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 will be honest and answer this as truthful as I can.

 

I would not vacation like Obama does, I could not do that and preach sequester at same time or look people in the face that I know are struggling economically. I would lead by example for two reasons, my conscience of knowing my trip could have saved 2 or 3 jobs for someone and not giving critics a reason to say I did that when the country was hurting.

I will be honest and answer this as truthful as I can.

 

I would not vacation like Obama does, I could not do that and preach sequester at same time or look people in the face that I know are struggling economically. I would lead by example for two reasons, my conscience of knowing my trip could have saved 2 or 3 jobs for someone and not giving critics a reason to say I did that when the country was hurting.

 

 

So you would disappoint your wife and kids to not give the critics ammunition? We've also discussed many times that the POTUS doesn't create jobs or cause jobs to disappear either. Why not just not preach sequester? Most folks are saying Obama is hypocritical. What if he just said I need to get away for a bit even though we all know he never gets away?

So you would disappoint your wife and kids to not give the critics ammunition? We've also discussed many times that the POTUS doesn't create jobs or cause jobs to disappear either. Why not just not preach sequester? Most folks are saying Obama is hypocritical. What if he just said I need to get away for a bit even though we all know he never gets away?

 

Yes she would have to be disappointed and I doubt she would want to vacation due to the situation in America. She doesn't have to have a 5 star vacation every time or anytime. Isn't being at the White House vacation enough.

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?

 

True vacation? Well, I'd say he's on the same kind of "true vacation" that I get. My job requires that when I'm on vacation, I check my phone messages on my mobile and at the office at noon and 4:00pm on every weekday, and that I also check my email at those times, and respond to anything of an urgent nature. Now, granted, the President undoubtedly has WAY more responsibility to cover for while he's on "vacation", and no doubt he has the potential for exponentially more urgent matters than I do, but still, the gist of his "true vacation" is the same as mine. I would refer that back to my statement that those are sacrifices that I think come with the job description.

 

Now I'm not going to tell you that I don't think the guy should get any vacation at all...but I think honestly, I think the standard two weeks is pretty well sufficient for the person in charge of making sure the free world runs as smoothly as possible. I think that goes for ANY President.

My guess is that no matter where the president is he sits through daily updates of domestic and international situations as well as constant phone conversations. There's just no getting away from it.

My guess is that no matter where the president is he sits through daily updates of domestic and international situations as well as constant phone conversations. There's just no getting away from it.

 

Yep. Comes with the territory. If you don't want the hassle, don't run for the office.

Would people be more accepting of their vacations if he wasn't being hypocritical about it or would there still be an issue?

Would people be more accepting of their vacations if he wasn't being hypocritical about it or would there still be an issue?

 

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "wasn't being hypocritical about it"?

Where he has said that we need to not live in excess, be smarter with our money, blah, blah, blah. I have noticed that some people's dissension about their vacations comes from things he has said as well as vacationing at time when the country has poor economic standing.

Where he has said that we need to not live in excess, be smarter with our money, blah, blah, blah. I have noticed that some people's dissension about their vacations comes from things he has said as well as vacationing at time when the country has poor economic standing.

 

In my opinion, that does make everything sting a little more. I think, for me, I would be much less inclined to be frustrated about his vacations if the cost of them was 100% out of his own salary.

Here is my thought on this...A family I know a few years ago was filing bankruptcy (due to lost jobs), I spoke with the father on several occasions and tried to be as supportive as I could be about the situation that they were going through. He was having a tough time and worried about his family as any of us would. A few weeks later he mentions that someone will need to cover children's church for them the next two weeks as they are going to South Carolina for a weeks vacation. When he said this I looked at him I guess in an awkward way because he came up to me after services and said "oh we couldn't pass it up, it was such a good deal". As several people and family had helped them out over the previous months I thought this was a slap in the face of everyone that had helped them out...Fast forward 3 years and they were just forced out of their home due to not paying mortgage for nearly a year. They continued with the same life style and spending that got them into trouble and ended up in owrse shape than they were to begin with.

 

My point is that when things are tight you need to be responsible and respect your situation. This guy seemed to flaunt the number of vacations that they went on the last several years and in doing so taught a very poor lesson to his family.

 

I have NO PROBLEM with the President going on vacation, as stated "is he ever truly on vacation"...no he's not. But with all of the threats of Govt shutdowns and services being cut back it is almost like he is saying to the American people "Let them eat cake."

In my opinion, that does make everything sting a little more. I think, for me, I would be much less inclined to be frustrated about his vacations if the cost of them was 100% out of his own salary.

 

And he pay for security detail and travel also? His last couple of Hawaiian vacations over the Christmas holidays have been on his own dime.

Here is my thought on this...A family I know a few years ago was filing bankruptcy (due to lost jobs), I spoke with the father on several occasions and tried to be as supportive as I could be about the situation that they were going through. He was having a tough time and worried about his family as any of us would. A few weeks later he mentions that someone will need to cover children's church for them the next two weeks as they are going to South Carolina for a weeks vacation. When he said this I looked at him I guess in an awkward way because he came up to me after services and said "oh we couldn't pass it up, it was such a good deal". As several people and family had helped them out over the previous months I thought this was a slap in the face of everyone that had helped them out...Fast forward 3 years and they were just forced out of their home due to not paying mortgage for nearly a year. They continued with the same life style and spending that got them into trouble and ended up in owrse shape than they were to begin with.

 

My point is that when things are tight you need to be responsible and respect your situation. This guy seemed to flaunt the number of vacations that they went on the last several years and in doing so taught a very poor lesson to his family.

 

I have NO PROBLEM with the President going on vacation, as stated "is he ever truly on vacation"...no he's not. But with all of the threats of Govt shutdowns and services being cut back it is almost like he is saying to the American people "Let them eat cake."

 

 

It's easier said than done when we all know that the Obamas can afford to go on vacation. Last I saw they had millions in the bank.

And he pay for security detail and travel also? His last couple of Hawaiian vacations over the Christmas holidays have been on his own dime.

 

No, the secret service detail is understandably not his job to pay. That's something that the country and government insists on having present for the sake of their President.

It's easier said than done when we all know that the Obamas can afford to go on vacation. Last I saw they had millions in the bank.

Yes they can personally afford all the vacations that they want, but the appearance to the American people is that in these tough times they are just flaunting their excess. There is a expense that is not paid for by the President and that is for the actual travel, staff and security...that would seem to be an unnecessary expense in these tough times. If the President is saying that everyone needs to tighten their belts should it not start with him, couldn't his kids have a "Stay-cation" plenty to do in DC. Set the example