Whoever in the White House decided on another first family vacation at Martha’s Vineyard must be unhinged, coming as it does (a) after previous jaunts to places like Vail and Costa del Sol, and serial golf outings; (b) in the midst of tough economic times and bipartisan acknowledgment that national cutbacks for the vast majority of Americans are in order; (c) on the heels of three years of class warfare and anti-wealth demagoguery of the “fat-cat,” “unneeded income,” “spread the wealth” sort; and (d) during a presidential approval slide that seems to be based, at least in part, on the fact that the president’s usual rhetoric has nothing to do with reality, that he suggests one thing while doing quite another.
If the president thought that a campaign bus tour would rescue his numbers, he was mistaken — it seems to have had the opposite effect, perhaps because it seemed staged, almost like what a wealthy person would do if he wanted to act “real” for a bit.
But if President Obama has already purchased the new bus, why not use it Winnebago-style to see America with his family for a week, visiting a national park, a closed-down plant — or a real vineyard?
What is it with the all-black bus?! Romney is not notably a wit, but his "Magical Misery Tour" quip is brilliant, and is underscored by the black bus.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhere else can they visit without having to deal with the hoi polloi? "Let them eat cake."
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Whoever in the White House decided on another first family vacation at Martha’s Vineyard..."
Perhaps Michelle herself. She is pretty tone deaf on these issues. Although in defense of the trip yeah going to say Yellowstone would make for a better photo-op but considering all the security and hassles that accompanies the POTUS it would ruin the vacation of thousands of people there.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't know whose idea Martha's Vineyard was, I just hope they keep their #1 spot at Obama's ears for the duration of his single term presidency.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't know who's advising him, but dear God let him continue in his task.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLOL
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSecond that!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHmm, maybe vacationing in Martha's Vineyard was the Obama family's idea because they like Martha's Vineyard? There are lots of things to criticize President Obama about, but let the guy go on vacation where he wants. I thought only the left politicized everything. Geez...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think we should be thankful that this Administration suffers from such staggering myopia. With all of the built-in advantages this President enjoys/enjoyed--a slavishly devoted media, a racial dynamic that causes some segments of the population to withhold legitimate criticism and others to excuse his legion of gaffes, errors and poor policy decisions and a natural cycle that would have improved the economic situation had Obama simply sat on his hands and done nothing--only his staggering incompetence could keep him from a second term. If he were only slightly incompetent--let's say an LBJ-level of incoherence--the media could have perfumed it enough to sell it to the suckers. Fortunately, Obama has reached and surpassed a Cater-esque level of incompetence and ineffectualness and no matter how much air freshner NBC, ABC and CBS try to spray on it, the majority of Americans still understand that it is a pile of dog feces.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis was almost certainly Michele's idea. She loves living large on other peoples money.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's the 2nd thing she's most proud of concerning this country.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBe careful what you wish for. Many ultra-leftist, Obama-worshiping parts of California have vineyards.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBeing a likely one term President, I can't begrudge Obama taking advantage of all the perks of office.
Vacation away Mr. President.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI would say that the more time Obama spends away from the office, the better chance the economy has.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe needs the vacation time to formulate the "Jobs Plan" he will describe in a major speech to be given upon his return. This plan will create countless, meaningful, highly paid jobs. Like Moses, he is going to the mountain and will return with a plan that will save us all! Only Obama can do this; only he can save us.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUnless "living the life" was THE reason for him to get into politics and become a President... Then it all makes perfect sense. If he looses in 2012, his post-president status will still support the lifestyle he feels entitled to. But if he needs to start skipping vacations he deserves in the prime of his beautiful life he (and she) will never get it back! Unacceptable!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI've always thought that "living the life" was why he ran for president. He was planning ala Jesse Jackson for a permanent campaign, create a few community action organizations to make the needed corporate shakedowns to finance it and live the good life.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI find myself wondering if a guy as smart as President Obama could actually be as clueless as he appears to be. Is he really so detached from and unaware of what happens in the real world that he doesn't realize spending the family vacation in a $50,000 per week rental house on Martha's Vineyard is bad campaign optics? I doubt it.
I think Barack Obama is vacationing where he wants to vacation, hoping he can convince the American people there's nothing wrong with his family staying in a $50,000 per week rental while most of us vacation in our own backyards. The other alternative is to distract us from his family's enjoyment of their wealthy lifestyle by reminding us that evil Republicans want to throw grandma out into the street to die, want children to be illiterate and want to imprison three year old illegal immigrants.
President Obama relies heavily on the "believe what I say, not your lying eyes" strategy and we're going to be treated to a lot of that between now and November 2012, so prepare yourselves. It's the only way a wealthy candidate who obviously enjoys being wealthy can engage in class warfare to energize his base.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe's not that smart. That's just the talking point - it ain't the reality. He reads the teleprompter well. He doesn't tell the teleprompter what to say.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJenna,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhen one starts with a false premise, reaching a correct conclusion is impossible. I have yet to see one iota of proof or example of action that he is "smart", though he does come across as a "smart-aleck".