There is a lot of anger on the left about the supposed passivity and lack of leadership shown by the president, and calls for greater symbolism and fire in the belly are mounting. Here is a suggestion: Obama could adopt a man-of-the-people regimen more in line with his own radically egalitarian politics and the current hard times.
For example, on his fiftieth birthday, instead of hosting a $40,000-a-person fund raiser for “millionaires and billionaires” and “corporate jet owners,” he could have a picnic in a small farm town, eating hot dogs with rural folks and staging a photo-op driving a tractor (though I acknowledge the risk of a Dukakis-tank moment). Then, given that there are three wars ongoing, he could have renounced all golf outings until the troops are out of harm’s way; horse-shoes at the White House or jogging would send a better message for an era of 9.2 percent unemployment.
During the August vacation time, Obama could veto the now accustomed first-family junkets to places like Costa del Sol and Martha’s Vineyard, and instead try a middle-class American favorite like a trip to Yosemite or Yellowstone. Given the president’s emphasis on green energy and rising gas prices, coupled with the current difficulty with the Chevy Volt, Obama might occasionally, for short trips, trade the huge SUV caravan for a motorcade of Volts.
The Left used to mock Reagan’s summertime chopping and Bush’s chainsawing, but Obama could really use some similar photo-ops showing a connection with the muscular world of his constituents. Could he not take a two- or three-day vacation at his home in Chicago and do some weed-eating or mowing around the yard?
Mr. H, what you suggest is great advice for a president, but I'm afraid what we have here is a king.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOr an emperor with a wardrobe malfunction.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe very fact that this will sound like "crazy talk" to many is a sign of our times. The national park idea is brilliant though - have past presidents done that? Seems like a no brainer...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo, I don't think so -- the Secret Service would immediately cancel all the long-held hotel reservations of regular people at the parks for the cause of 'presidential security' and Obama's usual posse. That's just adding insult to injury. The less I see of Obama, the happier I am.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDitto, cab.
Some reservations in some places have to be made sooooo far in advance. (2012 is mostly sold out for the summer months at Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone.) But considering the Ahwahnee is about $500 a night, it's pretty much the same crowd he's running with anyhow...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlanning ahead. Imagine that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Given the president’s emphasis on green energy and rising gas prices, coupled with the current difficulty with the Chevy Volt, Obama might occasionally, for short trips, trade the huge SUV caravan for a motorcade of Volts."
I didn't know enough volts had been made to form an actual motorcade.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBuilt, yes. Sold... no.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm willing to bet when you tally Obama's total vacation time for his first term and compare it to Mr. Bush's, Mr. Bush will beat him handily.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm willing to bet when you tally Obama's unemployment numbers and gas prices and food prices and debt numbers for his first term and compare it to Mr. Bush's, Mr. Bush will beat him handily.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow about we include golf trips too? Obama surpassed Bush long ago and - surprise surprise - suddenly presidential golf trips aren't such a big news story anymore.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf true, it would constitute Obama's strongest reelection claim.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI wouldn't bet cash, if I were you. Obama already has Bush beat, in just one term, on time spent playing golf.
And it's not simply the idea of taking a vacation that Mr. Hanson was addressing, and that rankles with some -- it's taking a vacation in posh, expensive places like Martha's Vineyard, Costa del Sol, etc., during a time of widespread economic hardship. Mr. Bush went home to Crawford. I trust you see the distinction?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI doubt it, however, even if you are correct, President Bush never told Americans to cut back on personal trips/vacations.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"muscular" is not the first adjective that comes to mind when I think of Mr. Obama's constituents.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou beat me to it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDo they serve arugula at Yellowstone?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFunny that you should ask. :-)
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow do you chop wood with a teleprompter?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHah - that one made me laugh
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