Will Willard be strapping the families Irish Setter 'Seamus' to the roof of the car again?

Seamus enjoyed it so much last time he left a present all down the side of the station wagon... lol

Ahh never give up the chance to make yourself look foolish ehh? I mean wow, bigoted much?

He's not a tea party member either...google it.

And he's not employed right now other than to run as President or do whatever else he pleases. Not like the President, Congress, and Senate who should be in session right now but are not.

Hey, so it's getting a little uncomfortable in his son's unfinished basement.

Hey, so it's getting a little uncomfortable in his son's unfinished basement.

My guess is, since it's unfinished - there's no a/c down in the dungeon...

It will do him some good to come up for air!

YOu all think you could float the electric bill for one month at the Romney pad?

I'm guessing not, nor one fill up on RV-1.

Good living if you can get it, right?

Again this is stupid spin from Romney, the President and Vice President are about the only two jobs that are 24/7. Shees, the President probably can't even go relieve himself and be out of communication with the important events and workings of the world. Peeps need to see past the BS.

And as far as vacations go no President took more than Baby Bush.

Romney, UP. YOURS. You are so full of you know what. Big phony.

btw, we here in MA do not consider this Romney's home state.

As for President Obama, you are welcome here any time.

Can't wait to work for your re-election campaign next year, alongside current Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

Can't wait!

Does Romney have a job? A real job? Or does he just keep running for President? He's worth what - $200 million?

Does he work? Does he actually go to a job everyday like the president does? Like all of us do.

Maybe Romney doesn't think the black "help" in the White House deserves as much vacation as the traditional white masters who have resided there:

http://www.factcheck.org/2010/01/president-obamas-vacation-days/

President Obama has spent all or part of 26 days "on vacation" during his first year as president, according to CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller.

President Reagan, in 1981, spent all or part of 42 days away from the White House "on vacation" at his home in Santa Barbara, Calif, according to Knoller.

President George W. Bush spent even more time away from the presidential mansion in the nation's capital than Reagan. Of the 77 total "vacation" trips the former president made to his Texas ranch while in office, nine of them — all or part of 69 days — came during his first year as president in 2001, according to Knoller.

He's worth what - $200 million?

Does he work

According to him - he's unemployed... unbelievable!

PS: Good to see you back Pat!

Pat, Boston, MA

Does Romney have a job? A real job? Or does he just keep running for President? He's worth what - $200 million?

Better he amuse himself with his current job of full-time candidate for prez than his previous job of taking over companies and firing the employees. At least he's not busy killing jobs now, although he would probably be back to his old tricks if he's elected -- firing all those government employees who don't have "real" jobs anyway so he can cut corporate taxes some more.

If he talks like a Tea Bagger and acts like a Tea Bagger, he is a Tea Bagger.

"Maybe Romney doesn't think the black "help" in the White House deserves as much vacation as the traditional white masters who have resided there"

Cut him a little slack. He has recognized blacks as nearly equal since 1967.

Pat, Boston - Long time no see.....I was just thinking about you today!

Nice to see you as well Feisty & JoAnne. An incredibly busy August up here. I just finished the last of three projects last night at 10:00 PM. No weekends off in what turned out to be a gorgeous summer here. A few hot days but mainly sunny and great temps. with a bit of rain here and there. The flowers are beautiful everywhere.

Picture perfect summer. I hate to see it end. It flew by as I watched from my office. LoL. I got to go to one baseball game, but it was worth it. We beat the Yankees. Even went to a hot dog restaurant that I never knew existed before the game, right around the corner from Fenway Park. That's what summer is all about. Hots dogs and baseball.

I hope you all take a break from politics and enjoy the last few weeks of August. And read some Daniel Silva - I have learned that his much loved character Allon is going to be made into a movie. So do yourselves a favor - pick up Silva's novels. I have everybody at work reading him and they all love love love the books. Great summer reading. Gabriel Allon is an enticing character. We have all decided that Geo. Clooney MUST play Gabriel in the movie.

