Fighters Intercept Drug-Carrying Cessna Near Air Force One

“He (Barry Obama) is attending three fundraisers in the city before heading to Seattle, Wash., on Friday.” – ABC News

What! Only three fundraisers?

Slacker.

“The jets intercepted the general aviation plane – a Cessna 82…” They should have escorted it back to Wichita ’cause Cessna would probably like a chance to look at this plane that they never made. Come on reporter, at least check out the facts before you sensationalize a non-event! Oh, I forgot, using the words “facts” and “reporter” on the same sentence is something akin to an oxymoron, right?

You can bet we tax payers are paying the bill for Obama’s trip to California to raise funds for his re-election. People have no idea how expensive it is to maintain and fly TWO (yes TWO) B-747′s. There are two Air Force One planes. The second one always goes with the first one in case it breaks down. These ‘boon doggle’ trips have always been paid for by the tax payers BUT should not be. The President’s party should be paying the cost for these trips but they are so expensive, most of the money raised would go to pay for the trip and not leave much left for his poor re-election. So better that we tax payers foot the bill they reason. This is how out of touch our representatives are with us including the President.

Even if they DID make a mistake and call it a Cessna 82 instead of a 182 (which they did) I would have known what they meant. On a more important note, the pilot obviously violated what is called a TFR or temporatry flight restiction. On that alone he would be fined or face a suspension if he didn’t have a good excuse (I didn’t know won’t hack it), he could have his licensed revoked. But 40 lbs of marjiuana……yeah, he’s in a heep of trouble.

Obama is a man on a mission to restore America’s economic, political, and military power. The GOP candidates need to concede four more years to the president.

NoFlyZone2; LOL! No he’s not. He’s on a mission to get re-elected.

“Obama is a man on a mission to restore America’s economic, political, and military power.”

I think “decimate” would be more appropriate.

Right, like Bush didnt do this while at the end of his first term— come on, get it together and recognize the obvious hypocrisy.. you are all clearly Drudge Report redirects.

“Obama is a man on a mission to restore America’s economic, political, and military power.”

I think “decimate” would be more appropriate.

Posted by: Logicsgood5 | February 16, 2012, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm

Over 3.7 million jobs have been added since Obama’s policies hit full stride.
Oil production in the country is up.
Green energy production in the country is up.
GM is back at the #1 car company in the world!
Third shifts are being added at automotive plants.
Corporate profits are at record levels
Bin Laden is dead.
Kaddafhi is gone.
Many, many al Qaeda leaders are gone.
Nuclear inspectors are back in Iran.
The stock market has gone up hugely since Obama’s policies began to kick in.
Benefit for military families and veterans have greatly improved
and more . . .

This is a top of the line administration.

Had Bush or any Republican accomplished all of this in 3 years, the right wingers would be creaming their jeans and calling him one of the greatest presidents of all time. Trouble is – it isn’t Bush – it’s Obama – and right wingers are biased hypocrites.

The “worst luck in the world award” goes to this pilot!

Oh NO, they intercepted the Prezzies stash.

What, …looks like it was the in-flight ‘reeferueling’ for AF1 to me.
no time to score on the ground with all those stops

Democrats campaigned and won a majority in Congress and the Presidency (2006-2008) by telling the Americans 4.8% unemployment was unacceptable, $1.75 per gallon gasoline was making Bush’s oil buddies richer, and a $4 trillion debt increase in 8 years was unaceptable. Now they tell us that 8.6% unemployment is the new normal, $4.00 per gallon gasoline is good for the economy, and $6 trillion debt increase in 4 years is not enough. Amazing!

billions given (taxpayer money) as political payback

Posted by: Logicsgood5 | February 16, 2012, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm

And quit telling the outright lies – if anything like this had taken place the Republican politicians would have been all over it. They haven’t been – because it didn’t happen.

It was 0bama’s refueling plane!

Being president is tough, so a little blow now and then helps.

Crud. We have enough fringe left wingers in Seattle without another visitation. Out of respect for the office, I will refrain from further commentary on the issue.

As I recall, Barak would not rest until the economy and jobs recovered. Not rest. Not rest.

Funny how you liberals try to blame the GOP on your OWN idiotic FAILED policies.

Posted by: Ralph | February 16, 2012, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm

Think again, or at least do some honest research . . they were put in place by Republicans.

