�let them eat cake�

[Streetbull]

MICHELLE OBAMA TO AMERICANS: �LET THEM EAT CAKE�

http://www.thecypresstimes.com/artic...EAT_CAKE/32188

"CBS News digs into the numbers, too, which should be an indication even to the Obama�s how ridiculous the extravagance of this trip is to those of us who are paying for it. I mean even CBS is reporting this! Fear not The Huffington Post chose to focus on Michelle's "one shoulder" dress instead of anything substantive.

�CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports the C-32A (757) the First Lady used to fly to Spain - one of the planes that usually serves as Air Force Two, and sometimes Air Force One - operates at a Department of Defense reimbursement rate of $11,351 per hour.

�So a 6.5 hour flight to Spain would run $73,781.50 - double for the round trip.�

The round trip would then cost you, $147,563.00 (U.S. tax dollars)

No word on what the security force surrounding Michelle Obama, her daughters and friends is costing you. But it�s a bunch. More than you�ll spend on a thousand vacations.

However, despite the fact that you�re footing the bill, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibb�s said, "the First Lady is on a private trip."

"She is a private citizen and is the mother of a daughter on a private trip. And I think I'd leave it at that."

I�m sure Gibbs and the Obama�s would love to leave it at that, but unfortunately that answer sounds like a big bunch of hooey!"

I like the part where they had such a long time between vacations...you know...like July. And the media attacked Bush for going to Camp David or Crawford, TX.

These people are such blatant hypocrits that it is beyond hilarious.

[ToPHeR35]

And when they get back they're going on ANOTHER trip right after this one...

[YARDGORILLA]

And when they get back they're going on ANOTHER trip right after this one...

And when they get back they're going on ANOTHER trip right after this one...

[leafs43]

Why Michelle Obama needs a vacation at all is beyond me.

All she does is give a few speeches and parties at fund raisers. The white house has employees that vacuum and scrub toilets. Its not like she does actual work to warrant a vacation. Her life is one large vacation.

[KRANE]

I'm sorry OP, I missed the comparison between the present administration's budget for the First Lady as compared to former First Ladies to show where the current First Lady is spending way more. That is the point you're making right?

Incidentally, you are aware that the First Lady does serve as an ambassador for the office of POTUS?

Why Michelle Obama needs a vacation at all is beyond me.

All she does is give a few speeches and parties at fund raisers. The white house has employees that vacuum and scrub toilets. Its not like she does actual work to warrant a vacation. Her life is one large vacation.

Incorrect. The First Lady had many duties and obligations. And the idea that one has to scrub toilets to do work is ludicrous.

[TheStender]

I'm sorry OP, I missed the comparison between the present administration's budget for the First Lady as compared to former First Ladies to show where the current First Lady is spending way more. That is the point you're making right?

Incidentally, you are aware that the First Lady does serve as an ambassador for the office of POTUS?Incorrect. The First Lady had many duties and obligations. And the idea that one has to scrub toilets to do work is ludicrous.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot...anish-vacation

Michelle Obama is hardly the only first lady to travel overseas without her husband. Laura Bush and her daughters, Barbara and Jenna, traveled to Africa in 2007, where they went on safari. Yet her trip was regarded as an "official" visit and included several public events. According to the White House, this trip is entirely private, save for a photo-op with the Spanish royal family, who has invited the first lady and her daughter for an official visit.

[Streetbull]

Why Michelle Obama needs a vacation at all is beyond me.

All she does is give a few speeches and parties at fund raisers. The white house has employees that vacuum and scrub toilets. Its not like she does actual work to warrant a vacation. Her life is one large vacation.

How many vacations are they up to now? 7? 8?

Concerts at the White House, sumptuous dinners with specialty chefs flown in from around the country...what a wonderful experience they are having!!

[LehighLuke]

stupid article is stupid. What do you suggest, that she flys commercial? Yeah, security costs money...the presidential staff needs security wherever they go.

[YARDGORILLA]

stupid article is stupid. What do you suggest, that she flys commercial? Yeah, security costs money...the presidential staff needs security wherever they go.

Hobbit, you don't get the point?

[LehighLuke]

Hobbit, you don't get the point?

ad hominem? really? you make a great case to support your point of view....

EDIT: And what exactly was the point? That these trips waste taxpayer money? brb - going to move to a country with no government...

[markymark69]

Hobbit, you don't get the point?

I dont get the point...how about you explain it to me.

[leafs43]

Incidentally, you are aware that the First Lady does serve as an ambassador for the office of POTUS?Incorrect. The First Lady had many duties and obligations. And the idea that one has to scrub toilets to do work is ludicrous.

Could you please point out the official duties of the first lady?

[TheStender]

I dont get the point...how about you explain it to me.

I think that the point is you should be upset that you are paying something like .0028 cents for her to take a vacation.

[markymark69]

Could you please point out the official duties of the first lady?

There are none. That's why Laura Bush 'official' safari trip was a vacation.

[markymark69]

I think that the point is you should be upset that you are paying something like .0028 cents for her to take a vacation.

Ah thanks for clarifying that. Im raging now...next time I run into Obama Im demanding my quarter back.


Seriously though...I never get these threads. They were prevelent when Bush was in office and liberals were screaming about his trips and conservatives were justifying them.

Now it's switched.


Personally I really do not see what the issue is.

[TheStender]

Ah thanks for clarifying that. Im raging now...next time I run into Obama Im demanding my quarter back.

I think I mistyped. It's not 25 cents, it's .0028 dollars. So like 1/4th of a cent.

