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softaire 23-Dec-12, 21:55	Obama’s Christmas Vacation Likely to Top $4 million King and Queen BO don't seem to care too much about the middle class. The elistists don't seem to understand that some people in the country are having a tough time of it. Talk about being out of touch. ********************************************************************** While President Barack Obama and his family spend Christmas in Hawaii for the fifth straight year, federal and local taxpayers are likely to be left with a holiday bill that tops $4 million for the first family’s security and travel expenses to the exclusive retreat known for its turquoise waters and rolling surf, according to a published report. Air Force One touched down in Honolulu minutes after midnight local time on Saturday. The first family departed the plane and traveled quickly to their vacation home in the beach town of Kailua, a scenic, sleepy resort on the east side of Oahu. The Obamas pay for their own accommodations, while taxpayers shoulder the costs of security and travel. Though it is not clear how long the Obamas planned to stay in Hawaii about 12 miles from downtown Honolulu, the Hawaii Reporter estimated that the trip could cost taxpayers more than $4 million based on the nine-hour flying time to and from Washington and the high-priced resort accommodations for White House staff, Navy Seals, Coast Guard, and the Secret Service. The publication estimates that each leg of the nine-hour flight alone will cost taxpayers $1,635,813 for a roundtrip total of $3,271,622. “While many residents welcome the first family, others are disheartened by the restrictions put on air, water, and road travel while the president and family are in town, especially because it is the holiday season and many families on vacation want to use their boats or surf and paddle in the welcoming ocean waves fronting the Kailua homes,” the publication reports. “In addition, the president's caravan of at least 22 vehicles including an ambulance can easily overwhelm the community that typically has single lane streets.” The publication also reports that federal and local taxpayers are likely to foot the bill for the following additional estimated expenses: The president’s staff typically stay at one of Hawaii’s oldest and most elegant hotels, the Moana Surfrider. A conservative estimate with rooms at $270 (excluding a 9.25 percent Transient Accommodation Tax and a 4.712 percent General Excise Tax on each bill, meals, Internet charges and other charges) adds up to more than $129,600 in hotel bills for some two dozen staff. A USAF C-17 cargo aircraft that transports presidential limos, helicopters and other support equipment to Hawaii is estimated to cost $258,000, not including crew accommodations. Secret Service, Coast Guard and Navy Seals are housed in beachfront or canal front properties near the president at a cost last year of about $200 per bedroom per day, or $21,600 per average home for at least seven homes. The president’s advance security costs about $176,400. Local police historically rack up $250,000 in overtime during presidential visits, which is paid by Oahu taxpayers. A city ambulance generally costs about $10,000 to provide round the clock coverage. The presidential security detail typically rents an entire floor of an office building in Kailua, but estimates were not available for this expense. In addition, taxpayers pay for security upgrades and additional phone lines to private homes, including bullet proof glass and new security systems. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com www.newsmax.com Urgent: Should Obamacare Be Repealed? Vote Here Now!
chaz5 23-Dec-12, 22:01	Softy ... ... is your critique of this type of spending against presidents in general? ... or just for Obama?
changeling 23-Dec-12, 22:06	www.politicususa.com
softaire 23-Dec-12, 22:07	Government in general. We have had several reports just this year of government excesses, but I have no doubt it could be traced back to many previous administrations also. We have the government elites who are not accountable to anyone, who basically cannot be fired, and who spend OPM (other peoples money) without concern for waste, fraud or abuse. We have corrupt government lifetime bureaucrat officials and elected officials. They are basically immoral and corrupt. No accountability allows them to be so.
changeling 23-Dec-12, 22:11	softy Would you have your President and his family go on vacation without staff and security given that any number of disgruntled US citizens, as well any would be terrorists, are armed to the teeth. What do you suggest instead, he take the bus and ferry?
softaire 23-Dec-12, 22:15	I would have him stay at home and work with the Congress to do the jobs they were elected to do. They certainly have not earned their pay yet, that's for sure.
changeling 23-Dec-12, 22:17	Is congress sitting at present softy.
dmaestro 24-Dec-12, 01:21	Presidents are never totally on vacation. The President has always been entitled to vacation when they want. Since the tea party isn't around and isn't serious about compromise we are headed right off the fiscal cliff. Obama needs a little vacation from the long knives on the right. Where were you when bush spent much of his first term on vacation.
softaire 24-Dec-12, 07:17	change If the President was a leader and if he was serious about solving our fiscal problems, he would call Congress back into session. He has the power to do that. A leader would do that. Actually, a leader would have never let it get to this position. I think that you and other "developed" countries have a stake in us not going off the fiscal cliff too. If we go back into recession (which is likely), you probably will also. DM and BO seem to think it will be just fine to go over this government-caused fiscal cliff because (somehow) it will be politically advantageous. But, there is no doubt, that if they wanted to solve the problem, they would be at work, and a leader who cares can make that happen. But, vacations, golf and fund raisers seem to be more important to our "leaders".
changeling 24-Dec-12, 07:25	softy There was no recession in Australia, quite a bit of fear of one though, the Australian government also used stimulus packages to stave off the recession and it worked (apparently). But yes we do have a stake in the next one probably. There is not much point calling congress back if no one wants to 'trade'. As dm just pointed out the President of the US is rarely actually on holiday/vacation. I haven't seen or heard any congressman asking or demanding to sit again through the holiday period either.
dmaestro 24-Dec-12, 11:46	We are going off the cliff thanks to the extremist tea party who refuses to bend. Tyranny of the minority will have consequences. If chaos is what it takes to end the tea party hostage taking, bring it on! Blaming Obama for your playing with fire won't fly as far as you think it will.

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