"OF ALL THE THINGS TO WHINE ABOUT"

[Cha]

"I'm embarrassed to admit, I didn't see this line of attack coming. It just seemed too ridiculous, even for Republicans, but I'm reminded why low expectations are rarely low enough with these folks.

For the second straight year, the first family has landed on this island of quaint seaside towns, second homes and working farms for a late-summer getaway.

But this year, more so than last, political opponents are trying to hang a question over the visit: Does President Obama deserve a vacation?

The Republican National Committee has taken to calling Obama "the Clark Griswold president," a mocking reference to the Chevy Chase character in National Lampoon's "Vacation" movies. With unemployment claims climbing again, the GOP was hoping its criticism would have a certain national resonance. And maybe it will.

I haven't the foggiest idea whether the public will actually hold a 10-day break against the president, but this even being a subject of discussion is bizarre.

George W. Bush presided over two recessions, two wars, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina -- but he still managed to take more time off than any president in modern history. While Bush was in the White House, he tended not to work too hard -- he was known for scheduling plenty of time for exercise during the day, and liked to knock off early -- but Bush also spent time away from the White House with a frequency unseen in generations, taking more and longer breaks than any of his 20th-century predecessors.

Before 2000, the president with the most vacation time in the modern era was Reagan. Bush not only beat Reagan's record, he did so with 17 months to spare. Spanning his two terms, Bush spent 487 days at Camp David, and 490 days at a ranch in Crawford. That's a total of 977 days -- about a third of his overall presidency.

And Republicans are going after Obama's down time? Seriously?"

Consider the tale of the tape. Estimates vary slightly, but the Washington Post, citing data from CBS's Mark Knoller, the unofficial keeper of such things, said Obama has taken 48 days off since his inauguration. At this point in Bush's presidency, he'd taken 155 days off. (An AP estimate puts both numbers slightly higher.)

Note, Bush took all this time off during a period that included the attacks of 9/11 and the launch of a war in Afghanistan. Hell, a terrorist tried to blow up an American passenger jet in December 2001, and Bush not only stayed on vacation, he didn't even mention the incident for nearly a week.

Does the GOP really want to start a discussion about who qualifies as "The Clark Griswold president"?"

—Steve Benen 9:00 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (25)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025323.php#1815369

Oh, they whine about anything, Steve..just to see if any of their shit sticks.

I like that President Obama takes some decent time to enjoy his family and this country and that Michelle took her daughter Sasha to Spain this summer..it makes him more refreshed when he gets back so he can be in the best shape possible to continue the business of pulling our country out of the abyss that the bushcheney coup landed us.

Poor gopers..they have nothing but jealous little snit rages.

[Political Tiger]

1. The savage Reich has selective amnesia when it comes to Herr Bush

And in a way, I can't blame them! There's nothing good to remember about him.
Besides that, they're all a bunch of hypocritical BS'ers!

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Not to mention their enablers on the left. (nt)

[ismnotwasm]

2. They are all out of their minds

Republicans. Some more, some less.

I'm glad President Obama can take a bit of time off. I can hardly wait until those girls grow up. I suspect they'll grow to be fiercely intelligent, dignified and powerful women who will have a thing or two to say about the gop and their nasty deviltry.

[Cha]

6. I hear that, ismnotwasm!

"I'm glad President Obama can take a bit of time off. I can hardly wait until those girls grow up. I suspect they'll grow to be fiercely intelligent, dignified and powerful women who will have a thing or two to say about the gop and their nasty deviltry."

[sandnsea]

4. Bush-115 days off, Obama 48

Obama has taken 48 days off during nine vacations. Bush had vacationed at his Crawford, Texas, ranch 14 times, taking 115 days off, at the same point in his presidency.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/08/22/GOP-Obama-the-Clark-Griswold-president/UPI-63251282512420

[DevonRex]

5. Good article. Good morning everyone!

Just thought I'd check in. Haven't been here in ages. :hi:

[Cha]

7. And, a good afternoon to you,

Devon..nice to see you! :hi:

[Peacetrain]

8. I heard that .. and just turned the TV off..

Does it ever end?

[bobburgster]

9. Bush-115 days off, Obama 48.....says it all!

As usual, their attack is off base.