1) Bush homeownership plan aims at $5.5 million lift for minorities (2003)

President Bush announced an Administration effort to increase home ownership rates among African Americans and Hispanics by 5.5 million by 2010.

The plan would provide down payment assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . . .
Bush’s plan would be closely tied to some $440 million in minority loan programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Bush commended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s efforts . . .

2) 2004: Under President Bush, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announces that it will require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, also known as the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) “to increase their purchase of mortgages for low- and moderate-income families and underserved communities.” In order to meet these new requirements, the GSEs begin purchasing mortgage-backed securities made up of subprime loans.

All the Democrats fault apparently – majority Republican congress and Republican presidency.

Anybody guess it was a DELIVERY to POTUS???

is president obama doing something that none of the previous presidents have not done before

Posted by: guy | February 16, 2012, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm

The dense, hypocritical Republicans only notice it when its a Democratic president.

Fundraisers — June 2003 President Bush

June 17 Washington Hilton Hotel Washington, DC $3.5 million
June 20 Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation Greensboro, GA $2.5 million
June 23 Sheraton New York Hotel New York, NY $4 million
June 27 San Francisco Airport Marriott San Francisco, CA $1.6 million
June 27 Century Plaza Hotel Los Angeles, CA $3.5 million
June 30 Miami Airport Hilton Miami, FL $1.8 million
June 30 Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Tampa, FL $1.2 million

You’re comparing June with February??? There is not an opponent yet! Obama has NEVER stopped campaigning except to play golf or go on vacation. It’s really not near comparable.

@ Dan (who wants to crow about a supposed gain of 243,000 jobs last month) —

1.2 MILLION people DROPPED OUT of the workforce last month, giving up hope under Obama. (And we’ll have to remind them and the other 23 Million unemployed or underemployed Americans how well the stock market is doing, that Kadaffhi is dead, and green energy is cool (well maybe not that Solyndra thing that’s not getting investigated…)

The policy of Give Everyone a Mortgage Regardless of Their Financial Qualifications, or We’ll Sue you for Discrimination has “Democrat” written all over it…

If a $9 TRILLION National Debt is “Unpatriotic”, what is a $16 TRILLION Natioanl Debt??

“All the Democrats fault apparently – majority Republican congress and Republican presidency.” ————— The Republicans should have pushed much harder to tighten lending regulations and overcome the oppositon from the Democratically-controlled Senate Banking Committee. Frank and company won’t have it. Barney even tells taxpayers Fredddie and Fannie are “sound”!! Barney and Chris skate. Taxpayers are left with the bill…..

Dan – I actually supported the Bush home ownership plan which helped minorities to own their own home. A key provision in the plan was that the houses were to be lower cost houses which would be AFFORDABLE. The oversight was AWOL in the Senate Banking Committee. (Which was headed by folks who thought that EVERYONE deserves a home, and that is simply not true.)

what is a $16 TRILLION Natioanl Debt??

Posted by: Logicsgood5 | February 16, 2012, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm

A $16 trillion national debt is what happens when you’re handed a $10.9 trillion national debt along with a major economic collapse, two unpaid for major wars, etc. Duh!

I actually supported the Bush home ownership plan which helped minorities to own their own home.

Posted by: Logicsgood5 | February 16, 2012, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm

You supported the Bush Republican bill which used taxpayers’ money to pay down payments on real estate for people who weren’t even in a strong enough financial position to afford a down payment? And how did that work out for you?

U.S. Debt to China in January 2001 (when Clinton left office and Bush took office) = $61 billion
U.S. Debt to China in January 2009 (when Bush left office and Obama took office) = $740 billion

Percent Increase in the U.S. Debt to China after 8 years of a Republican in office = 1113%

Such a good, responsible Republican standard to set . .. and then to leave a crashing economy on top of this.

“A $16 trillion national debt is what happens when you’re handed a $10.9 trillion national debt…”

Obama Fiscal Logic aka 2013 Budget (Each figure minus 8 zeros – in single family terms)

Annual Income – $24,700
Annual Spending – $37,900
New Credit Card Debt – $13,300
Existing Credit Card Balance – $153,300
Recent Belt-Tightening – $385

“I refuse to leave our children with a debt they cannot repay. We cannot and will not sustain deficits like these without end. … We cannot simply spend as we please.” — President Obama 2009

DUH

“You supported the Bush Republican bill which used taxpayers’ money to pay down payments on real estate for people who weren’t even in a strong enough financial position to afford a down payment? And how did that work out for you?” ————- Uh Dan, that would be Barney who wanted to “roll the dice” with people on shakey financial footing. Stupid, and almost criminal – like the $550 Million given to Solyndra by your hero Barry.

darn Obama missed his connection..

