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Later this month President Obama will vacation with his family in Martha's Vineyard, the White House announced today, but spokesman Jay Carney asserted the time away from Washington won't allow for much a of a break from the ongoing economic crisis.
"The Presidency travels with you," Carney told reporters in the daily briefing. "He will be in constant communication and get regular briefings from his national security team, as well as his economic team."
Following last weekend's credit downgrade and three days of record volatility in U.S. and international markets some had speculated the President might call Congress back from their own month long recess.
Given the fragile economy, reporters today questioned the President's own plans for some time off.
Carney responded that the President is focused everyday on dealing with the economy, talking with his advisors, the business community and international leaders.
Still the President’s spokesman said, "I don't think Americans out there would begrudge that notion that the president would spend some time with his family."
And Carney sought to remind reporters that breaking news requiring the commander-in-chief's immediate attention often disrupt presidential vacations.
"I think, as anyone who's covered it in the past, either in this administration or others, there's no such thing as a presidential vacation,” he said.
Two years ago while in Martha's Vineyard the President announced he was keeping Ben Bernanke on as Fed Chairman just before bleak news broke about the nation's deficit. And during that same year the President curtailed his vacation to deliver the eulogy at Senator Ted Kennedy's funeral.
Later that year while in Hawaii for Christmas vacation the President and his team had a major national security scare after an Al Qaeda operative hid explosives in his underwear and attempted to blow up a jetliner bound for Detroit.
This time Carney acknowledged that with all eyes focused on a shaky global economy, the President’s time on Martha’s Vineyard could always be cut short.
"He will, of course, be fully capable if necessary of traveling back if that were required. It's not very far," Carney said.
Leave a Comment:
Enjoy what little quality time you can spend with the family, Mr. President!
We know it won't be much like the 5 weeks off that Congress is enjoying right now.
Exactly Richard!
Why shouldn't the President take a week off?
Congress has gone all socialist on us and enjoys 5 weeks!
What can President Obama accomplish without a Congress??
PS: Here's my $19.95 - you weren't kidding! ;o)
Please, put it on my tab!
He could come up with a budget? Hell we haven't had one in over 2 years...nevermind, the last time he proposed a budget it was defeated 97-0.
JFK, pay attention. President Obama submitted his budget early this year just as he did last year and the year before. It's Congress that can't get their rear-ends in a row.
Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush spent more time on "vacation" during their first year than President Obama did. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton spent less time on "vacation."
No, President Obama cannot enjoy anything, if for no other reason than he belongs in the cotton fields where he should labor from dawn to dusk, everybody knows that. And of course the Banana Republicans responsible for the Republican Recession and Tea Party Downgrade need not take any responsibility for the messes they make. The President should miss all the happenings of his young family, and should stop being uppity and clean up the mess already.
JFK, please accept this piece of advice that I now can barely contain when debunking misleading waving-arms-in-the-air statements, Go F YOURSELF
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/163347-senate-votes-unanimously-against-obama-budget
No matter how you spin, the President is willing to get @!$%# done. Congress/GOP Obstructionism is the cluster @!$%# here. The buck stops with the POTUS is flawed logic due to budgets are ultimately passed by Congress. That is why RIGHTIES like to post graphs of DEFICITS by CONGRESS rather than DEFICITS by PRESIDENT (to protect Bush Jr.).
Adidas503, why do you think "Replublicans criticized his speech for lacking detail". Because he has no plan...he says what he would like to do but when pressed for details he stutters & stammers.
Richard-348249
Enjoy what little quality time you can spend with the family, Mr. President!
We know it won't be much like the 5 weeks off that Congress is enjoying right now.
Indeed Richard; no matter where he goes the inase, bellyaching, hostage taking t-baggres will say he is/has done nothing
What have they done besides stall and lie. Where are the jobs they promise the people?
Things Obama has done…
http://www.bspcn.com/2010/10/18/things-obama-has-done/
Exactly what Ari Flescher used to say. Are we going to get a new seal with Marthas Vineyard on it?
Nice work Beverly, here are some of my favorites…
2. Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and putting the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along
Huh?
5. Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation
What exactly is a “Green Job”
7. Won the Nobel Peace Prize
Still trying to figure this one out
8. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
Which by the way saved & created jobs somewhere
10. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
Who paid for those write-offs?
13. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
This statement is utter bull@!$%#
15. “Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales
See 10.
21. . Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB.
I hear the families of those who lost their lives were real high on this one
I could go on and on but believe it or not, there are 108 listed on this link with the last being Healthcare Reform…yeah, thanks for my $3000 policy increase this year!
Good post JFK! I doubt the liberal koolaid folks like red wig and bev, the corrupt neighborhood organizer will agree though.... those two have absolutely no life beyond FR and probably aren't worth dialoging with.... wacko liberals is a nice description for that pair, lol!
