Obama Cuts Short Martha’s Vineyard Vacation for Hurricane Irene

“Obama is expected to arrive back at the White House on Friday evening. His family will remain on the Vineyard through Saturday morning”
2 plane flights, 4 helicopter flights, 2 limousines, 2 entourages, multiple secret service coverage. If you believe in carbon footprints, the Obama’s are big-footing the climate.
If you believe the federal government needs to economize wherever it can, you obviously disagree with the Obamas.

They’re giving us the finger again. 2012 can’t come fast enough. ABO!

Obama is setting up his Irene command post in Hawaii…he will be there the rest of the Hurricane season, working on another speech on the economy

“Obama is expected to arrive back at the White House on Friday evening. His family will remain on the Vineyard through Saturday morning. ”
Separate jets again. But of course.

This President could singlehandedly cure cancer and turn straw into gold and you people would attack him for putting oncologists out of work and undermining the price of gold.
Give it a rest already. You are making yourselves ridiculous with your unprincipled, knee-jerk, blind opposition.

Another “unprecedented”, “historic” opportunity/crises to take the nation’s focus off of his crappy job performance as Actor In Chief.

This has nothing to do with Obama’s approval ratings. A HURRICANE IS APPROACHING. Just thought I’d point that out, in case you haven’t been reading the news.

Barrack to Michelle: We’re rich!! We don’t have to worry about the cost of two flights.
Well, we’re moving on up to the East Side. We finally got a piece of the pie.
Let’s see how much we can spend before the four years are over.
Let the rest eat peas.

Oh yes, he has to try to show that he is far more concerned than President Bush was about Katrina. Since he has been so busy “working”, you know like meeting with Buffett, and seemingly, setting up the Bank Of America deal and setting up a date for the fundraiser Buffett is throwing him, will we be paying for this little vacation?

Give me a hurricane any day over the Democrat man-made disaster known as Detroit.
Have you been there lately? It looks like it’s been nuked and way less people die in a hurricane…
And hurricanes only last a couple days not 40 years.

There is most definitely (IMO) some friction going on in the First Family. From what I have been seeing of late, they rarely are together, and when they are he’s playing golf while her and the girls do their thing. He doesn’t appear to be wearing the pants in the family.

as parents, it’s prudent to fly seperately just in case – not simply for hurricane event. not defending the man – but I can see why they’d do this as parents.

@Foggy:
ITS THE TWO PLANES Going and Coming from the Vinyard with in a matter of hours just thought I would point that out incase you haven’t you been reading the news?

No shame.

Something is dramatically wrong with these people. Other American families on vacation travel as a unit – but then other families don’t have the option of making the tax payers provide a second plane for the little woman (or the dog). I am beginning to think that the deficit problem would be solved if Michelle stayed in the WH for the next 12 months.

His wife should leave because HIS vacation is now over. She has no job to vacation from, and she especially has no job to vacation from at the taxpayers’ expense.

I applogize for Foggy my comment was ment for @mijoje1
ITS THE TWO PLANES Going and Coming from the Vinyard with in a matter of hours just thought I would point that out incase you haven’t you been reading the news?

Obama must listen also to Mark Levin.

Posted by: TheRealRaven | Aug 26, 2011 1:49:42 PM
You are correct.
YOU, yes YOU should give it a rest.
When the POTUS and FLOTUS conduct themselves so illogically and unnecessarily incur extraordinary expenses they deserve to be roundly criticized. The same applies to the policies, agendas, and edicts from him and his czars.

Administrati0n aide to President Obama:
“The local and state governments have this one well in hand, sir. You could stay on vacation at your resort in Martha’s Vineyard. All we will need is the American people’s checkbook and your pen, Mr. Obama. What’s that? You just want to be on hand to help? Please just do what you usually do. Stay out of the way, lead from behind, and try to look good for the cameras. This is like any other crisis we’ve faced in the last two years. The country can work their own way through it. Then you can take credit for the good results and deny the rest.”

It would be more prudent for him to be in Siberia, too.

So it is not enough that “Queen” Michelle spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to arrive early, now she will do the same to leave later?
Eat your peas peasants, Queen Mooch must be pleased at all costs.

Mr. President: THANK YOU. You are taking charge and doing something. You are not waiting THREE days and then starting to see what’s what. No matter what you do you know some posters will attack you…that’s how they are…most from day one. Ignore them. They just know how to complain. If they were in your shoes for one hour, they wouldn’t know what to do. God Bless you and all the people in the path of this horrible storm.

Those of you bashing this president should be ashamed of yourselves. This is a DEADLY Hurricane. I have family and friends in it’s path and I’m also in it’s path. TAKE YOUR HATE AND LEAVE PLEASE. This is NOT the time for politics! No wonder we have problems in this country with people like you….Disgusting!

The Important question that needs to be asked, is will Martha, lose all her grapevines in this Hurricane? we have know answers, but certainly we know FEMA will be called out to assist Hyannus Port and fix Uncle Roberts Road, and rebuild Martha’s Grapes.

The President now must put golf aside and demonstrate to a disheartened nation that he is a leader and will be at the helm of U.S.S.America as we together face hurricane Irene.
Keep in mind though that Irene now posits yet another blameworthy event adding to a growing list of “bad luck” situations pre-emptying the president from saving the nation.
So much promise…so much “bad luck”!

I thought he could run the country from the ninth fairway just as effectively as he can from the oval office.

This guy is a complete idiot.
I said to myself. I bet he leaves his expensive vacation early to look good. Well one freakin day early, OH MY. Now his wife will fly seperatly and we will pay for her extra day
These guys got to go

Obviously IM-POTUS has no influence FLOTUS – no wonder he’s been so ineffective on the job.

I hope that they didn’t pay for the full week! LOL

Hey MINNEAPOLITAN 61, Bush is still getting blamed for Obama’s mess. Maybe we should blame Bush for this “Bozo in Chief”, you elected him…

She best be paying for her tickets.
This is no longer funny or humorous.