[Cha]

10. And, then there are those who appreciate our President..

Clip of Pres Obama in Martha's Vineyard & owner of bookstore's reaction to the Prez in her store..
"Bunch of Grapes"..Classic!

"11:58 AM:

After meeting up in Martha's Vineyard on Thursday--Mr. President and First Dog Bo traveled without the Obama women--the first family kicked off Day Two of their vacation with a trip to pick up some reading material.

President Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia swung by Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, an independent bookseller in the town of Vineyard Haven. The pool reports that Main Street was blocked off for POTUS' visit, while hundreds of spectators stood behind police tape to get a glimpse. Obama walked out of the shop carrying two paper bags. According to the pool, one of the books the president purchased was Freedom: A Novel by Jonathan Franzen (editor's note: this was according to the pool report, even though Amazon lists August 31st as the on-sale date.)

Plum TV talked to Bunch of Grapes owner Dawn Braasch after the visit. She said "We talked about what books he was reading, books that are coming out. He was very clear that this was for his girls. And we kind of let him shop quietly on his own. But he was just the loveliest person, I felt like I'd known him my whole life.... because I adore him and it was such an honor to have him in my bookstore."

<Video>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/20/obamas-in-marthas-vineyar_n_689155.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=388x24943

Like me:hi:

[Cha]

11. "..but a president is never fully on vacation"

"WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERS 'NEXT STEPS TO KEEP THE ECONOMY GROWING'.... President Obama's vacation still has a few days to go, but a president is never fully on vacation, and developments still demand his attention.

Take the economy, for example.

U.S. President Barack Obama held a conference call with his top economic advisers on Wednesday to discuss recent data reports, global markets and economic growth, the White House said.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House advisers Christy Romer and Larry Summers took part in the call with Obama, who is vacationing on the Massachusetts islands of Martha's Vineyard.

"The economic team provided an update on the next steps to keep the economy growing, including assistance to small businesses and the extension of tax cuts to the middle class," the White House said in a statement.

The statement added that the discussion "focused on recent data reports, global markets and economic growth." That's not exactly a detailed summary, but then again, I don't expect one under the circumstances.

What seems noteworthy here is that recent events made the call necessary in the first place. The president is, not surprisingly, aware of reports this week that cast the economy in a negative light, and arranging a discussion with his team not only makes sense, it also suggests a degree of concern.

Good. There should be concern. There should be lots of conference calls and strategy sessions and brain-storming and creative thinking. Ideally, there'd be all kinds of indications that leading officials are actively engaged in crafting a compelling economic plan for the very near future.

The White House statement said Obama heard about "the next steps to keep the economy growing." I don't have a sense of what those "next steps" might be, exactly, but here's hoping there are lots of them."


—Steve Benen 4:40 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (22)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025380.php#1816628>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025380.php#1816628

Course wankers aren't aware of this..

[JNelson6563]

12. They are such assholes!

All they do is whine.

Julie

[JuniperLea]

13. Like most three year olds...

They have a short memory, and an even shorter attention span.

Plus... they want us to stop talking about W... hahahaha! They talked about Clinton for 16 years, but we are supposed to stop talking about Bush!

:rofl:

They must be finding it hard to find stuff to complain about... this is really scraping the bottom of the barrel!

[azmouse]

14. There have been lots of LTTEs in my local paper complaining about the vacations.

Finally a letter answered back and mentioned all the days off that Raygun, and the Bushes took off as compared to the very few for Obama, Carter, and Clinton.
Strangely enough, the complaint letters stopped after that... :rofl:

[Cha]

15. You know who those

complaint letters are echoing?

From mainlining too much faux, limpbaugh, and just plain ol rwmediawhores laced throughout corp airwaves.

Good news about the final letter..it pays to write letters to your paper.

[bobburgster]

16. I'll say it again...

The vast majority of the media gives him minimal credit, and maximum criticism....and I'm not just referring to Fox.

And the American puppets....I mean public....eats it up.

[JuniperLea]

17. It's all about the "yay team" mentality...

The loud, low information crowd only has loud on their side... they attract a lot of cheerleaders.

I really hate that term, but it is what it is.

[bobburgster]

19. Can't argue with you...n/t

[Peacetrain]

18. Cha you just can't make it up.. the whine level on the right is never

ending!