Gabriel Allon is an Israeli spy, but more important, he's an art restorer. How interesting to go back and learn about Rembrandt. I never knew anything about him. Rembrandt. Such a magical name. I was even inspired to go out and buy a beautiful reproduction Monet. It's lovely.

Trust me guys. Read Daniel Silva with what little is left of the summer we have. You will love his writing. Next summer no time to read, no time for spies and kidnappings and executions and nightmares- it will be all campaign, all the time.

Can't wait. {with a wink and a smile to you all} Talk to you soon. Too nice out to concentrate on politics right now, except when Romney is being his usual phony self.

Hey Romney, get a real job. Like the rest of us. President Obama deserves a vacation. He works. And he works hard, every single day. You get to just sit in the bleachers booing. And collecting money from your rich friends.

We don't need nor want you. Beat it. We have the president we want.

"Cut him a little slack. He has recognized blacks as nearly equal since 1967."

You are spot on Richard.......oops did I say 'spot'?

...Slick Rick Perry doesn't recognize blacks at all....and only recognizes Hispanics(illegals) who are housekeepers, nannys or landscapers!

Corporate America.

After I typed my post, I saw that my boss had left me a voice mail here @ home and I thought - oh boy, what went wrong? This is what he said -

'I just wanted to tell you that the clients (a big corporate America client) just sent me an email thanking us both for the great work we did for them (they're out of D.C.) and appreciated all the hard work & long hours we put in to get it right. They loved what we did.'

______________________________________________

I thought about the message and tried to think of the last time we thought of Corporate America as being appreciative of any of our work here in America. We're all basically exploited now and are hired at as cheap a wage as they can get away with.

Thanks for the email from DC. Classy. Very classy. A rarity these days in the workplace. A real rarity. Every employee deserves a thank you for all their hard work, but it seems to rarely be given any longer. I saw quite a few picketers in Boston today going after Verizon. It was nice to see.

One who deserves to be rehired? President Obama. His work ethic is contagious.

Enjoy the rest of the summer everybody. You deserve it. The American worker.

_______________________________________________

Friday nite, a little up-to-date post on someone who passed away earlier this year, but I didn't realize it until this week. Very sad. For the baby boomers. His partner on stage had a voice that was better than Elvis's, if you can imagine. Exquisite.

you libs are so out of it .obama is the dam president he has a job to do and he is not doing it,hell hes on vac, everyday .this whole bus sharade was at tax payers expense and he said it was not on campaign mode,and all he says is he wilol not sleep until people get jobs,I guess martha;s vinyard is a good place to look for the unemployed, as far as romney he can go anywhere he wants .he is not being payed by the people/

Except, and as he himself noted - Romney is unemployed.

Obama is employed. You know leader of the free world, chief RV-er. Hence us paying for the 2 gallons per mile beast.

My buddy's boat, which has twin whipple super charged 454s, also gets 2 gallons per mile. THat kind of milage sucks when it comes out of your own pocket.

But hey, you got the public picking up the tab, sweet.

It bothers me just as much that Congress and the Senate that we pay for are on vacay too. If anything; given the downgrade and state of the economy, ALL should be in DC doing something productive.

My rep didn't even bother to show up in his home district, so the excuse of "they should go to their home districts" was really unbelievable.

Congress could voluntarily return from their recess--why wait for the President to summon them? After all, they aren't holding town halls during this time so what are they doing?

Congress keeps passing bills with regularity. The FY2012 budget. Entitlement reform. They throw out ObamaCare (doing so would produce 400,000 jobs, almost immediately, and create 4 million jobs total). Well, at least the GOP controlled House is working hard. The Senate? Not so much. No FY2012 budget, no entitlement reform, no regulation reform, no debt ceiling deal, no nothing.