Mail Online, By Tamara Abraham, 24th August 2011…
“White House sources today claimed that the First Lady has spent $10million of U.S. taxpayers’ money on vacations alone in the past year.
The First Lady is believed to have taken 42 days of holiday in the past year, including a $375,000 break in Spain and a four-day ski trip to Vail, Colorado, where she spent $2,000 a night on a suite at the Sebastian hotel.
And the first family’s nine-day stay in Martha’s Vineyard is also proving costly, with rental of the Blue Heron Farm property alone costing an estimated $50,000 a week.
The source continued: ‘Michelle also enjoys drinking expensive booze during her trips. She favours martinis with top-shelf vodka and has a taste for rich sparking wines.
‘The vacations are totally Michelle’s idea. She’s like a junkie. She can’t schedule enough getaways, and she lives from one to the next – all the while sticking it to hardworking Americans.’”

@minneapolitan61, normal couples have his and hers bath towels. The Obama’s have his and hers jets at taxpayer’s expense. They both left the WH to go on vacation on separate jets. You don’t call that excess? posted by JustaGuy……… Are the Obamas’ actions different from any other first couples’? NOOOOO…. That’s normal for a POTUS and FLOTUS…they both have extremely busy schedules and therefore often need to travel separately. To compare them, or any other First Couple, with Joe Blow and wife, is a ridiculous apples-and-oranges comparison.

@minneapolitan61, normal couples have his and hers bath towels. The Obama’s have his and hers jets at taxpayer’s expense. They both left the WH to go on vacation on separate jets. You don’t call that excess? posted by JustaGuy……… Are the Obamas’ actions different from any other first couples’? NOOOOO…. That’s normal for a POTUS and FLOTUS…they both have extremely busy schedules and therefore often need to travel separately. To compare them, or any other First Couple, with Joe Blow and wife, is a ridiculous apples-and-oranges comparison.

Gee thanks Barak for telling me to be prepared for the hurricane. I wish you had told us in advance to be prepared for your incompentency. That would have helped me more..

Posted by: TeaPartyNation | Aug 26, 2011 2:21:53 PM
“Mrs. (Laura) Bush has traveled to all 50 States and more than 75 countries. She has made five trips to Africa alone . . .”
Looks like your bias is ignoring some telling comparisions.
“Five trips to Africa alone”, “travelled to more than 75 countries” . . .
Of course that was all ‘work’, with this First Lady it’s all ‘vacation’.
Right, we get it.

Too bad, this idiot only makes wrong decisions, the country is better off with him on vacation than calling any shots.
And I thought W was a moron.

After a heavy week of hard work on Martha’s Vineyard, President Obama returns to the Whitehouse to continue his three year vacation.

In the last 12 months, Michelle spent over $10 million on her luxury vacations at taxpayer’s expense.
Posted by: JustAGuy | Aug 26, 2011 2:25:51 PM
Quit lying, taxpayers do not pay for the vacations of the President or the First Lady.

As for the first lady and the president to take seperate airplanes to and from the vineyard for somekind of security protocol?? She is not the vice-president of the United States, queen, Nancy Pelosi, or an elected official of any kind.
There is no reason that she and their family not to fly on the same plane as the president. There is not mention of the first lady in the constitution regarding her succsession(sp) to the presidency.
This is just a senseless waste of our money.

@Chas, go read the article! Taxpayers don’t pay for presidential campaign bus tours, but they sure payed for Obama’s recent drive through the upper midwest!

What bothers me most about Obama and his wife’s vacation and travel obsessions remind me of admonitions from my father. “When you are using gifts of generosities from other people and you aren’t paying out of your own pocket for those generosities then don’t take advantage of others. If you use perks given by others be humble about it and don’t abuse it.” Obama’s are taking advantage of the generous perks GIVEN them by taxpayers. No where in the Constitution does it say we (the taxpayers) are obligated to provide private corporate jet services for the president and his wife and kid’s and dog’s personal use. They are abusing us as hypocrites. Stop it.

Obama’s carbon foot print is the size of the USA.

For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction.
Michelle Obama

“I feel safer already!”

Someone has a hangover and has to stay behind???

Thank you, Obama for informing the nation of this impending storm. We have no other source of information than you, O Great One.

Chas says “Quit lying, taxpayers do not pay for the vacations of the President or the First Lady.”
Really?? Do you think the Obamas income would cover the cost of those vacations? Obama would have to sell a lot more of his books.
Do you think they are paying for the secret service or Airforce 1?

Actually if you think about it they got Obama from Mombasa Kenya, and out of Malaysia to be the President of the United States, such is the lasting Kennedy Legacy for America, I thought you guys knew that? his Dad was a Kenyian.

I guess minneapolitan has gone to the Fair to eat Crow-on-a-stick.

What about the 77 trips Bush took back and forth to his Texas ranch during his presidency? Who paid for that?
Sheep.

The issue shouldn’t be whether he leaves early, the issue is WHY THE **** DIDN’T SHE LEAVE WITH HIM? lt’s not as though she has to clean up after them ,,,or even pack up the kiddies; they have hired help for that.
Michelle is just milking the FLOTUS experience for all it’s worth. The girl knows she’s not ever gonna get second another chance at the gig, so she may as well take it for all it’s worth now. The Obamas are piggier than the Clintons …if that’s possible.

HUH Michele and the kids staying so that we the tax payers can pay for seperate travel plans again. That woman has spent more thean $10M of our tax dollars on vacations since Obama took office. How much longer will Libs defend this man, his policies and his family spending our money with no regard to the American citizens. One day early Michele you can’t leave one day early and save the tax payers half a million dollars in travel costs? All the while with Obama on vacation Biden is trying to keep up the spending by saying more stimulas is needed and that we should sell the plans to our F-16 fighters to Tiawan. They are doing everything they can to give this country to Hu Jintao. Who, I think is Obama’s hero and role model.

I def liked Bush better. So what that he caused a massive debt of trillions of dollars due to unfunded wars while cutting taxes for the right. Also, a world-wide recession and unemployment due to ignoring economic predictions and deregulation. And 9-11 “mishap” due to ignoring CIA memos and intelligence. At least he was funny.
Posted by: xxhaimbondxx | Aug 26, 2011 2:40:55 PM
Yeah, remember how he joked about how maybe the weapons of mass destruction were hidden under his desk, after thousands of American military had died because of those non-existent weapons of mass destruction. Some joke heh?

