Chillin' like a villain.

[AZhitman]

SO, the Prez is off. Taking his 3rd vacation in LESS than 3 months. We're paying for those vacations, by the way.

Those three (in 80-something days) don't include golf outings either, boys and girls.

Anyone here get 3 vacations a month? A year? Most CEO's don't take more than ONE vacation a year. Hmmm.

Oh, and after telling us all to go vacation in the Gulf area, he high-tails it north. Yeah. Go, Prez.

[telcoman]

SO, the Prez is off. Taking his 3rd vacation in LESS than 3 months. We're paying for those vacations, by the way.

Those three (in 80-something days) don't include golf outings either, boys and girls.

Anyone here get 3 vacations a month? A year? Most CEO's don't take more than ONE vacation a year. Hmmm.

Oh, and after telling us all to go vacation in the Gulf area, he high-tails it north. Yeah. Go, Prez.

Where were you when Bush was spending so much time at his ranch and missed acting quickly on Katrina while the economy goes going down the tubes?

Telcoman

[bigbadberry3]

Go look at Congress and how many days they are in session . . .

[heliochrome85]

it also could be that he works 100 hour weeks. i dunno bout you, but i sure dont rack up those numbers.

also, criticize the sitting president ( god knows i did the same under bush) but the real cancer of government lies in the halls of the Congress. it is simply easier to point to one person ( obama) than name all 535 members of congress.

There are only a handfull of decent guys left there. My senator (Lugar) is one of them.

[mattblancarte]

^^ Agreed, both in regards to the POTUS work-week and its relation to the House and Senate. Not a huge fan of Lugar, but I don't necessarily dislike him.

I'd be surprised if Obama has really taken more than a few complete days off since he started... Every morning and evening he is working, regardless if he's on vacation or not. Working from the President's road offices allows him 100% efficiency at all times, too. He does have two of the most ridiculously awesome flying offices in existence (the two Air Force One jets).

It can also be said that being the POTUS isn't necessarily a "busy bee" type of job. He can delegate all he needs/wants to on the road.

I never criticized Bush for taking time off, or working from a place of his choosing (i.e., his ranch). I don't see the need to pin Obama down for golfing or going on vacation, either.

There are plenty of other reasons for me to be disappointed in the prez.

[srellim234]

Good grief! The Obamas go for a three day weekend and you call it a vacation? I'm willing to bet that you, AZ, have taken many three day weekends and no one ever referred to them as "vacations." If you have differences with his policies, fine. Belittling him by not using his proper name (Obamallama, etc.) and intentionally attempting to justify your ill will toward him by fabricating issues such as this are major reasons why I'm not as outspoken here as I was back around election time. Originally I thought resorting to the tactics utilized by people at Fox News was beneath you but it's become obvious over time that my assessment was incorrect.

[AZhitman]

"Fabricating"?

Seriously?

Nothing I have stated is erroneous or fabricated. As far as my "resorting to tactics", you are welcome to dispute or debate my statements based on facts (much like IBCoupe and heliochrome have done). Comparing my viewpoint to one you choose to simply dismiss as flawed (i.e. Fox News) is a poor tactic.

This works both ways: If you want to defend his three vacations in 80 days, fine. I respect that 100%. But don't question my credibility or integrity in order to do so.

As regards Congress, there's a reason I don't necessarily toss them under the bus (even when they desperately deserve it) - That's not their "occupation" per se.

[BusyBadger]

Doesn't matter where he is since his job's not getting done either way. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

My issue is with Michelle Obama and her recommendation that Americans visit the Gulf Coast yet they decide to vacation in Maine. Lead by example First Family.

[srellim234]

Yes, fabricating an issue like Fox. Calling three day weekends a vacation, then questioning three vacations in a short period of time in order to get on the President's case as not being on the job is fabricating an issue. Millions of Americans take three "vacations" by that definition in a short period of time. Memorial Day weekend, a three day weekend for Independence Day with a normal week long summer vacation trip is absolutely not out of the ordinary. Many more people that I know in private industries choose to spread out their vacation days a little at a time, taking as many as 10 three day weekend "vacations" in addition to the normal three day holiday weekends.

You are not fabricating facts but you are definitely using them to paint them a being part of an issue that is not one.

