It's 3am, where is your President?
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
March 19, 2011 8:50am CST
You may recall the campaign ads put out by Hillary Clintons campaign about answering the phone at 3am.
Well, here we are. It is tough times indeed. There is a lot going on that should involve our President. There are foreign issues, disaster in Japan, our budget and the lack there of. States and Unions fighting, our federal government is suing states.
After lots of golf, basketball brackets and various parties, our President is heading to South America. I understand that this week long family trip is to discuss safety and what not.
Do you think the President should stick around and handle immediate issues or should he go through with this trip?
2 people like this
7 responses
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
19 Mar 11
(Here's cynical for you...) If you're going to be a one-time President, make sure you get out to as many places as you can with the family on the taxpayers' dime/time. I hear Brazil is a wonderful place to take the family on vacation this time of year. And it's probably spring break for the kids.
Now, the hype we've been given. He's going there to talk about imports/exports, oil...you know, business.
Mr. and Mrs. Obama don't seem to get it...going to Spain, Brazil, etc.; throwing parties; etc., when we're in the messes we're in, just don't cut it with most Americans. Take care of business and then relax...
2 people like this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Yeah. At least when he's tooting around the world, he's not imposing more government controls over us. 
I saw a post the other day that reminded us that on each and every trip he makes, what it costs the taxpayers. It was astonishing. And those costs are ours even when he's having a fund raiser event in Harlem at the end of the month that's going to be $30,000 per plate. Or when he's golfing somewhere or vacationing.
I saw a post the other day that reminded us that on each and every trip he makes, what it costs the taxpayers. It was astonishing. And those costs are ours even when he's having a fund raiser event in Harlem at the end of the month that's going to be $30,000 per plate. Or when he's golfing somewhere or vacationing.1 person likes this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Yeah, if he's gone, he can't be signing more bills in to law. I don't mind him relaxing on a Saturday and/or Sunday, or even going on a couple of family vacations a year, but it really peeves me to be paying for his campaign trips...and how many vacations is this already? I think if he's campaigning (and this goes for any incumbent president, senator, etc.) he ought to be doing it on his own dime/time. Equal the playing field!
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
20 Mar 11
In my opinion, whenever an elected official is campaigning on our dime, they should reimburse the tax payer.
I would usually agree that while he is gone at least he isnt signing legislation. But his administration is over a year late in signing a budget...
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Playing with kids in south america. But usually, just find the most popular basketball team in the washington area and you'll find him. And yes, I do think he should be at the white house fixing things. None of the rest of us can afford a vacation, so it is really offensive of him to take one, at all muchless commanding war and then going on vacation all while the country's people stand in limbo wondering if there will be a job for them and giving up necessities as well as vacations.
1 person likes this
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
20 Mar 11
No matter if it's 3 am or 3 pm, my president (obama) is goofing off. Even when he seems to take the Presidency seriously, he is so incompetent that you think you are watching a Saturday Night Live spoof.
Most other times you will find him (and his family) busy entertaining themselves at our expense. Biggest bunch of freeloaders I've ever seen.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
19 Mar 11
I think this works out best for him. He made a decision on Libya that he didn't want to make and he's agreed to launch a coordinated attack against a dictator that loves Obama every bit as much as his supporters do. He's got to get away. He doesn't want to have to answer the tough questions.
I personally feel a lot safer when he's not here, but acutely aware that there may be embarrassing moments as he commits the usual protocol gaffes and apologizes for America and her history.
The leadership primaries are over and this time Hillary won. I don't think he intends to be a president anyway, let him go on vacation. Until 2012 preferably when he will be ready for retirement.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Seems to me that he's handling things just fine.
Our Navy, along with other members of the coalition, are currently engaged in operations in Libya as planned. (Just because the media wasn't informed didn't mean that there weren't plans made.) Clearly the U.S. is playing an active role in taking out Libya's air defenses, using ships as well as subs to deploy missiles. Did you even know we had subs in the area? I didn't.
Relief efforts are underway for Japan.
Are you suggesting that the president override the job of Congress or the individual states when it comes to things like budgets and unions? That sounds more like a dictatorship to me. Remember that Blackberry? Even without it, the president can be reached at any time, anywhere in the world so I have no problem with this trip.
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
2 Apr 11
We have no president, just a foreign and domestic enemy in the WH. Why should he care when his only intent is to destroy us and make us an enemy of the world. The only trip he should be taking is to prison. Go straight to jail; do not pass go; do not collect $200.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
20 Mar 11
For me it is the real of the president so bad and many are in risk.