And how many hundreds of Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since Obama decided to escalate to kill “less than a hundred Al Qaida”?

TRUTH BE TOLD…Any President is truly not on vacation. He gets briefings, calls and so on…I really do not care if he has an ice cream or rides a bike. We all can’t be that ignorant to think he is not doing work.
TRUTH BE TOLD…It’s his Policies that are the issue. The USA has staggering unemployment, the welfare system is overloaded, the economy is right side up and President Obama issues an order to the Justice Department to circumvent the law regarding Immigration. Ask why President Obama is not trying to work with congress and the Ways and Means committee to start taxing companies that outsource labor at a higher rate. Bring Jobs Back to America for Americans. Fix Medicaid, Billions in waste, data health systems http://www.datahealthsystems.com is just one of the companies that have a remedy. Invest in America. Choose capitalism, not socialism…Stop Outsourcing and fix Medicaid…let them know…WE VOTE.

Now lets be serious here… We are going to see a LOT of hungry people like we did with Katrina
So when you see them looting stores and running out with 60″ flat screens and $200 Nikes…they just be hungry
Obama gives Offical White House Hurricane warning:
“RUN FORREST RUN”

“I don’t recall electing Michelle Obama to any office? Electing her Queen? What is she vacationing from – she holds no office, no job.
Why is she entitled to use of a USAF jet, and a staff of hundreds to vacation seperately?”…………. For the same reason Laura Bush used to take yearly trips with her girlfriends maybe? You know, your post brings up a heck of a point. Nobody did elect the first lady and I’m tired of the disrespect this one is shown when I’ve never seen that before now. Hate the President all you want. The first lady and kids need to be off limits. I do not care the party. The first lady gets secret service and protection because they are married to the President. As it should be.

merican.To compare her to the doublewide Shebama is a flawed premise.Everyone knows you do not compare apples with waqtermelon or ugly fruit.

For the same reason Laura Bush used to take yearly trips with her girlfriends maybe?
Posted by: secondlook | Aug 26, 2011 3:04:45 PM
Yep. On camping trips. In the U.S.

SecondLook
I agree.
Reporters followed the Bush twins everywhere they went. The Obama girls only have more privacy because at their age they aren’t out and about as much. They’re kids, they didn’t seek political office or ask for the media attention. The media and detractors should leave them alone.
First ladies probably had more choice in the matter. Certain things are expected of them. They should however be treated with respect. They are allowed use of government vehicles including aircraft. Secret Service protection is required for the president’s family.
Partisian thinking will not allow idiots to see reality or necessity, only the percieved wrong doings of other party.

FOUR MORE MONTHS vacation time than Obama at exactly the same point in his presidency.
Posted by: Dana | Aug 26, 2011 3:08:58 PM
Bush “vacationed” at his private ranch or at Camp David, not at 5 star residences, where the taxpayers pay obscene amounts of money to house the secret service.
Our credit had not been downgraded.
Unemployment was not at 9.1%
Welfare was not at record levels.

To BOB in earlier post: I am reminded why our country is in such trouble as it is by your post – this man is not trying to do anything for the American people – he is in it for himself and his own desire to be “all powerful.” He has made sure, more than any other president, to be in the public eye as much as he possibly can just to be there. He is not a president or a leader he is an actor looking for publicity.

He has made sure, more than any other president, to be in the public eye as much as he possibly can just to be there.
Posted by: lexus | Aug 26, 2011 3:26:47 PM
Yet he won’t take questions from the press. He will only “do interviews” where the cameras can be stopped if he doesn’t like the question, or his answer.
And his faithful soldiers (MSM) goes along and gives him a pass.

The Presidency of the United States is probably the roughest job on the planet. R&R is reqired to keep him on an even keel. I don’t care if the President takes a vacation. Any president’s vacation is a working vacation anyway.
What I do care about is the recent policy not to deport illegal aliens who have not been convicted of a serious crime. Obama bypassed Congress and implimented his own immigration policy which amounts to amnesty for illegal aliens. He knew he couldn’t get an amnesty bill through Congress so he found a way around them.

dana wrote:”The costs of setting up the ‘White House South’ were MORE than for the short vacation stints of the Obamas.”
.
Really? Why is that? Set up “White House South” one time and you are good to go each time you travel down there… but then maybe you’re right cause there was all those crazy lefty Code Pinko’s that increased in numbers each time that cause security costs to increase dramatically.

well it looks like sara palin was right again, obama did cut his vacation short.

typo: “100s of thousands”

Dana,where is your source for your claim about the costs of setting up the “Texas White House”? Without proof your claim is nothing but B.S.

Wind only helps the golf game when it’s at your back. Might as well go back to DC.

Really?? Do you think the Obamas income would cover the cost of those vacations? Obama would have to sell a lot more of his books.
Do you think they are paying for the secret service or Airforce 1?
Posted by: Katherine McKeon | Aug 26, 2011 2:37:04 PM
You do know that President Obama is a millionaire, best selling author, right? He also does receive a six figure salary, right? They pay for the same thing all other Presidents have paid for. Why is it that you people try and make it seem as if President Obama is the only President to have ever taken a vacation while in the White House? In fact, why is it that you people act as if everything THIS President does is so different than any other President?

You guy Obama haters are a piece of work! You think the Republicans are God’s gift to the rich and white, while Obama is the Son of Satan. First, he gets a salary so he pays for his vacation, with possiblyn the exception of transportation. You, naturally, blame the ills of this country on him. Lest we forget it took 8 years to spend our way into this mess, now you want Obama to fix in less time? Get real. Lastly at least he’s got the guts to fly home and into the storm, or did you forget that Bush was at his ranch while Katrina ripped New Orleans to pieces? Then flew over days later. What was he afraid of those poor and underpriviliged? He has got a small army protecting him! Oh yeah you have selective memories! How convenient! Where are the Tea Party and Republicans, as a matter of fact where are all the politicians? I am sure they could use all the hands on deck to help the city. I am sure the Tea Party and the Republicans will point fingers at the current administration for not getting their AC on or bottled water to them fast enough.

realraven wrote:”And as I said, there has been no “continuation of the trend” of LOSING private sector jobs every month under Bush…the trend has been REVERSED under Obama and “those Democrats”.”
.
Is that the trend that was supposed to stop below 8% unemployment all for the measly cost of a cool $1 TRILLION stimulus dollars? That trend?

