BY MALIA ZIMMERMAN – KAILUA, OAHU – The U.S. Secret Service has arrived, street barricades are in place, and the U.S. Coast Guard has stationed itself in the waters surrounding Kailua, Oahu.
That is a sure sign President Barack Obama’s security team is preparing for the first family to arrive in the small beachside community as early as Friday night for what is expected to be a 17-day vacation.
The President and his family are traveling separately to Hawaii because he wants resolve the payroll tax cut issue before leaving Washington – and his wife does not want to wait.But the advanced trip and the cost that comes with it – as much as $100,000 (flight and security) – adds to an already expensive vacation for the taxpayers.
Hawaii Reporter research shows the total cost for the President’s visit for taxpayers far exceeded $1.5 million in 2010 – but is even more costly this year because he extended his vacation by three days and the cost for Air Force One travel has jumped since last assessed in 2000. In addition, Hawaii Reporter was able to obtain more specifics about the executive expenditures.
The total cost (based on what is known) for the 17-day vacation roundtrip vacation to Hawaii for the President, his family and staff has climbed to more than $4 million. Here’s why. TRAVEL: $3,629,622
The biggest expense is President Barack Obama’s round trip flight to Hawaii via Air Force One, a cost the GAO office estimated at $1 million in the year 2000. Contacted today, the GAO confirmed there is no report the independent office affiliated with Congress has prepared since 2000 to operate Air Force One and Air Force Two. READ MORE
At a time when even he is preaching about sacrifice, about helping our neighbors, about joining together to reach a common goal to improve our economy and create jobs of the millions out of work, it is wonderful to see how seriously he takes the notion of personal sacrifice. Don’t get me wrong! Every working person deserves a vacation, or at least time off. I don’t begrudge him that … although the exact amount of work he does is a bit ambiguous. Nevertheless, time off, fine! But geez! Nearly $4 MILLION? Isn’t that a little extravagant under the best circumstances? And after firmly placing the blame for the fiasco in which we find ourselves squarely … everyplace but where it ought to be, on HIS shoulders, and bragging that he has accomplished as much in his first two years as all but 4 other Presidents … True enough, I guess. He didn’t necessarily say he IMPROVED the USA, just how much he accomplished! God, help us!
Before I rant on … zipping lips!
*UPDATED Related Articles:
blogsense-by-barb 
Wow. And I never even take a day off. I just read that Obama wanted to go to an Indian restaurant in DC and had the entire area blocked off to traffic. Quite an ordeal for people who live there and need to get to work or home. Like bowing to royalty.
These million dollar vacations are an insult to all of us. Could there be a more disdainful president?
It really is a shame. The economy is in such distress, and he’s making a mockery of peoples’ suffering! He simply has no clue!
How are things in Brisbee?
I have to wonder if you took similar issue to GW’s 950+ days of vacation during his presidency? If not, then it’s difficult to assign much credence to complaints about the few vacations Obama has taken.
Also, it’s hard to believe these figures given the highly erroneous numbers associated with other criticized trips.
http://factcheck.org/2010/11/ask-factcheck-trip-to-mumbai/
I’ll throw that right back in your court – where do you get your numbers & is that for 8 yrs while mine are for just over 2 yrs??? No one … NO PRESIDENT has Gone to such elaborate lengths to spend taxpayer money seld-indulgently. There are some facts to check! 🙂
“where do you get your numbers & is that for 8 yrs while mine are for just over 2 yrs???”
Here are my numbers; http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4728085-503544.html
And yes, it is for 8 years. And he spent a grand total of 977 days on vacation. And that equals 34% of his ENTIRE presidency that he was on vacation. How’s that for facts for ya blogsense? Puts it into perspective now doesn’t it?
Obama has spent 70 days away on vacation or at Camp David which amounts to 5% of his presidency. Bush at this point in his tenure had already spent 225 days way.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/7127735-418/obamas-vacation-ripped-but-hes-taken-less-time-off-than-bush.html
Gee…now that kinda puts you “facts” into question now doesn’t it?
“NO PRESIDENT has Gone to such elaborate lengths to spend taxpayer money seld-indulgently. There are some facts to check!”
Uh huh… Where are YOUR facts? Haven’t seen any as yet.
My numbers were posted in the original article with the source. We’re talking $$$$ here, not time! I’m asking you to find the stats on personal expenditures for presidential “vacations.” Has there ever been a sitting president so eager to spend taxpayer money on himself? Outrageous!
Oh…yes of course. When unable to present your own rebuttal try and change the direction of the debate. I’d still like to hear your justification to criticize Obama for his vacation time when you did nothing of the sort with GW. I smell a decent level of hypocrisy here.
And how much do you think it cost to send Bush to his ranch for extended periods? How much did it cost to house and feed all those secret service agents and administration staff? How much did it cost to retrofit the ranch so he could communicate with everyone in the event of an emergency? Wasn’t he sittin’ pretty at his ranch when Katrina hit? Yes, I believe he was hmmm…. How much do you think it cost for each and every trip GW took to his ranch ad other vacation spots like his daddy’s place in the Maine and his other retreat in Maryland? ALL the associated costs the author of this article you posted attribute to Obama were ALSO attributed to GW and his MASSIVE amount of vacation he took. Remember GW’s time away was many times more than Obama’s which makes those costs exponentially higher due to that TIME. Whether you want it to be considered or not, TIME is a major fact given the costs per day.
You want to nickle and dime Obama then do for Bush too. Take the medicine and realize that you’re only criticizing Obama ’cause he’s Democrat and you didn’t criticize GW ’cause he was Republican. And you STILL won’t acknowledge GW’s excesses as you criticize the comparatively miniscule luxuries Obama takes in.
