Squandering the taxpayers money again...
Mar 19, 2014 17:12:01 #
This isn't from a "right wing" source either...http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2572615/Michelle-Obama-plans-pricey-trip-China-First-Family-criticized-spending-hundreds-millions-dollars-traveling-taxpayers-dime.html
Mar 20, 2014 06:44:51 #
Mar 20, 2014 09:25:43 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
Shameful!
You and Screamin Scott are what is shameful!
Hypocrites!
Diana Oprinescu
July 9, 2013
With the attention Michelle Obama has received for her various trips and they no doubt have cost taxpayers some significant chunks of change you might be surprised at the results of National Taxpayers Union Foundations (NTUFs) peek into our two most recent First Ladies international travelling habits.
Michelle Obama has already travelled 72 days abroad up to this point. Certainly not an insignificant total, and her first term tally of 55 days abroad is more than President Reagan spent abroad in his first term.
Yet, Michelles two-term travel record will almost assuredly fail to keep pace with Laura Bushs record-setting feat.
The former First Lady racked up a two-term total of 212 days abroad. Her second term included 135 days of international travel, which is more time than her husband, George W. Bush, spent abroad during the same time period!
In fact, if you compare Laura Bush to the Presidents, she is currently the third most internationally traveled of that group, behind Bill Clinton and her husband though President Obama will likely push her back to fourth in a few years.
Michelle Obama's international travel stats:
Michelle Obama International Travel Foreign Trips Countries Visited Number of Days
2009 5 10 25
2010 3 6 14*
2011 3 7 16
2012 0 0 0
2013** 3 6 17***
Total 14 25**** 72
And Laura Bush's:
Laura Bush International Travel Foreign Trips Countries Visited Number of Days
2001 2 9 16
2002 5 13 25
2003 5 15 20
2004 5 9 16
2005 9 25 39
2006 7 17 25
2007 5 20 29
2008 8 27 42
Total 46 73* 212
There was not enough data to pursue a second-term projection for Michelle Obama at this time. However, more in-depth analysis on First Lady travel will be featured in a future study.
Mrs. Obama's trip log thus far:
Year
Dates
Countries Visited
Number of Days
Details
2009
March 31-April 5
UK, France, Germany, Czech Republic
6
First presidential trip to Europe. Michelle Obama accompanied POTUS
June 5 June 11
France, UK
7
Vacation with her two daughters. Used the C-32 to fly there
July 6 11
Russia, Italy, Vatican, and Ghana
6
Accompanied POTUS on an official tour
September 30 October 2
Denmark
3
Accompanied POTUS, but arrived there before he did (they traveled on separate planes)
December 9 11
Norway
3
Accompanied POTUS to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
2010
April 13-15
Haiti, Mexico
3
First solo international trip as First Lady
August
Spain
5
Personal trip with one of her daughters. Used the C-32.
November 6-11
India, Indonesia, Germany
6
Accompanied POTUS to India and Indonesia, but decided to return to the U.S. before the President (Obama went on to visit South Korea and Japan). However, she made a one-day surprise stop in Germany to celebrate Veterans Day.
2011
March 18-23
Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador
6
Accompanied POTUS on an official tour
May 23-26
Ireland, UK
4
Accompanied the President, but returned to the US by herself (Obama went on to visit France)
June 21-26
Botswana, South Africa
6
Her second solo international trip as First Lady. Used the C-32 (Judicial Watch calculated the total cost to American taxpayers: $424,142 for use of the aircraft)
2012
No trips abroad. Spent her vacation in Colorado and Hawaii.
2013
March
The Bahamas
6
Spring break trip with her daughters. The Secret Service and her spokesperson refused to provide any details, but media reports show that the First Lady and her daughters spent at least six days there (March 24-29)
June 17-19
UK, Germany
3
The First Lady and her two daughters accompanied POTUS
June 26-July 3
Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania
8
Family trip to the African continent
Regardless of their political affiliations, the international travel records of First Ladies present a transparency issue for taxpayers that are separate and distinct from those of Presidents. This is especially true as it appears that more and trips are being taken separately from Presidential spouses. For the time being, however, Mrs. Bushs list of trips will remain in first place.
You and Screamin Scott are what is shameful!
Hypocrites!
Diana Oprinescu
July 9, 2013
With the attention Michelle Obama has received for her various trips and they no doubt have cost taxpayers some significant chunks of change you might be surprised at the results of National Taxpayers Union Foundations (NTUFs) peek into our two most recent First Ladies international travelling habits.
Michelle Obama has already travelled 72 days abroad up to this point. Certainly not an insignificant total, and her first term tally of 55 days abroad is more than President Reagan spent abroad in his first term.
Yet, Michelles two-term travel record will almost assuredly fail to keep pace with Laura Bushs record-setting feat.
The former First Lady racked up a two-term total of 212 days abroad. Her second term included 135 days of international travel, which is more time than her husband, George W. Bush, spent abroad during the same time period!
In fact, if you compare Laura Bush to the Presidents, she is currently the third most internationally traveled of that group, behind Bill Clinton and her husband though President Obama will likely push her back to fourth in a few years.