. Why is it that you people try and make it seem as if President Obama is the only President to have ever taken a vacation while in the White House?
Posted by: catmom | Aug 26, 2011 4:17:44 PM
It’s the economy stupid. HE is the one that told everyone we ALL need to tighten our belts. He and his wife are taking SEPARATE planes, hours apart. Wasting TAXPAYER money this way, especially with the shape our economy is in, is unbelievable. Either they are clueless, or they enjoy flaunting.

Dana…convenient you’ve got amnesia when it comes to the Democrat party filibustering Republican attempts to rein in Freddie and Fannie. Barney Frank? Does anything stir your memory?

Wheresmymoney, you don’t seem to understand the travel expenses budget for the President and his family. Those pilots are paid a salary for the year, not a per flight wage. They have to be vetted and ready to go at a moments notice. They aren’t paid by the hour.
Same with the planes, which are kept in extra-high maintenance schedules, whether they are used or not because of the importance of the people on them.

The only reason he’s coming back early is because he has control of the airplane. Tonight vs. tomorrow is not early. After a couple of weeks on the golf course solving all of our unemployment and economy problems, it must have been a relief to get back to the work that has kept him so busy the past 2.75 years.

Posted by: TheRealRaven | Aug 26, 2011 6:04:35 PM
SURE. It has nothing to do with Obama’s anti-business regualtions.
Politico (Boehner is addressing) reports:
This year, the administration’s current regulatory agenda identifies 219 planned new regulations that have estimated annual costs in excess of $100 million each. That’s almost a 15 percent increase over last year and appears to contradict public suggestions by the administration this week that the regulatory burden on American job creators is being scaled back,” Boehner wrote.
“I was startled to learn that the EPA estimates that at least one of its proposed rules will cost our economy as much as $90 billion per year. The administration has not disclosed how many of the other 218 planned rules will cost more than $1 billion, nor identified these rules,” he noted.
Boehner, who argues that the White House’s rhetoric about eliminating regulatory burdens is at odds with the reality of its regulatory wish list, wants the president to identify all regulations that would cause an impact on the economy of $1 billion or more.”

Posted by: TheRealRaven | Aug 26, 2011 6:04:35 PM
But wait! There’s more!
Labor Union Report:
“The National Labor Relations Board has issued a Final Rule that will require employers to notify employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act as of November 14, 2011.
Private-sector employers (including labor organizations) whose workplaces fall under the National Labor Relations Act will be required to post the employee rights notice where other workplace notices are typically posted. Also, employers who customarily post notices to employees regarding personnel rules or policies on an internet or intranet site will be required to post the Board’s notice on those sites. Copies of the notice will be available from the Agency’s regional offices, and it may also be downloaded from the NLRB website.”
OBAMA IS KILLING THE JOBS IN AMERICA.

One of the GOP frontrunners for Prez in ’12 said no national response to Hurricane Irene is necessary.
“We should be like 1900….” Paul said.
Reactionary and impractical, much?
And, Mr. Paul, I thought there was a United in the United States of America.

Ya know, I used to get mad over the ridiculous claims and accusations coming from the Limbaugh Lemmings on every issue since the President took office. It took a while but I finally figured out regardless of reality or the issue they are going to attack and hate our President because they LOST in 08’ and in their arrogance they will NEVER accept the FACT that the MAJORITY of Americans voted for President Obama. On every turn since the inauguration the GOP has delayed, obstructed and lied their way into what amounts to a three year continuation of the Failed Bush years. We still have the wars and the Bush tax cuts that have decimated our fiscal budget, Guantanamo is still open and they have blocked enforcement of protections to put an end of Wall Street greed at the expense of Main Street. If this President has failed at anything, it’s been his inability to bring to fruition the “change” platform he was elected to move the country forward with.

They aren’t “Bush Tax Cuts”. They are a temporary (extended by Obama) posponement of the “Clinton Tax Hikes”.

S posted “Dana…convenient you’ve got amnesia when it comes to the Democrat party filibustering Republican attempts to rein in Freddie and Fannie. Barney Frank? Does anything stir your memory?”
Funny but that bill was never brought to the floor for a vote. It died in committee even though the Democrats couldn’t stop it from coming out.
BTW, Freddie and Fannie did NOT cause our economic downfall. That’s just the GOP’s CYA story. It works on people who are totally IGNORANT about the MBS’s and derivatives market. I worked in the market for over 12 years, so I know better than to fall for that B.S..

Obama is a joke as president. Enough said.

Here is more of the story WITHOUT the GOP spin….”Federal agents seized materials, files and computers from the Nashville plant on allegations that a rare endangered ebony wood from Madagascar was illegally used at the factory. No charges were ever filed.”
Posted by: Faurtz | Aug 26, 2011 8:12:47 PM
NO CHARGES WERE EVER FILED. TWO guitar plants, neither union. Hmmm…. Bullying? Anti-business? You betcha.

get your head out of your sit down piece the jobs economy the way of America was going down long before Mr.Obama was though of being President,stop the hate and reach deep inside of yourselves and show a little support not just for the U.S. but for the man who is trying,too may this situation we are in better

WHERESMYMONEY posted “TWO guitar plants, neither union. Hmmm…. Bullying? Anti-business? You betcha.”
Yeah, I see it now. It’s a BIG conspiracy. There couldn’t be another, more reasonable explanation for charges not being filed; like after investigating the charges Gibson was cleared of wrong doing? Nah, must be a conspiracy because we all know Obama’s is not an American and he hates America and all its businesses.

Kimberly says that a GOP frontrunner states that a response to “Irene” is not necessary. Another lib “Fairytale.” Actually the correct statement (I actually forget the guy’s name)was that the gov should match (in dollars)) what the gov coughs up for Irene with spending cuts somewhere else. Makes sense, but I would have not worded like that – gives posters like Kimberly plenty of wiggle room to distort what as actually stated. Speaking of “Wiggle room,” because of the out of control spending by Obama – WE DON’T HAVE ANY MORE WIGGLE ROOM!!!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING? Bush was HATED, TRASHED, CALLED A TRAITOR, THREATENED TO BE PUT ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES, HATED FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN, ETC. Oh, I forgot, he was guilty of all that.

