Obama’s Vacation by the Numbers

Next: how did this vacation cost the taxpayers?

How does this compare to previous presidents, is the real question.

ABC News, please make this more meaningful: do a chart comparing ALL U.S. Presidents over the last, say, 100 years. Further, if you include the costs, please calculate comparing today’s dollars. ABC News … please try, TRY to give us something worthwhile, rather than just gratuitous fluff.

Well at least he made a few hours available for his kids.

I live in Hawaii & we don’t want him to vacation here. We the taxpayers have to pay for all the costs including the Hawaii expenses. Why doesn’t he vacation in his home state Chicago? Other Presidents vacation in their home state. Why doesn’t he consider our lost economy & vacation in his home state?

Mary:

Let’s put some teeth in your reporting. The president spent 40 hours on Air Force One at a cost to the tax payers of $180,000 an hour. Transportation for his vacation cost $7.2 million. More gernain than the fact his dog accompanied him all the way!

Bill

His is one of the most stressful, demanding jobs in the world; he should take vacations, — especially over Christmas..Besides, he is the President wherever he is; it’s not necessary to be physically in the White House. As for costs to taxpayers, — such an inane comment! That cost comes with the cost of the job; we can hardly expect the President to go camping in a state park in order to cut costs…..!

This is not news, — and out of context, it has no meaning. Compared to what? In that regard, it’s like some mindless Fox Network or Rush Limbaugh rant.

Presidents of the United States don’t deserve holidays

The haters are outraged that the President had a vacation! Oh, what a surprise. Never mind that every past President in recent history had vacations with his family, which combined work and leisure.

Posted by: Steve | January 6, 2013, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm

It’s almost exclusively the right-wing, anti-Obama zealots and haters who are whining.

Dishwasher Chuck — You’re right…. When you hate somebody, you just hate ‘em. No matter what they do, no matter the facts, no matter what others have done as well — (not that it’s racist or anything) ;-)

One number is missing… the number of syrupy oBama stories that Mary Bruce wrote (or transcribed) during this time.

ABC COULDN’T PRINT THE NUMBERS? ABC NEWS THE NEW OBAMA NEWS NETWORK. ALL HAIL THE GREAT ONE CHAIRMAN OBAMA. …. I DIDN’T VOTE FOR THAT .. OH YES YOU DID!!!!…. GRAB YOUR ANKLES AMERICA 2014 IS COMING AND THE MONEY GRAB WILL BE COMPLETE.

Very deep and important story. Moving, scintillating. Bravo, ABC! And idiots come out of the woodwork and actually argue about the pros and cons of the president taking a vacation. No wonder we are in such a mess as a country. With minds like these, who’s going to hold the leaders accountable??

Posted by: Common _ Sense | January 6, 2013, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm

President Bush took far more vacation days and in today’s dollars spent far more money than President Obama on travel back and forth to his personal ranch 10 times a year through 8 years. That’s 80 trips back and forth to his personal ranch in case you can’t count.

But you complain about President Obama taking a holiday – and we know why. Tens of thousands of people will vacation in Hawaii this year. Grow a brain and get over it.

To repeat myself….When you hate somebody, you just hate ‘em; no matter what.

Absolutely, Steve. Your hatred of GWB prevents you from having any objective thoughts.

Posted by: BT | January 6, 2013, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm

I don’t hate GWB – apparently he’s a real fun guy. He sure left the country in a disaster though.

How nice for them. While I sit here, a vetran, working two jobs, with retirement pay…while being evicted from my apartment. I hope he enjoys his vacation.

Wao….It is so evident that ABC is the commander in chief Network…They can not mention that this vacation cost to the taxpayer almost 7 million including his Fiscal cliff trip which meant nothing because he just came to do what he can does best and is to call his beloved fans from the MSM….

Why don’t you idiots talk about something worthwhile, like the 300+ million dollars Obama gave to his millionaire pals in Hollywood? All part of the fiscal cliff items inserted by the Dems. Poor Sean Penn, he needed a stimulus….

