Obama's boondoggle to Africa to near $100MM

[ASUG8]

Amazing all the "Paula Deen racists" that come up with this crap. Name one modern-day President that didn't make trips like this, just one....

Name one president regardless of race going through a government sequester, numerous scandals under his watch, and spending this kind of taxpayer cash. It's no wonder he's had "no idea" all these things have happened in his administration when he's constantly in campaign mode or doing something like this trip. It's irresponsible use of taxpayer money and a flagrant disregard for everyone else asked to cut back

This isn't a race issue, it's about walking the walk, transparency, leadership by example, etc. You know, all those things he's promised as a candidate and things we should expect out of an elected leader.

[Ibanez]

If it were Romney, would you be bitching?




Exactly.

If he was spending that amount of $ to go look up his family roots, and there was still a depressed economy, still sequestration, no White House Tours, etc, etc, yes I would.

That's just hateful and ignorant. Im no fan of Obama but damn dude, you're just a sad, hateful person. Why so hateful? Life is too short and precious for you to hate someone. You need counseling.

[LeadBolt]

Presidents should make foreign trips for diplomacy purposes. There is no harm in working in a little vacation with them.

These trips should be made more often in times of a). High International Tension (FDR's trips during WWII and Carter's trips to Egypt and Israel come to mind); and b). A strong economy.

The point here is not that President's shouldn't travel internationally, but that they should be the place where the buck stops, and set the example for the government and the country by making the hard decisions as Harry Truman modeled.

This isn't about race or party (notice all the above examples are Dem. Presidents). Both are straw men thrown up by those without a legitimate defense, but about wasteful government spending during trying economic times and runaway government that has led to the sequester.

No one is criticizing Obama for attending the G8 conference. He should have been there. What is being criticized is the tack-ons that give the wrong message in a time where the economy is hurting and we are working yet again without a budget. It's kind of like campaigning for gun control in MN on the day of the deadline to present a budget to Congress and did not hence breaking the law.

[bluehenbillk]

Amazing all the "Paula Deen racists" that come up with this crap. Name one modern-day President that didn't make trips like this, just one....

Name one president regardless of race going through a government sequester, numerous scandals under his watch, and spending this kind of taxpayer cash. It's no wonder he's had "no idea" all these things have happened in his administration when he's constantly in campaign mode or doing something like this trip. It's irresponsible use of taxpayer money and a flagrant disregard for everyone else asked to cut back

This isn't a race issue, it's about walking the walk, transparency, leadership by example, etc. You know, all those things he's promised as a candidate and things we should expect out of an elected leader.

So again..to paraphrase what you said, when the economy wasn't hummimg along name a modern-day President that didn't make these trips? Democrat or Republican, there is no difference.

[ASUG8]

Name one president regardless of race going through a government sequester, numerous scandals under his watch, and spending this kind of taxpayer cash. It's no wonder he's had "no idea" all these things have happened in his administration when he's constantly in campaign mode or doing something like this trip. It's irresponsible use of taxpayer money and a flagrant disregard for everyone else asked to cut back

This isn't a race issue, it's about walking the walk, transparency, leadership by example, etc. You know, all those things he's promised as a candidate and things we should expect out of an elected leader.

So again..to paraphrase what you said, when the economy wasn't hummimg along name a modern-day President that didn't make these trips? Democrat or Republican, there is no difference.

They all make them, I'm not arguing that. The point is we're shutting down government services, asking government employees to go to 4 day work weeks, enacting austerity measures, and he's choosing to take this trip. This isn't brokering a peace deal, doing three way talks on nuclear disarmament, negotiating trade practices with China....it's a goodwill trip. Those are the things that are nice to do when you aren't asking everyone else to take one for the team.
From the link below, Carter didn't appear to be frivolous in his travel. You be the judge on who did or didn't make a lot of these trips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_in ... mmy_Carter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bluehenbillk]

So again..to paraphrase what you said, when the economy wasn't hummimg along name a modern-day President that didn't make these trips? Democrat or Republican, there is no difference.

They all make them, I'm not arguing that. The point is we're shutting down government services, asking government employees to go to 4 day work weeks, enacting austerity measures, and he's choosing to take this trip. This isn't brokering a peace deal, doing three way talks on nuclear disarmament, negotiating trade practices with China....it's a goodwill trip. Those are the things that are nice to do when you aren't asking everyone else to take one for the team.
From the link below, Carter didn't appear to be frivolous in his travel. You be the judge on who did or didn't make a lot of these trips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_in ... mmy_Carter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Recent history: George W Bush too went to Africa in February of 2008. Need I remind you the economy was in deep doo-doo at that time as the word recession was being used regularly versus where we are today, which is better off. Your point is lacking any depth.

[ASUG8]

They all make them, I'm not arguing that. The point is we're shutting down government services, asking government employees to go to 4 day work weeks, enacting austerity measures, and he's choosing to take this trip. This isn't brokering a peace deal, doing three way talks on nuclear disarmament, negotiating trade practices with China....it's a goodwill trip. Those are the things that are nice to do when you aren't asking everyone else to take one for the team.
From the link below, Carter didn't appear to be frivolous in his travel. You be the judge on who did or didn't make a lot of these trips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_in ... mmy_Carter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Recent history: George W Bush too went to Africa in February of 2008. Need I remind you the economy was in deep doo-doo at that time as the word recession was being used regularly versus where we are today, which is better off. Your point is lacking any depth.

