When "W" was President the Secret Service still kept the Ranch in Crawford secured and a detail of agents there. There will be a detail a Trump Towers for the length of his tenure, if he is there or not.

Understood, and maintaining security for a fixed location should certainly be cheaper than for a series of vacation hotspots, but think about the impact that the constant motorcades will have on the Trumps' neighbors, commuters, and nearby businesses.

 

I do not like seeing our elected officials treated like royalty, no matter what their party affiliation is. Presidential salaries have become a tiny part of the compensation that they and their families receive. That is why I see Trump's announcement that he will not accept a salary as a gimmick. No president in modern history has suffered financially as a result of serving in the Oval Office.

I would agree with you if Donald Trump wanted to pick up the entire cost of providing full time security for his wife and child to live in a separate home. Security costs far exceed the salaries of a few extra Secret Service agents. It cost a fortune for satellite and drone coverage as well. The Secret Service agents that are present in photo ops are just the tip of the ice berg.

 

Travel and living arrangements are a family's private business if they are footing the bill. The Trumps are now a part of the political class, not part of a royal family. They should at least try to show some appreciation and concern for the cost of their upkeep. The fact that the Obamas have been anything but frugal with taxpayer dollars is no excuse for a Republican First Family to spare no expense.

 

I agree with them having to cover the cost. His forfeited salary can cover some.

Understood, and maintaining security for a fixed location should certainly be cheaper than for a series of vacation hotspots, but think about the impact that the constant motorcades will have on the Trumps' neighbors, commuters, and nearby businesses.

 

I do not like seeing our elected officials treated like royalty, no matter what their party affiliation is. Presidential salaries have become a tiny part of the compensation that they and their families receive. That is why I see Trump's announcement that he will not accept a salary as a gimmick. No president in modern history has suffered financially as a result of serving in the Oval Office.

 

Carter left office nearly bankrupt and according to Hillary the Clintons were broke when they left also.

 

Motorcades blocking traffic to take kids to school will cause a hardship whether it is in NYC or DC.

 

Just not something I'm getting worked up about. I'm shocked that they aren't going to DC, but not upset about it.

Carter left office nearly bankrupt and according to Hillary the Clintons were broke when they left also.

 

Motorcades blocking traffic to take kids to school will cause a hardship whether it is in NYC or DC.

 

Just not something I'm getting worked up about. I'm shocked that they aren't going to DC, but not upset about it.

It's not something that I am getting worked up about either. All I am doing is trying to be consistent with my criticism. DC is accustomed to the motorcades and the city actively discourages the use of private vehicles. Considering the size of the federal budget and the magnitude of the national debt, this issue is a symbolic one, IMO, but symbolism is important for a presidency.

 

As for Carter and Hillary leaving office broke, I did not believe it then and I don't believe it now. Carter may have struggled briefly, but former presidents have done pretty well financially in this country in modern times.

I just read a story that said they would remain in NYC until the end of the school year and then join him in D.C. I can certainly understand that.

Still crazy to think that Baron will be the first boy in the Whitehouse since JFK Jr.

I just read a story that said they would remain in NYC until the end of the school year and then join him in D.C. I can certainly understand that.

That does make sense and I also can understand the family not wanting to move Baron in the middle of the school year.

 

In the words of the late Emily Litella, that is very different. Never mind. :isurrender:

First, whenever possible, a father should be available to his minor children. Long distance parenting is far from ideal and it does not set a good example - and like it or not our presidents are seen as role models to many Americans.

 

As I have said elsewhere, politicians who refuse to accept a salary are rarely a bargain. The cost of providing security to the First Family away from the White House is much higher than it is at the White House. The cost of providing separate security for Trump and his family in two separate remote locations is at least double the cost of protecting them in a single location.

 

The money saved by Trump's rejection of a regular salary is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of Melania and Baron Trump living outside of the White House.

 

When a person runs for president, it is, or at least should be a family decision. If the family is not willing to make some sacrifices, then a person should not become a candidate for the office.

 

It was wrong for all of the separate vacations that the Obamas took over the past 8 years because taxpayers have a right to expect elected officials and their families to pay a reasonable amount of attention to the cost of providing them with a comfortable, secure life.

 

If you had a problem with all of the lavish vacations that Michelle Obama and her children took separately from President Obama, which I did, then you should be equally critical of the Trumps' decision to spare no expense to taxpayers in maintaining multiple residences.

