First lady Michelle Obama’s weekend jaunt to Aspen, Colorado for a President’s Day ski holiday ... makes the 16th time members of the first family have gone on extended vacations during their three years in office....
.... Accounting for trips out of Washington for several days, the total number of vacations Washington Secrets tabulated is 16, 10 where the family was together, such as for Christmas and summer vacations, one by the president and five by the first lady. Not included were Camp David visits or trips like the first family’s New York City date night in May, 2009.
According to presidential watcher Mark Knoller of CBS, George W. Bush, at this time of his presidency, had made 30 visits to his Texas ranch spanning all or part of 220 days. The Obama’s vacation day count is less than half of that.
Hmm...
President Bush looks over papers inside a telecommunications trailer at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas, Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, during a satellite-linked videoconference with Vice President Dick Cheney and others. From left are Staff Secretary Harriet Miers, personal assistant Blake Gottesman and Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin. (AP Photo/The White House, Eric Draper)
President Bush conducts a National Security Council meeting via teleconference with General John Abizaid, in Crawford, Texas, Wednesday, April 7, 2004. The President received an update on military operations in Iraq. Also present is NSC Executive Secretary Greg Schulte, at right. (AP Photo/White House, Eric Draper)
President Bush with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a news conference Monday, August 7, 2006 at Mr. Bush’s ranch. Jason Reed/Reuters
Sorry about the detour; I couldn't resist. Now back to the Examiner:
But his have become more controversial because of the costs associated with moving the first family to a public vacation spot, unlike the Bushes to their remote ranch in Crawford, Texas. For example, the Hawaii Reporter said the first family’s 2011 Christmas vacation in Hawaii would exceed $1.5 million.
Critics and even some in his own party say the vacations present a bad image at a time when many Americans are struggling to get by during the recession. According to recent Harris poll, only three in 10 said they plan to take a vacation lasting longer than a week in the next six months, and that number has been dropping during the recession as people worry about the costs of vacations. Other polls have found that less than half of all Americans take all the vacation time they earn because they can’t afford trips.
The Obama Vacation List
-- President’s Day 2012, Michelle and the first daughters in Aspen, Colorado to ski.
-- Christmas 2011, the first family in Hawaii for an extended vacation.
-- Summer 2011, in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., for the annual beach break.
-- June 2011, the first lady, her mother and daughters traveled to South Africa and Botswana.
-- President’s Day 2011, the first lady and first daughters travel to Vail to ski.
-- Christmas 2010, in Hawaii.
-- August 2010, the first family traveled to Panama City Beach, Fla., for some sun and fun at the beach.
-- August 2010, Obama spent the weekend alone in Chicago for his 49th birthday bash.
-- August 2010, the first lady and daughter Sasha traveled to Spain for a mother-daughter vacation.
-- August 2010, summer vacation again at Martha’s Vineyard.
-- July 2010, the first family went to Mount Desert Island, Maine.
-- May 2010, the first family had a four-day trip to Chicago.
-- March 2010, first lady and daughter spend Spring Break in New York City.
-- Christmas 2009, Hawaii again for the annual break.
-- August 2009, at Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon for a short vacation.
-- August 2009, their first summer vacation as first family at Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
Posted by: Texas Vacation | Thursday, 26 July 2012 at 04:26 PM