GONZ is on the mark! Why doesn’t ABC (already been corrupted?) do an investigative story on exactly why the RICH in Hollywood got a big financial break written into the “fiscal cliff” solution? Huh? Hollywood gets richer and richer, and Obama parties like it’s 1999 with Hollywood socialites. I am sickened by Barack Obama, his democrat colleagues, establishment republicans, and all you drones who support him without ever asking a single question regarding his deceptive/corrupt behavior. Yes, sick. All the liberals I knew who were so damn critical of George W. Bush? I thought they had solid points in their arguments. I even considered them critical thinkers. I realize I was wrong. They only think critically when the guy they don’t like is in office. Now, they will drink the Koolaid, along with millions of others. Looks like four more years of this BS. Maybe when a conservative ends up in the White House, all the liberal drones will “wake up”, and suddenly ask meaningful questions, rather than how many hours the president spent with his daughters, and where he ate, and if his doggy traveled with him. This is pathetic. ABC, you are a pretty crappy “news” source.

I thought he vacationed in Crawford, TX every other week so he could fly over NO on the way back and look at all those poooor people down there.

A president should be allowed vacations according to their accomplishments

Posted by: BILLY | January 6, 2013, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm

Nonsense.

Bush presided over the destruction of the economy and we gave him holidays. in fact he set records taking holidays!

I say cut them all off! Presidents of the United States don’t work hard enough to deserve a holiday!

When Bush went on vacation, he went to his Texas ranch. He did NOT go to the most lavish resorts. Obama’s vacations always are overly extravagant and run way into the millions. And in response to DAVE who says “tens of thousands of people will vacation in Hawaii this year,” maybe so, BUT they willl NOT be doing it at TAXPAYER expense.

When Bush went on vacation, he went to his Texas ranch.

Posted by: Frankie | January 6, 2013, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm

Yah, but he basically never worked. He flew back and forth to his personal ranch close to 80 times during his presidency, and you’re whining about a Christmas vacation in Hawaii?

Tens of thousand of Americans will take a winter vacation in Hawaii this year. Grow up. Bush traveled the 80 times back and forth to his private ranch at the taxpayers expense. The Obamas pay their own accommodations.

Bias makes people dumb.

He shouldn’t take a vacation, he should keep working until he finishes the job he was hired to do -the job he said he could do.

Posted by: Dalmation | January 6, 2013, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm

Foolish. Unreasonable. So typical of the fanatics.

Posted by: The Inconvenient Truth | January 6, 2013, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm

You extremists are goofy. Bush made close to 80 trips to his personal ranch on the taxpayers dollar. He vacationed more than any other president in history. Close to 80 trips! And you’re whining over this? No wonder you people lose elections. You’re a joke.

Posted by: Kathy M. | January 6, 2013, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm

Kathy I can tell you how much Bush’s air costs alone back and forth to his private ranch cost the taxpayer. He made 77 trips back and forth, 2 hours each way – that’s 4 hours each trip x 77 trips x $180,000 per hour in todays costs.

That’s $720,00 in air cost alone every trip x 77 = $55.5 million.

Obama’s trip to Hawaii = 10 hours each way. 20 hours x $180,00 = $3.6.

Obama would have to fly to Hawaii 15 times to cost the taxpayer as much as Bush. He’s got a long, long way to go to even come close to catching up to Bush’s vacation travel costs.

Obama’s policies are the reason WHY some folks still have a roof over their head. Or can you explain how *dissolving* Unemployment Coverage somehow will magically prevent poverty?

Just four of Obama’s trips cost taxpayers over $20 million. That’s probably a very low estimate.

Posted by: Reality Check | January 6, 2013, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm

Oh we were just talking Air Force One costs back and forth to Bush’s private ranch = $55 million. You start to add in all the other costs, like you’re doing for Obama and the costs head into the hundreds of millions.

In Air Force One costs, Obama would have to make 15 trips to Hawaii before he comes close to matching what Bush’s Air Force One costs to his private ranch.

More of the middle class has been thrown into poverty under Obama than any other President.

Posted by: K | January 6, 2013, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

Almost all of that stemming directly from the Bush economic crisis – the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression. Consequences? You bet.

“Only ONE family member made all the trips back-and-forth with the president: Bo, the dog.”

