Obamas return to Camp David after 8 month absence

Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

It'll be a change of pace for the first family this weekend as they'll be spending it at Camp David. They haven't been to the presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland since early last October.

In fact, compared to his immediate predecessor, you might think President Obama doesn't care for the rustic getaway very much. This weekend will mark only his 17th visit to Camp David since taking office.

President George W. Bush made use of Camp David far more often. At this same point in his presidency, he had been to the heavily-guarded mountaintop hideaway 62 times. By the end of his 8 years in office, his visits totaled 149 and spanned all or part of 487 days, that's well over a year.

The Clintons were more like the Obamas and didn't visit Camp David that often in their first years in the White House. At this point 2 years and 4 months into his presidency, Bill Clinton had made only 15 visits to Camp David. He would later explain that he and the first lady wanted to stay home at the White House with Chelsea, who had obligations to school and friends that didn't lend themselves to Camp David weekends.

It's likely the same with the Obamas, preferring to spend weekends at home with Malia and Sasha who are known to have school & sporting events to attend in town.

But today' is Sasha's 10th birthday, and some of her friends are likely invited to join her at Camp David for some cake and partying.

Birthdays aside, some members of past first families made no secret of their distaste for Camp David. Before President Eisenhower renamed it for his son, it was known as Shangri-La. First Lady Bess Truman reportedly found it dull. And daughter Margaret wrote in a 1973 memoir that "deep in the woods, Shangri-La was damp and cold." She called it "a terrible place" and said she went there as little as possible."

The Trumans went to Camp David only 9 times in 8 years. Since those days though, accommodations at Camp David have been significantly upgraded to luxury hotel status. And after their first visit to the place in February 2009, Mr. Obama called it "a beautiful place."

"The girls just had a great time," he told reporters. He said he hit a few golf balls and played a little basketball.

He'll probably stay with golf this weekend - coming a week before his first-ever round of golf June 18 with Speaker of the House John Boehner.

Mrs. Obama came away from that first visit with similar feelings. Addressing an audience a few days later at the Interior Department, she spoke of "the beauty of those grounds." She said "it was just wonderful to get a bit of a break and to spend some quality time as a family in nature."

For most first families, that's the appeal of the place. It's a getaway from the museum and life-in-a-bubble that is the White House.

Presidents can go for long walks on a moment's notice or even get behind the wheel of a golf cart and go for a drive on the scenic paths and trails throughout Camp David.

Anyone can walk up to the fence line at the White House. Don't try that at Camp David where you'd likely find yourself confronted by heavily-armed U.S. Marines in combat gear.

[justme2012]

Where's he going today?

When is he going to actually work for America instead of simply fundraising for himself.

[justme2012]

52 days...

"Tee time"

[vageorge]

Good Grief! The incompetent sorry individual that was elected but is in no way a real president is hiding from the issues again. Another vacation and distancing himself from the economic survival of our country. He is planning to blame everything on Biden since obama refuses to join the debates on our country's economic future. He is the biggest spender and now hides from being corrected. What a loser. Wait until 2012.

[catmomtx]

Isn't George Bush hiding out in Dallas?

[justme2012]

53 Days till the economic collapse as predicted by the Obama administration.

Where is your POTUS?????


"TEE TIME"

[philpenn345]

You are not functioning on a sound mental platform.

[justme2012]

Really?

Is it crazy to actually listen to what Timothy Geitner says?

Is he a liar like his boss?

[tafhdyd]

I had to take a second look at this article. I think it says Obama has not been gone from the White House anywhere near as much as Bush. From what I have heard from Rush and Glenn Beck and my right wing friends I didn't think Obama had been to the White House yet. I checked it out and to my surprise GW was gone 1020 days out of his eight years in office. The scary part is that GW messed up the country in just five years rather than eight.

[justme2012]

So....Obama's goal is to beat Bush's record.

got it.

I think he'll succeed.