And Obama? He's bombing around the green fields of the mid-west, looking like some new age Mad Max in his super-hero Canadian made bus with the strobe lights spinning wildly on the top. A mobile carnival, uber-RVing.

But Obama has ideas! Oh yes he does! He's been holding them back for 2.5 years, thinking doing mere-mortal things would get the economy back on track! Those things haven't worked, so now Obama has to use his superior brainpower for the good of all mankind and come up with a PLAN! And he's working on it, it won't be done for a while, these super-idea things take time, the peasants need to be patient, because it is going to be a really, really good idea. We'll all be impressed, I'm certain.

Spanky and all, Well Obama will be leaving RV 1 today. Then to the island for a vacation with family. Probably will be on the helicopter to get there.

Now, candidate Perry has a new super PAC. Texas good old boys. One of them OWNS AN ISLAND off the coast of New Hampshire??? didn't know there were privately owned islands in New England.

Learn something new here everyday.

Hope NJNO,, keeps up with all the PACs like she does with Obama supporters. These super PACs are becoming as numerous as LLC's.

Spanky: Hence us paying for the 2 gallons per mile beast.

Do they do in flight refueling of that beast, or is there an Official Presidential Gas Station? Let us guess, Venezuelan and Hugo owned Citgo.

@ JoAnna ~ If you don't mind. I'm sure you have some numbers from somewhere to back your claim about the number of jobs that will be created if Obama Care is repealed, but I wonder if you wouldn't mind explaining to me exactly HOW repealing it would create so many jobs.

Or is this just a projection of the number of employees who might be hired if their employers don't have any obligation to provide them with health care. Is that what you mean?

But Spanky - with twin whipple supercharged 454s he has total command over the waterway. Unless he's passing a no-wake zone, he can set the throttles on high and practically float over the water. If you've had the pleasure of riding in his boat, you know first hand the meaning of total power... Kinda like the feeling of a 757 on take-off.

Joanna

Congress keeps passing bills with regularity. The FY2012 budget. Entitlement reform. They throw out ObamaCare (doing so would produce 400,000 jobs, almost immediately, and create 4 million jobs total). Well, at least the GOP controlled House is working hard. The Senate? Not so much. No FY2012 budget, no entitlement reform, no regulation reform, no debt ceiling deal, no nothing.

It would have been nice if they had led by example and stayed in DC.

Yeah Northstar a shiny new super pac. That's cool but Obama has his same old AFSCME "pac" which is still the biggest game in town.

But hey, a hardcore poitics junkie like you

ain't going to pay no mind to any advertising, so who cares?

JAS1 they got any full service stations in the midwest or is some secret service guy humping and a pumping all that gas? Does the dude use his own credit card and get a re-imbursement and does the President have to pay AM/PM the $.45 cent fee?

Man I hope them girls are getting so righteous truck stop grub. You think Michele is all about the Hardees?

@ JoAnna ~ If you don't mind. I'm sure you have some numbers from somewhere to back your claim about the number of jobs that will be created if Obama Care is repealed,

Well ya'see there Annie dear, I figure seeing Nancy Pelosi said we'd create 400,000 jobs almost immediately, and create 4 million total when we implemented ObamaCare, and neither of those happened - so I'm figuring if we repeal ObamaCare, we'll see that many jobs really created.

Source for Pelosi claim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNiLYEiFUMU

You need to keep up with the news AM. Pick it up a tad, m-kay?

IT's the opposite and there are numerous articles on the subject AM.

There was job growth at first with Obama. It all stopped the second he signed Obamacare.

Good article on RCP about 3 weeks ago. Had a sweet graph so morons like me could see it in color.

It's a straight up job killer. And what do you think happens when the waivers expire? Come on, you know.

Spankly: Man I hope them girls are getting so righteous truck stop grub.

Seeing they're not staying at the ROA's, they must be looking forward to those truck stop showers.

"Seeing they're not staying at the ROA's, they must be looking forward to those truck stop showers."