We do trust that Obama actually took Bo into the plane and didn’t strap his crate to the outside of the plane …

The Obama family and staff costs taxpayers $1.4 billion per year. That’s over 20 times higher than the British Royal Family. This has occurred during a time when annual middle class incomes have dropped $4,300, with many families foregoing vacations altogether.

So what? Particulars of the unemployment rate fluctuate up and down every month.

Posted by: Dave | January 6, 2013, 11:46 pm 11:46 pm

LOL!!

Posted by: Dave | January 6, 2013, 11:46 pm 11:46 pm

Your unemployment rate never fluctuates. It’s always 100%.

We do trust that Obama actually took Bo into the plane and didn’t strap his crate to the outside of the plane …

Posted by: Tychicum | January 6, 2013, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm

Romney put the dog in the cage on the roof of the car because it was only 47% purebred.

Posted by: Dave | January 6, 2013, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm

LOL!!!

he [Bush] basically never worked,” HOW do you know that? Were you actually there at the ranch with him?

Posted by: Frankie | January 6, 2013, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm

Here’s a good example. Bush spent basically the entire month of August 2001 vacationing at his private ranch in Texas (he hadn’t even worked a full year yet at that point). That’s August 2002 – he returned to Washington just in time to get settled back into the White House in and watch the planes slam into the World Trade Center.

I thought Obama was about CHANGE and fiscal responsibility.

Posted by: K | January 6, 2013, 11:59 pm 11:59 pm

He’s undercut Bush’s frivolous travel costs by a huge amount. Cost of Air Force One flights to his private ranch in today’s dollars = $55 million. Obama would have to travel frivolously to Hawaii 15 times to match that. Obama is far more fiscally responsible.

Romney put the dog in the cage on the roof of the car because it was only 47% purebred.

Posted by: Dave | January 6, 2013, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm

Better in a crate than on a plate.

Woof!

Posted by: K | January 7, 2013, 12:07 am 12:07 am

Dave hasn’t earned $25,000 the past four years. Lives off taxpayers.

Obama’s resort in Hawaii cost $25,000 per week.

Posted by: K | January 7, 2013, 12:07 am 12:07 am

That’s nothing compared to Bush’s $55 MILLION in Air Force One costs to fly back and forth to his personal ranch. And the Obama’s pay for their accommodations. You should know that.

Were you at the ranch with him? Were you there at the WH with him?

Posted by: Frankie | January 7, 2013, 12:11 am 12:11 am

You dont’ have much of a point? Were you there with President Obama?

Most small business owners I know haven’t taken vacations in the past two years because of the economy. But they helped pay for Obama’s vacations.

Responding to DAVE’s comment “You dont’ have much of a point? Were you there with President Obama?” I DO have a point. You were NOT there with Bush, so you canNOT make definitive comments as to what he did and did not do. Every single time that YOU make a comment, YOU keep proving more and more that “bias meks people dumb.”

And that was all in the first 5 months

Posted by: Pat | January 7, 2013, 12:22 am 12:22 am

Nonsense.

It appears Bush did go to Texas but mostly on weekends

Posted by: Pat | January 7, 2013, 12:22 am 12:22 am

Nonsense. For example, Bush spent basically the entire month of August 2001 vacationing at his private ranch in Texas (he hadn’t even worked a full year in the job at that point). That’s August 2002 – he returned to Washington just in time to get settled back into the White House in and watch the planes slam into the World Trade Center.

Obama’s FOUR Hawaiian vacations alone cost taxpayers over $20 million.

Posted by: K | January 7, 2013, 12:26 am 12:26 am

Oh we were just talking Air Force One costs back and forth to Bush’s private ranch = $55 million!

You start to add in all the other costs, like you’re doing for Obama and the costs head into the hundreds of millions.

In Air Force One costs, Obama would have to make 15 trips to Hawaii before he comes close to matching what Bush’s Air Force One costs to his private ranch. Obama hasn’t even come close.

That’s patriotism for you!

Posted by: Dave | January 7, 2013, 12:21 am 12:21 am

You don’t know the meaning of the word.

