CBS Early Show just did a hack piece on Obama's expenses

[Wednesdays]

like...Oh My God, get this: his night on the town (when he and Michelle went to see the Broadway show)--the security entourage and all, cost the taxpayers $81,000!

To be fair, at least Dave Price jumped in after the bullshit piece to say, "Hey, he's the president, cut him some slack." (Thank you, Dave. It's as though the network doesn't think Duhbya ever cost the taxpayers anything.)

Liberal media, my ass.

[napi21]

Chris Matthews did a great job with that story last night.

I can't remember his exact words, but he ended his rant by saying "Is this just flat out jealousy or just another piss-ant story?"

[Cha]

28. Here's a thread on it from last night..

mikiturner (447 posts) Mon Jun-01-09 05:34 PM
Original message

MATTHEWS!

"Just totally schooled the RNC for "date-gate." Called them "piss-ants" and "jealous." He then called them out for not saying anything about Bush's trips to Crawford."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8444699

[vadawg]

1. lol yeah hes the president cut him some slack

didnt we all just rail against ceos for doing this same kinda stuff, would be kinda nice if our money wasnt spent on crap like this though.

[sandnsea]

2. The price of the 2nd Amendment

as far as I'm concerned. If we didn't have so goddamn many crazies with such easy access to guns in this country, we wouldn't need this kind of security.

[Celtic Merlin]

21. The only thing about your comment that really sucks is that...

...I can't click a "Recommend" button for it.

Celtic Merlin
Carlinist

[rurallib]

3. If he walks the dog it costs us money. He needs protection

because he is the president. Just like junior was when he was rasslin' scrub brush.
In the case of Obama, it is very likely that there are many who would love to take a shot at him. So is supposed to stay in a 12' x 20' cell for 8 years?

[Yavin4]

4. RWers Just Murdered A Doctor In Broad Daylight In Kansas

This is why the president needs protection.

[LuckyLib]

6. You forgot "in a church" RWers just murdered a doctor in broad daylight in a church in Kansas.

We need to protect our President from such crazies. I'm willing to pay for that.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. Oh, man, I almost replied with the same thing.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. I'd like to know how much Bush spent flying to all corners of this county

for his pep rallies. Or how much he spent flying past a drowning New Orleans to deliver a birthday cake to John McCain.

[Bobcat]

9. Cost?

I don't know how much it cost but here are W's travel numbers - all in AF1. Got this from CBS news of all places!!! $81,000 is a drop in the bucket..........

GW Bush......

Number Of Visits To His Texas Ranch: 77, totaling all or part of 490 days.

Number Of Visits To His Parents’ Home In Kennebunkport, Maine: 11, totaling all or part of 43 days.

Number Of Out Of Town Domestic Trips: 609
(That's not counting Camp David visits or bike riding outings)

Number Of Foreign Trips: 49

Number Of Katrina-Related Visits To The Gulf Coast: 18

Number Of Flights On Air Force One: 1,674
(Source: Presidential Airlift Group)

Number Of Miles Flown On Air Force One: 1,490,698
(Presidential Airlift Group)

[Ganja Ninja]

11. And how many times did the right wing media whores mention the excessive amount all that flying cost...

0

[cboy4]

14. And you know what .. just as Obama doesn't deserve to be criticized for

using/wasting tax money, neither does that idiot George W Bush.

My feeling is, if you become president .. part of the perk should be you get to travel when you want and where you want.

You can't just put the guy on a Cessna with no support team and say see ya back around midnight. It's silly.

[vadawg]

15. bingo, the hypocrasy on all sides abounds.

[redqueen]

19. Bush's trips listed here as a contrast,

how many of those many trips Bush took ended up as "Look how much this costs!" stories on morning news shows?

[cboy4]

22. Who cares. It's not Bush's fault.

I already said I think presidents should be able to go where they want at any time.

[redqueen]

24. The issue isn't Bush, it's the different way the M$M discusses the trips. (nt)

[cboy4]

25. Oh who cares? Seriously.

As Obama says, brush it off.

[redqueen]

26. Dunno... whoever started the thread I guess.

I was only trying to explain that it's not about Bush.

[Cha]

29. Exactly..that's precisely

what it's about.

[malaise]

13. Ed Shultz gave a good breakdown on the number of Bush trips

to Crawford, Camp David and the family home.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. Which intrepid reporter did the piece?

CBS Morning News seemed like it had some potential a couple years ago. Then they decided they wanted to be Good Morning America.

[marshall]

10. Having fun isn't cheap these days

And they didn't even factor in the cost of childcare. Grandma's got to eat too!

[angstlessk]

12. those secret service men get paid no matter where the president goes!

it would have cost $81,000 if he had gone anywhere outside the whitehouse, I recon we need a recluse president, like the last one...dick cheeney?

[TahitiNut]

30. It's not just personnel. The "Beast" and SS SUVs had to be transported.

Just because the 'entourage' of Secret Service, staffers, and press was limited to what could fit on 2 Gulfstream jets, it doesn't mean that all the other support and security equipment that accompanies the President were omitted. He had to have a motorcade, for example, and that motorcade includes the Presidential limo (the "Beast") and the security SUVs. They all have to be transported both ways in a C47 ... and that's not free.

FWIW, I do NOT begrudge him that. It's ridiculous to expect him to stay in "the bubble."

[cboy4]

16. I'm so sick of this argument. When you win the presidency, you should be

able to go where you want.

You're in charge. You call the shots.

It should be a perk, and I don't criticize presidents of either party taking advantage of it.

I know I sure as hell would.

[edhopper]

17. Hey MSM!

How much did all those trips to Crawford cost?

[Winterblues]

18. When Bush* traveled it was to campaign on the tax payers dollar

At least Obama isn't spending our money fraudulently like Republicans do. Even the President needs a night out occasionally.

[Romulox]

20. I think the criticism is valid. Obama is asking for all of us to make "concessions"... nt

[struggle4progress]

23. Obama NYC Date Night Highlights Bush Vacation Record (Daily Kos)

by Avenging Angel
Sun May 31, 2009 at 10:32:11 AM PDT

... Republicans are apoplectic about President Obama's "date night" in New York ... By March 2008, Bush had spent all or part of 879 days at his Crawford, Texas ranch or at Camp David, surpassing Reagan's mark of 866. By the time he left office, George W. Bush had made 149 trips to and spent 487 days at Camp David, with another 77 getaways to (and 490 days at) Crawford. Toss in 11 visits and 43 days at his folks' compound in Kennebunkport, Maine and President Bush spent 1020 days - 35% of his presidency - getting away from the White House ... http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/31/737229/-Obama-NYC-Date-Night-Highlights-Bush-Vacation-Record

[Cha]

27. Contact CBS and let them know what

you think of their stupid "hack piece".

CBS
-Phone: [phone]

Go to the bottom of the page and click on Contact us..

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/earlyshow/main500202.shtml

[thewiseguy]

31. And had he spend the night in the White House, how much would that have costed?