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The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20120117030940/http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/274440/thinking-back-when-presidential-vacations-were-bad
Thinking Back to When Presidential Vacations Were Bad… - By Jim Geraghty - The Campaign Spot - National Review Online
As I prepare for vacation and President Obama prepares for his 10 days in Martha’s Vineyard at a $50,000-per-week rental of the 28-acre beachfront Blue Heron Farm, let’s take a moment to remember when our friends on the left used to get outraged about presidential vacations. From Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11:”
You see, Bush was a president who had a sliding approval rating, and “already beginning to look like a lame duck president” (because his approval was in the mid-40s, see?). I’m sure if Moore had more time, he would have emphasized that in summer of 2001, the unemployment rate had jumped from 4.3 percent to 4.9 percent! This was an economic crisis! People were hurting! How dare the president go play golf or hang around the New England when people were hurting!
$50K per week? Barack "I didn't have room for a plane ticket on my credit card as late as 2001" Obama can afford a $50K/weekly rental? How is that possible?
Seriously, how does that work? Does he just have to pay a nightly rate that is commensurate with the cost of an expensive hotel and the fedgov picks up the balance (kind of like his campaign reimbursing the government for the use of AF1 on campaign trips, but only reimbursing at the rate of a 1st-class airline ticket, rather than the entire operating cost of the 747)?
Or, is this an allowable campaign expense? Or, is this a gift from the actual owner of the farm? If it is a gift, do the Obama's have to pay tax on it, like any other Joe would have to? And, is this kind of gift even allowable under current federal office ethic's laws?
The Obama's take more vacations than most retired millionaires. And Obama himself has LITERALLY played more rounds of golf the last two years than has Tiger Woods and we don't see a peep about it in the traditional press.
George Bush went fishing one day, and someone made a movie about. The media headwind any Republican has to sail into is just amazing.
Eisenhower was president for 416 weeks and during that time played more than 800 rounds of golf. America loved it. No one complains about vacation time when The Man is getting the job done.
Yes, Mr Geraghty, and I remember when the Right didn't seem to care about deficits and debt when it was Dick Cheney saying "Deficits don't matter, Reagan proved that"....and nary a Tea Party rally appeared.
History Buff's attitude about deficits is apparently that if you don't complain when you have a cold, you have no right to complain at all when you get pneumonia.
As the left was wrong to criticize President Bush for taking vacations, so are those on the right who now criticize President Obama . It's petty, stupid, and a waste of everybody's time. Cordially, Bill
HB, I've spent hundreds of hours on conservative message boards over the years, and many of the Tea Party types were VERY critical of Bush's deficits, of No Child Left Behind, and even of aspects of the War on Terror. Many conservatives were lukewarm about Bush, and only voted for him as the lesser of two evils. So when Obama came in, hyped as the Savior, and immediately made Bush look like a tightwad, that was the last straw.
Usually I don't comment or criticize articles, but I think the criticism of Bush was that he spent a larger percentage of time on vacation, more than any other President. Barack Obama's vacation time is about average compared to his fellow Presidents. With the exception of Bush, who took a ton of vacation time.
Also, in regards to the cost. You cannot blame a President, who needs a large house, and large plane to travel. The Prez travels with a large, and necessary staff and security. It isn't possible for him to rent a 2 or 3 bedroom cottage and fly solo with the fam.
I've never heard anyone claim George Bush took a ton of time off - more than any other President - and Barack Obama's time off is about average. Did you read that somewhere other than MoveOn.org or Huffpo?
Silly rabbit bashing Presidents is only
ok for left wing nut jobs. Barry spending
50K, he can do it because he's a liberal who
talks a good game but like all of them,
really is a let them eat cake elite.
GaryLe - Really? I didn't know all the "large, and necessary staff and security" all crammed onto AF1 and into that modest house he is renting. I was under the impression the "large, and necessary staff and security" were on another airplane, staying in other quarters, along with all the airplanes hauling the extra vehicles - what is it eleven SUV's. Noooo, that was Michelle on her vacation in Oregon. She kept it to eleven SUVs. Is she home yet? I don't want her to miss the trip to MA.
As much as I hate Obama, it is stupid to criticize him for vacationing. Presidents don't really "vacation." They may get a few short photo ops hitting a ball or chopping wood, but they are still working a 12 hour day surrounded by staff and plugged in to the world.
The important thing here isn't whether or not a President vacations. The important thing is to recognize the difference in media treatment. GWB goes to Texas or Camp David, and the media says he is shirking his responsibility. Obama can run off and do whatever he wants, and the media have a collective O-gasm over how resplendent he looks doing it.
That's one takeaway, but the Obamas really do seem to vacation like Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette. Remember the Spain extravaganza? That was the first of many. Surely someone has made a chart comparing days off, African safaris vs. Crawford, etc.
Plus, I don't know that Obama doesn't "really" vacation; certainly, while on duty in Washington, he plays plenty (and I do mean plenty) of golf. The disparity in media treatment is indeed a real issue, but the actual vacations are beginning to be an issue as well.
4.9%... God, what we wouldn't do for that again. I'd pay to send the President to vacation on *Mars* in exchange for that today.
People forget, that fact just goes to show how spoiled people were by the Dot-Com boom, and how polarizing Bush v. Gore left the country. Even with a full-employment economy, Bush couldn't get out of the 40s.
Barack Obama is the Peter Principle Personified, ain't he?