Even former staunch liberals are jumping off the Obama ship before it's too late... recently Maureen Dowd said Obama doesn't have leadership qualities! Something the rest of the country already knows, but coming from Dowd, it is pretty significant! Whoever the Republican candidtate will be in 2012, he should have it pretty easy.... Obama's ratings are on a downward slide and unlikely to recover before the election.
Look for a documentary describing the killing of Osama bin Laden in October, 2012.... that's the only positive BO has going right now! And he plans to milk every drop of pr out of it that he can.....!
Bill Thomas, again waving your arms around in the air disseminating misleading statements. Maureen Dowd said
Being unable to fill the Leadership VOID and not having Leadership Qualities are not the same. Maureen continues to say
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/opinion/withholder-in-chief.html
The narrative perpetuated by Left and Right is Obama is not enough of a "bully", not using the "Bully Pulpit" thus is not a leader. Perhaps EMINEM should be the next POTUS. He would "stand up" to the GOP BULLIES!
[I could go on and on but believe it or not, there are 108 listed on this link with the last being Healthcare Reform…yeah, thanks for my $3000 policy increase this year!]
JFK, if your health insurance increased this year, you should ask your insurance company to kiss you...most people like to be kissed while they are getting screwed...
...your insurance company is screwing you...I'd ask them why...
My question...
JFK, did your 2010 premiums go up? How about your 2009? ...2008? ...2007?
Notice a trend?
noid - yes but my 2011 premium had the largest % increase.
[noid - yes but my 2011 premium had the largest % increase.]
american, all kidding aside...you're getting screwed...your insurance company is gouging you. They know the gravy train is coming to a screeching halt, and they are turning their customers upside down and shaking loose what little they have left.
Of course he is on vacation. Why not.
Wait, there's nothing important going on right now, is there?
Naww. Credit down grade, no biggie. Stock market tumbling? Not a problem. Unemployment rising? They can wait.
Economy in double dip? So what, dude's got to get in some chillaxation.
Cause presidentin' is hard.
Has Boehny called the House back into session?
Didn't think so.
Boehner is sitting in his car right now smoking two at a time with the windows rolled up.
Are you giving up your vacation this year, Spanky?
Is Congress?
I don't begrudge him anything. I would rather have a relaxed President than a stressed one. And besides, he takes his office with him.
So, chill out yourself and try something besides non-stop criticism.
Come on - Seriously? This man still has a family, and has stayed on in Washington even as members of congress directly responsible for the credit downgrade take off for five weeks. Where is congressional leadership spanky? Where is Boehner's and Reid's sense of urgency. You forget, the President can't do anything without them and their rank and file present in the capitol.
I know you don't like the guy, but can you blame him for wanting a change of scenery?
[Cause presidentin' is hard.]
...so is lawyerin'...not too hard to listen to a police scanner, now is it, you ambulance chaser...
You owe me a keyboard! lmao!!!
If my business had just been downgraded you better believe I cancel the old vacation.
Besides the little misses and her 15 car entourage, is in Oregon right now.
Besides according to you all he blows off steam/relaxes out on the golf course. Number of rounds this year alone?
I know, presidentin' is hard.
Spanky-
Economy in double dip? So what, dude's got to get in some chillaxation.
Cause presidentin' is hard.
Yeah, just like working in the interest of the people is. You know t-baggers need a little chill time to meet their corporate masters on their yachts while sipping champagne and making plans to screw the lesser of US.
Do any of the posters here live in or around Washington DC ? From what I have seen, DC in August is absoulutely miserable. Only a few places that are worse, Texas, Oklahoma and middle of Florida. At least in Arizona, its (supposedly) "a dry heat."
I'm sure Barack will keep up on the news. They must get MSNBC on Martha's, right? Word is that Barack really likes that "Rachel" fella.
So, you have no problem with Congress staying on vacation?
Sorry Noid, but I'm a buck stops here guy.
As the boss I don't expect my people to do my job. If I have to get something done, I do it.
Obama is the boss. The downgrade happened on his watch. at the end of the day, rightly or wrongly, he is responsible for it. It comes with the title - Leader of the free world.
He needs to buckle down and come up with a plan. Once he does that he should call congress back.
Leadership. It's what we desperately need. What we get instead is pure, unadulterated malaise.
This is the guy who flew down to Rio the day he launched an attack on Libya, and there were actually people who thought he cancel his trip to the Vineyard?!?!?
You media folks are more delusional than the treehouse troupe.
Congress is a special case. They do less damage when they are out of town.
Yeah, Mr. W. Bush knew presidentin was hard. That was why Mr. Cheney did the presidentin for him.
"Later that year while in Hawaii for Christmas vacation the President and his team had a major national security scare after an Al Qaeda operative hid explosives in his underwear and attempted to blow up a jetliner bound for Detroit."
