Michelle Obama's Spain Trip --

[Anonymous]

None of it matters in the long run - see this interesting commentary on the subject
http://www.themonkeycage.org/2010/08/social_highlighting.html

[Anonymous]

I think PP meant http://www.themonkeycage.org/2010/08/presidential_vacations_a_sunda.html

[Anonymous]

yep - my bad! Thanks pp

[Anonymous]

"And yo unotice I haven't said anything about her tirp to Mexico city, because she went there to accomplish something. If they were getting ANYTHING done I would have no problem, but you pointing out our trillions in defecit is really part of my point, they should be focusing on how to fix the problems our country is facing right now, but they are constantly making decisions that are only worsening our problems."

MICHELLE doensn't have to focus on anything. She ain't the first lady. Barack, on the other hand, ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MICHELLE doensn't have to focus on anything. She ain't the first lady. Barack, on the other hand, ...

You meant "... she ain't the prez ..." I assume?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MICHELLE doensn't have to focus on anything. She ain't the first lady. Barack, on the other hand, ...

You meant "... she ain't the prez ..." I assume?

Indeed, indeed... [hangs head in shame]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Indeed, indeed... [hangs head in shame]

OMG, I did something intended to be nice and did not get insulted. You are a prince(ss) among bloggers!

[Anonymous]

HA! I can take my lumps when they are fair. And that was more than fair. Especially since you didn't pull the, "You made a typo so clearly you are an idiot and your whole side of the argument is entirely invalidated."

[Anonymous]

I don't understand all this pearl-clutching about "security". Do you think that they don't have security at home? That if they had stayed in the White House, or in Chicago, or anywhere else on the planet, that those Secret Service agents would be on unpaid leave? Do you think that they pulled out the Madrid Yellow Pages and hired an extra squadron of guards for the Spain trip? No, they took their own, extensively vetted agents, who would have been on the payroll no matter where the First Family happened to be.

Ok, sure, they gassed up the plane. BFD. Those girls don't deserve to live lives of seclusion, and this is the only way they're allowed to get out.

I want to know how many of the haters went to the Gulf Coast since the spill. Hands up, please.

[Anonymous]

aprilmayjune wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See the newest article on the Associated press. the other people paid their own expenses and the hotel that she stayed in was booked by the Secret service so they could guard the hotel. she was visiting a dear friend who's father just died. people need to get all the facts before passing judgement. she deserves to visit close friends during their time of need for a few days. this is not as lavish as one would think. GW Bush who was our president spent 1020 days on vacation during his term. don't forget about that. we paid for all his vacations.

Why did it take the White Hose a week to come out with the "truth,\."? Also, her friend's father died a while back and MO did not attend funeral. I don't care if she and her other "guests" paid for their hotel and personal needs, did they chip ina nd pay for the use of a US air force plane?

They probably didn't think it was anyone's business why Michelle Obama took one daughter on a trip for 4 days, spending her own money, and only after a week of ridiculous outrage over this trip realized more information would probably be a good idea.

Yes she took an Air Force plane and had necessary Secret Service protection with her. That goes with the territory.

And this is how WE ARE PAYING FOR HER VACATION. This is what people are failing to realize, understand, or care about. Do you have any idea how expensive that is? Far more money was spent by taxpayers on payroll, gas and accomodations for the Secret Service/air force plane than she would have paid out of pocket for this trip, and this is the case for every trip anyone in their family makes. One vacation probably costs more than most of us make in a year.

I understand that we, the people, are footing the bill for Air Force One, and Two, for travel by the First Family. I assume, perhaps naively, that there is some sort of budget for discretionary travel. When people are elected president, they come to the White House with families, and those families MUST be protected. And they can't just live their lives in hiding for 4 or 8 years. THey have to be allowed to go out and have lives.

That includes they have to be able to fly around the country and even take some international trips. That HAS to be at our expense, on AIr Force planes. They just can't fly commercial planes. You have to realize this.

I don't know what the limit on this kind of discretionary travel is. Is there no official budget? "The First Family can accrue up to XXX miles discretionary travel per year?"

Are you against members of the First Family EVER traveling for pleasure, to Eurpose or elsewhere, while their spouse/parent is in office? Because if you think they should be allowed to leave the country (for pleasure and paying for their own hotel, food, etc) you need to understand that they WILL have to have travel expenses and security paid for, by us.

If you agree that members of the First Family MAY travel for pleasure, how many trips do you think they should be allotted, every four years? Does 1 trip to Spain count as say 4 trips to Texas? Do you go by mileage or hours flown or what's your calcuation based on?

[Anonymous]

Hell, we spring for security for former presidents.

[Anonymous]

I think what the First Lady did last summer was appropriate. She stayed in Europe with the girls on the heels of a State Visit. This getaway was extravagant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think what the First Lady did last summer was appropriate. She stayed in Europe with the girls on the heels of a State Visit. This getaway was extravagant.

Why? What was extravagant about it? Just saying things doesn't make them true...

[Anonymous]

You know this president thing is going to screw a lot of things up for me and the kids, right?

Yeah baby, but I think I have to do it.

Okay, but now and then there will be things the kids and I want that may not poll well. We don't have to give them all up, do we?

No, I won't ask you to put politics first unless it's really necessary. If I take a hit now and then for the family, that's the way it will have to be.

Okay, then, go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what the First Lady did last summer was appropriate. She stayed in Europe with the girls on the heels of a State Visit. This getaway was extravagant.

Why? What was extravagant about it? Just saying things doesn't make them true...

I'd like to know as well, PP. What was so extravagent?

Are you saying members of the president's family should never fly to Europe (or elsewhere) unless they have to be there anyway for a State Visit?