 

Most of us would love to live in a secure environment, complete with an indoor swimming pool and private bowling alley. It is not an unreasonable sacrifice to ask the Trumps to make.

 

Obama has milked the tax payer for every extra as president that he could. Taking Michelle to New York City for "Date Night" I guess some have forgotten those times. What do you think "date night" in New York cost the tax payers? How about flying the family dog on Air Force One because it got sick and had to get back to the vet when they were in Hawaii on vacation and they sent the dog back home on the plane? What do you think all those golf games cost? And by the way, Obama sucks at golf, even after the lessons from Tiger that I am sure the tax payer has also paid for. Heck, I would love to be able to afford to be able to pay for a golf lesson from Tiger, but I have to pay my taxes so the president can get his golf lesson:idunno:

Obama has been very loose with tax payers money.

Can we give him a cool name like B Ron instead of Baron ?

Obama has milked the tax payer for every extra as president that he could. Taking Michelle to New York City for "Date Night" I guess some have forgotten those times. What do you think "date night" in New York cost the tax payers? How about flying the family dog on Air Force One because it got sick and had to get back to the vet when they were in Hawaii on vacation and they sent the dog back home on the plane? What do you think all those golf games cost? And by the way, Obama sucks at golf, even after the lessons from Tiger that I am sure the tax payer has also paid for. Heck, I would love to be able to afford to be able to pay for a golf lesson from Tiger, but I have to pay my taxes so the president can get his golf lesson:idunno:

Obama has been very loose with tax payers money.

 

I doubt Air Force One was used to fly the dog home, it stays wherever the President is.

No way Tiger charged the POTUS for "Golf Lessons" and as far as paying for the golf itself, most of the golf he has played around DC has been at Government Owned courses on Military Bases...no one is charging the POTUS a Green Fee.

Should the President and First Lady stay in the White House and never go out on their own?

 

I'm not a huge supporter of the President, but these things aren't anything to get in a stir over.

I doubt Air Force One was used to fly the dog home, it stays wherever the President is.

No way Tiger charged the POTUS for "Golf Lessons" and as far as paying for the golf itself, most of the golf he has played around DC has been at Government Owned courses on Military Bases...no one is charging the POTUS a Green Fee.

Should the President and First Lady stay in the White House and never go out on their own?

 

I'm not a huge supporter of the President, but these things aren't anything to get in a stir over.

How about the nice little trip for Michelle and 40 of her girlfriends to Italy just after the 2008 election? Believe what you want. It is a pretty tough pill to swallow when you see your hard earned money get taken from you in the form of taxes and then you see the first family flying all over the world for vacations and you can't scrape enough money together to have a "date night":no:

How about the nice little trip for Michelle and 40 of her girlfriends to Italy just after the 2008 election? Believe what you want. It is a pretty tough pill to swallow when you see your hard earned money get taken from you in the form of taxes and then you see the first family flying all over the world for vacations and you can't scrape enough money together to have a "date night":no:

 

A lot of stuff the family is expected to pay themselves...you can Google it and see for yourself. In short they receive an itemized bill each month with expenses from Food to Dry Cleaning to paying for some of the staff even. On trips transportation is free, but they are expected to pay for food, lodging and incidentals to the travel.

How about the nice little trip for Michelle and 40 of her girlfriends to Italy just after the 2008 election? Believe what you want. It is a pretty tough pill to swallow when you see your hard earned money get taken from you in the form of taxes and then you see the first family flying all over the world for vacations and you can't scrape enough money together to have a "date night":no:

 

Two friends - not 40.

 

 

Privately, officials note that the first lady is paying for her own room, food and transportation, and the friends she brought will pay for theirs as well. The government pays for security, and the Secret Service, not the first lady, determines what is needed.

 

Officials said some reports of the trip had been exaggerated. Mrs. Obama is not traveling with 40 friends, one official said, but with two friends and four of their daughters, as well as a couple of aides and a couple of advance staff members.

 

Michelle Obama Criticized for Spain Vacation - The New York Times

I wonder if this stay in NYC is just until the end of the current school year???

I wonder if this stay in NYC is just until the end of the current school year???

 

That's what was announced I think.

 

Of course President Trump may stay in NYC also, I saw on TV a day or so ago that the Oval Office is set to be remodeled with extensive security upgrades. Of course I'm kidding, I don't think he could operate as effectively for extended amount of time from NYC as he could DC.

 

President Obama, according to the report I heard, put off the remodel until after he was gone. New POTUS could have to go as long as 9 months without use of the Oval Office.