All about Air Force One

To all those on the left whining about this story, you would've been the first defending it had this been about a Bush flight!!!! Same w/ the $24,000 "jObama date night" when "we all must make hard concessions".

BTW, where the the Democratic majority in the Admin/Senate/Congress now that gas is back over $3 a gallon? I thougth that was Bush's fault?

Where was this itemized nonsense, when The Incompetent One, W, was jetting all over, to various military camps, stumping, or lying to America ?? Oh, that's right, you were splashing, yellow journalism all over ex-Governor Blagojevich !! You know, " the political equivalent " of John Dillinger, that was arrested at 6:00, in the morning , at home, in front of his wife and children !! You know, the one who is yet to be tried for anything, meanwhile those " upstanding politicians " of Illinois, thank you for doing their dirty work !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

No one cared about this when Bush was flying all over the place. Get a life!

So what is the president supposed to do? Hang out at the White House so we can complain about how out of touch he his that he lives in his ivory tower?

Man you just can't win with some people.

So what's the purpose of this complaint from "The Swamp"?

It certainly isn't a news item.

Presidents have been traveling at taxpayers expense for centuries.

Uh, the idea might be that the President needs to stay in touch with government 24/7/365. These vehicles are set up to insure that the President can do that.

Ok, Obama flying to Chicago to give a speech at the AMA convention is no big deal. Presidents do this all the time and it is fine they do that. It comes with the territory of the job.
But, when this Big Spender flies to New York for a "date night," or flies to Chicago for the weekend, then flies back to DC and then the next day he flies to Denver and then to Phoenix to sign legislation and speak lies about alleged mortgage relief, then I have a problem. He has been using and abusing his Air Force One privileges, but this jaunt to Chicago to speak before the AMA is not one of them.

This story is crap.

Not ONCE during the last eight years did we hear how much it cost for Shrub Jr. to fly around the country/world and embarrass the American people on a regular basis.

It's no wonder the Republican loving corporate media is going bankrupt.

Did Bruce, John D, Terry and John W write this non story for the Swamp or something?

This isn't journalism, this is a right-wing hit job.

I don't recall one story in the Tribune during Bush's entire term about the frequency or costs of his trips -- anywhere.

John D,

Question.

So do you think the Obama's shouldn't be allowed to entertain themselves whenever or where ever they want? Why?

Are you saying that the President should put himself out of touch with his staff, Pentagon, etc. while he's doing things such as going to New York? Why?

Others have already noted the absence of reports on Bush's weed pulling trips to his phony ranch in Crawford.
Did you kids ever do the math on how much it cost Karl Rove to stage that wannabe campaing commercial on the USS Lincoln?

W O'Brien: Sorry, but I don't think, especially with the current economic situation and the ridiculous deficits Obama is racking up, for he and the wife to go out on the town in New York or wherever. It's also compounded by his own comments to business leaders that they cannot have conferences, meetings, whatever in places like Vegas, Hawaii or wherever, especially if those companies received taxpayer money. So, you're going to lecture business leaders about spending taxpayer money, yet you're going to spend more taxpayer than those companies to have some fun? And, at least those functions prtovide jobs for workers at the hotels, restaurants, casinos, airlines, taxi and limo drivers. So, those company functions provide JOBS for people. Obama just spends our money. I'm in my late 40s and do not recall any president in my lifetime that went out on date nights in other towns. Believe me, if George and Laura did that, the Left would be throwing hissy fits to end all hissy fits. "How dare Shrub and his wife jet off to New York for dinner and a play while millions of people are out of work and hungry," the Left and Corrupt Media would scream!
And this article, especially if one saw the whole thing with the graphic in the Trib paper, hardly is a "right-wing hit job." You loons really ought to seek help!

Those complaining on this are so funny! Bush took the most vacation time then any other president in histroy! How do you suppose he got home John?? You guys are such losers it almost sad.

obama is all right

FDR traveled very extensively by private train, yacht, and many a naval vessel.

And was re-elected President 3 times.

Travel is part of the job description.

So get used to it. There's going to be a lot more in the next 8 years.

Replicans attacked FDR in the 1944 election by claiming he had sent a destroyer back to pick up Fala who they claimed had been left behind on an island.

So a New York excursion not linked to some official duty could prove costly.

The reason W was in Crawford TX so much was to sequester him from the press.

Also to punish the press because it was always hot and uncomfortable; no accommodations to speak of.

How about the Republicans enlighten us about the Supreme Court appointed Bush #43 and the 495 days of vacation he took at his daddy's ranch in Crawford, TX. How much did that cost the U.S. tax payers?? The 'ranch' was nothing but a photo op.
Hey John D, being President of the U.S. does involve traveling around the country and spending the taxpayers money.