WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama and wife Michelle head to North Carolina today for some R&R.
The first couple will spend the next three days in Asheville, N.C., at the Grove Park Inn -- a resort famed for its kitchen, its southern hospitality and its views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Obama is familiar with its charms, having prepped for one of his campaign debates with John McCain in a Grove Park ballroom made over to look like the debate hall.
Obama has no public appearances planned until Sunday, when he speaks in West Virginia at a memorial for the miners killed in the Upper Big Branch explosion.
So why Asheville? Officials say it's not because Obama's the first Democrat to win North Carolina in three decades. They say he's coming for its scenery, dining and recreation.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Bush and Obama
I take a different approach to comparing Obama and Bush with who is to blame. I see that Bush has done some good but yet some bad with the economy as well as Obama. Do I believe Obama killed the economy by himself? No, I think it was unraveling with Bush but it fell into the Obama administration. But, I also see Obama doing things and creating debt that shouldnt be there to create, especially during this time of the economic failure. I think they both are to blame and they both started to create in areas that was to benefit the few or cost many. Each term, every president has to deal with the past presidents mess ups, some are there when they come into office, some plop in 6 months to a year later. I think we should eliminate having both parties because not everyone votes their party from day one but also every time we lean lft for a term or right for a term, we end up back in the middle one way or another.
Excellent
Just want to compliment you on an excellently thought out comment. Every President has their good and bad, and no one person can make everyone happy. The bottom line is they deserve respect no matter how much you may disagree with their policies and their beliefs. Personally I could not stand the Bush administration, but he was the President and he and his office deserve my respect for that alone. It's a long road to become President and you can't be a complete idiot to make the trip!
Perception is reality. Who
Perception is reality. Who cares if the taxes are lower. Who cares how many vacations Bush took. That was the past this is now. Now most Americans can't afford to eat out, let alone take a vacation.
The President ought to give the perception that he is in it like the rest of the country. At least call it something else like a work retreat.
The divide between the people and the government is growing. More like an anarchy and peasants rather than a government for the people, by the people.
All presidents have taken
All presidents have taken vacations, why not this one? All presidents have used AIR FORCE ONE, why not this one. All presidents have had security for themselves and their families, Why not this one.Whether you agree with him or not. He still is our President and should be treated as every president before him.
Everyone needs a vacation
i beleive the Obamas have the money to pay for their own vacation; why not leave them alone so they can enjoy the moutains; anyone who has worked as Obama has, especially trying to work with the other political party that has been against every thing he has tried to do! NC citizens should be proud that the obamas chose our state.
A 3 day weekend...
It's a 3 day weekend trip!!! Calm down a bit. How many of us take 3 day weekends to rest and relax? It's nice that our president is visiting and spending time enjoying our state...maybe it will bring attention to a great place for others to take a 3 day trip.
Obama Vacation in Asheville, NC
It seems odd that he would choose to visit the home area of Billy Graham, Franklin's father. This seems to be an "in your face" type of vacation.
VACATION!
Okay, how many vacations has he had? I'd love to have just a weeks rest at a nice North Carolina beach...but can't. Why? He's flying around all over the world spending my hard earned tax money vacationing, paying for security, Air Force One...and planning on how to tax me more, so he can take more vacations!
Believe Me, I was there...
I was at the Grove Park this weekend, not to see Obama, of course. I was thinking the exact same thing...exactly how much money is being spent on security for something like this? All those "not so secret" secret service guys had access to a terrace complete with a stocked bar and the food just kept coming...round the clock! And it wasn't just chips and dip if you know what I mean. I hope he had a grand time, because it inconvenienced alot of guests that had their vacations planned long before the calls from the Grove Park to "rearrange" everyone. All in all, it was exciting to see the "behind the scenes" stuff that does take place as far as the magnitude of protection the prez and first lady receive.
Thankfully
I do not own real estate that far west. He'd no doubt find a way to tax it to pay for his trip.
For that matter, since this is a vacation, who's picking up the tab for Air Force One, his entourage, and personal expenses?
Well no one took more
Well no one took more vacations or days off than bush jr. Every chance he got he hopped on air force one to a vaction . He blew a 3 trillion dollar surplus right before he got us into to two wars that have cost trillions and gave the top 5 percent a tax break instead of the bottom 95 percent . Now lets not forget for 98 % of everyone living in the u.s.a over the past year have had there taxes lowered and small business. Someone should tell the tea people that ,because apparently 80% of them dont even know there taxes have been lowered this year .
