for folks who can't bear to see the President enjoying his vacation . . .

[bigtree]

On Obama vacation, the job tags along

August 20, 2010
Washington

Imagine: You’re ready for a well-earned end-of-summer break, some golf, a dip in the ocean, ice cream with the kids. And oh by the way, you’ll be taking a bunch of people from the office with you.

That’s what President Obama faces as he begins his 10-day vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. Top aide Valerie Jarrett is there, though since she’s an old friend from Chicago, maybe having her along doesn’t totally count as “office.” Plus, she has her own place on the island. (The Obamas are renting the same digs as last year, Blue Heron Farm, at their own expense.)

But Jarrett isn't the only White House staffer who tagged along with the president. Pete Rouse, another senior adviser known for his low-key problem-solving, came along as well. Ditto Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan. Denis McDonough, the National Security Council chief of staff, is also going to “show up at some point to help out,” per deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton, who is there doing the honors with regular briefings.

Mr. Obama will also be getting his regular intelligence briefings and briefings on the economy and “other issues as they come up,” says Mr. Burton. And they will.

As Mr. Burton discovered on last year’s Martha’s Vineyard vacation, the presidency never sleeps – or relaxes, really. Last August, the junior spokesman urged the press corps to relax, have a good time, and maybe go for some strolls on the beach.

Right . . .


read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0820/On-Obama-vacation-the-job-tags-along

[Zoeisright]

1. After Bush the Stupider taking a full 1/3 of his entire time in office off,

criticism of a week-long or weekend vacation of this President really fucking makes me angry. Where were these dipshits when Bush was treating the job like a joke?

[FBaggins]

11. Exactly. In fact, this is one of the few things W got right.

Unlike congressmen, the President can do his job just about anywhere in the world. If he wants to spend six months out of the year in Chicago and six months in DC... that's just fine. It likely wouldn't make a bit of difference.

[Whisp]

17. you know what I just heard CNN do... well Bush went to his home in Crawford

and, ya know, Martha's Vineyard is a bit, erm, you know....


fuckers.

[lillypaddle]

25. Yeah, BUT ...

When Bush was off in Crawford, he was working. Working HARD clearin' brush & other stuff probably. There's no comparison between the two. :)

[Luciferous]

2. I wish I had a job so I could take a vacation... but I agree people shouldn't

be pissed about him going on vacation.

[LaurenG]

3. He deserves a vacation nt

[Xenotime]

15. Agreed.

[backscatter712]

4. When the President is out of the office, the office goes with him.

That's just part of being POTUS - the Secret Service goes along, Air Force One is there, not just as expensive transportation, but as a communication hub - the POTUS must have access to several dozen different methods of communication, from basic phone/fax/email to encrypted secret communications systems he uses to give orders to the military and to intelligence agencies. Of course, the press always comes along, and he's got to keep his TV face on at all times - the media would looooove to catch him off-guard saying something that would cause half the country to go apeshit. His staff comes along, he's got tons of paperwork, he's having multiple meetings on various important issues daily. He's frequently meeting with various VIPs, from Congresscritters to foreign heads of state, so he's got to be on the job and formal while he's on vacation.

Once all that's scheduled, there might be an hour left for Obama to swim on the beach with Malia and Sasha.

All while he's on "vacation". I'm certain that Obama takes this far more seriously than Bush did.

[maxsolomon]

5. holy moly Malia is tall

nearing 5'-10"?

[EFerrari]

9. They're both shooting up like weeds.n/t

[uncommon]

6. The President can take a vacation - hell I'm sure he needs one - he just can be constantly on

vacation like GW was.

[KittyWampus]

7. seriously, I thought only Republicans bring up Obama's "vacation time" as a negative.

[bigtree]

8. I saw another one here today

. . . any opportunity to crack wise about the man.

[KittyWampus]

10. yes, that was a prime example of what makes DU unusable for me. Said poster does that crap

day in and day out.

[elleng]

12. Happy they found a place they enjoy!

According to CBS Radio reporter Mark Knoller – the unofficial historian of White House minutiae – Obama is on his 9th vacation since taking office. As of Aug. 19, “he has spent all or part of 38 days on ‘vacation’ away from the White House,” Mr. Knoller writes. “He has also made 14 visits to Camp David spanning all or part of 32 days. It brings his total time away to all or part of 70 days.”

President Bush, at this point in his first term, had visited his Texas ranch 14 times, for a total of 102 full or partial days. He also visited Camp David 40 times, for 123 full or partial days.

“His ‘vacation’ total at this point in his presidency was all or part of 225 days away,” according to Knoller.

[okieinpain]

13. he's goofy for taking this vacation and so is his wife. I'm not mad

at him it just leaves him open to attacks when the rest of the country is hurting.

[Llewlladdwr]

16. Agree.

In case y'all haven't noticed the economy is rather poor at the moment. I have no idea whether or not the President 'deserves' a vacation or not but it does seem like he's needlessly handing ammunition to his opponents.

By the way, when was the last time y'all took a ten day vacation? I believe my last one was back in 1998...

[Uzybone]

14. They should all fuck themselves

career whiners and malcontents.

[elleng]

18. Obama goes book shopping.

The first trip out from Blue Heron Farm was to Bunch of Grapes, a book store tucked among the quaint shops on Main Street.

President Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, just back from a month at camp, motorcaded from their bayside home for a little morning browsing. Obama had yet to pick his reading list when he arrived Thursday for this beach vacation, and Bunch of Grapes seemed like the spot to fill it out.

His purchases? John Steinbeck's "The Red Pony" and Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird." And for him: "Freedom," the new novel by Jonathan Franzen.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/08/obama-goes-book-shopping.html

[bvar22]

19. UnRecced for the divisive Title Line.

It IS nice to see the Obama Family enjoying themselves.
Obama and his family are very photogenic.
I would have been happy to rec had it not been for the Fire Stoking title line.

[bigtree]

21. I didn't invent the controversy

Not only is one being manufactured by the republican opposition, there are folks right here on DU using that line of attack along with their other complaints (as if the President is disconnected from his job at hand).

Highlighting that controversy in my title is hardly a criticism of the majority of folks posting here.

[Marr]

20. I don't think I've actually seen anyone here complaining about the man taking vacation.

I've seen some complaints about the PR swim in the gulf, and a fair amount of grumbling over people swooning at vacation photos like starry-eyed celebrity hounds reading People Magazine, but that's about it. I could certainly have missed the posts you refer to, however.

I hope he's having a great time on his vacation. :shrug:

[bigtree]

22. I don't know if this is proper or not

but here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8979367&mesg_id=8979387

[Marr]

23. Ah... point taken.

[bigtree]

24. I mostly meant the grousing outside of DU

. . . but, I did find that we aren't isolated from folks willing to take us there.