Michelle Obama - this is what you call a "First Lady" ?

[333386]

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Michelle Obama Kicks It Euro-style While Americans, and Barack Obama, Watch
Newsbusters ^
Posted on Monday, August 09, 2010



Michelle Obama Kicks It Euro-style While Americans, and Barack Obama, Watch By Melissa Clouthier Created 08/09/2010 - 10:54

The press won't go there because, well, they love President Barack Obama and this story, accurately reported, is painful. I haven't gone there because I don't really care what's going on between President Obama and his wife. President Clinton defiling the Oval office concerned me because his actions were a big f-u to the American people and showed blatant disrespect to the office and the country. Michelle being pissed off at Barack Obama? Eh, who isn't? Also, Michelle being a petty, selfish woman? Also not news. If reports are to be believed, Michelle Obama is the reason America has the shining tower of intelligence Joe Biden instead of Hillary Clinton. Petty. They're two of a kind.

Still and all, this story has become more newsworthy as the scope and cost of Michelle's trip to Europe has dribbled out. Mickey Kaus says: [1]

So Michelle Obama vacations in Spain with her daughter and a huge posse, leaving her husband alone on his birthday [2] and undermining his party's political chances (bad recession ‘optics' [3]). This is the sort of story on which I suspect there are three levels of perception:

1. Unsophisticated: Jeez, they must have had some kind of fight. She's pissed! This is a big ‘screw you.'

2. Sophisticated and well informed: At their level everyone is too smart and experienced to let any kind of spat affect state affairs. These things get planned out well ahead of time by staff. Only the unsophisticated jump to conclusions on the basis of crude external appearances.

3. Real Insider: Jeez, they must have had some kind of fight. She's pissed! This is a big ‘screw you.'

Ha! Well, though no one would say it, this was a big "screw you" to the president. Turns out, it was a big screw you to the American Taxpayer, too. From the Seattle Times [4] that emphasizes (of course!) the private nature of the trip and that Michelle Obama will pay back some of the cost:

The opulence of the European trip also has drawn scrutiny. Michelle Obama is staying at the Hotel Villa Padierna, a Ritz-Carlton resort in the mountains outside Marbella. The resort has two golf courses, a posh spa with Turkish baths, views of the Mediterranean Sea and a high-end restaurant specializing in avant-garde fare. Room rates start at $400 and rise to $6,500 for a two-bedroom villa with a private pool and 24-hour butler service.

While her friends arrived in Spain on their own, Michelle Obama flew in on a type of aircraft also used by Vice President Joseph Biden. It costs the government $11,555 an hour to operate the plane, according to the Air Force. Assuming a nearly eight-hour flight to nearby Málaga, the total round-trip cost of the flight is about $178,000.

Anita McBride, who was chief of staff to former first lady Laura Bush, was not surprised the trip has its critics.

"When you are a public figure, it can be difficult to lead a private life. Despite the fact that much of this trip is paid for personally, the American people know that there are costs borne by the taxpayers and it's to be expected that the more expensive the trip, the greater the risk of criticism," McBride said.

The optics are so bad, even Democrat (and Journolista?) Kirsten Powers calls this a "Foolish Trip" [5]:

Some argue that Michelle should be able to travel wherever she wants if she's paying for it herself. This is naive. She is the first lady at a time when Americans are experiencing great economic pain. There are endless great locations here at home that she could put on the map with a visit - American hotels and restaurants that would be grateful for the business generated by such a high-profile visitor.

If it's a huge sacrifice for her, so be it. Sacrifice is actually a noble trait, last I checked.

Plus, if she keeps this up, she will be able to vacation anywhere she wants in about two years.

The choices regarding this story are unpleasant for Democrats:

1. Barack and Michelle are fighting and she is so selfish she doesn't care how it looks. (Actually the best scenario.)

2. Barack and Michelle are just self-indulgent and don't care about the American people or how they might feel. Michelle feels entitled to a vacation, and dammit, she's going to have one.