MANITU posted “ARE YOU KIDDING? Bush was HATED, TRASHED, CALLED A TRAITOR, THREATENED TO BE PUT ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES, HATED FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN, ETC. Oh, I forgot, he was guilty of all that.”
Many think he was guilty. The difference is that Bush EARNED that criticism. His administration outed a CIA operator, started a needless (and some say illegal) war to search for WMD’s that didn’t exist. Our soldiers were killed looking for those WMD’s and what did Bush do? He MOCKED their mission by showing slides of himself looking for the WMD’s under his desk. And yes, many found his “Christianity” to be in question. After all, Bush said that God told him to invade Iraq. Sorry, but I can’t picture Jesus invading a country and killing people.
You might disagree with their conclusions BUT that hatred is based on things that Bush actually did.

I’m glad the president decided to address those that may come in contact with this hurricane. As an Obama suppoter I’m really glad to see he did this. If he didn’t, it wouldn’t have been any defense for him. His opposition has cakled about his vacation the whole time. At least this time he used his microphone to let Americans know of the seriousness of this storm and that the neccessary steps that should be taken. This was a leadership position he took. I’m glad he took it

Faurtz: I admire your tact, details and generousity in describing the many double standards concerning the comparison of BHO to other Presidents. I want to go ahead and say the one thing that you were too kind to mention: RACIAL BIGOTRY ! The use of double standards is the undeniable evidence of bias. Most others can be explained even if the arguments are very weak. Double satndards make unfairness crystal clear as you explained so thoroughly. Outting one of our own intelligence agents as part of a cover-up would have been unforgivable if done by Obama. Limbaugh, Hannity, FOX and a host of coast-to-coast conservative anti-Obama pundits brainwashed the people you’re trying to reason with. Forget it! If you think you’re seeing raw hatred now, just wait until Obama’s re-election. We may see an escalation into violence just as during the civil rights movement in the ’60s. Hatred is evil. Evil will justify anything when desparate. When they discover that lies won’t beat Obama, they will resort to barbaric methods just to make themselves feel better. Obama’s 2008 election is something that bigots will never try to accept. Coded and veiled hate speech from talk shows 24/7 are keeping the ill will fueled. There are rough days ahead as the struggle for justice and equality continues in the 21st century. Mark my words.

MANITU posted “FAURTZ – WMD? Don’t you follow the news? Saddam, just before execution confessed that he planted that story to keep Iran from attacking….. I think that you outdid yourself on that one. Source – GOD?”
From guardian.co.uk “One of the delegates, Nabil Shaath, who was Palestinian foreign minister at the time, said: “President Bush said to all of us: ‘I am driven with a mission from God’. God would tell me, ‘George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan’. And I did. And then God would tell me ‘George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq’. And I did.” Mr Bush went on: “And now, again, I feel God’s words coming to me, ‘Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East’. And, by God, I’m gonna do it.” ”
Training camps for Al Qaida? Here’s a quote for you : “An Israeli specialist on terrorism cites an Italian press article that Hijazi met bin Ladin in Sudan as early as 1994. European security officials claimed in March 2001, however, that Saddam personally decided against allowing Usama bin Ladin and al-Qaida to use Iraq as a base because he feared they might destabilize his regime…..Two defectors, one of whom claimed to be a senior mukhabarat officer, alleged they had worked at an Iraqi camp south of Baghdad called Salman Pak, where Islamist terrorists had been trained since 1995. The training included, in particular, hijacking techniques useful in seizing aircraft like the American-made Boeing model in use there. How did the defectors know these were Islamists? The defectors said the men prayed and had beards, obviously marking them as Islamists in Saddam’s secular Iraq. The information on the Islamists was provided by the Iraqi National Congress (INC) and was not confirmed by other sources. The existence of a terrorist training camp at Salman Pak has been long known, but the aircraft used for training was an old Soviet Antonov and not a Boeing 707, as the INC sources claimed.” (Source – National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States)
Iraq got nuke material from N. Korea? Google it, no where to be found.
The rest of the lead up to the war….at the time many (including me) thought Bush was trying to find a reason for invading Iraq. Bottom line is that even if Saddam had WMD’s, he did not pose an immediate threat to the United States and therefore we should NOT have gone in.
Now you tell me; what do YOU think of Bush mocking the mission he sent our military into Iraq for resulting in thousands of deaths?

Posted by: Manitu | Aug 26, 2011 11:55:32 PM
I don’t think you understand how real, hard military intelligence is gathered and let me tell you major decisions are not based upon what somebody ‘pretends’. Intelligence officers’ anaylsis is about twenty steps beyond where you’re at. Now if information is cherry picked and stove-piped by a neo-con administration hell bent on attacking Iraq (“make this about Iraq” is one of the first things people within the administration said immediately after 9/11) then everything changes.

A quote from the Palestinian Foreign Minister – now that is a “very reliable source!!” By the way, plenty of stories on-line re Saddam confessing to planting WMD stories.

MANITU posted “A quote from the Palestinian Foreign Minister – now that is a “very reliable source!!” By the way, plenty of stories on-line re Saddam confessing to planting WMD stories.”
Okay second source “He told Bob Woodward – whose 2004 book, Plan of Attack, is the definitive account of the administration’s road to war in Iraq – that after giving the order to invade in March 2003, he walked in the White House garden, praying “that our troops be safe, be protected by the Almighty”. As he went into this critical period, he told Mr Woodward, “I was praying for strength to do the Lord’s will.
“I’m surely not going to justify war based upon God. Understand that. Nevertheless, in my case, I pray that I will be as good a messenger of His will as possible. And then of course, I pray for forgiveness.”
Another telling sign of Mr Bush’s religion was his answer to Mr Woodward’s question on whether he had asked his father – the former president who refused to launch a full-scale invasion of Iraq after driving Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991 – for advice on what to do.
The current President replied that his earthly father was “the wrong father to appeal to for advice … there is a higher father that I appeal to”. ”
How many more do you need.
As for Saddam…are you trying to say that we invaded Iraq based upon what Saddam said? That is such a flimsy reason to go to war. BTW, you do know that in his biography G.W.Bush admitted that even he didn’t think the evidence was strong enough to invade. But Cheney talked him into it.