[AZhitman]

You are not fabricating facts but you are definitely using them to paint them a being part of an issue that is not one.

...which is an opinion.

Sorry, it's an issue to me.

And the "everyone does it" argument does nothing - none of those people are the leader of the free world, and appearances are everything.

[TurboSauce]

My opinion ( even though it holds no water since I do not live In the us )
Is that, most people do not vacation that much in so little time because they do not need to.
What i'm here to state is that,
-He's the president
-The world's a f*cked up place (pardon my french)
-He has alot on his plate
-He is a married man with 2 daughters ( both of which i bet hardly get to see him )
-he needs to keep his marrige alive
-He probably sleeps less then 5 hours each day
-he probably can't sleep because he knows too much
-he can easily become stressed
-he has to always keep his cool and think on his feet
-he has the power to destroy the world under his pinky

I think with all of that factored in I'd say it'd be best for us all If the Man Gets Some rest, and relaxation every once and a while.

While I do agree that In times like these He should be working and Fixing the problems of the us.
But I can say Let's take things one step at a time.
He can't change everything at once, because this would only cause uproar
this is whay he has a 4-5 year term no?
I'd say if he were to slap everyone into place and did everything overnight
no one would like it.
People need time to adjust to changes, No?
And The man Need some time to rest. Amirite?

[srellim234]

You called three day weekends "vacations". You inferred that there are 80 days in a month (re-read your original post.) You asked if anyone got multiple vacations. I explained that millions of Americans do, including yourself. Using your definition of Obama's "vacations" most CEOs do indeed take more than one vacation a year.

He can definitely be criticized for not taking the family south but I personally do not want someone totally fatigued from working 24/7 for years trying to make a decision in any job, let alone one involving the use of nuclear weapons. You tell me: what is the number of hours per day, days per week, days per year that someone in a high profile, high stress job like the President of the United States should be allowed to R&R? What should the spacing of those days be? You criticize, but exactly what is your standard?

[TurboSauce]

He didn't infer that there were 80 days in a month, you just misread his post.
How about you read it again and comprehend this time?

[AZhitman]

^ Beat me to it.

I'm free to criticize as I see fit. He wanted the job, he made promises, he asked for our votes. I'm entitled to voice my opinion as to what he does on MY dime as OUR President. Don't want criticism? Don't pursue the office. Let's not forget who pays for these excursions.

I don't need to jet off to Maine (make that "double-jet") to spend time with my family and unwind.

As I said before, whether it's justified or not almost becomes irrelevant - Perceptions and appearances are key, and at the very least, it looks bad.

[srellim234]

"... Taking his 3rd vacation in LESS than 3 months. We're paying for those vacations, by the way.

Those three (in 80-something days) don't include golf outings either, boys and girls.

Anyone here get 3 vacations a month?..."

Your inference is that three "vacations" in 80 days constitutes three in a month. If you weren't trying to mislead people, why did you even ask that question at that time in that manner?

[AZhitman]

Oh good lord.

OK, you got me - I should have typed "Anyone here get 3 vacations IN LESS THAN THREE monthS".

If you seriously think that was an attempt to be "misleading", here ya go:



I think there's instructions on how to make a hat somewhere on the Internet.

Does anyone else here get three vacations in 80-something days?

[srellim234]

As I already pointed out, millions of people do get three paid vacations in less than three months if you continue to count three day weekends as vacations. Probably including you from you own taxpayer supported job. He's taking time off pretty much in line with the pharmaceutical company CEOs I've worked around. They stay up do date on the industry and the company, working hard and making the big decisions but they are not corralled inside the office or headquarters every day. Small company CEOs work like dogs but most large company ones combine business trips with pleasure and take other days off here and there.

Belittling me and accusing me of needing a foil hat does nothing productive for any discussion. Belittling the President whether he's actually doing something out of line or not does not foster any sort of meaningful dialogue. It merely demonstrates that you are focused on finding 100% fault with the President no matter what he does or doesn't do. And you are closed minded enough to belittle anyone who disagrees with you.

I do not support the President's policies. I do not support items like his telling people to visit the South and then not leading by example. At the same time I have respect enough to address him by his name and limit my criticisms of him to things that are totally out of line or policies that I disagree with. His amount of time away from the Oval Office is not one of those. I'm certain the nuclear "football" was close to him the whole time as was a cell phone and his Blackberry to keep him in the loop as to what was happening in the world while he was in Maine. I'm comfortable with believing that he was not separated from the world while he was there.