It takes a little depth of thought to grasp these concepts I know but I know you can do it if you really give it a go.
Check the original article! I’m done with your rudeness on MY blog! As far as I know, as of today, the first amendment is still active. I changed no direction; you did! My article is about the cost. You changed it to be about Bush, the only way you could. EVERYTHING is about Bush to you Liberals. EVERYTHING … idiotic reasoning is still in vogue amongst the Dems! 🙂 Good to know!
show me the numbers!
“I’m done with your rudeness on MY blog!”
Barb> What rudeness? I’ve only give back a bit of what I’ve gotten for venturing to comment on YOUR blog. I’ve only called out a pervasive hypocrisy. I have not resorted to name calling or anything of that sort. Just because you don’t like being shown your inaccuracies does not mean I am insulting you. I have however, taken a tone of mockery due to your ill-conceived stances. That I will acknowledge.
“As far as I know, as of today, the first amendment is still active.”
🙂 Why yes it is. But I would assume, since you bring it up, that you know the First Amendment ONLY applies to government infringement and has nothing to do with anyone outside of it discrediting another’s “beliefs”.
“You changed it to be about Bush, the only way you could.”
Actually, barb, your adherence to ONLY cost disregards my inclusion of time onto the equation of overall cost to the taxpayers. Something that is WHOLLY valid. Your attempts to keep the light shining on only what you conceive the problem to be is shortsighted.
“idiotic reasoning is still in vogue amongst the Dems”
Who’s being rude now? And why is it idiotic reasoning to look deeper into the issues instead of taking everything at face value as it is apparent you’re doing?
“show me the numbers!”
I did…a couple of times already.
Yes Bush went to his ranch in Texas where it did not cost the taxpayers additional money.
John Wilder
We can’t afford any more of his successes.
John Wilder
Ha! Ya really! His “accomplishments” have brought us to the edge of destruction! I hope his successor will manage to change the tack of the ship to positive waters again! 🙂
What destruction was that? It seems like Obama and the Democrats actually kept us OUT of that destruction? We were heading towards the abyss of a depression with jobs and markets in freefall. All that came a halt within 3 1/2 months of Obama taking office. Skip forward to 2010-2011 the private sector is on its 21st month of job creation. GDP is up higher than expectations. Production is up and consumer’s are spending which increases demand, which leads to more jobs.
So please…I know I’d LOVE to hear about this destruction Obama brought us to the edge of. Please be specific and explain it to us ’cause you know us liberals are so stupid.
WOW you are very well indoctrinated! They have done an excellent job with gullible, but hard-pressed Americans. There is no reasoning with indoctrination. You have bought the liberal line hook and sinker … nothing more to say!
“Uh huh… Where are YOUR facts? Haven’t seen any as yet.”
“I smell a decent level of hypocrisy here.”
“It takes a little depth of thought to grasp these concepts I know but I know you can do it if you really give it a go.”
“How’s that for facts for ya blogsense?”
“Please be specific and explain it to us ’cause you know us liberals are so stupid.”
I’m neither Republican nor Democrat, just because I don’t like Obama doesn’t make me (and millions of other Americans) liars, hypocrites, fascists, fundamentalists, millionaires, whatever. I try to see both sides. But I would like to say that it truly is impossible to have a conversation with a fully-conditioned liberal without sarcasm and inability to interact without personal attacks. I see it all the time. Good for you Barb for maintaining civility here—if this commenter had done the same, he/she might be taken seriously.
“just because I don’t like Obama doesn’t make me (and millions of other Americans) liars, hypocrites, fascists, fundamentalists, millionaires, whatever.”
Check the text again. I never called anyone, any of these things. I merely stated there was a level of hypocrisy present and took a mocking tone to what is quite clearly a narrow vision of the overall issue.
“But I would like to say that it truly is impossible to have a conversation with a fully-conditioned liberal without sarcasm and inability to interact without personal attacks”
Where are the personal attacks? And sarcasm is a great tool when debating politics. Where would we be without satirists in this country? Its use works quite well. While it may irritate some, its purpose is to illustrate the ridiculousness some adhere to without peering beyond their particular veiled perspective.
“if this commenter had done the same, he/she might be taken seriously.”
If you looked at my first comment it was quite civil and to the point. What I got in return was an emotional, over-hyped response…so I took my, now acknowledged to, mocking, sarcastic tone. No need to defend that.
Now, you and I both know I did not make those responses to you!
Thanks, my friend!
great post! keep them coming! enjoyed the read, ill be checking back for more!
check out my blog posts, you would definitely be interested: http://zazenlife.com/author/thetaoofd/
Hey Mpbulletin
I wonder why you seem bent on attacking just Barb and did not respond to my correction about Bush going to his ranch which cost the taxpayers far less money. Then Moochelle insists on taking a second plane separately from her husband on the last few trips which doubles the cost to the taxpayer.
John Wilder
Thanks, John! 🙂
Well she kept demanding facts and when I gave them to her she did not seem to be interested. She just seemed bent on beating up on you. I am a big boy and I can take it
but apparently she did not want to tangle with me. Go figure.
Glad to come to a ladie’s rescue
John
It’s the mashed potato guy that was making trouble. The others are all friends! Thanks for your support!
Just wondering? Does this guy ever work?
Hahaha. I’m thinking no! Lol And, thankfully, I work at least 40 hrs … away from internet & pc & even radio!
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Thank you, sir! MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🙂