I'd be curious to know the amount of money that was spent by President's on their respective vacations whether it was for themselves or their families and then try to compare it from president to president. Obviously only recent presidents will provide semi-accurate comparisons due to increasing costs of things, etc.

And security is bought and paid for regardless aren't they?

 

Yes although there would be their travel costs and I assume overtime.

They should have to pay for any cost above and beyond a normal day in the white house.

 

I don't disagree but it's never been an issue before so there's no reason to get all upset now, unless the person has complained during prior administrations.

The guy gets 250k, all benefits paid, and lives in a sweet house for free. He can afford to foot the bill for his trips.

No one vacations 3 times in 3 months . quit taking up for and call it what it is ... excess luxory when our roads are crumbling , our vets are treated like crap , and we have 17 trillion in in debt

 

I'm asking the question if you would do the same if you were the POTUS and your wife and kids wanted to go on a vacation. I'm saying I would do the same. Probably more than him to be honest.

I found this when I googled 'who pays for the President's vacations'.

 

I'm sure the info given will not satisy Obama haters though. Have at it anyways.

 

Today With President Barack Obama

More info.

 

FactCheck.org : President Obama?s Vacation Days

More.

 

Obama's Vacations? Of Any President, Bush Racked Up the Most | Politic365

This one states that his Hawaiian vacation in 2011 cost taxpayers but that the Obamas paid for their own accomodations. Go figure.

 

Obama Hawaii Vacation Costs Tax Payers $4 Million; A Look At The President's Past Hawaii Vacations (PHOTOS)

This is a good one too.

 

Taxpayer Bill for Obama?s Hawaii Vacations: $20 Million | The Blog on Obama: White House Dossier

 

 

 

This is my favorite part.

 

Some argue that Obama is justified in returning to Hawaii because that is where he spent his formative years. But how many of us get to go visit our roots for a two week vacation every year?

 

 

Yeah, he's the POTUS. Why should HE get to spend time with his family in his birthplace over the holidays? Shame on him.

I dont think its the point of taking a vacation. Its the fact that they take what seems to be too many. Its like every other month they go somewhere.

 

Agreed. I think when you sign up to become the President of the United States of America, you are signing up for a LOT of things, including scrutiny for spending LOTS of government money on every single move you make. When you're under the microscope for something like that, I think there's a certain amount of tact that needs to be taken when deciding when to take some time off.

 

It's my opinion that when you decide that you're going to become the President, one thing you do is give up some certain personal freedoms in order to be the most powerful person in the free world for 4-8 years. One of those freedoms you give up is your ability get as much sleep as you want. Another is your ability to go wherever you want without having a Secret Service entourage go with you and know every detail of what your doing...from press conferences to pit stops. Another one of those things is your freedom to take a family vacation as often as you would like to. Those are sacrifices that I think come with the job description.

 

I think even the president is entitled to some vacation time in the course of a given year, but I think Obama has been taking too many vacations, and I also recall feeling that W. Bush spent way too much time on his ranch in Crawford during his presidency.

The guy gets 250k, all benefits paid, and lives in a sweet house for free. He can afford to foot the bill for his trips.

 

Agreed.

Agreed. I think when you sign up to become the President of the United States of America, you are signing up for a LOT of things, including scrutiny for spending LOTS of government money on every single move you make. When you're under the microscope for something like that, I think there's a certain amount of tact that needs to be taken when deciding when to take some time off.

 

It's my opinion that when you decide that you're going to become the President, one thing you do is give up some certain personal freedoms in order to be the most powerful person in the free world for 4-8 years. One of those freedoms you give up is your ability get as much sleep as you want. Another is your ability to go wherever you want without having a Secret Service entourage go with you and know every detail of what your doing...from press conferences to pit stops. Another one of those things is your freedom to take a family vacation as often as you would like to. Those are sacrifices that I think come with the job description.

 

I think even the president is entitled to some vacation time in the course of a given year, but I think Obama has been taking too many vacations, and I also recall feeling that W. Bush spent way too much time on his ranch in Crawford during his presidency.

 

Check the links. Seems like a lot of hot air about his vacationing time to me.

 

 

And again, is the President ever really on vacation? Seriously. Is he ever really on a true vacation?

I'm asking the question if you would do the same if you were the POTUS and your wife and kids wanted to go on a vacation. I'm saying I would do the same. Probably more than him to be honest.

 

Honestly I probably would not. I think when you are a politician, perception is almost as important as reality. So, if the economy was in the slump it is now, I would probalby limit my vacations and would stay within the US if anything to show support for the US tourism industry. While our beaches may not be as exotic as the Bahamas, I think I could handle limiting myself to the US beaches and islands. I would also make some of my vacations coming back home to Louisville. I don't think too many people get too upset about a president going home to spend time with extended family especially since several past presidents would make those working vacations.

As mentioned previously, all presidential vacations are working vacations.

 

I do agree that the practice of many past presidents to go back home seems to be more acceptable to people than travel, particularly travel out of the country. The economic times also seem to grate people when discussing this president's vacations. I don't remember Clinton taking much vacation, or the first president Bush. Of course, Clinton wanted to stay home when Hillary was vacationing. He had a lot more fun that way.