Okay, I finally give up on the google - Return On Assets? Reserve Officers Association? Roanoke Regional Airport? Or have you meant KOA's for the last two days you've been harping on this?

Oh, and no truck stops necessary - even the RV I used to drive had a nice shower.

(Geez, I can't believe I'm even having this conversation......Note to self: go watch some grass grow or some paint dry, it would be much more productive.....)

Oop, sorry JoAnne, KOA.

Apparently the President's bus has become the new "Pelosi's Private Jet" to the GOP...they'll complain about it while President Obama is using it but if there's a Republican President it will no longer be an issue.

I'm looking forward to the Presidents detailed jobs plans coming up after Labor Day. I think this is where he calls out the Republican-Tea Baggers and gets the American People to come down on his side as far as getting something done by Congress.

He will take off the gloves and challenge these Right Wing Extremist in front of the American People, and not take no for an answer. This will force these Extremist in Congress to put up or shut up and make them do what’s right or force them to tell the American People NO to jobs.

The American People will rally and once again, We the People will be working with the President and shut these Right Wing Extremist and this Economic Mafia up, and force them to work with the President and do what they promised to do, and that is to create jobs.

JoAnna:

Well ya'see there Annie dear, I figure seeing Nancy Pelosi said we'd create 400,000 jobs almost immediately, and create 4 million total when we implemented ObamaCare, and neither of those happened - so I'm figuring if we repeal ObamaCare, we'll see that many jobs really created.

Are you sure?

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Health care employment grew by 31,000 in July. Ambulatory health care services
and hospitals each added 14,000 jobs over the month. Over the past 12 months,
health care employment has grown by 299,000.

Seems like a mighty good start on those 400,000 jobs.

Another reason I love this little factoid is that it alone repudiates Scott Walker's claim that Wisconsin created half of all jobs created in July.

As for the 4,000,000 jobs, one might suggest that we wait until the law is actually fully implemented before we judge.

Spanky: IT's the opposite and there are numerous articles on the subject AM.

There was job growth at first with Obama. It all stopped the second he signed Obamacare.

Okay, Spanky. No jobs created recently. Then go ahead and tell me what those 299,000 health care jobs created in the past 12 months represent -- a mirage?

To both of you: Is it more likely that you're wrong or that BLS is wrong?

You know what, AM, I'll give you this one. I really don't have a problem with the President taking a vacation. He's got the most difficult job in the free world, any idiot can see the toll the job takes on the man doing it. And he's got a family who deserves a little time with him. Don't care. Take a vacation. Have at it, and enjoy it as much as anyone can enjoy a "vacation" when the office is never more than one aid away from interrupting you.

But I am sick of the horse and pony show that passes for debate these days. Seriously- Bush was horrid for taking vacations but Obama's allowed? Obama is awful for going on vacation but it was fine for Bush? If only we could all agree to collectively don our big girl panties and get past the stupid partisan bickering. Don't we have better things to worry about than who's on vacation when and where?

You know, it's funny, Suzy, but I was actually against the President taking the vacation. I think it sends totally the wrong message and reinforces those who would like to believe the whole debt ceiling thing was nothing more than a theatrical presentation, artificially timed to conclude at exactly the point where Congressional recesses were to begin. If there's a crisis, then we ought to be working on it full time till we come up with answers. Every day that goes by, it only gets worse.

What bothers me here is Romney complaining about it without including Congress in the criticism.

Spanky, NJNB, JAS, et al are too busy obsessing about a bus to worry about real issues like job numbers.

And in their zeal to criticize and misrepresent everything they even flub the facts on the bus tour.

Altered reality, I guess...

Frankly, there isn't much Obama can be doing without congress doing their job first. So, while I'll agree that the message isn't the best, I'll still give him the vacation. Let's get The rest of the critters back in dc to do some work and we can just inteerrupt the Obamas vacation to sign something if, by some miracle, the critters actually produced something worthy of signing.