“You might disagree with their conclusions BUT that hatred is based on things that Bush actually did.” – Faurtz
Well I don’t hate NoBo but I do trash him for things he has done like take a year to help pass a horrible unconstitutional health care bill. Also his increasing the size of the federal government during these tough economic times is irresponsible and foolish.

NOZ posted “Well I don’t hate NoBo but I do trash him for things he has done like take a year to help pass a horrible unconstitutional health care bill. Also his increasing the size of the federal government during these tough economic times is irresponsible and foolish.”
And I have NO complaints about that. You are TRUTHFULLY commenting on the things Obama did. Your reasons are real.

TOM BARNOW posted “FAURTZ – It appears that you have an axe to grind re religion….. Air America went off the air primarily because the inability to rationally discuss issues without trashing – pretty much what I am saying here….”
I have no ax to grind. I simply pointed out that Bush believes that God told him to invade Iraq. I’m sure you are away of the sayings of Jesus. His “believe” that God told him to invade and kill thousands goes against all of Christ’s teaching and therefore is false.
Air America got killed because Reagan deregulated the ownership rules of radio stations allow 90% of all talk radio stations to be owned by 5-6 companies/people. They turned talk radio into a right winged propaganda machine. What I can’t understand is why Conservatives don’t cry out about how wrong this is. I admit I lean left BUT if talk radio were 90%+ liberal I would by SCREAMING for reform because I truly believe that posting different points of view is healthy for this country. So why don’t the conservative feel the same way??????

Posted by: Noz | Aug 27, 2011 1:36:34 AM
You appear to have totally missed my question.
Tom was saying “The bigger the government grows, the smaller the individual becomes,” a concept that the liberal community either does not understand or believe.”
And I asked him . . . what part of the fact Rick Perry’s ‘Texas miracle’ was based on government money, government programs and government jobs don’t you understand? Much of it stimulus money.
So you support more government when it’s Rick Perry, but not when it’s President Obama then? Have you examined yourself for any bias Tom? Or consistency of thinking patterns?

Texas accepted stimulus money, true. BUT RICK PERRY MADE THE MOST OF IT!!
Posted by: Tom Barnow | Aug 27, 2011 1:55:34 AM
So success based on more government money, more government jobs and more government programs is fine with you.

Texas accepted stimulus money, true. BUT RICK PERRY MADE THE MOST OF IT!!
Posted by: Tom Barnow | Aug 27, 2011 1:55:34 AM
Yes, Perry built his increased jobs and balanced budget on government money, government jobs and government programs.
I thought you said more government made people smaller – which would mean Perry is making people smaller.
But that would be if you were being consistent, instead of biased.

What is Obama doing? He has no idea WHAT to do.
Posted by: Tom Barnow | Aug 27, 2011 2:17:07 AM
Are you kidding? Obama put in place the stimulus money that allowed Perry to balance his books.
And you’re still ignoring the hypocrisy and contraction. Perry’s “Texas miracle” – the increased jobs, the balanced books was based government money and government jobs.
You said the larger government gets the smaller the individual gets.
So that is exactly what Perry did.
Either stick to your guns or admit you’re contradicting yourself because of bias.

Actually, Perry DECREASED the size and cost of state government. He and team went dept by dept and either cut or eliminated unneeded or unworkable programs. I guess your left-wing propaganda machine didn’t report that? Easy to verify.

tom barnow, Perry is stealing jobs from other states by passing business friendly/ worker unfriendly regulations. It isn’t any accident that Texas has one of the highest uninsured rates for its workers, as well as one of the highest levels of minimum wage workers in our country.
A real job creator would be bringing jobs back from overseas, not robbing them from neighboring states.

Obama is forcing businesses overseas with the MOUNTAINS OF REGULATIONS his administration is slapping them with. You know what would bring them back? Cut corp tax rate down to 25 percent, eliminate capital gains tax and get real serious about getting rid of Obamacare!

Obama is forcing businesses overseas with the MOUNTAINS OF REGULATIONS his administration is slapping them with.
Posted by: Temagami | Aug 27, 2011 2:47:44 AM
Nonsense. The largest bulk of the jobs and companies went overseas during the Bush administration.

I told Obama what to do. He won’t, but Rick Perry WILL. So.. what do you think Obama should do to attract more business? Might save his bob!

A key factor behind this runaway international growth is the rise of the middle class in these emerging countries. By 2015, for the first time, the number of consumers in Asia’s middle class will equal those in Europe and North America combined.
“All of the growth over the next 10 years is happening in Asia,” says Homi Kharas, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and formerly the World Bank’s chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific.

All I hear from libs on this site is trashing Reps. Never any rational dialog on what can be done to increase business/jobs – THAT WILL WORK. Ie. cut corp tax rate down to 25 percent, eliminate the capital gains tax and cut some of the stranglehold regulations on business. Since you don’t respond to that information except to say that it will ONLY mean more money for the rich, I assume you don’t know much about economics. Figures, Obama doesn’t either.

Posted by: Manitu | Aug 26, 2011 10:29:59 PM
Hey Manitu, fairy tale??? google “Ron Paul: NO FEMA response necessary” and/or Ron Paul: we should be like 1900″ and/or Ron Paul: abolish FEMA… and then since you don’t know who Ron Paul is, look up how he did in the straw polls in IA and NH. He’s one of four frontrunners in the GOP presidential race– the frontrunners, since you don’t seem to know, are Perry, Romney, Paul and Bachmann.
Perry’s likely leading a prayer service somewhere or saying something like “Hurricane Irene? Well, it’s a theory that’s out there, I hear.”