I'm still waiting: you criticize the President for taking too much time off. Quantify your acceptable limits. Feel free to provide the link to previous threads where you criticized Ronald Reagan, George Bush and others for doing the same thing in their first two years of office, too.

[AZhitman]

Figured it out. I'm racist.

[srellim234]

Who do you think you are, Jan Brewer?

I'm on your side on that part of the illegal immigration debate. There is absolutely nothing racist about it. Nothing racist in this thread either. I just think you are being overly critical wasting effort on issues like this. Tear him up on the policy issues instead.

[AZhitman]

Fair enough. I concur. But he should at least consider perceptions and appearances.

[heliochrome85]

if you focus your criticism on appearances and not on substance, you miss the bigger picture and lend the appearance of petulence. leave the image criticism to the airheads at fox and friends, you are clearly more than capable to debate on policy

[AZhitman]

So, is it "petulant" to point out that The High Priestess is about to take her 7th vacation THIS SUMMER? Later this month, she'll knock out #8 (Martha's Vineyard).

POTUS will be going this weekend to the Gulf Coast (obviously in response to criticism)...

Fine. Call me petulant. This is bull****. My annual salary (government employee) is down 18% since 2007 and they're pissing funds away like it's nothing. Screw them. Get back to work.

I'll bet they're DISGUSTED that they have to go spend time in the South "...with those uneducated poor white people..".

[wingFeather]

Fox

OMG FAUX NEWS OMG OMG OMG!!!

Here is the scoop on Obama's track record - from the web's most liberal pro_Obama site: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/2 ... 44215.html

about $35,000-$50,000 per week

Pretty f*** expensive vacation there Obama!
Yeah, he has been really responsible with his vacations to date... so what is ONE MORE? That date in particular he wasted about $100,000 of the tax payer's money at a time when we can't spare a dime? Even Bush was smart enough to know this is a foolish thing to do. Every day Obama is in the White House is a vacation, since the guy obviously does ZERO work... so why y'all feel he needs "time away" is beyond me & most Americans.

[heliochrome85]

Fox

OMG FAUX NEWS OMG OMG OMG!!!

Here is the scoop on Obama's track record - from the web's most liberal pro_Obama site: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/2 ... 44215.html

about $35,000-$50,000 per week

Pretty f**king expensive vacation there Obama!
Yeah, he has been really responsible with his vacations to date... so what is ONE MORE? That date in particular he wasted about $100,000 of the tax payer's money at a time when we can't spare a dime? Even Bush was smart enough to know this is a foolish thing to do. Every day Obama is in the White House is a vacation, since the guy obviously does ZERO work... so why y'all feel he needs "time away" is beyond me & most Americans.

whats astonishing to me is that you racked up 3k posts on ferrari chat, and you have yet to make one here that is worth even counting. yes, the President does Zero work. You win.

[heliochrome85]

So, is it "petulant" to point out that The High Priestess is about to take her 7th vacation THIS SUMMER? Later this month, she'll knock out #8 (Martha's Vineyard).

POTUS will be going this weekend to the Gulf Coast (obviously in response to criticism)...

Fine. Call me petulant. This is bull****. My annual salary (government employee) is down 18% since 2007 and they're pissing funds away like it's nothing. Screw them. Get back to work.

I'll bet they're DISGUSTED that they have to go spend time in the South "...with those uneducated poor white people..".

i have to say, i enjoyed the Michelle Antoinette label people gave her. That being said, i kinda have to agree :-/

[themadscientist]

Don't ruin it, She's proud of her country now. We owe her.

[stebo0728]

Don't ruin it, She's proud of her country now. We owe her.

Ya for the first time ever too.

[wingFeather]

whats astonishing to me is that you racked up 3k posts on ferrari chat, and you have yet to make one here that is worth even counting.

Excellent post. Contributes much to NICO. Subscribed!

[IBCoupe]

Re: Michelle Obama

Not sure why this is in the Politics thread. Seems more like gossip and celebrity worship to me.

[AZhitman]

It would be humorous, except for the fact she's got both hands in my wallet.