Drag this treasonous piece of crap from Air Force One, the Oval Office, where ever with a tractor and hang his sorry communist ass. If you’re stupid enough to have voted for him once and can’t figure out that this buffon is trashing the nations economy INTENTIONALLY then please, oh please, go jump off a very steep cliff.

1.2 MILLION people DROPPED OUT of the workforce last month, giving up hope under Obama.

Posted by: Logicsgood5 | February 16, 2012, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm

And really, these types of lies just make you look foolish – and cheapen the whole political discussion

As the report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (February 3, 2012) details, the total number of people who dropped out of the workforce because of discouragement is unchanged from a year ago.

“. . . there were 1.1 million discouraged workers in January, LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM A YEAR EARLIER.”

Posted by: Dan | February 16, 2012, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm

Posted by: Logicsgood5 | February 16, 2012, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm

Wrong again. It was the Bush (and a majority Republican Congress) bill that provided TAXPAYERS’ MONEY AS DOWN PAYMENTS for people.

Bush homeownership plan aims at $5.5 million lift for minorities (2003). “The plan would provide down payment assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . . .”

You should try some logic and research mixed in with your accusations.

So if spending money on drug plans [social programs]-that were not paid for,no child left behind-that was not paid for, why is it acceptable now to do things now-without paying for them?

Doesn’t have anything to do with politics does it ? Or is the excuse, “things were so bad we had to do something!. I agree that war did cost us but probably less than you think in money[ lives is another story] simply because the stuff used to fight is made here-at least most of it and from what I hear the Iraqi’s are buying new planes from Boeing. I know you’ll have a prepared DNC talk point but answer in your own words.

Obama claiming how Wonderful GM is. Look people let me have you pay off all of my debts and then it won’t take me two years to make a huge profit. Yours and my taxes is what made this profit for GM. That’s all.

So if spending money on drug plans [social programs]-that were not paid for,no child left behind-that was not paid for, why is it acceptable now to do things now-without paying for them?

Posted by: david | February 16, 2012, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm

Don’t kid yourself, we’re still trying to pay for them – and the wars – and we will be for years and years. And we’re still paying for the huge drop in revenues due to the economic collapse, and the huge strain on assistance programs due to the economic collapse, and paying for the over trillion dollars in lost revenues (borrowed money from China) from the failed Bush tax cuts, etc.

No! We shouldn’t be doing those things without paying for them – but we were left with very little choice. It was already done. The mess was there and getting worse and the economy was an absolute disaster!

The task now is to keep the economy on a steady, measured economic climb (that benefits the most people – not just the super wealthy) and begin to slowly lower the deficit.

They were just trying to make a delivery to BO and his minions.

Bush homeownership plan aims at $5.5 million lift for minorities (2003). “The plan would provide down payment assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . . .”” – Dan

$5.5 Million? You’re complaining about $5.5 Million going to help 40,000 home buyers?? Good grief. $137.50 per family. Unmitigated waste.

But I know Dan – Someone could have really used that money to go on another vacation…

Seriously, arguing about which party is worse for America is like arguing about which type of gunshot wound to the head have a bigger negative impact on one’s health. Yes, some of them are worse than others, but none of them are actually good for you.

It doesn’t matter which elite rich man’s club they join, these guys are NOT working with our best interests in mind.

Posted by: Logicsgood5 | February 16, 2012, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm

Here’s what it was when Bush signed it into law . .. again, some good research on your part would expand what you know . . .

“The American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) was signed into law on December 16, 2003. The American Dream Downpayment Assistance Act authorized up to $200 million annually. Funds were appropriated for fiscal years 2004-2008.”

Jut some more “family oriented” illegal aliens trying to earn a decent living waiting on obama to legalize them, so they can vote for him. They were just trying to thank him, is all, geeez!

“the Republicans seem to be far better at wasting large amounts of money and human life on wars.” – Sal

Seems so?
Gee the last really big waste of American lives and money was the Demo war Vietnam.
and Barry ramped up that loser of a war Vietnamistan the Sequel™ and the last time I checked he was a Demo.

Just one dumb bad luck pilot.

