Our Deficit Grows and Obama Goes… On Vacation to Uber-Pricey Martha’s Vineyard
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on August 22, 2009
The Obamas will be vacationing at the Blue Heron Farm at Martha's Vineyard... Obama says he'll be paying for it himself, except for the huge cost of the Secret Service and Air Force One
Smile when you eat that peanut butter and jelly sandwich, kids. It’s all worth it because, even though the economy sucks more than it ever did under George W. Bush and many American families had a summer family vacation that revolved around the backyard doughboy pool and mosquito repellent, Barack Obama and his family will have a REALLY nice 10-day vacation, of which we’ll be paying a huge chunk, starting today.
Don’t you feel better now? What do you mean the belt is too tight?
“I don’t think the American people begrudge a president taking some time with his family that’s well-earned and well-deserved for a few days to see and spend time with them,” said [press secretary Robert] Gibbs at his last pre-vacation press briefing.
Yeah, no one minds because Obama has been tethered to his desk in the White House Oval Office, working his fanny off without a break since January 21. NOT.
From Pundit and Pundette:
The news is depressing. Michelle Malkin writes that the economy, even according to the NYT, is in very critical condition. But Obama isn’t letting it get him down:
What’s a flailing president to do?
Go golfing and lease a $20 million farm on Martha’s Vineyard.
Apparently Camp David, which would provide quiet family time at a much lower cost for the country, is chopped liver for the Obamas. And that European vacation (cost undisclosed) enjoyed by Michelle and the children doesn’t count — it was way back in June.
The post goes on with all the galling details about how expensive the Martha Vineyard vacation is and what it will cost taxpayers.
In addition to Obamas’ European vacation in June, the post didn’t include the Obamas having the Grand Canyon to themselves last week (occurred after the Pundit and Pundette post was written) and may have forgotten to include Obama and Michelle’s needed “Broadway date” in May (cost was an estimated $225,000 – $250,000 for the one night, chump change) and their other “date” when they, the kids, grandma, and Obama entourage flew into Chicago way back on Valentine’s Day so Barack and Michelle could have dinner at Table 52. A lot of nearby businesses lost some big bucks because at the last minute, their customers weren’t allowed into the restricted area to dine with their sweethearts on Valentine’s Day. The Obamas had a nice Valentine’s dinner, though. Funny how there aren’t any nice restaurants in the DC area… a shame.
UPDATE, AUGUST 23, 2009: H/T to Sister Toldjah, add Obama’s visit to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming on August 15 to the list.
From ABC News:
What can tens of thousands of dollars buy for a family vacation? In the case of the nation’s first family, think of a secluded, waterfront property complete with horse paddocks, a boat house and an apple orchard.
Those are just a few of the amenities offered by the Blue Heron Farm, the 28.5-acre Martha’s Vineyard estate where President Obama, his family and, of course, the Secret Service will spend part of the president’s summer vacation…
OK, let’s flip the page to OUR situation in America, as of yesterday:
From The Hill:
10-year budget deficit grows by $2 trillion
By Sam Youngman
August 21, 2009The White House next week will revise the 10-year budget deficit from $7.1 trillion to $9 trillion.
Officials at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) confirmed the enormous debt revision late Friday afternoon, hours after President Obama left for a 10-day vacation.
In May, the White House was projecting a 10-year deficit nearly $2 trillion less than what is now forecast. Since then, the unemployment has gone up steadily, hitting 9.5 percent in June before dipping one-tenth of a point to 9.4 percent in July.
Unemployment is widely expected to rise this fall, and some economic experts believe the rate will not fall until next summer.
Meanwhile, the mortgage crisis continues to hit home owners in their pocketbooks. This week the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that foreclosures would not fall until the end of 2010.
“The new forecasts are based on new data that reflect how severe the economic downturn was in the late fall of last year and the winter of this year,” an official told Reuters.
The new projections bring the White House numbers in line with estimates by the independent and non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). In June, CBO projected a 9.1 trillion deficit…
Back to the Obamas’ vacation… this was excerpted from Michelle Malkin:
…Caroline Taylor, another Martha’s Vineyard realtor, estimated that the property would go for $35,000 to $50,000 a week. The Obamas will pay for at least a portion of the rental, but taxpayer funds will be used to pay for Secret Service and staff housing on the property.
