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Which would be a bargain if we could just LEAVE THEM THERE...

 

President Obama’s trip to Africa starting Wednesday is drawing criticism for its vast expense, estimated at up to $100 million, but presidential travel has become an easy target for critics over the years no matter who is in the White House.

President Bill Clinton was roundly criticized for making his own Africa trip in 1998. The cost of the visit, which was considered excessive at the time, was $42.7 million, according to the Government Accountability Office, and that tabulation didn’t include Secret Service expenses.

Clinton’s trip to Asia in 2000 was even more expensive, and Clinton was a lame duck then, only months away from leaving office. His Asia visit cost taxpayers $63.5 million. This included not only the expenses for operating Air Force One but for more than 60 other aircraft to transport U.S. personnel and equipment halfway around the world. [...]

The dilemma for Obama is that today’s economically struggling Americans may not be as forgiving when their president incurs big costs for trips that include not only official business but also touristy junkets. Members of Congress and conservative commentators have already made these points, including Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.).

The main problem will be that if Obama looks self indulgent, he will lose credibility as a president who says he is in tune with Middle America.  (IF? ...IF?) 

Obama will be accompanied by his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha. Their trip to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania runs from Wednesday to July 3.

 

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Bush is the most expensive ex-president we have ever had. We spent over 37 million dollars last year alone paying for staff and office buildings (among other things)

 

The point is that EVERYTHING is more expensive now. That's just the way it goes. I remember paying .50 for a gallon of gas. I just bought the most expensive gallon of milk I have ever bought.

 

Go on and keep crying about every single thing this President does. Even if every President before him did the same things. The more you guys whine and moan about such silliness the more the rest of the country turns a deaf ear to the blubbering. We are just tired of hearing all the manufactured outrage.

 

Here, have a tissue...

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