While it should surprise no-one that lawmakers, Republican and Democratic, spend entirely too much time on fund-raising, this report by American News Project journalist Harry Hanbury highlights the absurdity of any lawmaker taking offense at the President's 11 minute "distraction." (h/t Crooks and Liars)
At least some of them can pull themselves away from their Balsamic reduction-drizzled arugula salads with candied pistachios long enough to tell the President to quit loafing, or to slow his roll.
The only problem to me is that it shows how much they are all focused on the wrong things. Lord knows if they ALL spent more time on BOTH sides worrying about ALL Americans not just the ones at their fund raisers we might be in better shape.
The President needs some momentary downtime to distract, entertain, and recharge. If sports floats his boat ... great ... time with his wife and kids ... great ... time at Camp David ... fine ... going to a concert, bowling, taking a walk, or communicating directly with the American public on an entertainment show ... equally fine.
I find it interesting that (predominately) Republicans take exception to this (especially the time taken to strengthen his rapport with a majority of the American people), when George W. spent approximately 1/3 of his Administration on vacation. Obama has not taken one yet, and is not likely to for quite some time, plus even on his day's off, he is working part of the day. I wonder what number (1, 2 or 3) of vacations George W. was on at this point within his Administration???
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Magic 8
5:43PM Mar 23rd 2009
Probably not what you intended Deb, but your post was really very funny. You can guest write this blog any time-TC wouldn't be missed at all.
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lolabull
6:07PM Mar 23rd 2009
It doesn't really matter what President Teleprompter does in the eyes of liberals. He can take a vacation, not take a vacation, play basketball, not play basketball, ruin the United States of America, not ruin the United States of America...they don't care, long as Georgie's gone and a liberal is in charge. The outcome is moot.
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Truth
6:16PM Mar 23rd 2009
The end is near. I agree with Tommy, partially. Both parties are guilty of squandering money, and time. Pointing out that Congress is doing it, however, doesn't make it acceptable for Obama. Obama is supposed to be setting an example for WORKING our way out of this, only he never seems to be working, and I don't count smiling as you give the body count as working.
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Ryan
6:25PM Mar 23rd 2009
President Obama may very well have the toughest job in the world and definitely the most important one. However he wanted it so bad and now he has to sleep in that bed. OK I understand he will need a break from a time to time. But there is some pretty important issues that require his undying attention. Now is not the time for Leno or Letterman.
How about Mr. President you get this Economy back on track, get us out of this recession, and then we can throw a party as a Country together? There will be time for late night appearances I really don't have a problem with that. I just want to know you are busting your balls for the American people. You have proved a lot to me as a voter who did not cast my vote for you. And you have the opportunity to win my vote come 2012. Lets save the late night shenanigans for the right time and if you do your job well I will celebrate your victory as our President and as a fellow American. Oh... and sir... Please Help Legalize Marijuana! I know you used to be a fellow smoker... Don't be a hater sir! LEGALIZE!
and
BONG!
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alt
6:39PM Mar 23rd 2009
It's only going to get worse. All the Dems. know is to tax and spend the spending will run out then the tax will begin at the same level. Keep laughing BOBO 2010 and 2012 are coming!!!!
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bonbon
7:53PM Mar 23rd 2009
thanks Tommy
lure me in with the title
I thought someone finally had the balls to tell the Big ZERO to actually start doing his job.
damn I am so disappointed.
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rose
8:41PM Mar 23rd 2009
who does obama think he is?! who died and made him king?! what died and crawled-up his "blank!" he doesn't represent americans! he's not their voice! he will never understand or know. the sacerfices, the hardships. the pain, the heartache. the frustration. the lose of homes on a daily basis. the lose of jobs. the broken promises he's made. and will never go through with any of them! this is not a soverin nation! it's not communistic or a nazi regime! it's a "free" nation! "together we stand" "divided we fall!" we are not saying hail hitler! he is not creaser. or ponce pilate! we do not salute or follow one person. to the grave! regardless whoever it might be! including obama! great minds do not necssarily think alike! and so what if his I Q is above the norm! it still doesn't make him anything "specail" or different! he still puts his pants on. one leg at a time! there is only One King! One Lord! HE has been. always will be just that! nothing more! does anyone hear the braving and the thundering sound of horses hoves?! does anyone feel their hot breath. breathing down the back their necks? does anyone's hair stand-on end? or have that "creepy" "crawlely" feeling. like goose bumps rising on them? if so. it's time. "to either shape-up or ship-out!" "to either put that in your pipe and smoke it!" "to either put-up or shut-up!" to make-up your mind. where you stand. once and for all! it's not the time. to be wasting it on something. that doesn't amount to anything! it's not the time. getting everything you would like or want materially! regardless what it might be! remember. once your gone. ( death. ) you can't take it with you! and it's gone for good! you can never get it back. replacing it. or ret riving it! "what I say unto you." "I say unto all." "WATCH!" this has a much more prefound and deeper meaning. it would do well. focusing. on things that are in the heavenlies. not on things. that are on this earth! times winding-up! the clock is winding down! this old world. will have it's final heave! what will everyone do when it happens? where will everyone be when it does? does this mean. i am christian? or that i am a religous fanctic? i will let everyone guess. for now. no comment! but that doesn't necessarily mean anything! so it shouldn't be read into. or made into something. when it's nothing more. then a comment! everyone has the right to voice their "own" "opinions!" so that's all this is! nothing more! then "opinions!" as far as i know. no one has ever been ostracized. by doing so! and if someone was. what does that say about them? other then being narrow minded! what does it take. other then having an open mind! not much! if it's closed. it's closed. and there's not much someone could do! other then accepting it. which isn't easy! the "opinions" expressed. do not necessiarly. express the "opinions" of others.