I read through this before I posted it too. I heard we're in a recession too, but thanks for the reminder. I'm not trying to necessarily make this partisan, either - I'm just questioning the timing. Bush was bad all around, we get that ad nauseum. It sounds like you're fine with this spending by our leadership while the economy is struggling, unemployment remains high, government programs and employees are being asked to make sacrifices which is your choice. Personally, I see it as reckless spending whether it was Bush or Romney or Clinton or Reagan given the current environment. I can't type any slower than that for you.

[bluehenbillk]

Recent history: George W Bush too went to Africa in February of 2008. Need I remind you the economy was in deep doo-doo at that time as the word recession was being used regularly versus where we are today, which is better off. Your point is lacking any depth.

I read through this before I posted it too. I heard we're in a recession too, but thanks for the reminder. I'm not trying to necessarily make this partisan, either - I'm just questioning the timing. Bush was bad all around, we get that ad nauseum. It sounds like you're fine with this spending by our leadership while the economy is struggling, unemployment remains high, government programs and employees are being asked to make sacrifices which is your choice. Personally, I see it as reckless spending whether it was Bush or Romney or Clinton or Reagan given the current environment. I can't type any slower than that for you.

I get what you're saying believe me, but the world is not utopia, nor has it ever been. Why do you really think this case or any in the near future would be any different?

By the way, how is the weather in Fantasyland today?

[ASUG8]

I read through this before I posted it too. I heard we're in a recession too, but thanks for the reminder. I'm not trying to necessarily make this partisan, either - I'm just questioning the timing. Bush was bad all around, we get that ad nauseum. It sounds like you're fine with this spending by our leadership while the economy is struggling, unemployment remains high, government programs and employees are being asked to make sacrifices which is your choice. Personally, I see it as reckless spending whether it was Bush or Romney or Clinton or Reagan given the current environment. I can't type any slower than that for you.

I get what you're saying believe me, but the world is not utopia, nor has it ever been. Why do you really think this case or any in the near future would be any different?

By the way, how is the weather in Fantasyland today?

I take people at their word and hope others expect the same of me, but that's real life not what we should expect from those we elect - point taken. I guess we all got caught up in how this administration was full of hope and change from what we've seen, but it's clearly rooted in the past.

[bluehenbillk]

I guess we all got caught up in how this administration was full of hope and change from what we've seen, but it's clearly rooted in the past.

With Obama being a product of a completely broken & divided Congress there was actually little chance of campaign promises coming to fruition of "hope & change".

Which is exactly why the next President will be a Washington outsider - I give you Chris Christie.

[ASUG8]

I guess we all got caught up in how this administration was full of hope and change from what we've seen, but it's clearly rooted in the past.

With Obama being a product of a completely broken & divided Congress there was actually little chance of campaign promises coming to fruition of "hope & change".

Which is exactly why the next President will be a Washington outsider - I give you Chris Christie.

You may be right. I'm cautiously optimistic on Christie right now.

[CAA Flagship]

The current state of the Union is such that there should be no comparison to what other Presidents have done in the past. This should be an isolated evaluation based on necessity and affordability (economy). How necessary is this trip? How necessary is it to take the whole fam damily?

There is likely a lot of fail in whatever answers the Administration would come up with.

Is this BHO's way of seeing women running around with no shirts as seen in National Geographic magazines?

[dbackjon]

So again..to paraphrase what you said, when the economy wasn't hummimg along name a modern-day President that didn't make these trips? Democrat or Republican, there is no difference.

They all make them, I'm not arguing that. The point is we're shutting down government services, asking government employees to go to 4 day work weeks, enacting austerity measures, and he's choosing to take this trip. This isn't brokering a peace deal, doing three way talks on nuclear disarmament, negotiating trade practices with China....it's a goodwill trip. Those are the things that are nice to do when you aren't asking everyone else to take one for the team.
From the link below, Carter didn't appear to be frivolous in his travel. You be the judge on who did or didn't make a lot of these trips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_in ... mmy_Carter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So because the Republicans in the House are refusing to deal in good faith, the POTUS should be hamstrung?

What REAL scandals are out there?

[ASUG8]

They all make them, I'm not arguing that. The point is we're shutting down government services, asking government employees to go to 4 day work weeks, enacting austerity measures, and he's choosing to take this trip. This isn't brokering a peace deal, doing three way talks on nuclear disarmament, negotiating trade practices with China....it's a goodwill trip. Those are the things that are nice to do when you aren't asking everyone else to take one for the team.
From the link below, Carter didn't appear to be frivolous in his travel. You be the judge on who did or didn't make a lot of these trips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_in ... mmy_Carter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So because the Republicans in the House are refusing to deal in good faith, the POTUS should be hamstrung?

What REAL scandals are out there?

IRS targeting conservative groups
NSA domestic surveillance
FBI admission of US drone program
Justice Dept's journalist investigation

[Ivytalk]

So because the Republicans in the House are refusing to deal in good faith, the POTUS should be hamstrung?

What REAL scandals are out there?

IRS targeting conservative groups
NSA domestic surveillance
FBI admission of US drone program
Justice Dept's journalist investigation

Benghazi coverup
Obamacare transparency/preparation issues
Anything Holder touches

[BDKJMU]

Amazing all the "Paula Deen racists" that come up with this crap. Name one modern-day President that didn't make trips like this, just one....

Typical D1B like donk response: Any criticism of Obama is only because he's half black.

Name one that has taken as many as Obama has, at as high of a cost, during a recession & depressed economy, with sequestration going on, workers furloughed, with White House tours shut down because they "don't have enough money".