Temagami, let’s be honest. Texas has a long record of relatively low taxes and relatively light regulation – BUT Perry didn’t create either; he inherited both from predecessors and we’ve seen how electing at least one predecessor did very little to improve how we fared long term economically and elsewise. The majority of Americans aren’t fooled by the Republican spin on what happened to our economy. They blame Bush more than Obama and Republicans in Congress more than Democrats. Personally, I’ve never been convinced that any one president of the United States alone can do a whole lot to turn around the economy. What I have noted is that a president can move this country either forward or backward on issues such as civil rights, human rights, science.
The so-called ‘Texas Miracle’ and Perry’s claim to know a thing or two about job creation will undergo a lot of scrutiny– as it should. Texas has enjoyed demographic quirks and protection from an oil and gas boom which meant it entered recession later than other states. Many of the jobs Perry claims to have created were government jobs or minimum wage/subminimum wage jobs. He doesn’t go beyond lightweight talking points in discussions of how he’d create jobs for the country. On top of that, he’s rather well known for cronyism and huge pompous displays of public prayer.

Perry is stealing jobs from other states by passing business friendly/ worker unfriendly regulations. It isn’t any accident that Texas has one of the highest uninsured rates for its workers, as well as one of the highest levels of minimum wage workers in our country.
A real job creator would be bringing jobs back from overseas, not robbing them from neighboring states.
Posted by: Lydia | Aug 27, 2011 2:33:32 AM
Well said. Texas has the most uninsureds of any state in the U.S. and studies have shown those who lack insurance coverage typically are sicker and die sooner than their insured counterparts. They’re also more in danger of medical bankrupcy.
What’s interesting is Texas has the most uninsureds, Massachusetts has the fewest, but Mitt Romney has sold his soul to a certain degree on the issue of universal health care.

A real job creator would be bringing jobs back from overseas, not robbing them from neighboring states.
=========
If neighboring states have unfriendly business environments, they can easily go overseas. Choosing Texas is a much better alternative for our country.
Also, Perry did bring in business from overseas. I know there was a story a few weeks ago that the US government had “security concerns” about one of them. It was never reported whether or not the US Govt had shared those concerns with Perry, or if the US Government thought they could handle the problem.

“Ron Paul: ‘Government Should Not ‘Take Care Of Us When We Do Dumb Things’”
Sounds right.
I’m in favor of that.
– NOZ
Perry’s actions at the time were in direct contradiction/conflict with Paul’s prescriptions. So, who was right, Paul or Perry?

if Rick Perry was President the Game would be different and there wouldn’t have been an Obama type Waste-o-Money Stimulus and our Debt would be less.
Posted by: Noz | Aug 27, 2011 1:13:06 PM
Really? How do you know? Texas has a long record of relatively low taxes and relatively light regulation – BUT Perry didn’t create either; he inherited both from predecessors and we’ve seen how electing at least one predecessor did very little to improve how we fared long term economically and elsewise. The majority of Americans aren’t fooled by the Republican spin on what happened to our economy. They blame Bush more than Obama and Republicans in Congress more than Democrats. Personally, I’ve never been convinced that any one president of the United States alone can do a whole lot to turn around the economy. What I have noted is that a president can move this country either forward or backward on issues such as civil rights, human rights, science.
The so-called ‘Texas Miracle’ and Perry’s claim to know a thing or two about job creation will undergo a lot of scrutiny– as it should. Texas has enjoyed demographic quirks and protection from an oil and gas boom which meant it entered recession later than other states. Many of the jobs Perry claims to have created were government jobs or minimum wage/subminimum wage jobs. He doesn’t go beyond lightweight talking points in discussions of how he’d create jobs for the country. On top of that, he’s rather well known for cronyism and huge pompous displays of public prayer.

Kimberly – lets cut through the bull. What EXACTLY would you do to jump start the economy? Right now predictions are for poor economy bad for at least the NEXT THREE YEARS (assuming Obama stays in Office). I have posted that question all night on this blog. NOBODY HAS ANSWERED FROM YOUR SIDE. That is understandable because Obama can’t either. All he can do is to trow out more money in hopes that the economy will improve. Better education, better technology is great, but this will not happen tomorrow or next year. – at best. We need an economic jump start. Obama seems not have the ability to do that. That is clear or he would have done that. Let me help. Cut corp taxes down to 25 percent, eliminate capital gain taxes (do you actually know what capital gains are and demographics who actually receive them), tort reform as Perry has done in Texas, trashing Obmacare (courts will probably do that)and getting rid of the thousands of pages of stranglehold regulations on on business. Obama follows those suggestions and HE will be credited for one of our best economic boom times in our history. If Obama does NOT do that, Perry or Romney will. Now is Obama’s chance to be a national hero – IS THAT NOT WHAT LIBS AND DEMS WANT???

Bottom line is that Laffer Curve economics beats the heck out of Keynesian economics anytime in our history or international economic history. Clue? Keynesian economics is what Greece and other broken economies are trying to recover from – that DOES include the US. Sad that almost all libs and dems have NO knowledge of what the heck I am talking about. That’s why MOST of these lib posts are not rational.

Laffer Curve economics beats the heck out of Keynesian economics
+++++++++++++++++++++
These two concepts are not diametrically opposed. If anything the Laffer curve should debunk right-wing claims that lowering tax rates always generates more revenue, which the Laffer Curve demonstrates is absurd since at 0% tax rate no revenue is generated.

Keynesian economics is what Greece and other broken economies are trying to recover from
++++++++++++++++++
Keynesian economics says we should increase spending during an economic downturn to increase demand and lower unemployment. Just the opposite, austerity, is being imposed in Europe, and it is just crushing growth and investment, dimming any hopes for a timely economic recovery. All effort should be made to stop the Republicans from bringing the same disaster to the United States.

Austerity in Europe? Not enough private sector money to support the entitlement based countries. The US is already at the same point except we have had no riots yet. In other words, Socialism (AKA Keynesian economics)can work for a while until it runs out of other people’s money. Exactly what has happened over there and now – over here.

(now turning away form Keynesian)
++++++++++++++++
Yes and to their extreme detriment. Did you hear what Germany’s growth was last quarter? No wonder global investors are nervous.