The President was on vaca in Hawaii at the time and travels on Air Force One . Why should he be scared? Many of us were looking for work at the time and NOT on vacation. In general, why should Americans be scared to travel anyway since many of us can't AFFORD to travel at all anymore ? !
Awesome...the Conservative troika of Spanky, Smiffy and "No Joe" have all chimed in simultaneously and the results are in...
Brutus is, was and apparently always will be an honourable man.
In order for a remark to be clever, noid, it cannot be inapt.
Try responding to what is posted- not just what you have lined up for the day.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks!
Thanks for the advice...not necessary as I did respond to what was posted. If you are unable to follow along that's not my problem but thanks for playing anyway.
Have a nice day!
[Awesome...the Conservative troika of Spanky, Smiffy and "No Joe" have all chimed in simultaneously and the results are in...]
Noid...right on the money, my friend...Spanky the coward has his helper monkeys cheering him on...
...conservatism truly is a mental disorder...
Where is the Republican controlled Congress today? You know, that group who's job it is to address and solve these problems. 5 friggen weeks. This after taking a week off every 2 or 3 weeks they work. Where are all you mouthbreathers when this happens?
Leona, what's worse?
“It was an interesting day.”—President Bush, recalling 9/11 [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020105-3.html%E2%80%9D">White House, 1/5/02]
At approximately 8:48 a.m. on the morning of September 11, 2001, the first pictures of the burning World Trade Center were broadcast on live television. The news anchors, reporters, and viewers had little idea what had happened in lower Manhattan, but there were some people who did know. By that time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the National Military Command Center, the Pentagon, the White House, the Secret Service, and Canada’s Strategic Command all knew that three commercial airplanes had been hijacked. They knew that one plane had been flown deliberately into the World Trade Center’s North Tower; a second plane was wildly off course and also heading toward Manhattan; and a third plane had abruptly turned around over Ohio and was flying back toward Washington, DC.
So why, at 9:03 a.m.—fifteen minutes after it was clear the United States was under terrorist attack—did President Bush sit down with a classroom of second-graders and begin a 20-minute pre-planned photo op?
And you buffoons want to question Presidents time off at a time when the people who are supposed to deal with this are on a 5 week vacation. Pathetic partisanship when this country most needs statesmanship and cooperation.
vwterry - congress better be at home talking to their constituents. FYI - congress is made up of the house of representatives and the senate. Only the house is republican controlled.
"If my business had just been downgraded you better believe I cancel the old vacation."
How's the wifey?
I mean, business?
Destroying an economy is hard work and he's been doing a AAA+ job... oh wait... scratch that... AA+ job!!
So a little time off for all his hard work is in order!!
Enjoy your time off.. while the rest of us poor slobs pick up the pieces and try an save what's left!!
Change you can believe in... yea right!!
Wait, I though marriage as a union between a man and a woman was the most important American value? Shouldn't Barack and Michelle have some time to renew their relationship?
good catch on the semantics there american wad'o'numbers. I imagine most knew what I was saying. As to "congress better be at home talking to their constituents." Why would the Republican "members" of the House of Representatives start that now when they ignored every poll taken leading up to the debt limit excuse for legislation?
Funny how the same people here bitching about Congress going on vaction has no problem with Milli Vanilli doing the same.
Even funnier how the same people who have a problem with the President going on vacation have no problem with Congress doing the same.
Funny how the same people complaining about President Obama taking a week off didn't make a sound when President Bush headed off to Texas for most of August every year. The GOPTP is the party of Petty.
Even funnier, how they didn't mind W Bush spending months of his presidency clearing brush at his ranch in Crawford Texas.
Also, remember that President Obama starting acting as president the week he got elected, thanks to W's economic meltdown, and after a burn-out year of campaigning, did not get the two-month break most new presidents get. So we owe him two months vacation, at least!
Annika, I think you meant to say "acting like a president".
JFK,
I'm sure annika got it right.
Fact Check
President George W. Bush spent more time on vacation than any other president in modern times.
I am sure the President's vacations are a lot like mine - the workload doesn't change, just the scenery.
The pettiness of those who would deny the President a few days with his family astounds me.
But, Steeler- you have to admire the way they keep the pettiness out in the spotlight, so all can see....
Stunning isn't it?
I bet his family will be thanking him for the time he spent with them when he is booted out of the white house, and they start enjoying the life of regular Americans again, and by that I mean getting screwed over and dealing with our entire government's lack of responsibility and action. Our entire government is a freakin joke.
But that "joke" isn't nearly as funny as a tea party "patriot" driving around with a tea bag and american flag hanging on the rear view mirror of their German car. Now that is a joke, and i witnessed it first hand last week. I laughed. Would you?
I'd have cut them some slack if it were a Lexus.