I did not make it up I did some quick research to see. I am sorry I did add one on the Hawaii by accident it was only 3 in the first 5 months but has gone since. I dont think if the economy wasn’t so bad it would bother people so much. I am no fan of Bush but I do want real facts not “hey this is my man and I am going to defend him. Someone out there please give us true un-bias news and let the chips fall where they may.

Even negative attention is attention.

Keep ‘em coming. I stay up until 4 AM. It’s not like I have a job like the rest of you.

Taxpayers have wasted quite a bit on you too.

Posted by: K | January 7, 2013, 12:35 am 12:35 am

You can always tell when the right wingers have lost the argument.

Everyone keeps equating money with time away from the White House. Not counting official business just vacations Obama’s and his family has taken much more costly vacations than the Bush and his family in their first 4 years. I don’t care if he is your man or not.

Responding to DAVE’s comment “”Whatever point you’re trying to make (repeatedly), I concede it.” You know what my point is. You said that “bias makes people dumb.” “People” includes everyone, and that includes YOU. Yes, your remarks are dumb, and you are just attacking , that’s very clear. Again, nothing gives you a right to say anything about Bush unless you were ACTUALLY THERE.

This is my last comment as I do have to work tomorrow. I am not just talking the plane trip but the total cost. It does not matter if it cost more for the plane trips if the total cost isn’t figured. Look at the math with all the figures not just the ones that will make your point.

Posted by: Pat | January 7, 2013, 12:46 am 12:46 am

The Bush’s never took costly vacations?

July 27, 2003 Laura Bush and all her friends arrived at Lake Crescent Lodge in Washington State for a week long vacation in the Olympic National Forest. “I have a group of friends that I grew up with in Midland, Texas, and we hike every summer at a national park,” said Mrs. Bush.

Yes, she and her friends arrived on Air Force II with lots of Secret Service Agents.

Laura Bush and four female friends arrived at Mammoth Lakes on July 8, 2001 and a day later came to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge with an entourage of some 25 people, including Secret Service agents, a White House communications team, various aides and several park officials. The group took up about 15 of the 70 cabins at the site.

More of the middle class has been thrown into poverty under Obama than any other President.

Posted by: K | January 6, 2013, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

Almost all of that stemming directly from the Bush economic crisis – the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression. Consequences? You bet.

POSTED BY: DAVE | JANUARY 6, 2013, 11:44 PM 11:44 PM

The recession officially ended June 2009 (“Recovery Summer”). That’s over 3.5 years ago.

Dave posted @ 12:36 AM; “Keep ‘em coming. I stay up until 4 AM. It’s not like I have a job like the rest of you.” Not surprised.

POSTED BY: STEVE | JANUARY 6, 2013, 5:09 PM 5:09 PM NOONE says he can’t go on vacation, but your implying that he is the ONLY President (ademocrat)who ever worked while on vacation, and all other ( republicans) just forgot about their position.

More of the middle class has been thrown into poverty under Obama than any other President.

Posted by: K | January 6, 2013, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

Almost all of that stemming directly from the Bush economic crisis – the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression. Consequences? You bet.

POSTED BY: DAVE | JANUARY 6, 2013, 11:44 PM 11:44 PM

The recession officially ended June 2009 (“Recovery Summer”). That’s over 3.5 years ago.

Posted by: Reaelity Check | January 7, 2013, 6:56 am 6:56 am

The and the loss of jobs out of the Bush economic collapse was extreme. Surprised you missed that. People lost their jobs, their homes, their businesses, half their retirement investments. It was the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression. Massive damage.

Bush is to blame for all of the economic woes in this country, even until the end of time.

Posted by: Dave | January 7, 2013, 11:40 am 11:40 am

Obama’s so-called economic recovery ranks #10 out of the past ten recoveries. Thanks to Obama’s unsustainable debt trajectory, a real economic collapse is on its way, probably within a year. When that happens, 2008 will be considered the “good old days” and the Obamabots posting here (like the dumpster divers in New York and New Jersey) won’t have a clue how to cope with the economic fallout since they’re dependent on government just to survive. They’re all going to learn the same harsh lesson that the Sandy refugees learned: the government is NOT going to save you.

Posted by: Don | January 7, 2013, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm

There are many trailer-trash Republicans and they’ll be in the same situation.