100 Million for President's Vacation?

And does anyone remember when Obama got into office and passed the stimulus of nearly $700 billion? And then passed the omnibus bill with $30 billion in pork that he knew about but "promised to do better next time"?

And at the same time had the nerve to convene his new cabinet and "challenged" them to cut $100 million from the budget. Ya, million... with an"M".

But after a reelection, has no trouble with a $100 million dollar vacation... and still no pitch forks on the lawn.

Just in case nobody remembers.

You are aware that Bush made 5 trips to Africa, all on taxpayers dime. Those expense documents seemed to have vanished from the GAO though.. so no way to know how much was spent on those vacations.

Also, Laura Bush went of safari with her daughters.. 

In 1998 Bill Clinton's visit cost 48 million.

While this is important info and certainly relevant, I still don't think it justifies Obama's trip. 

When I was in college and skipped class, I rarely could really enjoy it because the guilt of missing it was just too much. 

I can't imagine being able to go on that vacation knowing its cost, and knowing how so many people who I supposedly represent are struggling.  On taxpayer money?  It's really disgusting. 

Kinda reminds me of "Let them eat cake," and we all know what happened to her.

Perhaps you forgot.... Senator Obama criticized Bush for two straight years on the campaign trail about his wasteful spending. Once elected, he stayed on the campaign trail and continued to criticize Bush on his wasteful spending. In the middle of all that, our economy nearly collapsed. Obama was the chosen one that was going to do it all differently. He certainly told us that for long enough. He hasn't done anything different... including taking lavish trips on the tax payers dime... only problem now is that many people are still hurting and never saw any relief from all the "hope and change"... enter  Obam's Africa trip.

It's unreasonable that a sitting president would go to Africa? All of the presidents have gone overseas on different trips. I know it sounds defensive of Obama, and I am not trying to say that he "deserves" the trip.

It's just that for all of the "outrage" it just seems like a bit of irony. 

Kate, I know you're trying to compare and contrast Obama with what other presidents have done and to an extent you have a valid point.

However, for many of us, it's about the absolute disregard for fiscal responsibility when it is called for by our leadership.  Our country is hemorrhaging financially, but few in Washington seem to care.

I own a business and I go on vacations every once and a while.  My employees don't have any issues with it because they recognize that I work hard and need a break.  However, if I lay off several employees and make the others work longer hours to make up the difference and then still take my expensive vacation it's a morale killer and irresponsible on my part.

I own the business so I can "do" whatever I want, but as a leader I need to share in the sacrifice and do everything I can to keep up morale and grow my business so I don't have to lay people off.  Going on vacation is not doing either of those things.

More broadly, as I believe has been mentioned already in this thread, Washington is out of control and the mindset of "well <insert president> did it too" is yet another justification to continue our fiscal death spiral as a country.
Politicians are screaming as if they're burning in a pit of fire about how painful the "sequestration cuts" are, but even with sequestration the federal spending is increasing an estimated $238.6 billion this year.  Think about that.

I'm not a fan of Obama, but I'm not a fan of any of the big spenders in Washington.  If we are to survive as a republic, we have got to reign in Washington spending.  It will happen eventually, it's just a matter of it being a total collapse, or a controlled reduction through good fiscal leadership.  Unfortunately it will likely be the former.

I am not attempting to compare and contrast the behavior of Obama with other presidents, I'm just comparing the response. 

It's not a "vacation" it's an official trip to discuss investment. Also, the 100 million dollars is an amount that basically came out of someone's behind, as the actual cost is not yet known. (yes that is kind of a defense)

It is not a vacation.  Let me repeat that, it is not a vacation. 

Africa is a rapidly growing economy, and China is investing heavily in it while looking to expand their economic and foreign policies there.  Their president, Xi Jinping, just recently wrapped up a trip to Tanzania, South Africa, and the Congo.  Now Obama is visiting...wait for it...Tanzania and South Africa.  That is not a coincidence.

In the last dozen years, China’s trade with Africa has increased from $10 billion/yr to almost $200 billion (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2013-03/26/c_132263550.htm).  During that same time, our trade with Africa went from $37 billion to $100 billion (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c0013.html#2009), and it's declining. During his trip, Xi Jingping signed a deal with Tanzania for China to build a $10 billion port.  If you look at Africa as a competition, China is winning. 