“It doesn’t matter which elite rich man’s club they join, these guys are NOT working with our best interests in mind.” – AmericaThePitiful

Great point and considering that,
Obama = Bush on Steroids and
Romney = Obama Lite and
Gingrich = ? ? ? ?
maybe we should go with someone out of the norm like Paul or Santorum

You people are all crazy. Everyone who blames Bush is absolutely right. Everyone who blames Obama is absolutely right. Face it: BOTH PARTIES ARE WORKING HARD TO DESTROY OUR NATION AND OUR CONSTITUTION. It is simply a false paradigm in the left versus right issue. It is merely an illusion of choice. It is two sides of the same coin. Democrats will spend! Republicans will spend! The only difference is whether they spend your children’s and grand-children’s money on programs you support or not.

Obama should order the release of the pilot of this plane. He promised to legalize marijuana, didn’t he? Thats why I voted for him!

No President is entirely responsible for the economy they preside over. But the reason Obama is the worst President ever is his disdain for the Constitution, his hatred for most Americans, and his complete incompetence to do the job. No human being is ready to be president. They must learn to be President. the great ones rise to the occasion and with God’s help do great things. The poor ones let their egos control them and they fail miserably. Carter I believe learned he couldn’t do the job. Clinton got out of the way and let the country grow. But Obama still believes in his radical Alinsky, Bill Ayres indoctrination and can’t admit he’s failing.

Can you imagine the pilot of the cessna (with 2o pounds of grass) looking out of his cockpit and seeing 2 very serious interceptors, Bet he needed a new set of shorts

Posted by: whathappened08 | February 16, 2012, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm

It would be a good post if it wasn’t so wrong . …

The CBO now says REAL unemployment is closer to 15% – there have always been different ways of calculating the unemployment rate; by the standard method, unemployment is at 8.3%. Using the other method you’re mentioning, all unemployment rates quoted over the past decade would have been higher, including under Bush. The standard method of calculating unemployment puts it at 8.3%.

Now they tell them 9% unemployment is the new normal – no they don’t, unemployment is at 8.3%

$4.00 per gallon gasoline is good for the economy – who said that? answer: nobody. Gas hit $4.12 per gallon under Bush in 2008 – Obama has kept it lower than that for basically 4 years.

$6 trillion debt increase in 4 years is not enough – the debt under Obama has not gone up $6 trillion and nobody said it’s not enough. And yes, it will go up more regardless who is in power. Bush doubled the national debt. Reagan TRIPLED the national debt.

the liberals are now saying the new “American Dream” is renting instead of owning your own home – nonsense

Obama has a net job LOSS of 2.2 million jobs – using January 2009 as a begin date to blame lost jobs on Obama is just plain stupid. Bush handed Obama a country in free-fall economic collapse. Close to a 3/4 million jobs being lost every month by the time Obama was inaugurated. You expected him to stop this on a dime? The momentum from the Bush collapse was just peaking as Obama took office and it continued for almost 6 months. It then started to reverse as Obama’s policies began to kick in. Those first months of millions of lost jobs have nothing to do with Obama’s policies – nothing.

He has deficit spent more in three years than Bush did in all eight of his – this is false. And besides, over $1.25 TRILLION of the current debt ‘attributed’ to Obama resulted from interest on the debt George W. Bush left. That’s just the interest on the debt Bush left, never mind the war commitments, the destroyed revenues due to the economic collapse on his watch, the unpaid for seniors drug plan, the huge deficits from his tax cuts, and on and on.

GM has NOT paid back the taxpayers because they “paid back” their loan with TARP funds – wouldn’t it be nice if the right wingers could decide whether they’re going to claim Bush as the ‘saviour’ of GM or part of the great evil that funded them. Regardless, a major American employer was saved through the combined efforts of the Bush and Obama administrations.

Not only that, but shareholders were dumped on, their investments worthless, and power was given to the unions – again, misleading. What do you think happens when a company goes bankrupt and has to restructure? People lose. The unions along with the governments of Canada and the U.S. are the people who bailed out and saved GM. Union workers took CUTS in their negotiated salaries, especially for new employees.

Obamacare has ALREADY caused health insurance premiums to go up – again, not true. family premiums increased by 9 percent n 2011. The growth rates had been at 10 percent and higher from 2000 to 2004. Expert point out that the 3 percent growth from 2009 to 2010 was unusually low, so the push up to 9% was expected after the exceptional low growth rate.

