Obama takes wife out to NYC for an night

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Azure

I assume they have shifts.

Doubt anyone will work that much OT, considering what they're doing.

Could be, not sure, maybe a dime wasn't spent on OT. I myself would assume that an event like this that is kind of out of the normal 9-5 work day (assuming it was out of the 9-5 work day) would probably require additional staff.

Who knows though.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Could be, not sure, maybe a dime wasn't spent on OT. I myself would assume that an event like this that is kind of out of the normal 9-5 work day (assuming it was out of the 9-5 work day) would probably require additional staff.

Who knows though.

I for one hope that the Secret Service doesn't work just 9-5.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Sowa

I for one hope that the Secret Service doesn't work just 9-5.

Unless they have big boobies and take dictation.

[Azure]

I'm sure they work a bit of OT.

The section chief is going to work a few more hours.

They might change shifts....but the agents being relieved probably go do some other work.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Sowa

I for one hope that the Secret Service doesn't work just 9-5.

Not sure if this was ment as a joke or not, but I was not suggesting they only work from 9-5, but the majority of work and activity would most likely be conducted during regular business hours, thus most of the agents would probably be scheduled to work during that time period.

[Azure]

WASHINGTON -- Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings spent $24,730 in taxpayer money last year to lease a 2008 luxury Lexus hybrid sedan. Ohio Rep. Michael Turner expensed a $1,435 digital camera. Eni Faleomavaega, the House delegate from American Samoa, bought two 46-inch Sony TVs.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124364352135868189.html

Start adding all that up......and it creates a problem.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Disagree, he spent extra money on his protection, this trip was not needed. Next time I read about a corporate CEO using his companies and shareholders money on lavish trips for himself and his wife, I'm sure to give him a pass.

I mean the guy works hard, puts in lots of extra hours and probably promised his wife a trip to rome.

That to me is different. He should get bonuses, etc. if he is working hard and fulfilling his obligation to the company.

Obama doens't ask these guys to follow him around, it is part of his job they do. He must be protected it doesn't matter what he is doing.

We are agree to disagree because to me this doesn't seem like a story and to do you it is. IMHO if we knew the real numbers of the extra costs than if he was going to go down the street for a show I bet it would be very little compared to what people (myself included) are guessing. And in the big picture do not have a factor on people being laid off or not in the USA.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by HOOT

That to me is different. He should get bonuses, etc. if he is working hard and fulfilling his obligation to the company.

Obama doens't ask these guys to follow him around, it is part of his job they do. He must be protected it doesn't matter what he is doing.

We are agree to disagree because to me this doesn't seem like a story and to do you it is. IMHO if we knew the real numbers of the extra costs than if he was going to go down the street for a show I bet it would be very little compared to what people (myself included) are guessing. And in the big picture do not have a factor on people being laid off or not in the USA.

Oh, come on now.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HOOT

That to me is different. He should get bonuses, etc. if he is working hard and fulfilling his obligation to the company.

Agreed, but if I was looking at Obama as the CEO of USA incorporate then he's basically overspent and guaranteed losses, so he shouldn't be getting any bonuses or perks.

Originally Posted by HOOT

Obama doens't ask these guys to follow him around, it is part of his job they do. He must be protected it doesn't matter what he is doing.

But Hoot, he knew that he had to have them when he took on the job, and that they would make any kind of family day vacation to New York not only inconvenient but tremendously expensive. Again even if it was only a half million, that's for one night, that's ridiculous to me. His promise to his wife could have waited until he was done being president. He could have taken his family to Camp David which already has that security in place and budgeted for.

Originally Posted by HOOT

We are agree to disagree because to me this doesn't seem like a story and to do you it is. IMHO if we knew the real numbers of the extra costs than if he was going to go down the street for a show I bet it would be very little compared to what people (myself included) are guessing. And in the big picture do not have a factor on people being laid off or not in the USA.

I agree, we'll agree to disagree. I consider it to be a unnecessary and stupid extravagance, that ultimately sends a bad message to his constituents.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Oh, come on now.

Sorry I should have said he doesn't have much of a choice since people actually want to harm him.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Agreed, but if I was looking at Obama as the CEO of USA incorporate then he's basically overspent and guaranteed losses, so he shouldn't be getting any bonuses or perks.

The no deficit mentality. Sorry, not buying it. The governments' role is to help the economy when it's hurting, and that means deficits. You can run surpluses when things are going well, which also helps prevent the economy from overheating. He'd be doing a piss-poor job as president if the government was balanced.

Originally Posted by Dion

No one is arguing he can't have time with his wife. He has 3 1/2 years to take that trip to NYC. He's hurting his image by going now.

Sure... but only because people are idiots. Spending helps the economy, so really there's no better time to go.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by SebC

The no deficit mentality. Sorry, not buying it. The governments' role is to help the economy when it's hurting, and that means deficits. You can run surpluses when things are going well, which also helps prevent the economy from overheating. He'd be doing a piss-poor job as president if the government was balanced.

Sure... but only because people are idiots. Spending helps the economy, so really there's no better time to go.

For real? Might as well just give him a no limit credit card for him to buy what ever his heart desires then.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

For real? Might as well just give him a no limit credit card for him to buy what ever his heart desires then.

Yeah, that's exactly what I said. He should be spending infinite amounts of money.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by SebC

Yeah, that's exactly what I said. He should be spending infinite amounts of money.

Pretty much. If it helps the economy why not, now is the time....no?

[FlamesAddiction]

I remember when Brian Mulroney got busted spending a bunch of tax payers money on his wife and kid on a trip to France way back when, which pissed me off... so I'd probably be a little irritated if I was an American and tax payer money was spent on personal trips.

Then again, Obama is a wealthy man and gets a 6 figure salary as president... so are we sure he didn't cover the costs?

[HOOT]

I heard he doesn't even pay for his own gas when he takes the limo.

[flamey_mcflame]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Estimate: 1-2 million dollars of tax payer money spent

What A guy!!!!


One wonders..............

What crazy right wingers would do without their conspiracy theories and conservative radio shows?? Where would you direct all your anger and hate then??

[jammies]

I'd rather have leaders that do things like go to the theatre than leaders who live completely cut off from normal life. If that costs money, so be it.

I also think it'd be a good idea for the President to run affairs from somewhere other than Washington. The tendency over time is for more and more power to concentrate itself in the capital, and long-term that ends up with courtiers and bureaucrats running things instead of the elected representatives.

[onetwo_threefour]

As ridiculous as this thread is, I feel it necessary to enter the fray once more to point out something that I thought somebody else would have come up wit by now. For all those who are now accepting the idea that this cost 1-2 million, why? There has been discussion about the costs of transporting an advance team, paying for hotels and food, flights and setting up a command centre. Guess what? The Secret Service has a permanent field office in NYC (http://secretservice.tpaq.treasury.g..._offices.shtml), so why would they send a whole team from WAS? Maybe nobody, maybe just one of the security supervisors to oversee the preparations?.

Thus, the biggest alleged source of extra expenditure is thrown into doubt. I personally doubt that it cost any more than 100K 'extra' to the taxpayers including all extra costs associated with doing something in NYC.

As has been pointed out previously, there's only bad optics to this for people who don't think clearly about things.

That's my 2 Million Cents worth.

[CaptainCrunch]

You do know that the New York office is an investigatory office for the treasury department and not a presidential protection detail.

Beyond the presidential protection stuff, the secret service reports to the treasury department and investigates things like bank fraud, conterfeiting etc.

Those guys aren't an advanced team in any shape or form.