Where have they been
Where have they been lowered? I work for state and beginning back in January, we saw more taxes taken out of our check. You lost me somewhere.....
Taxes
I filed my taxes this year and had to pay for the first time in years. There has been no lowering of taxes, and with the new Obamacare, we can expect our cost of insurance to go up. In fact, I have already received an increase notice on my insurance.
Seniors were denied a cost of living adjustment this year, which is the same as a tax increase. All of us are paying in our taxes for all the "freebie" credits that the government is handing out. The Bush years were better until the last two years, when Democrats got control of both houses in Congress. Now our deficits are out of control and more tax increases are on the way.
How
does any of this relate to the Annointed One's mini-vacation to Asheville?
Why is it some of you unidentified posters have to throw stones at Bush even though he's been out of office for over a year.
For the record, look at the Clinton Administration's failure to agressively deal with terrorism as the preliminary actions which led to 9/11.
Did you forget the bombings in New York or the attacks on embassies and ships?
Those did not take place during the Bush Administration.
Just for clarification, Bush did not cause the Great Depression, WWII, Korea or Vietnam.
I'm sure if you liberals had your way, you'd try to rewrite history and place the blame for all of that at his door.
but.....he did..... take
but.....he did..... take more vacation than any other president in history.
isnt that.... what this conversation was about?????
Because Bush was the worst president!
Because you keep throwing stones at Obama and he has no way drowned this country like Bush did but yet you keep trying to find anything this man does and spin in saying he is spending YOUR money..I guess if he stopped at McDonalds, he would be spending YOUR money..I guess if he bought his daughters toys, he would be spending YOUR money..Tell me this..when can the President use Air Force One..I mean ALL presidents in the past used the dang plane but OMG..Obama cant!! Everytime he gets on the plane, you post something negative about him using it..Why do you keep posting that nonsense?
You better guess again
The annointed one has put more debt on this country in less than 2 years than Former President Bush and his DEMOCRATIC Congress and Senate were able to do in 8 years.
Learn something about Civics. The President has to work with the Senate and House on Budget and finance.
Sure, President Bush took some vacations. I think his were limited to his Parents' home in Maine, his Texas ranch and Camp David.
So far the Annointed One has been to Martha's Vineyard and Asheville; and he's not been in office 18 months yet.
One would have thought he might vacation with the people who helped elect him -- have not seen any reports that he's vacationing in Chicago.
For the record, too, he has replaced Jimmy Carter as the most inept President in the area of Foriegn Policy.
His approval ratings have fallen; and he's been in office less than 2 years.
I could go on with fact; but, that might overwhelm your brain.
did you forget?
Have you forgotten the Hawaii vacation in which at least 2 houses were rented?
BUT to go to Chicago on Memorial Day and not honor our nations was dead is a DISGRACE !
Vacations
Add to those comments that Obama did indeed visit back to Chicago-- to play basketball and for a haircut!!!And let's not forget the famous NYC date night! And don't forget as Pres-elect he spent Christmas in Hawaii and he did this year as Pres. As I have read he plans to do every year. Now, this is in additon to Martha's Vineyard, Asheville and trip to Camp David. And do not forget that they carried their daughter to Paris for a summer trip and I read that they had to take 2 Air Force ones. These are just the pleasure trips. Now think of all the official worldwide trips. And what about Mrs. Obama taking those girls and some of their friends to a Broadway play only a few weeks ago. And the Family nights at the WH that the stars come and perform for them.
Hmm
and just HOW much has this new president spend JUST IN HIS FIRST YEAR? He QUADRUPLED what Bush left in expenses...ALREADY...not only that..you FORGOT the Bush tax cuts for the middle class that put the bottom wage earners in the middle class in a lower tax bracket....those will EXPIRE under Obama...leaving the lower middle class to pay HIGHER precentages...and taxes weren't lowered....as of January 1st my pay check took a price drop due to the new tax structure...keep drinking your kool-aid
Blame
At some point in time this one term-president has to realize that everything can't be blamed on President Bush and he will have to stand up for what he has done. Or isn't he doing anything to be blamed for which would equate to he isn't doing anything. Which may be probable.