And honestly I just took $500,000 and divided by 175 million to get a rough estimate, so it's not exact or anything.

[bird72]

She deserve the vacation, they are humans beings, so not big issue here. We decide as a society to have a president and pay for his expenses, if some day we decide to live in a anarchy system, then this aint going to happen.

[markymark69]

The more I think about it...the more i rage.

Why doesnt that b!tch fly coach with her kids?

it would only be $3900 round trip airfare.

[markymark69]

Holy sh!t...have you seen the white house food bill?

While the rest of us are struggling to make ends meet they are eating fine food when they could be eating off the McDonalds Dollar menu.


The hypocrisy of the Obamas.

[TheStender]

The more I think about it...the more i rage.

Why doesnt that b!tch fly coach with her kids?

it would only be $3900 round trip airfare.

That's still too much. You could probably find a nice rowboat on Craigslist for a real cheap price.

[JustAnotherUser]

The more I think about it...the more i rage.

Why doesnt that b!tch fly coach with her kids?

it would only be $3900 round trip airfare.

because she's a target for all kinds of people and needs some form of protection. While I don't think she needs to be flying Air Force One, she should probably be taking a smaller, cheaper and more efficient private jet, or just buying out first class in a commercial flight.

[LehighLuke]

The more I think about it...the more i rage.

Why doesnt that b!tch fly coach with her kids?

it would only be $3900 round trip airfare.

You cant be serious....she would only be the biggest kidnapping target for all terorists around the world....

Do you know anything about national security? Anytime the president goes ANYWHERE literally millions are spent in planning for escape routes, emergency surgeries, etc... Its a giant logistics machine, and its necessary for the stability of our gov't. She is part of the gov't, like it or not.

I happen to support Obama, but even if it was 3 yrs ago, I would make the same argument for the Bush admin.

EDIT, nm, i now c that u r being funny

[cavymeister]

Do as I say, not as I do.

[Streetbull]

"The same hypocrite who says our energy costs must �necessarily skyrocket� to fund his political ambition, is giving Marie Antoinette a run for her money when it comes to spending national treasure on personal luxuries.

While much of the country is struggling to pay their bills, the President and First Lady are partying like rock royalty. The collection of talent that has made the pilgrimage to the White House to entertain Obama and friends is nothing less than amazing: Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennet, Paul Simon, Marc Anthony, Herbie Hancock, Martina McBride, Queen Latifah, The Foo Fighters, Faith Hill, and recently foot-in-mouth Paul McCartney to name a few.

This has the makings to be the greatest ongoing concert series ever to be seen on this Earth just to entertain one man � all paid for by the American taxpayer."

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/23988

[KRANE]

How many vacations are they up to now? 7? 8?

Concerts at the White House, sumptuous dinners with specialty chefs flown in from around the country...what a wonderful experience they are having!!

And of course this all began with the Obamas. Duh!

because she's a target for all kinds of people and needs some form of protection. While I don't think she needs to be flying Air Force One, she should probably be taking a smaller, cheaper and more efficient private jet, or just buying out first class in a commercial flight.

Now that you mention it, why not a Cessna 172? After all, the kids are small, they can scrunch up in the back. The nerve of that women. You'd think she was the president's wife of something...WHAT?

[trailwarrior]

[Bushmaster]

And when they get back they're going on ANOTHER trip right after this one...

And when they get back they're going on ANOTHER trip right after this one...

I read recently that she's taken eight so far this summer..

[neonhypoxia]

I think I mistyped. It's not 25 cents, it's .0028 dollars. So like 1/4th of a cent.

And honestly I just took $500,000 and divided by 175 million to get a rough estimate, so it's not exact or anything.

Speaking of IIRC isn't most of the trip being funded by them and not the government? The maybe twenty seconds of it that I bothered to pay attention to on the news yesterday mentioned that security is what's being payed for by gov but the price for the air fair, hotel rooms, blah blah blah, is not.

Anyone have a source for that instead of just an article that has the total price but doesn't mention how much is being paid for by whom?

[GeorgeCarlinJr]

Speaking of IIRC isn't most of the trip being funded by them and not the government? The maybe twenty seconds of it that I bothered to pay attention to on the news yesterday mentioned that security is what's being payed for by gov but the price for the air fair, hotel rooms, blah blah blah, is not.

Anyone have a source for that instead of just an article that has the total price but doesn't mention how much is being paid for by whom?

First Lady Michelle Obama is in the midst of a five-day trip to a luxury resort along with a few friends, her youngest daughter, aides and Secret Service personnel. Her office said the family will pay for personal expenses, but won't reveal the taxpayer cost for the government employees.

The Obama family will reimburse the government an amount equal to two first-class tickets, Air Force officials said. A round-trip first-class flight to Malaga costs about $7,400, without discounts or restrictions.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,4606035.story

[nutsy54]

I'm sorry OP, I missed the comparison between the present administration's budget for the First Lady as compared to former First Ladies to show where the current First Lady is spending way more. That is the point you're making right?

Who said anything about comparisons? This is about costs incurred now, during a deep and everlasting recession ("the worst recession since the Great Depression"), with a Government already in massive debt ("everyone needs to get some skin in the game"), and the choices made that completely disregard our nation's current situation.

Incidentally, you are aware that the First Lady does serve as an ambassador for the office of POTUS?

Not this time...

However, despite the fact that you’re footing the bill, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibb’s said, "the First Lady is on a private trip."

"She is a private citizen and is the mother of a daughter on a private trip. And I think I'd leave it at that."