[catmomtx]

No just you, YOUR goal is to make it seem like President Obama has beaten Bush's all time record for vacation days. That is why you and others have considered every trip the President takes when he leaves the White House as a vacation. You people are so embarrassed by Bush's laziness and failures during his two terms that you can't stand the idea that President Obama is showing the world what a "REAL" President looks like. But don't take my word for it, there are official White House historians. They record EVERYTHING. No matter how much you people try, just because YOU say so, doesn't make it true. No matter how often you people spew your untruths, that doesn't make it the facts. It just shows how ignorant and petty you people are in your attempts to make President Obama look worse than George Bush. It won't happen but knock yourselves out. President Obama has recorded history on his side and those of us not blinded by hate and bias actually do see his accomplishments and what he has done for our country.

[justme2012]

Nothing but bad news everywhere you look in America.

So what does our POTUS do?

Take a vacation to recoup from his Irish Vacation.

"TEE TIME"

What a failure!!!

[34sender]

Not where I live.

I want the POTUS to have plenty of R and R time. I have always felt this way, whether I voted for the man or not.

But then, I am not a hateful ideologue with way too much time on my hands and way too many e-mail addresses. Sad being the one little you, huh? had to make up friends. Sad.

[catmomtx]

Okay tobe....how much of that foreign travel was doing the business of our country? Are going to act as if the President of the United States should not travel to foreign countries on behalf of our government? It was well known that George Bush did not like to travel abroad. He was a lazy President and didn't think he needed to do anything to foster relationships with other countries. It showed as our relationships with other countries deteriorated. I don't know what it is that you people think a President is supposed to do but perhaps you should Google it or read a book and learn what the duties of a President is.

[hazeylee]

I really do not think Camp David is his "style".
After all he is from Hawaii. Why would he appreciate the USA Mainland?

[justme2012]

He's just glad he doesn't have to do another "pretend" >24 hour vacation on the Gulf!!!!

Southern blacks with french accents scare him.

[catmomtx]

Oh for goodness sakes! Do you even know how ignorant your statement is?

[34sender]

I knew I'd find the ...we don't need a real reason, we are just the Obama hater club... here.

All two or three of them (if you count actual persons and not per e-mail address/screen name!)

Freakies, you only have ONE vote. We don't vote using e-mail addresses. Oh it is going to be fun in December of 2012.

[34sender]

No, George.

Ryan's plan is a serious problem for the Republicans, (as much as the heavy push against the ACA was for Democrats) ... but much more important -- I can see what is happening in several SWING states. There is a lot of motivation for Democrats and centrist or left leaning Indies to vote in 2012.

Also, why do you think 2010 is set in stone and 2006 and 2008 were not? The cumulative wins (and in both cases, the voter turn out was greater, especially 2008... very important!) gave more seats to Dems throughout the country in those elections.... and then the GOP came back in 2010.

The US political pendulum swings both ways, George.

But since you call our president "the ditherer" and constantly assail anything he does... we know your vote is sealed. There are a lot of folks that don't have strong opinions like you and I do... and they will be paying attention to local events long before they become engaged in the election eighteen months from now. That is always true.

[justme2012]

It's ok for democrats to not like the Ryan plan.

Can you link me to the president's counter plan?

[RET-ABNRGR-CSM]

If you voted for Obama to prove you ain't a racist you need to vote against him in 2012 to prove you ain't a freaking idiot!

HAR!

[34sender]

That bumper sticker needs to be everywhere.

Nothing will tick voters off more than being called idiots ... and add in the implication of being racists...! Priceless.

Take a long ride with this one. America will thank you for getting the Indies and Dems to the polls!

[justme2012]

34 makes the case that dems only vote out of emotion instead of using their brains.

I already knew that.

[slatep]

I'm surprised that Obama went to Camp David.

Could it possibly be because he couldn't take 500 Secret Service Agents, 6 doctors. two bullet and bomb proof vehicles and WH chefs with him and get lots of publicity as he did on his other jaunts be the reason he hasn't gone there more frequently.?

[34sender]

On your dime?

So, you think the job of POTUS should not have a salary? Congress too... or just the Democrats?

Sheesh, you really don't think things through before you post unfounded accusation do you?

[justme2012]

No the POTUS doesn't need a salary. He's making twice as much in foreign income so it is best to just quit pretending he works for US.