3. Barack and Michelle know how this will look and have no interest in Democrats getting re-elected in November.

I happen to believe all three are true. It's really not in President Obama's best interest to have the Democrats in charge after November. So, President and Michelle Obama just push on doing whatever they want to do. There is also an element here that the President hasn't quite grasped his responsibility as president-to represent the people. And the American people suffer while DC is rolling in it gangster style.

Forget spats, optics, elections: The Obamas display contempt for the American people. Living like Kings while people are jobless and losing their homes is not just gauche, it stirs Americans at a primal level. Most Americans left another country so that average people could have a chance and not be lorded over by faux-aristocrats.


________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iz5LS9G9cU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iz5LS9G9cU</a>

[OzmO]

http://www.theage.com.au/world/while-obama-preaches-sacrifice-his-family-frolics-in-spain-20100807-11pd2.html

70 people in the Security Detail alone!

I bet this trip is well over a million at this point. 

 

The question is, did other first ladies do this?

If the answer is yes, then the story is worthless. 

As far as the security detail that seems normal.

[333386]

The question is, did other first ladies do this?

If the answer is yes, then the story is worthless. 

As far as the security detail that seems normal.

The issue is the hypocrisy of MoBacca telling us all to sacrifice, use less energy for the planet, to pay more, to consume less, to visit the Gulf for vacations, to take low paid charity jobs, etc, all while she is using more resources on one gaudy trip alone than every poster here could in 10 lifetimes. 

 

[blacken700]

Show me where a jet plane crashed into the empire state building.  Maybe you can find way to post a link that will take us to your universe.

it wasn't a jet it was a b 25 bomber
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUlWpqLsOVs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUlWpqLsOVs</a>

[OzmO]

it wasn't a jet it was a b 25 bomber
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUlWpqLsOVs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUlWpqLsOVs</a>

I know that, thanks.  In Sammy's universe a jet plane hit it. 

[333386]

www.theatlantic.com

Megan McArdle - Megan McArdle is the business and economics editor for The Atlantic. She has worked at three start-ups, a consulting firm, an investment bank, a disaster recovery firm at Ground Zero, and the Economist.

Bio | All Posts Megan McArdle was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and yes, she does enjoy her lattes, as well as the occasional extra dry skim milk cappuccino. Her checkered work history includes three start-ups, four years as a technology project manager for a boutique consulting firm, a summer as an associate at an investment bank, and a year spent as sort of an executive copy girl for one of the disaster recovery firms at Ground Zero . . . all before the age of 30.

While working at Ground Zero, she started Live from the WTC, a blog focused on economics, business, and cooking. She may or may not have been the first major economics blogger, depending on whether we are allowed to throw outlying variables such as Brad Delong out of the set. From there it was but a few steps down the slippery slope to freelance journalism. For the past four years she has worked in various capacities for The Economist, where she wrote about economics and oversaw the founding of Free Exchange, the magazine&apos;s economics blog. She has also maintained her own blog, Asymmetrical Information, which moved to the Atlantic Monthly, along with its owner, in August 2007.

Megan holds a bachelor&apos;s degree in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the University of Chicago. After a lifetime as a New Yorker, she now resides in northwest Washington DC, where she is still trying to figure out what one does with an apartment larger than 400 square feet.  Share  « Previous McArdle | Next McArdle »   Email  Print 
What Was Michelle Obama Thinking?
Aug 7 2010, 3:18 PM ET |  Comment

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I don't think there's anything wrong with Michelle Obama vacationing in Spain; they have the money, so why not?  But I agree with Doug Mataconis that, while there's nothing actually wrong with it, it's really quite unbelievably politically stupid.  When we're in the middle of the worst recession in living memory, it's not a good idea to take a luxury vacation that most of your countrymen could never possibly afford in the best of times, at considerable taxpayer expense for the security, in a foreign country.  Whether or not people should resent it, they will, and his party's already in big enough trouble without reinforcing the Red State sense that this administration is full of out-of-touch elites.  I'm astonished that Obama's advisors gave this trip the green light.

