Should we go back in time and itemize the Republican First Ladies that have taken ambassadorial trips on behalf of the United States of America? Or does it only count when it's a Democratic First Lady?
Rumsfeld Says 2.3 Trillion Missing From Pentagon on 9/10/01?
Bush administration gave 43 million to the Taliban,
The true cost of the Iraq war: $3 trillion and beyond
$17b in Iraq rebuilding money missing
George W. Bush spent even more time away from the presidential mansion in the nation’s capital than Reagan. Of the 77 total "vacation" trips the former president made to his Texas ranch while in office, nine of them — all or part of 69 days — came during his first year as president in 2001, according to Knoller.
Bush spent 1,020 days of his presidency on vacation
. Bush spent 487 days at Camp David, 490 days at his Crawford ranch, and 43 days in Kennebunkport. George W. Bush spent 69 days in Crawford during his first year in office.
I don't understand why the cost of trips for the Obama's has been such a big deal. Is it because of the economy? Of course it's going to cost a hell of a lot for the first family to go anywhere. It's not like they can fly Southwest and save on baggage fees. They can't go anywhere without security. This has been the case for every presidency.
Or is the issue the number of staff that went? Again, I can't imagine that the first lady can take a trip without some staff. I feel like there are much better things to be critical of than this stuff.
OF COURSE it will cost a s**tton of money, and OF COURSE this money will come from taxpayers!
That's the price to pay for being the world's richest empire, world's biggest economy - even if in decline, whatever you wanna call it. When you want to scare your neighbours, you show off your weapons on a big parade. When you wanna show your presence, you send your president/first lady to go around to see and be seen and talk random stuff.
If you wanna keep your power you have to keep your presence. That's how our present system works, whether you like it or not.
You must have missed the fine print lovey, so allow me to fill you in ...
The almost half a million is the cost JUST TO FLY Michelle, her two daughters and her mother, a niece and a nephew, a hairstylist and makeup artists to South Africa and Botswana on a U.S. Air Force provided C-32 - Boeing 757.
Apparently the docs relating to those costs have yet to be furnished to Judicial Watch and the ones that have been, have only been released bc Judicial Watch sued under FOIA for this information the [transparent/s] WH obviously doesn't want to give up.
Did you the other tid-bit? The docs released to JW reveal that Michelle listed her daughters as "Senoir Staffers" for this jaunt.
"This is ghetto-fabulous behavior...equivalent of "making it rain" for your posse in a strip club, at the taxpayer's expense..Marie Antoinette, anyone?"
Are you f**king kidding me? But but but ... I'm NOT racist! So stop SAYING that!
Come a little closer so I can whack you with a clue stick: If you unable to grasp how the statement you made is racist you are intellectually challenged and unreachable. Geez - all that's missing is you pondering whether the inflight meals consisted of fried chicken and watermelon.
Each of the 77 trips that George Bush flew to Texas cost taxpayers $226,072.
Bring on the claims that I can't talk about Bush because he's not President any more. I just wonder how many articles Daily Mail published and Bett Dugg when Bush was vacationing at his own person resort instead of doing his job.
"The current climate" only exists because of the inaction and apathy of those who were dead silent regarding "the current climate" during Bush's 8 years in office. Therefore, the faux outrage of those on the right is laughable in the extreme.
further, if they use the accounting figure the way they did, all of the fixed costs associated with the trip shouldn't be accounted for - these are costs that are incurred whether that plane flies or not.
Likely it was the price of fuel and the hourly wages of the pilots/extra security....which would be significantly lower.
We were in debt when Bush was President. Didn't seem to stop Mrs. Bush from traveling abroad. I'm sure she didn't fly economy class...
From Wikipedia:
During President George W. Bush's second term, Laura was more involved in foreign matters. She traveled to numerous countries as a representative of the United States.
As First Lady, she took five goodwill trips to Africa.[49] The purpose of these has mostly been to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and malaria, but Bush has also stressed the need for education and greater opportunities for women.[50] She has taken many other trips to other countries to promote and gain support for President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief;[51] these countries include Zambia (2007),[52] Mozambique (2007),[53] Mali (2007),[54] Senegal (2007),[55] and Haiti (2008).[51]
This is what First Ladies do. I support their work. They promote the goodwill of our country and important causes around the world.
Mrs. Bush’s office wouldn’t say how many people accompanied her. Fifty is a guess. If so, that was another $158,200 in per diems. (from that ultra-left-wing organization Cato Institute)
apokalyps2547Oct 5, 2011Buried
BREAKING: Promoting health and education in Africa costs money. Conservatives outraged*
* only if the President isn't a Republican
theskinsfactoryOct 5, 2011Buried
Should we go back in time and itemize the Republican First Ladies that have taken ambassadorial trips on behalf of the United States of America? Or does it only count when it's a Democratic First Lady?
UncleRuckuOct 5, 2011Buried
Rumsfeld Says 2.3 Trillion Missing From Pentagon on 9/10/01?
Bush administration gave 43 million to the Taliban,
The true cost of the Iraq war: $3 trillion and beyond
$17b in Iraq rebuilding money missing
George W. Bush spent even more time away from the presidential mansion in the nation’s capital than Reagan. Of the 77 total "vacation" trips the former president made to his Texas ranch while in office, nine of them — all or part of 69 days — came during his first year as president in 2001, according to Knoller.