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Chap
8:56PM Mar 23rd 2009
If I hear another person say "well your guy did worse things", I will puke. They have divided us against each other to the point where we get angry at each other instead of them. Are we to forgive a convenience store robber because he didn't take as much as a bank robber? Wrong is wrong. Party affiliation should not change that. Both sides need to be held accountable. We will never clean up Washington because everyone is focused on protecting their own. I wouldn't give you a nickle for a Rep. or Dem. politician because they are all in bed with everyone but us. Wake up!
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ConcernedCitizen
9:31PM Mar 23rd 2009
Chap8:56PMMar 23rd 2009
If I hear another person say "well your guy did worse things", I will puke. They have divided us against each other to the point where we get angry at each other instead of them. Are we to forgive a convenience store robber because he didn't take as much as a bank robber? Wrong is wrong. Party affiliation should not change that. Both sides need to be held accountable. We will never clean up Washington because everyone is focused on protecting their own. I wouldn't give you a nickle for a Rep. or Dem. politician because they are all in bed with everyone but us. Wake up! *********************************************** You are right on target. Both parties are lining their pockets with our blood, sweat and tears and Obama does not bother to set a good example for any of them. He is in la la land dreaming about being a celebrity while this nation sinks. None of them will investigate this shit and Obama does not want them to because he is up to his pearly whites in this AIG fiasco. Go ahead Obama, take your break since you aren't doing any work anyway. I could have sworn that all that flying around California was break enough for you, but hey buddy, have at it. What say we give you a permanent break in 2012.
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ConcernedCitizen
9:50PM Mar 23rd 2009
bonbon7:53PMMar 23rd 2009
thanks Tommy
lure me in with the title
I thought someone finally had the balls to tell the Big ZERO to actually start doing his job.
damn I am so disappointed. ******************************************** bonbon, don't ever expect to see anything UNBAISED coming from Tommy C. He is as left wing as they get and most of his post are fundamentally wrong and inaccurate biased to the left. He is a self-absorbed narcissist just like Obama. It is beyond me why they keep him on Political Machine.... for the laughs I suppose.
It will never finish folks. When the socialists get their hook into you , you are hooked. It will get worse, worse than Carter. Heheheheheheheheheheheheh
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Patricia Helvenston
11:11PM Mar 23rd 2009
Obama does no "work" at all. He gives multiple parties, insults our allies, cozies up to our enemies, gives more parties, jet sets out to LA to laugh it up with Leno, goes on 60 minutes and laughs about the economic disaster, gives more parties, invites hollywood and hiphop artists to the white house for serious policy discussions about nothing, gives more parties, jet sets to Turkey, comes back, gives more parties, jet sets to camp David and has a party, returns tot he whitehouse and gives more parties. He can't be bothered to draft legislation, read it or do anything but sign away America. I think it amazing that no one has had the gumption to rid us of this troublesome prince (in his own mind). He spends his days and nights either partying, jetting around, going on TV talk or comedy shows and thinking up more ways to stick it to the American Tax Payer. It is no wonder that people are not only buying guns, ammunition, and gold, but pitchforks with which to March on Washington DC, its only a matter of weeks or months.
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Marsha Bailey
11:21PM Mar 23rd 2009
It's nice to see some 'fresh faces' here, also some familiar ones. I almost feel sorry for Tim Geithner. He's in the trenches doing the dirty work, while obama is making the rounds on TV. He's not a real president, he just plays one on TV.
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Crandall
11:35PM Mar 23rd 2009
Wow...this must be a republican site.... I think Obama is doing a great job considering what he inherited. Lets see what happens and how things turn out a year from now...it is way too soon to judge a new president....
I can't even imagine anyone else whether republican or democrat who would have done any better than what he has so far.
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SY
11:40PM Mar 23rd 2009
What exactly is it that people think Obama is neglecting with his ability to speak to people and read on the same day? The ability to do both skills isn't exactly earth shattering. Schoolchildren manage it everyday, even with a little partying, er, recess, thrown in.
I remember back when no one thought it strange that a grown man could do more than one thing a day. Now suddenly, the ability to multitask is cause for concern.
What's up with that?
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crandall
11:42PM Mar 23rd 2009
ConcernedCitizen;;;your an idiot...Obama will be re-elected in 2012 because there is not a republican in site that could take him. Republicans have had control of congress for most of the Bush years and before. How do you even know how hard Obama is working? you haven't a clue what the president of the United States has to do.. lets hear how smart you are and give us your solution to fixing our economy since you know so much...
What is your solution?
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Crandall
11:54PM Mar 23rd 2009
Debra S....I agree....Bush was on vacation quite often. Obama took a break after elected and took his family to Hawaii before taking office but I read articles where he was constantly working even then. He was spending a lot of time deciding who to pick for his cabinet. So many disgruntled republicans on this site that seem to forget the election is over... I have suggested before that if someone thinks they are smarter than the people they elected then run for office yourselves...or if someone thinks they have a sure fire way of fixing our economy then write your congressmen with your suggestions.
But it sure seems that the favorite passtime of these aol users is to slam Obama.
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GenericAmerican
12:22AM Mar 24th 2009
The "Messiah is spending his time picking the line on the NCAA,but he's "PRESENT".