Yes, yes, I know--mean Republicans would make hay out of a vacation no matter where it was.  Probably so.  But no one would be much interested in those charges, while this does seem to have some grip.  And while characters in novels may improve their lives immeasurably when they learn to stop worrying about what other people think and just be true to themselves, this is not a life path that is open to political figures.

[SAMSON123]

I know that, thanks.  In Sammy's universe a jet plane hit it. 

Didn't I post that same video and others as well as articles many times for you idiot? The point in the original thread about this issue was the Empire State Building... a building substantially smaller than the World Trade was struck by a plane, had a immense fire, killed a number of people, caused the elevators to crash to ground floor due to severed cables and yet it is still standing. The Empire State building was designed to absorb an impact of a 10 ton aircraft. The military jet (not the commercial airliner you keep suggesting) weighed an estimated between 10 and 15 tons...yet the building is still standing. The 737 COMMERCIAL AIRLINER that crashed into the WTC weighed 75 tons which is only a little heavier and larger than the 707 the building was designed for MULTIPLE IMPACTS AGAINST....yet it neatly fell to the ground in its own footprints, in exactly 30 foot segments which just so happen to be the length of the trucks flat beds that carried away the debris...how convenient.

Nawww... this was not a controlled demolition (even though the company CONTROLLED DEMOLITION were the ones who cleaned up the debris) it was just a coincidence byway of a 6 foot 5 inch tall Saudi guy name Osama  operating out of a cave in Pakistan  who was a CIA agent who has been dead for about six years now.

[333386]

Didn't I post that same video and others as well as articles many times for you idiot? The point in the original thread about this issue was the Empire State Building... a building substantially smaller than the World Trade was struck by a plane, had a immense fire, killed a number of people, caused the elevators to crash to ground floor due to severed cables and yet it is still standing. The Empire State building was designed to absorb an impact of a 10 ton aircraft. The military jet (not the commercial airliner you keep suggesting) weighed an estimated between 10 and 15 tons...yet the building is still standing. The 737 COMMERCIAL AIRLINER that crashed into the WTC weighed 75 tons which is only a little heavier and larger than the 707 the building was designed for MULTIPLE IMPACTS AGAINST....yet it neatly fell to the ground in its own footprints, in exactly 30 foot segments which just so happen to be the length of the trucks flat beds that carried away the debris...how convenient.

Nawww... this was not a controlled demolition (even though the company CONTROLLED DEMOLITION were the ones who cleaned up the debris) it was just a coincidence byway of a 6 foot 5 inch tall Saudi guy name Osama  operating out of a cave in Pakistan  who was a CIA agent who has been dead for about six years now.

Empire State Building is mostly concrete, old school style. 

I see it daily and its still standing.  King kong couldnt even down that bitch.  Guess what, before the crazxies took over everything, that was built in little over a year. 

[Skip8282]

First off I would be a little surprised to see you read anything other than Dick and Jane, so physics on earth let alone in space is far beyond your kin; second my next treatise will be on the irrational and psychologically disturbed brain. You mind if I add you in the book as an example since you fit so well into the category? Nothing like a living example of something only theorized.

I'm not feeling any luv from you.

[OzmO]

Didn't I post that same video and others as well as articles many times for you idiot? The point in the original thread about this issue was the Empire State Building... a building substantially smaller than the World Trade was struck by a plane, had a immense fire, killed a number of people, caused the elevators to crash to ground floor due to severed cables and yet it is still standing. The Empire State building was designed to absorb an impact of a 10 ton aircraft. The military jet (not the commercial airliner you keep suggesting) weighed an estimated between 10 and 15 tons...yet the building is still standing. The 737 COMMERCIAL AIRLINER that crashed into the WTC weighed 75 tons which is only a little heavier and larger than the 707 the building was designed for MULTIPLE IMPACTS AGAINST....yet it neatly fell to the ground in its own footprints, in exactly 30 foot segments which just so happen to be the length of the trucks flat beds that carried away the debris...how convenient.