Washington should be very concerned with the direction the Africa is heading in, as well as with China’s overall economic expansion.  To say this is a family vacation is just flat out dishonest (not you Tony, I’m referring to FoxNews and the rest of the right wing pundits that are painting the trip as a vacation).  

I agree with you, sort of.  Anything that Obama and his family do purely for their own amusement is a complete waste of taxpayer money at a time our country needs to be pinching pennies.  But I'm guessing it's not that black and white.  Here, business gets done on the golf course and no one would think twice if a CEO paid top dollar to take one of his clients our for an expensive round of golf to talk about a contract.  Maybe in Africa, business gets done on a safari (just an analogy, I realize the safari was cancelled due to the high cost of snipers).  My wife yaks it up with your wife, my kids run around the palace with your kids, and oh by the way let's talk about this little trade agreement here.  

And we're not just competing at the government level, it's also trying to gain public support.  China showed up with an Asian man and his wife and they wooed the people.  Now we have a black man and his wife/kids showing up to do their best wooing. If skin color is as big a deal over there as it is here, having a black president and his family making public appearances can't hurt.  I don't know how you go about putting a price on public relations.  Also, Michelle has her AIDS prevention campaign, so I imagine she'll be incorporating that with some visits to local hospitals for a little more good will.

Assuming the $100 million is the actual cost, I don't know if this trip is worth it.  That is a jaw-dropping figure for a single trip. Maybe it would have been cheaper and more effective to just buy off the presidents of the three countries.  I do know that there's a lot of money at stake in Africa and the US will keep losing it if we're not somehow aggressively pursuing it.  I also believe that the difference in cost for Obama to go alone, as opposed to with his family, would be just about negligible. Whether his wife and daughters are there or not, there's still going to be the multiple airlifts, that aircraft carrier sitting off the coast, the extreme security measures, etc.  

air force one

secret service

pre-visit security sweeps and interviews

etc etc etc

Well, air force one is always active, so that shouldn't be much more.  Secret service is always on duty - but of course, need to staff up for a trip like this.

I guess if most of it's wrapped up in security, that's just the price of doing business in this violent world now - and it would be the same for any president.  Guess they could never leave the country and have people come to us?

But if it's 100 million in cocktails, excursions, in room movies, and room service?  Yikes.

As the political climate becomes more and more toxic, the PETTINESS (sp?) of this type of argument becomes glaringly obvious.  And it's the main reason I don't frequent Political Joe as much as I'd like. 

 IMO If we, as a country, can't find a way to break this cycle and actually start to creat solutions instead of casting stones, there is virtually NO hope for democracy or our Republic. 

Just google. An air craft carrier has to be stationed to provide level one trauma center. 56 vehicles including 14 limos airlifted to Africa... so on and so forth. As far as the POTUS going overseas, that is the cost of doing business.

I can accept that.

Here is actually a good read about POTUS vacations talking how both sides use them for criticism.

http://www.hardhatters.com/2013/03/obama-daughters-bahamas-spring-break-stirs-controversy/

I don't know the source, but thought it a fair opinion.

What is the source for your "$100M" number?  sounds like utter BS to me.

Probably from some wacko right wing blogger?

Google is your friend. It is the budget submitted for these things, that add up all the costs of everything involved in moving the POTUS to an underdeveloped country for an extended period of time. And this very stroy came to light, when the budget was submitted, and people started taking a closer look at what was perceived as "extras". It is estimated to cost between 60-100 million... which is exactly in line with similar trips in the past.

... or ya, it's just some wacko right wing nonsense.

I'm not saying that 100 mil is worth it.  I'm also no Obama fan...

BUT, in general, I stand up for anyone who I believe is unfairly judged.

If 100mil really is the cost of doing business NO MATTER who is in office, I don't think it's "fair" to spin it like the photo TUWOOD put up (maybe in jest).  I know that was satirical for the entire term, but that's what the criticism of this wants to make people believe.

Should he be leaving the country AT ALL if it costs that much?  That's one argument.

But to suggest (or let people assume and not correct them), that POTUS and family is spending 100 mil on jet ski rentals, elephant rides, Micky Mouse ears, corn dogs, room service, and on the machines that squish pennies into pictures is inaccurate if they spend that on ANY POTUS that leaves the country.

I'm sure when the next pres is in office, when they make a trip, the opposing party will complain again.  Can't wait.