Obamas' trip to Paris hackles some lowbrows

[babylonsister]

I wish these people had something better to do...did Ms. Paige complain about idiot son?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/06/05/obama_family_vacation_to_paris_raises_some_eyebrows/

Obamas' trip to Paris raises some eyebrows


The presidential limo waited outside as President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attended a Broadway show last weekend. The Obama family plans to travel to Paris today. The presidential limo waited outside as President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attended a Broadway show last weekend. The Obama family plans to travel to Paris today. (Reuters)

By Joseph Williams
Globe Staff / June 5, 2009

snip//


One public interest group notes that the White House still hasn't disclosed expenses from the Manhattan trip - estimated to be about $30,000 - and argues that the public should get a full accounting of a "flashy" European vacation.

Leslie Paige, a spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste, said that because Obama has such a demanding job, few would begrudge him some presidential perks - as long as he doesn't completely indulge himself on the taxpayer's dime. The problem, she said, is that Obama has not made his expenses public, and thus is failing to keep his pledge to run an open, transparent government.

"I doubt we'll see the true cost of the trip to Paris," Paige said. Not keeping his promise "has been a disappointment, to say the least," she added.

A White House spokeswoman said Michelle Obama will accompany her husband to the Normandy tribute, but otherwise the family's schedule while in Paris will be private. Under government rules, the spokeswoman said, Obama will personally pay for any non-official expenses he and his family incur on the trip, but their expense report will not be released. The president plans to return to Washington on Sunday, but his family plans to stay longer in Paris.

The spokeswoman said that for security reasons, the family will cross the Atlantic in a government jet. The Obamas will reimburse the government at commercial fares, but she would not say at what rate.

While it's important to keep the trip in perspective because "there are a lot of big-ticket items like healthcare that will be a lot more important in the long run," Paige said, Obama might have thought twice about taking such a high-profile family vacation.

"He's under a microscope," perhaps more than any president in modern history, Paige said, and modesty will go a long way.

"Maybe he could be more austere," she added, "with a little less flash, and a little more transparency."

[Xipe Totec]

1. Correction: and the inevitable...Obamas' trip to Paris hackles some lowbrows n/t

[babylonsister]

3. Ha! Your title is better. I hope you don't mind if I steal it. nt

[Xipe Totec]

25. My pleasure!

:hi:

[Cha]

18. I don't know what the

original title was but this is perfect!

[Captain Hilts]

2. I wish the prez still had a yacht to go out and cruise on. Good for BO and MO to

get out a bit.

[HopeOverFear]

4. HE's in paris for TWO FUCKING DAYS!!!!

count 'em ONE, TWO....how is that flashy european vacation???? And it's NOT a fucking vacation because he's there to mark the anniversary of D-Day.

[babylonsister]

7. No logic allowed! And the girls will be blowing all our tax dollars next

week, at least through mid-week.

[kestrel91316]

5. Anybody who hates Paris has got some SERIOUS mental issues.

[goclark]

37. Serious serious mental issues ~ Paris in any season

[TahitiNut]

39. Ubetcha, doc. Best city on the planet ... my favorite. (SF is second.)

Paris is special. I could never get tired of it. I've driven it, walked it and ridden through it. It's everything a city should be and more.

[Puzzler]

6. Oh for f***k's sake! They clearly have zero, that's zero...

... to really complain about when they are going after Obama for this stuff. I agree that it all cost money, but since when did these wingnuts become such presidential money managers? Oh yes, since January 20/09, that's when.

[Vinca]

8. Maybe if he cut some brush while he's in Paris . . .

[Renew Deal]

9. They're disappointed in something that hasn't even happened yet?

:shrug:

[Thrill]

10. How much transparency did you get from Bush?

Every trip he takes, how much it cost is a big deal. I never use to hear that with other Presidents. I wonder why?

[bluestateguy]

11. I honestly don't ever remember saying anything about Bush's personal travel expenses

I was more concerned, about you know, his policies, which cost the nation literally trillions more.

[monmouth]

12. Which tells you they've got nothing, nothing I tell you!!.........n/t

[Pirate Smile]

13. "modesty will go a long way" - uummmm, isn't he the 1st Prez to not even use the normal redecorating

budget in ... who knows how long?

[Cha]

19. Yeah, and to

grow their own food on the South Lawn:P

[quidam56]

14. A wonderful history lesson for Sasha and Malia

http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[YvonneCa]

32. I thought I read somewhere that Sunday is Sasha's...

...birthday. If so, it seems a good way to meet dad and celebrate...