Nawww... this was not a controlled demolition (even though the company CONTROLLED DEMOLITION were the ones who cleaned up the debris) it was just a coincidence byway of a 6 foot 5 inch tall Saudi guy name Osama  operating out of a cave in Pakistan  who was a CIA agent who has been dead for about six years now.

Why are you getting so worked up?  In your universe obviously traditional physics doesn't exist.  Things like what the both buildings were made out of, construction and the mass and speed of both objects don't factor into it, right?  So your grade school logic that says a jet plane hit the empire state building stills holds up. 

Otherwise the element (CTitium) that holds your universe together would cease to exist, thus your universe would fall apart.

You are such a smart woman.  (in your universe, but here, in the real world you are just a dumbass)

[Beach Bum]

The question is, did other first ladies do this?

If the answer is yes, then the story is worthless. 

As far as the security detail that seems normal.

Wouldn't matter to me if other First Ladies have done it.  It's an outrageous amount of money to spend on a birthday party, by a public servant, in the middle of a recession. 

[Beach Bum]

Why are you getting so worked up?  In your universe obviously traditional physics doesn't exist.  Things like what the both buildings were made out of, construction and the mass and speed of both objects don't factor into it, right?  So your grade school logic that says a jet plane hit the empire state building stills holds up. 

Otherwise the element (CTitium) that holds your universe together would cease to exist, thus your universe would fall apart.

You are such a smart woman.  (in your universe, but here, in the real world you are just a dumbass)

Doh!  LOL   

[Skip8282]

Of course, the Democratically controlled Senate isn't helping matters...



CAGW Slams Senate Travel

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The nation’s premier taxpayer watchdog group, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), today expressed outrage over reports that the Senate is spending more money than ever on foreign travel. A Roll Call article by Paul Singer today disclosed that the Senate’s reported travel tab for 2010 will exceed $5 million for the first time. That figure significantly underestimates the chamber’s real travel costs.

“Senators should be cutting back on expenses associated with their jobs, much like businesses and families had to do during these difficult economic circumstances. Instead, it seems that ‘fiscal responsibility’ is a foreign concept to them.”

“The Senate is completely out of touch with taxpayers when senators spend a record amount on foreign travel while the annual budget deficit and national debt are at record levels,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz. “Senators should be cutting back on expenses associated with their jobs, much like businesses and families had to do during these difficult economic circumstances. Instead, it seems that ‘fiscal responsibility’ is a foreign concept to them.”

According to Roll Call, “The Congressional Research Service recently tallied Congressional foreign travel expenditure reports and concluded that the cost of these trips has more than tripled since 1994.” The article also included information about the lack of transparency: “Congressional foreign travel is paid for out of two standing ‘foreign currency’ accounts in the U.S. Treasury that automatically refill themselves, and Congress does not have to appropriate money for these trips. There is also no budget for Congressional travel, so Members of Congress never have to inquire how much money is left for travel in a given year.”

The article stated that real costs are also hidden because travel tallies don’t include the tens of millions of dollars spent by the Pentagon on aircraft for trips and other expenses that come out of agency budgets.

“During every congressional recess, there are reports about the absurd costs associated with Congress’ taxpayer-funded junkets,” continued Schatz. “Recent news articles have also drawn new attention to the issue of White House travel. These reports indicate that taxpayers do not have a clear sightline on the travel costs for Congress or the White House. Politicians should be open and transparent about their travel costs, instead of using a ridiculous amount of resources and then hiding the real total through the use of military, agency, and other slush funds.”

CAGW is issuing a call to action and requesting that Congress and the White House conduct an audit and produce a public report that accounts for the total dollar amount associated with official travel, to the extent that such information does not compromise national security.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.
 

[333386]

This trip is definately cost over a million before all is said and done. 

[Skip8282]

Why are you getting so worked up?  In your universe obviously traditional physics doesn't exist.  Things like what the both buildings were made out of, construction and the mass and speed of both objects don't factor into it, right?  So your grade school logic that says a jet plane hit the empire state building stills holds up. 

Otherwise the element (CTitium) that holds your universe together would cease to exist, thus your universe would fall apart.