I wouldn't. What does what you drive have to do with anything. I love my country, served for over 20 years and I drive a BMW. Well I bought a BMW to drive but the wife kind of took it over because she works closer to home. So I get to drive her hamster car 4 days a week...but on Friday's I slide into the 335i. God I can't wait for Friday to get here...
I think we should give the President and Congress a permanent vacation. Everytime all of these clowns get together in DC more damage is done. Neither Congress nor the White House can solve our problems. Only we, as Americans can do that. Unfortunately, half of us are standing around waiting for the government to take care of us, and the other half are split 50/50 arguing over who's fault it is and how Republicans want to starve the poor and Democrats want destroy America. We have been duped and we better wake up soon or it will be too late.
StopTheMarxist-3879765
TOTALLY UNBELIEVABLE ………………………………. BUT ITS TRUE!
Go to web site by pasting this in your internet address:
===========================================
Read an encyclopedia or read Das Kapital by KARL MARX in WIKI
Spanky,
the down grade happened on his watch. OK, and the federal reserve said yesterday that interest rates are going to be staying low till 2013. So, Spanky, go out an buy a fancy car, you will get a great rate.Take ms Spanky on a great vacation. You didn't lose anything, you got all that gold.
S.&P guys I am sure have their cottages waiting for them in the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. So will all the Walls street folks will be finding time to chill out this month.
NOJNONJ, Try a few weeks off. You can come up with some new material. Or even better leave your IPad at home and so out and meet some everyday folks at the beach.
Joanna1: take a break, get some imagination. Take a art class or go walk the Appalacian trail.
The rest of us working class folks have to hoard our vacation days and plan a year in advance how we will use those precious days.
Mr President have a great time with your family. It will be only a matter of years before your teenagers will be complaining when you bring up a family vacation:)
Obama might as well be on vacation he does nothing when he is in the White House! A congressman asked him why he hasn't passed a budget in nearly THREE YRS. in office and he said"Biden is handling that" and last week a reporter asked his spokesman what Obama was going to do about the debt sitution and he said "Congress is handling that" and the reporter said I know he has given it to Congress but what is he going to do? Carney just stammered around and no answer that made any sense. Anyhow after 2012 Obama will have plenty of time to vacation!!!
Please, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, provide LINKS any Links. ANY urls. ANY Sources.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123870974208284245.html
I just seen the stats on Obama and his vacations and party's and playing golf and taking Air Force One more than any President in history on all of the above!! This one term President better enjoy while he can!!!
Care to share them?
@RcTx3 back up your mindless statements or STFU and GTFO!
DOMESTIC TRAVEL: 46 out-of-town trips to 58 cities and towns in 30 states
• Most frequently visited state by Mr. Obama: New York* (excluding Maryland & Virginia, which border DC and to which visits are more local than out-of-town).
• President George W. Bush made appearances in 39 states during his 1st year.
• President Clinton visited 22 states in 1993, his first year.
FOREIGN TRAVEL: 10 foreign trips to 21 nations (4 of them twice).
• Mr. Obama made more trips abroad in his first year than has any other U.S. President.
• Next most frequent foreign traveler during first year in office was President George H.W. Bush: 7 trips to 14 countries.
FLIGHTS ON AIR FORCE ONE: 160
JFK-2112
Here is your CBS Source (dated Jan. 20th, 2010)
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-6119525-503544.html
Here is a link disputing those figures (July 8th 2011)
http://www.factcheck.org/2011/07/the-traveling-president/
FactCheck Article is a very good read. Everyone aka Obama bashers should see the errors in their statements and press the "Recommend" or "Share" Button ;)
Source?
Conservatives don't like Factcheck.org. I responded to a claim by a conservative a couple of years ago with a Factcheck.org article and the article was refuted by claiming that Bill Ayers ran Factcheck.org.
Yea I hate that also. Only articles posted by the Christian Science Monitor will be accepted by such head in the sand stalwarts.
http://www.csmonitor.com/
Bill Ayers? Looks like Factcheck.org was founded by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and is funded primarily by the Annenberg Foundation.
Ownership and trustees of Annenburg Foundation are
Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Wallis Annenberg
Director, Lauren Bon
Vice President and Director, Gregory Annenberg Weingarten
Vice President and Director, Charles Annenberg Weingarten
Wallis Annenberg has made only a few political contributions to Dems and Reps (George Bush) so with all things considered including her philanthropic history, a non partisan source FactCheck.org it is IMO (in my opinion). She did make a 2007 $25k donation to the DNC of which pales in comparision with News Corp's $1 million donation to the RGA.
[Conservatives don't like Factcheck.org.]
...because it has the word "fact" in the title...
Wonderful, this egotistical bastard fiddles while Rome burns.
The nerve of David Cameron yes yes do tell!