[Jennicut]

15. I laugh at these right wingers. How much did Shrub's many vacations cost?

Actually he was on one permanent vacation and let Cheney run the country and we see what happened with that. Geez, they need to get a life.

[MadBadger]

16. "Flashy European Vacation???" Ms. Paige should look up the date June 6th.

Find out if its important at all.

[Cha]

17. Sorry, but fuck off

leslie paige..our President works hard for the money.

Gawd I petty whining.

[tanyev]

20. Oh, please.

Prez'dun (hic!) Bushz luvly (hic!) fam'ly Olympicizing in (hic!) China.

http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Olympics+Day+3+Swimming+6dV6Fd4zfx9l.jpg

[Binka]

30. Jesus GAWD That Photo Is The PERFECT Summation Of Bush's So Called Legacy

Sloppy, Plastered, and making an ass of himself in public.

[tanyev]

40. I like this one even better but you can't see Barbara in this shot.

[Retrograde]

21. I've done enough overseas business trips

to say an office is an office no matter how glamerous the city, and long hours are even longer hours due to fatigue and jet lag. My company let me tag on extra days at my own expense, but it after awhile it's not a perk any longer.

Let's look at Obama's "vacation": he gave a major speech in Egypt in an attempt to make parts of the Islamic world not think the US is completely full of bigots, and undo some of the damage to our reputation and goals his predecessor caused. And visited the pyramids, which are, what, in a nearby suburb?

The he goes to Germany, meets with Ms Merkel and again tries to undo some of his predecessor's damage. Next France (lucky him!) to participate in an international commemoration of one of the major events of the 20th century - and maybe to run interference between France and the UK who've been in a tizzy about diplomatic snubs. France, the country without which there probably wouldn't be a USA. And he brings his family along. Sounds like a business trip to me.

Too bad he doesn't have a "ranch" deep in Red Country, so he could chop brush every other week, and spend the rest of his time flying off to fundraisers, like a real president.

[babylonsister]

36. Thanks. That's the reality there. nt

[donco6]

22. Screw them.

I've got my problems with Obama, but he should just do what he needs to do with his family and the RW can totally fuck themselves.

[Stephanie]

23. Cost of Bush's 77 trips to Crawford TX: $17,407,544

$226,000/trip. That's just for the plane.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/2/738037/-Bush-Made-77-Trips-to-Crawford-TX-at-$226,072-a-Pop

[democracy1st]

28. thanks steph much luv :)

[SoxFan]

24. What sort of ninny goes prancing around France?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/President_Reagan_giving_speech_on_the_40th_Anniversary_of_D-Day_at_Pointe_du_Hoc,_Normandy,_France,_1984.jpg

[Stephanie]

26. Is that Nancy in the front row?

[tishaLA]

34. That monument looks like a giant phallus

How odd for Ronnie to be standing in front of a bigger dick than himself.

[gauguin57]

38. Same dude who, with the missus, WENT TO A GODDAMNED BROADWAY SHOW while POTUS!

I am ALREADY so sick of this shit the Repugs are trying to stir up. I will work my fingers to the bone to defeat any Republican candidate in 2010 and 2012 that I possibly can. They are WORTHLESS with these accusations. They're wasting everyone's time and attention with this crap, when our country has serious, serious problems.

The Republicans are the most unpatriotic bunch of assholes I can imagine!

[DaveinJapan]

27. Is paying for his "vacation" travel even necessary?

I was under the impression that one of the perquisites of the Presidency was any and all travel provided by the government for the President and his immediate family (I take that to mean residents of the White House). I certainly don't recall ever hearing about any other Presidents reimbursing the government at commercial airline rates for ANY of their travel while in office. Perhaps I missed something?

In any case, this argument just like the NYC trip is a non-issue. The fact that the President is graciously reimbursing the commercial fares is more than adequate (and as he said in the Williams interview, they'd have flown commercial if they could have...what would the cons have happen, a President shackled to the resolute desk for four years?).

Bah.

[Raine]

29. Who cares what they think

they lost :nopity: and we won :bounce: elections have consequences. :evilgrin:

[janx]

31. Google the author. Check the links.

She is the media director for her organization--one which links to Club for Growth. ;-)

[janx]

33. Too late to edit my last post--

so I wanted to add:

Google

Leslie Paige, a spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste

Then check the links. Sorry for the confusion.

[4lbs]

35. This "vacation" to Europe?

It's not like he's sipping champagne on the French Riviera.