Jarrett – like it or not, capitalism together with a heavy dose of Judeo/Christian ethics built this country and built it well. That is the primary reason that we have been the most prosperous and generous country the world has ever known. Both (via libs) are under attack – hope that we can survive it. It was a fantastic experiment. Would be very sorry to see it end. One thing for sure – Libs stay in office and you can forget about SS and Medicare in the future – there won’t be any. Atlas Shrugged coming to life!! Ironic as the libs are supposed to be for the little guy.

Perry “Success” involving much more than Obama’s stimulus money. Texas/Perry has been moving forward economically for “Decades.” Why? No state tax, no city tax, right to work state, tort reform, lower capital gains tax, fewer business regulations. Private companies are moving there in droves. You don’t see them coming to OH where I live, or IL or MI – you get the idea. Success breeds success. Texas has it, most other states do not.

Allen. Something doesn’t add up. If Perry used almost all the stimulus money to fix the budget then where did he get the money to hire all those “Hundreds of thousands” of public sector workers you libs claim he hired? Doesn’t matter. Any way you add it up – Texas has it most other have states have blown it – with many businesses from those states going where? Texas. What we apparently have here is a classic case of success breeds success and B..S…. well you get the idea. The ONLY reason libs are trashing Perry/Texas is fear and I don’t blame them.

Kimberly – lets cut through the bull. What EXACTLY would you do to jump start the economy? … NOBODY HAS ANSWERED FROM YOUR SIDE….. If Obama does NOT do that, Perry or Romney will.
Posted by: Temagami | Aug 27, 2011 2:11:41 PM
We’ll take your last point first. Based on record, interviews and sound bites alone, no one one knows what Perry or Romney will do. If either win, you all will accuse them of being dems or liberals as you rebrand again– who knows what you will call yourself then. I’d prefer we dump the current parties and start new ones, particularly the GOP which has jumped the shark, imho. They have no intellectuals left.But back to Perry and Romney– Both have flip flopped around— Perry has been a hypocrite on the stimulus as others have pointed out. Perry’s changed parties to curry favor with neocons (both neoconservatives and neoconfederates) and get elected. Perry is backing off his own book/manifesto more and more minute by minute. He doesn’t answer questions in depth. He pops popovers to avoid discussing serious questions. As for his alleged success: Texas has a long record of relatively low taxes and relatively light regulation – BUT Perry didn’t create either; he inherited both from predecessors and we’ve seen how electing at least one predecessor did very little to improve how we fared long term economically and elsewise.
I think Romney is a much more successful person. But lordy, does he does wishy washy and he’s dull, like Gore was dull. If he wasn’t dull and establishment, he would have won the primary the last time around. It has gotten to the point that Romney’s convictions seem to be swirling around in a tornado, blown here and there by the wind. It’s very hard to locate them, let alone pin them down or count on them.
So that’s number one.
Second, what do you assume “my side” to be? I’m not a “lib”, not always democrat though often, and democrats haven’t become a cult that recites groupthink trash dictated to them. There’s a wide range of thought on every issue among democrats. You can’t just recite talking points and be speaking for the democrats. Personally I think I’m a moderate independent on fiscal issues, pro-business, but more small business and yet I lean center to hard left on social issues that involves rights/freedom, like gay marriage, women’s reproductive rights, banning books. I want the separation between gov’t and religion to stand. I believe in tolerance and that immigrants have made our country great. I couldn’t stand Dubya or McCain and I don’t see a candidate I can back among the GOP field with the exception of Huntsman who wingbats call a Democrat because … well, because they’re morons and everything they’ve said about fiscal conservatism is a lie. It’s all about cultural issues, religion and memorized ideology and has nothing to do with business or job creation. As Manitu | Aug 27, 2011 4:20:11 PM suggests, many successful people are either democrats or independents. Not right wing demogogues or ideology reciting parrots.
Third, I would vote out the current congress and vote in practical, intelligent people. That’s number one. Their deadlock and hyperpartisanship is creating uncertainty and many of them have no clue what they’re talking about. I can’t stand the tea partiers. I wish we could recall them all and revote.CBO’s updated economic outlook
projects that the 2011 deficit will be lower than the last two years’ deficits, but still near record highs. It forecasts a slow but steady economic recovery over the next six years BUT clarifies that the country’s medium-term fiscal imbalances are manageable ONLY IF lawmakers don’t screw things up. Also, it doesn’t account for the recent swings in financial markets or anything that has occurred since mid-July.
The economy needs further short-term stimulus combined with credible longer-term fiscal restraint– neither thing is in the current GOP’s DNA.

Texas has a warm climate, lots of natural resources including most importantly energy, and a growing population. That would be difficult for any other state to compete with on its own. But the real lesson from the Texas success story is they did it by spending, not austerity.

The ONLY reason libs are trashing Perry/Texas is fear and I don’t blame them
+++++++++++++++++++++
Well that explains why so many right-wingers have made a full-time occupation out of trashing the President.

with many businesses from those states going where? Texas
++++++++++++++++=
Sounds nice but how can that ‘advantage’, which includes low wages and benefits[Texas has as high a rate of uninsured as any state in the country] be applied to the nation as a whole? Oh right…here comes the part where American workers are supposed to accept wages and living standards more in line with the Chinese.

Skip Are you aware of the high tech businesses moving or have moved to the Austin area I have visited there a number of times from OH in recent years and the area is booming. New shopping centers. Upscale homes. Great wineries and lots of culture. Much of the tech businesses are from CA where they are apparently are no longer welcome. Doesn’t sound like minimum wage country to me.

The real reason that obama left Martha’s Vineyard early is because he is a fraidy cat. He does not want to experience any discomfort is his royal existence.
If he really cared about us pions, he would have stayed there and rode out the storm with the citizens there, as a show of commitment to them. He isn’t doing anything else for us anyway.

Shame he didn’t stay on Martha’s Vineyard! Maybe we could’ve gotten rid of him and his pathetic excuse of a woman wife in one wave! He has the audacity to continue to take vacations (at the taxpayer’s expense) when there are thousands and thousands of us taxpayers that do not have jobs to pay our bils, much less go on a vacation. Makes my blood boil!

Best thing obama could do to help business and in general the enconomy would be to resign today and things would start getting better tomorrow.