Speaking of vacations - is Jim on one? Or is he just completely unable to post anything at all with Bachmann knocking Pawlenty out of the race and Perry entering 11 points ahead of Romney?
$50K per week? Barack "I didn't have room for a plane ticket on my credit card as late as 2001" Obama can afford a $50K/weekly rental? How is that possible?
Seriously, how does that work? Does he just have to pay a nightly rate that is commensurate with the cost of an expensive hotel and the fedgov picks up the balance (kind of like his campaign reimbursing the government for the use of AF1 on campaign trips, but only reimbursing at the rate of a 1st-class airline ticket, rather than the entire operating cost of the 747)?
Or, is this an allowable campaign expense? Or, is this a gift from the actual owner of the farm? If it is a gift, do the Obama's have to pay tax on it, like any other Joe would have to? And, is this kind of gift even allowable under current federal office ethic's laws?
The Obama's take more vacations than most retired millionaires. And Obama himself has LITERALLY played more rounds of golf the last two years than has Tiger Woods and we don't see a peep about it in the traditional press.
George Bush went fishing one day, and someone made a movie about. The media headwind any Republican has to sail into is just amazing.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseEisenhower was president for 416 weeks and during that time played more than 800 rounds of golf. America loved it. No one complains about vacation time when The Man is getting the job done.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, Mr Geraghty, and I remember when the Right didn't seem to care about deficits and debt when it was Dick Cheney saying "Deficits don't matter, Reagan proved that"....and nary a Tea Party rally appeared.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHistory Buff's attitude about deficits is apparently that if you don't complain when you have a cold, you have no right to complain at all when you get pneumonia.
Is that about right?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs the left was wrong to criticize President Bush for taking vacations, so are those on the right who now criticize President Obama . It's petty, stupid, and a waste of everybody's time. Cordially, Bill
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAre you really going to compare deficits of $150-$400 billion with 3 consecutive years of deficits in excess of $1 TRILLION?!
Really...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSorry, Willies. I didn't know Tea Partyers were cool with "a little" deficit and debt. Must be why they only appeared after January 20th, 2009, huh?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHB, I've spent hundreds of hours on conservative message boards over the years, and many of the Tea Party types were VERY critical of Bush's deficits, of No Child Left Behind, and even of aspects of the War on Terror. Many conservatives were lukewarm about Bush, and only voted for him as the lesser of two evils. So when Obama came in, hyped as the Savior, and immediately made Bush look like a tightwad, that was the last straw.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere you go again, bringing facts into a liberal's screed.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUsually I don't comment or criticize articles, but I think the criticism of Bush was that he spent a larger percentage of time on vacation, more than any other President. Barack Obama's vacation time is about average compared to his fellow Presidents. With the exception of Bush, who took a ton of vacation time.
Also, in regards to the cost. You cannot blame a President, who needs a large house, and large plane to travel. The Prez travels with a large, and necessary staff and security. It isn't possible for him to rent a 2 or 3 bedroom cottage and fly solo with the fam.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI've never heard anyone claim George Bush took a ton of time off - more than any other President - and Barack Obama's time off is about average. Did you read that somewhere other than MoveOn.org or Huffpo?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou write well for having been born yesterday, Jenna.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSilly rabbit bashing Presidents is only
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseok for left wing nut jobs. Barry spending
50K, he can do it because he's a liberal who
talks a good game but like all of them,
really is a let them eat cake elite.
GaryLe - Really? I didn't know all the "large, and necessary staff and security" all crammed onto AF1 and into that modest house he is renting. I was under the impression the "large, and necessary staff and security" were on another airplane, staying in other quarters, along with all the airplanes hauling the extra vehicles - what is it eleven SUV's. Noooo, that was Michelle on her vacation in Oregon. She kept it to eleven SUVs. Is she home yet? I don't want her to miss the trip to MA.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs much as I hate Obama, it is stupid to criticize him for vacationing. Presidents don't really "vacation." They may get a few short photo ops hitting a ball or chopping wood, but they are still working a 12 hour day surrounded by staff and plugged in to the world.
The important thing here isn't whether or not a President vacations. The important thing is to recognize the difference in media treatment. GWB goes to Texas or Camp David, and the media says he is shirking his responsibility. Obama can run off and do whatever he wants, and the media have a collective O-gasm over how resplendent he looks doing it.
THAT is the takeaway here.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's one takeaway, but the Obamas really do seem to vacation like Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette. Remember the Spain extravaganza? That was the first of many. Surely someone has made a chart comparing days off, African safaris vs. Crawford, etc.
Plus, I don't know that Obama doesn't "really" vacation; certainly, while on duty in Washington, he plays plenty (and I do mean plenty) of golf. The disparity in media treatment is indeed a real issue, but the actual vacations are beginning to be an issue as well.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse4.9%... God, what we wouldn't do for that again. I'd pay to send the President to vacation on *Mars* in exchange for that today.
People forget, that fact just goes to show how spoiled people were by the Dot-Com boom, and how polarizing Bush v. Gore left the country. Even with a full-employment economy, Bush couldn't get out of the 40s.
Barack Obama is the Peter Principle Personified, ain't he?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's not the golf. It's the Marxism.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think there was a more interesting bit of info pointed out by Rush earlier this week.
At this point in their terms GWB and Clinton had attended 7 and 5 fundraisers respectively. Obama has attended 38.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSpeaking of vacations - is Jim on one? Or is he just completely unable to post anything at all with Bachmann knocking Pawlenty out of the race and Perry entering 11 points ahead of Romney?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse