My BIL is an air traffic controller and as long as they have children in the home they will not fly on the same plane so in the worst-case scenario the children are not left orphans. Of course, they take the same car but they say that they are more more likely to survive a car accident.

Jen, they clearly did not fly in two aircraft, one being Air Force One, a 747 with up to 4 engines modified to withstand nuclear blasts because they were worried about it crashing.

Dunno, hard to comment without knowing the rest of their schedules and who if anyone went with them.

This is just speculation, but perhaps Michelle Obama was sick and tired of Barack's #manspreading.

Maybe she felt that her changing her schedule had the wrong optics and might send the wrong signal to American women, Emma Watson, Beyonce, Jezebel.

This may have been her way of leaning in.

It might be that the President just doesn't #HeForShe as zealously as he might.

Either way, I am certain they purchased enough carbon offsets to make this carbon neutral, and so, the American People certainly benefited from how the Obamas were able to be in so many places at the same time, working to benefit us. And to fundraise, CNN also said fundraising.

They seem to be spending a lot of time apart lately. Early in his first term they caught a lot of flack when they went to New York on a date night - which, although ill-conceived and expensive to the taxpayer, at least indicated they could stand to be in the same room. Anyone know when their last date night was?

From the article: ...but this is just about the most selfish thing I have ever heard.

What an asinine statement. I've seen far greater instances of selfishness in my life. Greta, you northern end of a southbound horse, kindly get over it.

Why is this news? It's not the first time this has happened. Likely it will not be the last, either.

The Empress has spoken. Buck up, commoner swine.

That the Obama's do this doesn't surprise me; like many politicians before them, they've always been good at spending other people's money.

However, what does surprise me is that CNN is reporting this!

What is even more irritating is that this was NOT government business on Barry's part - he flew out to do Late Night and to do a Democrat fund raising - things the taxpayer should NOT be paying for.

My BIL is an air traffic controller and as long as they have children in the home they will not fly on the same plane so in the worst-case scenario the children are not left orphans.

So, what are the odds that the kids would survive the plane crash that killed their parents?

We're only seeing half of the true story: Wherever the POTUS flies, there is always a backup AF-1, along with a separate transport for the presidential limo, aka "The Beast", plus security personnel. Your tax dollars at work!

These people don't drive to work, they fly.

Thank you, jefe. This thread has really brought out the pettiness in people. Starting with the fact that it was posted in the first place. And poor Conan's acting like a gossipy schoolgirl.

This thread has really brought out the pettiness in people. Starting with the fact that it was posted in the first place.

I know, right, like, who care if the POTUS and his wife spend multiple millions of tax dollars to appear on talk shows and raise money for a political organization that actively mocks the ideals of more than half* the people footing the bill for the trip

*We all know conservatives pay more in taxes

Patrick, what would you say if this was GW Bush & Co.?

Actually I didnt know that Lujip, where do you find those kinds of stats?

Because Ive always heard the opposite... blue states pay more:

http://www.theblot.com/how-conservatives-steal-liberal-tax-dollars-7730539

But of course the taxes could be paid by conservatives within the blue states. I'd love it if you'd share an info source!

@NicoleK.

You have to watch how they choose the numbers.

Blue States are a mix of Republicans and Democrats, where the majority usually vote democrat.

That says nothing about the individuals, and large businesses in those states, many of which are owned by Republicans.

In addition most of these studies ignore the fact that the western (mostly red states) have large military bases and also have huge tracts of land either owned outright by the federal government, or in the form of reservations for native Americans with all the accompanying federal spending on Indian hospitals and schools, or huge bureaucracies to administer those federal lands and National Parks by the Department of the Interior.

Almost 80 percent of Nevada is owned by the Feds.

Factors like these make the western red states net recipients of federal money, not because we asked for it, but because Congress has mandated that these agencies and programs exist.

Hillary Clinton really started pushing the envelope when she was first lady. She was not elected and should have had no role at all in government. Nonetheless, she ran around acting like a government official, holding meetings, directing programs, etc..

Michelle Obama seems to be continuing the tradition. Just as an example: who put her in charge of school nutrition? Why is she setting policies?

She certainly should not be chartering planes for her private travel on the taxpayer dime. Accompany her husband, sure, I'll buy that - AF one is flying anyway. But if she travels somewhere on her own? She can pay the travel herself, be it a charter or a commercial ticket. The Secret Service can pay for the tickets of a bodyguard or two - that's it.

The whole security theater around the office of the president is totally out of control. Even for the president there is no reason to shut down whole city districts, just because he happens to be passing through. It's nuts, he is just not that much more important than all the people inconvenienced.

Just as an example: who put her in charge of school nutrition? Why is she setting policies? ~ Posted by: a_random_guy at March 16, 2015 7:37 AM

First Ladies have always chosen a pet project. For Nancy Reagan, it was drug abuse. For Rosalyn Carter, it was mental health. For Laura Bush, a former school librarian, it was education. For Michelle Obama, it is childhood obesity.

=========================

And poor Conan's acting like a gossipy schoolgirl. ~ Posted by: Patrick at March 15, 2015 5:26 PM

Patrick, please resist your default urge to be an ass.

I merely pointed out that in the early days of the Obama presidency, he made a public effort to be a good husband and father. He still seems to want to be a good father, but the doting husband seems to have disappeared as the Obamas seem to be spending more time apart than they did in those halcyon days.

Whether this is simply a busy public couple responding to the conflicting demands on their time or is indicative of trouble in paradise, I don't know.

Hillary Clinton really started pushing the envelope when she was first lady. She was not elected and should have had no role at all in government. Nonetheless, she ran around acting like a government official, holding meetings, directing programs, etc... ~ Posted by: a_random_guy at March 16, 2015 7:37 AM

I don't know if Hillary started it, but she definitely pushed the envelope.

Eleanor Roosevelt, whom Hillary was reported to be channeling, was a regular policy maker in her husband's administration.

Edith Wilson may have been the first spousal busybody in the East Wing, even taking over her husband's presidential duties after his stroke.

Florence Harding was also known to wield a heavy hand in her husband's administration even, it is rumored, to the point of covering up the cause of his sudden death in San Francisco.

I swear I will vote for any candidate for President who promises not to do any late night talk shows once he or she takes office.

Fayd: I swear I will vote for any candidate for President who promises not to do any late night talk shows once he or she takes office.

I agree. Doing late night talk shows is way beneath the dignity of the office.

Why the hate for the late night talk shows? I enjoy them. He's all about being a good-looking guy with a good personality and a superficial presentation on his mediocre achievements.

I don't get the flack he's getting for this, reminds me of how Michelle gets accused of spending tons of money on clothing while ignoring almost all female politicians wear things like St. John's or in Jackie O's case custom Givenchy.

And as to the speculation there is trouble in paradise they almost filed for divorce before he decided on the Presidency.

Why the hate for the late night talk shows? I enjoy them. He's all about being a good-looking guy with a good personality and a superficial presentation on his mediocre achievements.

I don't get the flack he's getting for this, reminds me of how Michelle gets accused of spending tons of money on clothing while ignoring almost all female politicians wear things like St. John's or in Jackie O's case custom Givenchy.

And as to the speculation there is trouble in paradise they almost filed for divorce before he decided on the Presidency.

Posted by: Ppen at March 16, 2015 2:31 PM

I think previous Presidents and First Ladies were a little more careful about keeping the Presidential budget separate from their personal fortunes.

It isn't about what you are wearing, and where you are going, it is about who is footing the bill.

I think previous Presidents and First Ladies were a little more careful about keeping the Presidential budget separate from their personal fortunes. ~ Posted by: Isab at March 16, 2015 3:05 PM

That may be part of it, but a major part of it is partisan politics and media coverage.

Clinton didn't do anything Kennedy didn't do, but the press didn't report Kennedy's philandering, use of the Secret Service to procure women and hide affairs, and profligate use of taxpayer monies for personal benefit and luxurious living. Clinton thought he'd get away with it as well (like he did in Arkansas), but failed to understand the political world had changed.

The Eisenhower-Kennedy-Johnson era Republicans were less likely to report or act on such things as well - until Watergate left them burned and wanting to give the Democrats a taste of the hyper-critical media lashing and partisan politics that Nixon endured throughout his presidency.

Watergate and later exposés of outrageous behavior by past presidents left the public jaded and the press hungry for another salacious story of abuse of power.

The Obamas are in living the White House in an age of hyper-partisan politics and wide-open media coverage coupled with a sluggish economy.

They should know better than to try and live like Kennedys on the taxpayer dime, but seem tone deaf to the bad optics of much of their behavior.

They're much too caught up in the celebrity of the presidency and don't seem even vaguely aware that there's a responsibility to behave that goes with it.

==============================

Before we condemn Obama's late night talk show habit too loudly, don't forget these:

Candidate Richard Milhaus Nixon appeared on Laugh-In in 1968. Nixon credited the appearance with helping him to win the election, especially when his opponent, Hubert Humphrey, declined an invitation to appear.

Candidate John Fitzgerald Kennedy appeared on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar during the 1960 election.

Candidate William Jefferson Clinton played the saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show during the 1992 election.

Candidate George Walker Bush read a Top 10 list on Late Night with David Letterman in 2000.

Granted, none of those appearances were by sitting presidents.

No they weren't. We've been footing the bill for all of them for quite some time. Even my lowly Republican and Democratic "I can't live on my $200,000 salary" representatives.

Obama isn't a good politician and doesn't know how to shut the Greta's of this world up. Just like Bush didn't know how to shut the liberals up regarding his private use of planes to visit his Crawford ranch. Good politicians know not to get caught and criticized for wasting taxpayer money. The only thing this shows to me is Obama is wet behind the ears and never had the skill to navigate this partisans news parade.

Just like Bush didn't know how to shut the liberals up regarding his private use of planes to visit his Crawford ranch.

That was mostly media whining. The Clintons, on the taxpayer dime, had visited exciting places on their vacations: Vail, Martha's Vineyard, etc.

Like the Reagans, the Bushes went to their actual house on their vacations. However, there was nothing for a bored New York or DC media personality to do in small-town Crawford, Texas, except to whine that Bush took Air Force One to Texas too much to suit them.

The Obamas don't go home to Chicago on their vacations. They go to exciting places, at which they rent expensive lodgings and play exclusive golf courses and shop at high-end stores. The NYC-DC media personalities love those kinds of expense account trips.

Democratic presidents over the past several years have tended to vacation at expensive far away places while Republicans have tended to go to their own homes.

And George W. Bush was even nicer. He spent Christmases at Camp David so the White House staff and Secret Service could spend at least part of Christmas Day with their families and then went to Crawford after the holiday.

12 Christmases at Camp David.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-12-24-camp-david_N.htm

More on Bush at Christmas.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/25/joseph-curl-christmastime-george-w-bush-was-santa-/

That those were candidates is kinda the point Conan. Nothing wrong with late nite TV. But it is beneath the dignity of the office. And paying for it yourself is a major difference as well.

Aside from show why should I care whether one prez is a homebody and takes more vacation days or the other an international snob? The differences between dem and repub vacays is pennies. But everyone has one side that makes them rage filled when both are working while on vacay anyways.

You know truth is I'm still seething that Jonh Adams took 8 months away from the capital. What a fucking asshole.

No wait the taxpayer buys Michelle those free Lanvin sneakers. Fuck what a bitch.

(And anyone who has met Bush has said he is an incredibly genuine likeable guy so I'm not surprised)

Ben the interviews aren't for you. He didn't do the Funny or
Die skit for my age bracket and below. I liked them quite a bit.

Oops *he did

"The differences between dem and repub vacays is pennies. "

It is actually millions. They don't fly Air Force One to Camp David.

And it was much more considerate of the staff and the Secret Service.

It is the difference between a gentleman and a Philistine.

"It is actually millions."

So like I said pennies.

Ppen, I'm 34.

The differences between dem and repub vacays is pennies. ~ Posted by: Isab at March 16, 2015 10:02 PM

I was referring less to the cost than to the destination - as a point of interest and not in criticism of either party.

Both travel with White House staff, guards, reporters, and other required personnel.

Reagan and both Bushes mostly went to their own places on vacation.

Clinton, who didn't have a house of his own, having lived in the Arkansas governor's mansion and then the White House, used his vacations to travel.

Obama, who does have a house in Chicago, travels on his vacations. In fact, he has only visited his Chicago house once or twice since becoming president. His house may not be able to handle the staff and security apparatus that travels with the president, thus requiring that it not be a frequent destination.

Right Ben. You're not the target.

" For Nancy Reagan, it was drug abuse. "

I knew it!

Seriously Ppen? Honestly I was never the demographic and that has nothing to do with age.

Look at how the president is portrayed in TV and movies. Can you see Eckhart or Freeman from Olympus has Fallen with a selfie stick? Instead Obama is the hipster president. Give him a neckbeard and a latte, now he's ready to move back into his parent's basement. Obama just doesn't act presidential.