You are such a smart woman.  (in your universe, but here, in the real world you are just a dumbass)

lmfao

[Kazan]

This is just another example of the "ruling class" showing their true colors. We all need to tighten our belts and cut back ( meaning all you peons cut back ).

[tarzan]

I can't wait till these two grifters and parasites are gone. 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCGR_53gl_U" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCGR_53gl_U</a>

Bob for President. He tells it like it is!

[240 is Back]

if she had spent the $ domestically, I'd be okay with it.

Bush spent 20million on plane rides to crawford alone... but that $ was spent in USA.

Spending the dollars in Spain is some bhoolshite. 
Spending the dollars here would be just like every other prez and first lady.

[333386]

if she had spent the $ domestically, I'd be okay with it.

Bush spent 20million on plane rides to crawford alone... but that $ was spent in USA.

Spending the dollars in Spain is some bhoolshite. 
Spending the dollars here would be just like every other prez and first lady.

240 - like i have told you from Day 1, these two grifters and thieves dont give a rats ass about this country, only what they can rip off, steal, finagle, and get a five finger discount for. 

[BM OUT]

if she had spent the $ domestically, I'd be okay with it.

Bush spent 20million on plane rides to crawford alone... but that $ was spent in USA.

Spending the dollars in Spain is some bhoolshite. 
Spending the dollars here would be just like every other prez and first lady.

Its not an issue over money.Its an issue over the old concept of doing what I say,not what I do.Republicans dont tell everyone to sacrifice,dont tell people what to eat,how hot to keep your home,what cars to drive,this "women" does ,then spends money like its water.She is a two faced idiot.

[240 is Back]

Republicans dont tell everyone to sacrifice,dont tell people what to eat,how hot to keep your home,what cars to drive

Repubs don't try to legislate morality as well?  Ahem, really?

[333386]

Repubs don't try to legislate morality as well?  Ahem, really?

That's not the issue with this.  The issue is the wholesale looting of the nation both of these two grifters are engaging in all while proclaiming that the rest of us need to sacrifice, turn the air conditioners off and drive little go carts to work.

This is Bonnie & Clyde 2010

[OzmO]

Wouldn't matter to me if other First Ladies have done it.  It's an outrageous amount of money to spend on a birthday party, by a public servant, in the middle of a recession. 

I agree, it is outrageous, but not as outrageous as it would be if this was something that wasn't done.  If Nancy Reagan had done it it would be wrong too, but not as, outrageous as if Michelle was the first one to it.  That's way if, Michelle is the only first lady to do so then the title of the thread might make sense, but if every first lady before did crap like this then the point loses its impact.

This administration is known for its competence when it comes to public relations thats for sure.

[333386]

I agree, it is outrageous, but not as outrageous as it would be if this was something that wasn't done.  If Nancy Reagan had done it it would be wrong too, but not as, outrageous as if Michelle was the first one to it.  That's way if, Michelle is the only first lady to do so then the title of the thread might make sense, but if every first lady before did crap like this then the point loses its impact.

This administration is known for its competence when it comes to public relations thats for sure.

The difference with other First Lady's is that they did not lecture us daily of the need to sacrifce, lead simple lives, turn off the AC and heat, drive go carts, etc. 

These two pigs spend every waking moment telling us to live like serfs while they steal, plunder, loot, and do the opposite of what they expect of us. 

 

[BM OUT]

Repubs don't try to legislate morality as well?  Ahem, really?

Ummm,this discussion is about Obama telling everyone to sacrifice and chastising those who actually make money.A women who wears 500 dollar shoes to a food bank,a couple that before this year NEVER gave more then 1% of their income to charrity.A family wasting tax payer money on elaberate parties every week in the white house then pointing an accusing finger at the rich for not being patriotic or having compassion.

These two frauds will tell you to heat your home at 60 degrees to cut down on your carbon footprint but fly all over the world for their own amusement.

Republicans do not try to legislate morality.They are opposed to killing babies and queers getting married,other then that,its democrats who try to even tell us what to eat and feed our kids.Then eat like slobs and feed their kids crap.Two faced idiots.