Barack & Michele Obama have been catching a lot of grief about how they vacation as opposed to "W" & Laura did.
They would go to Camp David or visit the ranch in Texas.
The Obama's do it up big, Martha's Vinyard, Hawaiian estates. Michele will spend a million dollars visiting Spain with her entourage.
As bad as that sounds, imagine if Newt becomes President! First he likes cruises, and may decide the POTUS needs a yacht like FDR had. And what about his helmet-haired wife? Will she convert over the White House gift store to a Tiffany's outlet? Will they be vacationing in the Greek Isles or Monte Carlo?
Sorry, just having a bit of fun.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
I would be interested in a comparison of costs between Obama's vacations to Hawaii and Bush's vacations to Crawford, TX. Both require secret service, and Air Force One and the traveling entourage. Do presidents pay for their own personal vacation expenses like they pay for their personal clothing etc? Do they pay for their kids expenses? Before we start complaining about what Obama's vacations cost it would be helpful to know how they stack up against previous presidents. Sure, it's unfortunate the Obama's don't own a ranch they can vacation to like the Bush's or Reagan.......going to their relatively modest home in Chicago would hardly be a relaxing vacation, and probably be even more expensive in security costs than their hanging out in Hawaii or Martha's Vineyard. When Michelle goes to Spain will the Obama's pay her personal expenses and we pay for security and travel? Didn't other first ladies travel as sort of "good will" ambassadors?
archer wrote: I would be interested in a comparison of costs between Obama's vacations to Hawaii and Bush's vacations to Crawford, TX. Both require secret service, and Air Force One and the traveling entourage. Do presidents pay for their own personal vacation expenses like they pay for their personal clothing etc? Do they pay for their kids expenses? Before we start complaining about what Obama's vacations cost it would be helpful to know how they stack up against previous presidents. Sure, it's unfortunate the Obama's don't own a ranch they can vacation to like the Bush's or Reagan.......going to their relatively modest home in Chicago would hardly be a relaxing vacation, and probably be even more expensive in security costs than their hanging out in Hawaii or Martha's Vineyard. When Michelle goes to Spain will the Obama's pay her personal expenses and we pay for security and travel? Didn't other first ladies travel as sort of "good will" ambassadors?
Why would we have to see which president stacks up against which president. Do you have any problem with any president taking vacations. I don't.
A lot of the wives/spouses of politicians and high ranking military officers go with their spouses or alone on "good will" trips (otherwise known as shopping trips). And because the main purpose of the trip is as American ambassadors to the country they are visiting, the planes used are military as are the crew.
I do not begrudge our President and his family (alone or together) vacations, even if they are on the taxpayers' dimes.
I read once that the Air Force has more planes that fly politicians & brass around than fighting aircraft.
Interesting point about the expense of the Ranch versus Martha's Vinyard for the Secret Service or expense wise. There aren't many hotels near Crawford Texas so they must have had to build housing for staff, but the hotels around Martha's Vinyard and Hawaii are super expensive.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
Nothing against Obama, but I just hope they pay all their personal expenses for a vacation like the rest of us do. I have no problem with the extra expenses a President needs for security.
rofllol rofllol
Obama has more vacation days than anyone I know. Plus he has only been on the job 2 1/2 years.
But hey , when you are a rock star, all you have to do is perform. Play golf, basketball, and make sure Momma is happy.
:tea2:
rofllol 