FIVE failed “Green Energy” companies with nearly a billion of that $860B of “stimulus” money that was wasted on cronyism and “shovel ready jobs” that never materialized – five companies out of many, many funded (yes! some companies do fail!) – and 3.7 million jobs have been added under Obama’s policies. No ‘cronyism’ has been proven whatsoever.

Your litany of half truths doesn’t tell a true story.

Do some research on Saul Alionsky and Frank Marshall Davis, two of Barry’s hero’s and role models……..

Posted by: Chuhyona | February 17, 2012, 2:22 am 2:22 am

Good god! American elected the neo-cons – twice! They didn’t learn their lesson until the debt was doubled and the economy in ruins. Obama is a god send after that arrogant and incompetent lot!

Good thing DHS has such tight control of those borders. Maybe Congress should use as a rule of thumb to never appoint anyone who looks like they have a skunk sitting on their head.

Ummmm…………when did marijuana suddenly become a narcotic? All credibility for this article or anyone else making such a statement goes right out the window when I hear such an outright falsehood.

I wonder if Obama will fire those Cessna pilots.

Must have been Snoop Doggy Dogg coming in for a landing

That was Big O’s stash you idiots!!! Boy, I feel sorry for whoever scrambled those planes and siezed that weed. That was for his dinner guests tonight.

Dan posted the following list of acomplishments of BHO. I will address them individually.

Over 3.7 million jobs have been added since Obama’s policies hit full stride. – Not sure where he got this stastitic. The only trustworthy info I have found states that jobs have declined by 6 million.

Oil production in the country is up. – Actually it’s down, remener the deep water horizon. That incident caused alot of rigs to slow down and be more cautious.

Green energy production in the country is up. – It would have done that anyways as it had since the 90′s.

GM is back at the #1 car company in the world! – Yep, thanks to money taken directly from YOUR wallet.

Third shifts are being added at automotive plants. – What??? Who uses that as a barometer. I don’t feel like researching this, but it’s probably wrong considering 6 milllion jobs have been lost since 2008.

Corporate profits are at record levels – Dude that’s a bad thing! CEO’s were already grossly overpaid!

Bin Laden is dead. – BHO didn’t shoot him personally, and more importantly that wouldn’t have happened with Bush’s war that all Dem’s oppossed.

Kaddafhi is gone. – Kaddafhi attacked innocent people which lead to the violence that killed him. Are you insinuating that BHO encouraged him to attack innocent people? That’s not a good thing to say about your countries leader.

Many, many al Qaeda leaders are gone. – See the comment about Bin Laden.

Nuclear inspectors are back in Iran. – The IAEA inspectors don’t take orders from the US president.

The stock market has gone up hugely since Obama’s policies began to kick in. – Hugely? That is so obviously wrong, I need not say more.

Benefit for military families and veterans have greatly improved – That’s not what military families tell me. Their benefits have been reduced.

The pot plane must have smelled the good manure plane.

That plane was too high.

I thought they used tankers for mid-air refueling?

t plane must have been for the after party.

When does this poor man EVER find time to be President?

Too bad the military couldn’t scramble fighters during the whole 9/11 debacle – oh wait, they were told to “stand down”.

All the Republican supports thinks Obama has no money. When Bush went to every States for his campaign it was ok don’t even think about citzens. All of a sudden whatever Obama does you think he is spending tax payers money. Get a life gus and chill out all RNs.

The task now is to keep the economy on a steady, measured economic climb (that benefits the most people – not just the super wealthy) and begin to slowly lower the deficit.

Posted by: Dan | February 16, 2012, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm

GDP grows when productive people work and pay taxes in excess of what they take from government. You are willfully unemployed and live off taxpayers. You are part of the problem, not the solution.

GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL CONDITION IN FAMILY BUDGET TERMS
AS OF FEBRUARY 2012
ANNUAL INCOME: $24, 700 (REVENUE)
ANNUAL EXPENSES: $37,900 (SPENDING)
NEW CREDIT CARD DEBT/ OTHER DEBT: $13,200 (ANNUAL INCOME – EXPENSES = DEFICIT)
EXISTING CREDIT CARD/ OTHER DEBT: $153,500 (ACCUMULATED DEBT)
PROPOSED ANNUAL BELT TIGHTENING: $385 (PROPOSED SPENDING CUTS)