How about right h\after he gives a rousing speech in which he lays out a detailed plan for getting the economy going?

Then he could take a few days. What'd you think JoAnne? Come on amuse me - I am bored to tears in these stupid meetings.

And not like there's no modern technology to work remotely, I mean really, what rock do these people live under? The POTUS is 24/7. You'd think folks could be a little thankful that anyone even wants the job anymore.

JoAnne--they are always working vacations---we know that President Obama is briefed on issues and stays in touch with staff, etc. Why people begrudge him a little time with his family is beyond me.

I hope his upcoming address on the economy opens with a listing of the bills which have passed the House in the first 2 years and were filibustered by the Republican Senate.

Working vacation?

I prefer vacationing at work. Hanging here at First Read with my hommies.

How about right h\after he gives a rousing speech in which he lays out a detailed plan for getting the economy going?

Lets see, Obama will ask Congress to fast track patent reform, to set up an infrastructure bank, tax the rich, finally crack down on those evil corporate jet owners, and tell us it's all about that one three letter word "JOBS, JOBS, JOBS"! Then he'll tell Congress to "Get to work!!", and fly off somewhere to go fund raising (What, you think he'd take a bus?)

True Patriot and Steeler Fan -

Very true. When I go on vacation, I don't even answer the phone or check e-mail. When the President - again, ANY President - goes on vacation, they probably spend at least half the day in briefings and reading reports and making calls. And as you said, they're on call 24/7. I don't begrudge them the few hours a day they get to do something else, whether it's clearing brush at the ranch or taking their daughters for ice cream.

Spanky - What, no afternoon nap time? You should sue somebody!

Steeler Fan-380417

JoAnne--they are always working vacations---we know that President Obama is briefed on issues and stays in touch with staff, etc. Why people begrudge him a little time with his family is beyond me.

Are you kidding me? Really? He's not getting briefed on the economy every day, we have the Stride gum approved "kinetic" military action in Libya, we have 9.1% unemployment.

You have got to be joking.

Golly JoAnne I do kinda feel like a nap.

More fun than working out, less liver damage than free happy hour.

But at HH I would be able to work on my people skills. I'm a big hit with people who don't know me. :)

Very true. When I go on vacation, I don't even answer the phone or check e-mail

Obama does want Hillary to text him when Qaddafi is tossed. Because remember, Obama did say "Qaddafi must go!".

Steeler Fan - Do you want to know why it miffs me? I work all year for a one week vacation. I work every bit as hard as the POTUS does. I am on call 24/7 for any problems that may occur at the job site. I can receive a 3 AM phone call that takes me out of bed and on the road to a jobsite, in the dark because someone has broken into one of the units I am building. I make 1/5th the money Obama makes but when it comes to the job, my decisions are just as critical to the success or failure of what I am working on and most particularly the client and the representatives of the ownership of the total project. Granted, my decisions don't effect the entire nation, but they are just as salient to the wellbeing of what I am in charge of. I don't get to live in the lap of luxury at 400 Pennsylvania Ave. I don't have a supercharged jumbo jet at my disposal, or a helicopter that can take me to a luxury weekend camp.

I don't complain about my station in life, but when people try to defend a person that doesn't work any harder than I do but idolize him because he was elected from the nation's stage they think he's a rock star. As far as I'm concerned, he puts his pants on the same way I do... except he has a valet lay out his clothes. Not only that, he lives the lifestyle of the rich and famous but is trying to punish the rich... It's quite hypocritical.

Brianb---I would think you would understand the stresses that the President faces better than others and be glad that he gets down time to recharge his batteries. I believe that any President carries a heavy load of responsibility and that most work very hard at the job. I am glad when any of them takes some time away to be with loved ones.

brianb,

One week of vacation? Where do you work, Texas?

