washington Times on the double standard used against the Obamas compared to when Laura and the Bush girls went on vacation:-http://c.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/politics-raising-children/2012/sep/29/double-standard-obama-and-bush-kids-vacations/-Here you go. I only used conservative publications.
ConserveGov almost 11 years ago
Which is worse: receiving a watch as a gift or denying regular Americans access to White House tours as President, yet offering those that can fork over 500k a VIP all access tour?
Motivemagus almost 11 years ago
Ahem:“Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also made trips to multiple African nations involving similarly laborious preparations. Bush went in 2003 and 2008, bringing his wife on both occasions. Bush’s two daughters went along on the first trip, which included a safari at a game preserve on the Botswana-South Africa border.” (The Obamas canceled their safari.)
“Obama’s trip could cost the federal government $60 million to $100 million based on the costs of similar African trips in recent years.” Similar African trips, such as George W. Bush’s. This is Obama’s first such trip apart from a stop by Ghana, whereas Bush and Clinton had multiple such trips.
“A report from the Government Accountability Office found that Clinton’s 1998 trip to six African nations cost the U.S. government at least $42.7 million.”
““The infrastructure that accompanies the president’s travels is beyond our control,” said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for strategic communications. “The security requirements are not White House-driven, they are Secret Service-driven.””
“This is what you need to support the American presidency,” Atkiss said of the requirements, “regardless of who the president is.”(http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-trip-to-africa-poses-special-challenges-enormous-costs/2013/06/13/29d9270a-cd29-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story_2.html)
We don’t have a lot of resources to help with this in Africa, as we do in Europe, for example. Unless you think it’s important for us to say, in effect, “we are important everywhere in the world…um, except Africa,” this trip has diplomatic value to the US.
So quit quoting this as if it actually means something, please. This trip is standard operating procedure for any president.
grapefroot almost 11 years ago
Where did this $100 million figure come from? I think this is BS. Please provide evidence of your claim.
lafayetteann almost 11 years ago
Is today the day that Gen Beck and Rush Windbag told conservatives everywhere to carp about White House tours? Good job getting with the program guys!
ConserveGov almost 11 years ago
You have been flagged.
pam Miner almost 11 years ago
Bush W took more days not in the White-House than any other president. Yes I agree that Republicans feel ENTITLED to many things that they scream if any one else would do it.
Godfreydaniel almost 11 years ago
Cheney spent more days in his undisclosed location than Bush spent in the White House……..The real humor comes when Republicans fight each other. Newt Gingrich: “I only cheated on two ex-wives and one current wife!” Rush Limbaugh: “Oh, yeah? I cheated on three ex-wives and one current wife, and did part of that while being a drug addict!” Before rabid conservatives get all, like, you know, RABID……let me point out that I’m a pro-life moderate. Just saying.
Gary Williams Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Who is Gov. Mc Donnell???
ConserveGov almost 11 years ago
I don’t call people trolls so I’m still here.
Plus none of the libs here can back up their boy demanding $500k for tours of the White House.
zeimetr almost 11 years ago
According to whom?
I Play One On TV almost 11 years ago
And in case anyone is still looking: Governor McDonnell is sporting a new Rolex contributed by the head of Star Scientific. He also conrtibuted fur coats, a $10K shopping spree, and other gifts to the Governor’s wife. And $15K towards their daughters’ wedding. More numbers coming up all the time. None of these were declared, in violation of state and federal law. Meanwhile, the dietary supplements that Star Scientific makes have been promoted at official gatherings in the governor’s mansion.
Remember that this person has been on the Republicans’ short list for VP or President in 2016.
@omnious: You are right in your characterization, but Mr. Cuccinelli is running for Governor (not Lt. Gov.), as Va does not allow a governor to succeed himself. He is also involved in the Star Scientific cesspool, and he has instigated an embezzlement charge against a governor’s mansion chef (he is currently Attorney General). The chef broke the story about the wedding financing, and many believe that the suit is in retaliation. I’m willing to wait for the trial, which (unhappily for the Republicans) will start just a couple weeks before November’s gubernatorial election.
Just to help you out-of-staters understand what’s behind the ’toon. Feel free to resume your arguing and name-calling.
Newshound41 almost 11 years ago
First of all it wasn’t a vacation, it was a state visit or don’t you bother to read the news. Did you whine like that when Bush went on state visits or is it that Obama went to Africa that bothers you? Laura Bush went to Africa 5 times. It is pn the cost of those trips that cost of this trip is estimated. this is only the second trip Obama has made to Africa since becoming President. Let’s talk in dollars. In 2008, Bush’s last full year office, more than $1.59 billion – that is with a ‘B’ – were spent on White House expense, including travel and security.In 2011, the last full year that data is available for the Obama Administration, $1.4 billion were spent on White House expenses. That means even with whatever inflation there may have been over a 3 year period, White House expenses were cut by more than $190 million.Let’s talk days. Bush took 1020 vacation days over his 2 terms. If his idea of fun is to clear brush in 100+ °F heat, let him at it. But let’s be honest, most normal people don’t really enjoy that.Barack Obama has taken 131 days in his first term. Showing good judgement, he likes to go to Hawaii in the winter. Like all presidents in the modern age, he is always in touch with Washington and updated on urgent matter.The vacation his daughters and wife take are paid for out of the Obamas’ own pocket. The security is paid for by the taxpayers but that was also the case when the Bush girls went to places like St. Tropez.-From the Daily Caller, a conservative online publication. The last paragraph states how much was spent in 2008.-http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/08/how-it-costs-taxpayers-1-4-billion-a-year-to-fund-the-white-house/-From the conservative Washington Times, the history of presidential vacations. Compare W’s numbers to Obama’s and Clinton’s:-http://c.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/ad-lib/2013/jan/7/president-obamas-back-hawaii-how-many-vacations-ha/-From the same conservative Washington Times on the double standard used against the Obamas compared to when Laura and the Bush girls went on vacation:-http://c.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/politics-raising-children/2012/sep/29/double-standard-obama-and-bush-kids-vacations/-Here you go. I only used conservative publications.
William Bednar Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Not only does the watch tell when it’s time to go, it tells you where to go, and it aint to heaven!