Bill O’Reilly observes:
…Actually, the first president to relax on Martha’s Vineyard was U.S. Grant. Back then there was no intrusive White House press corps, so Grant could sip cocktails all day long, which, apparently, was his primary vacation goal…
…There is a heavy rumor that Oprah may show up to party with the Obamas during their vacation week. But there is no truth to a report that the talk show star will give an acre of Vineyard land to a selected studio audience member. Even Oprah has to draw the line somewhere.
I believe it is important that no one yell at Obama during his vacation. He has certainly had enough of that recently. He needs some peace, some downtime. He needs to recharge using the Vineyard’s sun and wind. The president must get away from talk radio, tea bag protestors, and cap and trade.
Like Grant before him, Obama should just settle back with a cold one, turn on Fox News and enjoy the moments.
Additional Obama travel, vacation, overspending, and US economy stuff:
ABC News: Obamas’ Martha’s Vineyard Vacation May Ground Some Businesses and Luxury Getaways for the President: Martha’s Vineyard and Beyond
Gathering of Eagles: NY: Barack Obama Vacations While Economy Tanks
The Powers That Be: Dickweed Summit: Geraldo Runs Into Henry Gates On Martha’s Vineyard
The Moderate Voice: Those Fork Tongued Democrats: Long Term Costs
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Screwball Comedy: White House Misspells Barack Obama’s Name on US-Russian Document, Plus More Obama Snubs & Gaffes in Moscow: UPDATE: Michelle’s $6,000 Purse and Europeans Insulted & Angry: Say Obama Snubbed French President & German Chancellor during Normandy D-Day Weekend and Ringleader Obama & His Giant Circus of 500 Go to Europe for G20 Summit and Obama’s ‘Magical Mystery Apology Tour’ Includes Surprise Visit to Iraq and Party Boy Obama Livin’ It Up Like Royalty While Americans Struggle to Buy Food
Bill O’Reilly, 1Autolatry: Have a Nice Vacation, Mr. President
From the Wilderness: Cindy Sheehan heads to Martha’s Vineyard to Confront Obama on the War
Clinging to G & G: Obama and the left’s disregard for the Afghan war and Sheehan
Don’t Tread on Us: Cindy Sheehan protesting against Bush is OK! But protesting against Obama is just wrong the liberals say
Tarheeltalker: I Want to Have It Both Ways, Please
Obi’s Sister: Telling Signs
Gateway Pundit: Obama Visits Vacation Resort in Ramadi
Pundit and Pundette: A getaway that costs an arm or a leg
Hot Air: The Obamas will conspicuously consume on Martha’s Vineyard
Wallet Pop: Obamas score a house on the Vineyard: $35k per week?
The Daily Beast: The Obamas’ New Digs
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Okay… I complained about Bush spending his weekends in Camp David..
He took his vacations on his RANCH. Even had visiting VIP’s visit him there.
The Obama’s are PUTTING ON THE DOG..
Because they are closet Racists… they are doing everything they can to show how ELITE THEY ARE.
The Won the election… so they can do as they please.
If you take a look at they have a lack of concern for others.
It is their right as the FIRST BLACK COUPLE IN THE WHITE HOUES.
To take Valentine Day dinners in Chicago.. (forget that they have to CLOSE DOWN the area to PREVENT OTHERS for enjoying that day.) Go to Broadway for dinner and a play… (Black Play by the way) at a cost of 250,000 Plus.
Manage to TRAVEL on ‘business’ trips to show the girls…
You get what THEY PAID FOR your vote..
Where did the almost 800 Billion dollars HE SPENT TO BY YOUR VOTE COME FROM AND HOW MUCH IS IN HIS POCKETS.
I have to say that worn out mantra again… “if this were Bush, what would the reaction be?”
This man has been given such a huge pass on everything he does and says, that it’s become a joke with a farcical LameStream Media tagging along.
Well said. Roxy !
Bush would have been raked over the coals for what Obama is doing.
Obama can’t see the future because he doesn’t want to.
He is living in the present and has an ego and the arrogance to think that the American People are fooled into thinking they can’t change America’s direction.
Yes We Can in 2010. and we will ! gotta !
And, the worst for the Obamas is that they are not even courted by the black elite on Martha’s Vineyard! What a slap to these self-centered people! I visualize ex-President Bush and Mrs. Laura, laughing on their portico in Texas! Obama thought the presidency would be so easy for him–let’s remind him that there is no “quota system” in the White House to bail him out of this!!! A one-termer for certain.
Obama’s presidency is flat-lining………..
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