Bush spent 1,020 days of his presidency on vacation
. Bush spent 487 days at Camp David, 490 days at his Crawford ranch, and 43 days in Kennebunkport. George W. Bush spent 69 days in Crawford during his first year in office.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwrteFNic4
ikorkyiOct 5, 2011Buried
exactly - its a conservative vs. liberal driven story, not a fiscal irresponsibility driven story.
alanocuOct 5, 2011Buried
When Bush was in Africa saving a million lives suffering from AIDS, no one was outraged. You can say it's so, but that doesn't make it true.
markusfarkusOct 5, 2011Buried
I don't understand why the cost of trips for the Obama's has been such a big deal. Is it because of the economy? Of course it's going to cost a hell of a lot for the first family to go anywhere. It's not like they can fly Southwest and save on baggage fees. They can't go anywhere without security. This has been the case for every presidency.
Or is the issue the number of staff that went? Again, I can't imagine that the first lady can take a trip without some staff. I feel like there are much better things to be critical of than this stuff.
adml_shakeOct 5, 2011Buried
You might be the dumbest person thats ever been on this site. And thats saying something.
thyagobrOct 5, 2011Buried
Why do people still bring this crap up?
OF COURSE it will cost a s**tton of money, and OF COURSE this money will come from taxpayers!
That's the price to pay for being the world's richest empire, world's biggest economy - even if in decline, whatever you wanna call it. When you want to scare your neighbours, you show off your weapons on a big parade. When you wanna show your presence, you send your president/first lady to go around to see and be seen and talk random stuff.
If you wanna keep your power you have to keep your presence. That's how our present system works, whether you like it or not.
theswashbucklerOct 5, 2011Buried
Meanwhile the Republican House is wasting far more on DOMA
allisonrose870Oct 5, 2011Buried
You must have missed the fine print lovey, so allow me to fill you in ...
The almost half a million is the cost JUST TO FLY Michelle, her two daughters and her mother, a niece and a nephew, a hairstylist and makeup artists to South Africa and Botswana on a U.S. Air Force provided C-32 - Boeing 757.
"The documents made public by Judicial Watch DO NOT INCLUDE the total of ALL costs for the First Lady's trip, such as expenses for security, transportation on the ground and so forth." <http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/nearly-half-million-send-michelle-africa>
Apparently the docs relating to those costs have yet to be furnished to Judicial Watch and the ones that have been, have only been released bc Judicial Watch sued under FOIA for this information the [transparent/s] WH obviously doesn't want to give up.
Did you the other tid-bit? The docs released to JW reveal that Michelle listed her daughters as "Senoir Staffers" for this jaunt.
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/10/michelle-obama-listed-daughters-malia-and-sasha-as-senior-staffers-for-432142-african-trip/
Madrone72Oct 5, 2011Buried
"This is ghetto-fabulous behavior...equivalent of "making it rain" for your posse in a strip club, at the taxpayer's expense..Marie Antoinette, anyone?"
Are you f**king kidding me? But but but ... I'm NOT racist! So stop SAYING that!
Come a little closer so I can whack you with a clue stick: If you unable to grasp how the statement you made is racist you are intellectually challenged and unreachable. Geez - all that's missing is you pondering whether the inflight meals consisted of fried chicken and watermelon.
crom99Oct 5, 2011Buried
Who gives a s**t? Your share, 0.003 cents.
treehugger87Oct 5, 2011Buried
Each of the 77 trips that George Bush flew to Texas cost taxpayers $226,072.
Bring on the claims that I can't talk about Bush because he's not President any more. I just wonder how many articles Daily Mail published and Bett Dugg when Bush was vacationing at his own person resort instead of doing his job.
audiomodderOct 5, 2011Buried
PROTIP: the word "libtard" removes credibility
also, if you're going to bitch about personal attacks, don't start off your reply with a personal attack.
robertwrightOct 5, 2011Buried
Wait a minute, something smells fishy! On 28th June 2011 dailymail posted the cost was $800,000, why the drop?
fact-check: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2008936/Michelle-Obama-s-goodwill-tour-Africa-cost-taxpayers-800-000.html
kenanatorOct 5, 2011Buried
Repeated use of "ghetto-fabulous behavior" in regards to the first lady
Confirmed as butt-hurt racist
AntiKoolaidOct 5, 2011Buried
"The current climate" only exists because of the inaction and apathy of those who were dead silent regarding "the current climate" during Bush's 8 years in office. Therefore, the faux outrage of those on the right is laughable in the extreme.
ikorkyiOct 5, 2011Buried
further, if they use the accounting figure the way they did, all of the fixed costs associated with the trip shouldn't be accounted for - these are costs that are incurred whether that plane flies or not.
Likely it was the price of fuel and the hourly wages of the pilots/extra security....which would be significantly lower.
theskinsfactoryOct 5, 2011Buried
We were in debt when Bush was President. Didn't seem to stop Mrs. Bush from traveling abroad. I'm sure she didn't fly economy class...
From Wikipedia:
During President George W. Bush's second term, Laura was more involved in foreign matters. She traveled to numerous countries as a representative of the United States.
As First Lady, she took five goodwill trips to Africa.[49] The purpose of these has mostly been to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and malaria, but Bush has also stressed the need for education and greater opportunities for women.[50] She has taken many other trips to other countries to promote and gain support for President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief;[51] these countries include Zambia (2007),[52] Mozambique (2007),[53] Mali (2007),[54] Senegal (2007),[55] and Haiti (2008).[51]
This is what First Ladies do. I support their work. They promote the goodwill of our country and important causes around the world.
jhbarrOct 5, 2011Buried
Mrs. Bush’s office wouldn’t say how many people accompanied her. Fifty is a guess. If so, that was another $158,200 in per diems. (from that ultra-left-wing organization Cato Institute)
http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp94.pdf
Jenna and Barbara accompanied her on many trips. If you are denying that, then you are more dense than I thought.
BTW, I don't have a problem with Laura Bush's trips. I have a problem with fauxrage and double standards.