TO CONVERT ABOVE NUMBERS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NUMBERS, ADD EIGHT ZEROS TO EACH AMOUNT ABOVE (IT IS ABSOLUTELY OBSCENE!)
QUESTIONS:
1. COULD YOUR HOUSEHOLD FINANCIALLY SURVIVE ON THE BUDGET OUTLINED ABOVE WITHOUT IMMEDIATE DRASTIC CHANGES?
A. YES (DO YOUR COUNTRY A FAVOR AND DON’T VOTE THIS NOVEMBER)
B. NO (GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION)
2. HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE YOUR BUDGET CRISIS?
A. CUT EXPENSES (VOTE REPUBLICAN THIS NOVEMBER)
B. DEMAND A RAISE (VOTE DEMOCRAT THIS NOVEMBER)
3. DO YOU THINK OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME PRINCIPLES AS YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING WITHIN YOUR MEANS?
A. YES (VOTE REPUBLICAN THIS NOVEMBER)
B. NO (VOTE DEMOCRAT THIS NOVEMBER)
If you don’t see that there is a budget problem, YOU are part of the problem. It’s time to take personal responsibility by Voting out your “do nothing” elected official and push for Term Limits. Do the tough thing: Refuse ANY and ALL Government Handouts (welfare) and learn what it is to be a true American.

Obama and Van Jones are now enjoying it in the East Wing.

You guys are nuts, it was just a drop off for the administration. Was the pilot Mexican? Did he have any of those “fast and furious” guns? They just had to make it look like this cessna posed threat to Airforce1 so they could pick up their pot.

In my opinion — they ALL need to go…. vote NO incumbents and Term Limits must be inacted… These people are making a lifetime position of this and we get no fresh ideas and they get soooo out of touch with the real world. ALL of them have been involved in the economy problem.. some more than others but ALL Dems & Reps were involved… Wake up — NO Incumbents

Obama’s admitted to smoking weed and “doing a little blow” in his life. There’s a certain irony here.

If Obama had garnered the attention of a cop when he was carrying weed or coke, right now he could be sitting in a jail cell instead of the Oval Office.

When are we gonna grow up just let peaceful people live their lives as they see fit?

Since the plane was late I guess they’ll have to load up Air Farce One at the next stop.

CONNIE: “Let’s just call it as it is. BO’s “mission” has been one thing only – to destroy this country. And so far, he’s been doing a pretty darned good job. We’ve been sent on a ride to hell in a handbasket by the Great Deceiver.”

Just out of curiosity, what planet do you live on?

Let’s review the FACTS (and REALLY “call it as it is”):

Osama bin Laden; DEAD (as promised; with no loss of American lives in the operation).

Over 40 other terrorists king-pins captured or killed.

Democracy breaking out all over the Arab world.

Gaddafi, sponsor of terrorism since Nixon, DEAD (no loss of American lives).

American hostages boldly RESCUED from Somali pirates (ditto no loss of American lives).

3.2 million private sector jobs created (.2 million MORE than promised when the stimulus was passed).

23 straight months of private sector job growth (and counting).

Most private sector job postings this month since Aug. 2008.

General Motors now the LEADING automaker in the WORLD again, with over 7 billion in profits last quarter (and Romney wanted to let them and all their jobs DIE.)

The Iraq war, OVER (as promised).

The war in Afghanastan, timetable in place for a 2014 total withdrawal.

Second year in a row the U.S. has EXPORTED more oil than it IMPORTS (bet you didn’t know that…or that the pipeline would be carrying low-grade Canadian crude to Texas for EXPORT, not the U.S. market, and would only create a few thousand TEMPORARY U.S. jobs).

The list goes on and on.

Seriously, is the “Obama, worst President EVER; made things WORSE!” angle is what you guys are sticking with? Good luck with that.

Regarding who pays for Presidential travel, the costs of operating Air Force One and Secret Service security come with the job and are paid by the taxpayers.

The other costs associated with travel are paid for either by the First Family (vacation costs including accomodations, air-fare at the prevailing commercial rate for additional travelers, and all other personal expenses), or by the Republican National Committee or the Democratic National Committee (in the case of fundraising trips, though what percentage depends on whether any official White House business is ALSO conducted on the same trip and other factors which the White House declines to reveal, and always HAS, citing security).

This is not a partisan issue. This is the way it has been done for many administrations. FTR, when Bush was President, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee reported that taxpayers footed the bill for 97% of Presidential travel, and the Republican Party paid only 3%.

Also FTR, Bush still beats Obama for vacation days taken while in office. By far.