Stan Geiger

The Absentee President

It seems Mr. Obama is trying to set some kind of record. It seems he is trying to become the first president to spend more time out of the White House than he spends in it.

I can recall a time when George Bush went to Texas for a vacation. Late night comedians sliced him and diced him. Hell, Obama has been on vacation since he took the job. And not a whimper from Letterman and his ilk.

As of now, it's off to the Middle East. A few days ago, the president was hangin' out with his billionaire buddies in Beverly Hills. And then, of course, came "date night" in the Big Apple.

I wonder how much "date night" cost us. You remember the picture-taking flight of the 747 over New York a few weeks ago. Reports said that little excursion cost us over $300,000. That plane was empty. How much to send the actual president to NYC for "date night?"

Well, let's see.

There is the cost of the plane, of course. On this particular trip, the Obamas took a smaller plane so as to minimize fuel costs. That was mighty white of them. But still, it cost.

You've got the cost of the helicopter shuttles back and forth to the airport. You've got the cost of the Secret Service advance team. You've got the cost of the Secret Service accompany team. You've got the cost of transporting motorcade vehicles. You've got the cost of New York City having to put every cop on the streets to cover the visit---which I'm sure Uncle Sam eats.

All in---though I'm sure the White House would never admit it---"date night" probably cost us over a million bucks. No problem for the president, though. He figures he's entitled. He figures he's entitled just like those CEOs he condemns with his rhetoric.

All talk; no walk. Ain't that the way it goes, Barry?

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