Michelle Obama's international travel stats:
Michelle Obama International Travel Foreign Trips Countries Visited Number of Days
2009 5 10 25
2010 3 6 14*
2011 3 7 16
2012 0 0 0
2013** 3 6 17***
Total 14 25**** 72
And Laura Bush's:
Laura Bush International Travel Foreign Trips Countries Visited Number of Days
2001 2 9 16
2002 5 13 25
2003 5 15 20
2004 5 9 16
2005 9 25 39
2006 7 17 25
2007 5 20 29
2008 8 27 42
Total 46 73* 212
There was not enough data to pursue a second-term projection for Michelle Obama at this time. However, more in-depth analysis on First Lady travel will be featured in a future study.
Mrs. Obama's trip log thus far:
Year
Dates
Countries Visited
Number of Days
Details
2009
March 31-April 5
UK, France, Germany, Czech Republic
6
First presidential trip to Europe. Michelle Obama accompanied POTUS
June 5 June 11
France, UK
7
Vacation with her two daughters. Used the C-32 to fly there
July 6 11
Russia, Italy, Vatican, and Ghana
6
Accompanied POTUS on an official tour
September 30 October 2
Denmark
3
Accompanied POTUS, but arrived there before he did (they traveled on separate planes)
December 9 11
Norway
3
Accompanied POTUS to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
2010
April 13-15
Haiti, Mexico
3
First solo international trip as First Lady
August
Spain
5
Personal trip with one of her daughters. Used the C-32.
November 6-11
India, Indonesia, Germany
6
Accompanied POTUS to India and Indonesia, but decided to return to the U.S. before the President (Obama went on to visit South Korea and Japan). However, she made a one-day surprise stop in Germany to celebrate Veterans Day.
2011
March 18-23
Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador
6
Accompanied POTUS on an official tour
May 23-26
Ireland, UK
4
Accompanied the President, but returned to the US by herself (Obama went on to visit France)
June 21-26
Botswana, South Africa
6
Her second solo international trip as First Lady. Used the C-32 (Judicial Watch calculated the total cost to American taxpayers: $424,142 for use of the aircraft)
2012
No trips abroad. Spent her vacation in Colorado and Hawaii.
2013
March
The Bahamas
6
Spring break trip with her daughters. The Secret Service and her spokesperson refused to provide any details, but media reports show that the First Lady and her daughters spent at least six days there (March 24-29)
June 17-19
UK, Germany
3
The First Lady and her two daughters accompanied POTUS
June 26-July 3
Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania
8
Family trip to the African continent
Regardless of their political affiliations, the international travel records of First Ladies present a transparency issue for taxpayers that are separate and distinct from those of Presidents. This is especially true as it appears that more and trips are being taken separately from Presidential spouses. For the time being, however, Mrs. Bushs list of trips will remain in first place.
Mar 20, 2014 09:37:57 #
It's not the number of trips but the cost to the taxpayers. Your not making any comment about the source ? Why is that ? Because it's not a right wing source ?
Mar 20, 2014 10:35:42 #
Comparing the shamefull travel cost of Mrs Bush and then allowing more of the same by Mrs. Obama and clan is like saying well she got away with murder why can't she. It's wrong and should be stopped!
Mar 20, 2014 10:51:48 #
ole sarg wrote:
Shameful! br br You and Screamin Scott are what i... (show quote)
comparing Laura Bush with MIchelle is like comparing ice cream to horse caca...
Mar 20, 2014 11:02:53 #
One thing to remember about the use of the military - like statistics, all things can be skewed to look the way the presenter wants them to look. As far as the cost of the aircraft carrier and the support provided, the military is there 24x7 whether they are in combat or not - they fly and train to keep proficient so when the time comes, they can react swiftly and safely. If they are not engaged in combat related missions, then training missions or support missions are performed.
As far as the logistics for the President and his staff - regardless of who the man is - the "President" of the United States deserves the protection provided. Remember, you may not like the individual filling the position, but it is the position that is respected, supported and protected...
As far as the logistics for the President and his staff - regardless of who the man is - the "President" of the United States deserves the protection provided. Remember, you may not like the individual filling the position, but it is the position that is respected, supported and protected...
Mar 20, 2014 11:04:56 #
Another thing Sarg, look at the state of the economy when the First Ladies were taking trips... A lot worse when Michele has taken them...Plus she takes many more people than Laura Bush ever did... You are the shameful one, but are too blind to see...
Mar 20, 2014 11:08:46 #
That doesn't address the fact that the trips were taken without the President in attendance. Yes, the President has to be protected as well as his family, but the of her trips without him exceeds the usual, customary & reasonable costs one would expect...
Shellback wrote:
One thing to remember about the use of the militar... (show quote)
Mar 20, 2014 11:48:09 #
Screamin Scott wrote:
That doesn't address the fact that the trips were taken without the President in attendance. Yes, the President has to be protected as well as his family, but the of her trips without him exceeds the usual, customary & reasonable costs one would expect...
I agree that with the economy the way it is, fiscal responsibility should drive the travel decisions but IMHO the current administration is not listening to the people - it seems they have their own agenda which no one is able to change. You could start a grass roots movement to remove them from office...
Mar 20, 2014 11:53:19 #
What administration has ever listened to the public ?
Shellback wrote:
I agree that with the economy the way it is, fiscal responsibility should drive the travel decisions but IMHO the current administration is not listening to the people - it seems they have their own agenda which no one is able to change. You could start a grass roots movement to remove them from office...
Mar 20, 2014 12:03:40 #
Screamin Scott wrote:
What administration has ever listened to the public ?
That is the $64,000,000 question - and I don't have the answer...
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