Good grief, at your age and experience you should be getting at least 3 weeks, if not more. That's what most professionals get. I get 3 weeks plus 5 personal and 6 sick days. Not to mention Comp Time. Again, I ask - WHERE do you work that the bennies are so hideous and yet you are so grateful for your job that you diligently defend this AWESOME employer?

Brian B, I can (almost) feel your pain. I don't doubt you work hard. I don't doubt your performance is important to you and your clients.

But, seriously, are you responsible for the fate of 300 million people? Does the budget you oversee affect world markets? If something happens to you, does it change world politics? Do you command an army? Air Force? Navy?

So, take another look. And take a deep breath. And get back to reality.

Clara,

You got a union job?

Nope, good ole' Corporate America. SEC traded. Flex time and all that.

That may be Ira [and fyi it's been that way for a long time] but it makes it much easier to keep track of the topics.

Simple topics and subjects, repeated over and over, for the simple minded.

Besides, who didn't love that movie. Murray rules.

Spanky..

Topics...geez my mind wondered for a second...couldn't think of any threads...never mind.

...but wasn't Andie MacDowell sooooooooooo cute in that?

Love romantic comedies.

Did you see the American President? Great flick.

She was, but she was hotter in Sex, Lies and Video Tape. I always have been a sucker for brunettes.

Problem with American President is it has devolved into a libbie wet dream, especially now with Obama essentially MIA. Besides, all in all Dave was better.

Ok so work all done, should I hit the Hotel Gym, or the free hotel happy hour?

My problem is my watch says it's 4:00, but my head tells me it's only 1:00.

...and you get to stay up later too...

Dave was great too...I teared up at the end of both...Boehner style.

Andie MacDowell or Sigourney Weaver?

Hey - anybody seen Drive By?

JAS1, did you run him off? You really ought to be nicer to the little guy. He tries so darn hard to keep up.

JAS1, did you run him off?

Who, Buzz? I dunno, it's not my week to keep an eye on him.

I bet consumer spending SPIKES big time in August since so many people have to buy their children school supplies.

Not exactly discretionary spending; but required spending, nonetheless.

The government does not create...

Ah never mind.

Groundhog Day....ah never mind.

Ira - I did see the nice things you said yesterday. Thanks.

How funny was it for me to get the first post on First Thoughts? I had on second to post before getting on the plane. I never venture into First THoughts - man, there are a lot of posts.

And s for the groundhog issue, like the practice of law, there just ain't nothing going on right now. September is coming. It'll pick up.

True enough, but there are something things, ie cutting corporate taxes like Ireland did, can help spur growth.

Spanky,

Let them hate me for being your friend...we get along just fine.

Lot's of posts, repeats of lot's of posts....

I know...is there still a war in Libya, couple of mergers of note...market...never mind.

I so want to hear what Gingrich is doing for his vacation....

Have fun in Baltimore...

Shucks Ira, for as much of a libbie as you are, I bet we are far more alike politically than not. I'm even in your time zone and they guy I met with today was from New York City. So I'm all about east coast love today.

Now just how you can have the knowledge, skill and training you have and be a libbie is mystifying.

But then again, I love Anna Molly too, but man she's like the queen of all the libbies here. Queen/boss/provocatuer, whatever.

Awwwww...you're making me blush....

Libbie is a turn on....

I'm looking forward to the Presidents detailed jobs plans coming up after Labor Day. I think this is where he calls out the Republican-Tea Baggers and gets the American People to come down on his side as far as getting something done by Congress.

He will take off the gloves and challenge these Right Wing Extremist in front of the American People, and not take no for an answer. This will force these Extremist in Congress to put up or shut up and make them do what's right or force them to tell the American People NO to jobs.

The American People will rally and once again, We the People will be working with the President and shut these Right Wing Extremist and this Economic Mafia up, and force them to work with the President and do what they promised to do, and that is to create jobs.

You do know that Mitt will be there holding a $2,500 a plate fund raiser. But its' OK for Romney to be there. What hypocrisy!