Just When Can a President Take a Vacation?

(CBS)  President Barack Obama spent the first full day of his 10-day stay in Martha's Vineyard browsing at a bookstore and playing golf - a relaxing escape from Washington, D.C., but one which has generated criticism, coming at a time when the nation's economic recovery remains fragile.

The White House, however, stresses that this is a working vacation with numerous daily briefings, reports CBS News White House correspondent Chip Reid.

"There are a number of issues that the President is following very, very closely, and expects to be kept informed about developments on those issues," Homeland Security adviser John Brennan said.

Mr. Obama has come under fire from some conservatives for his vacations this summer: first to Bar Harbor, Maine; last weekend to Florida's Gulf coast; and for First Lady Michelle Obama's recent trip to Spain.

Critics say all his should be on the dire economy and the plight of average Americans.

"Yes, he's been working so hard he's tamed the economy. And now he gets to go to Martha's Vineyard," a sarcastic Rush Limbaugh said Friday.

Not all conservatives begrudge Mr. Obama the time away from the White House, however.

"In fact, I wish politicians spent more time outside of the Beltway and less in Washington and being really in touch with the American people," independent conservative Amy Holmes told CBS' "The Early Show" Saturday Edition. "Martha's Vineyard, maybe not exactly in touch - maybe he should be in a camper. I'd like to see that. But, I'm not one of the people that's actually attacking the president on taking some downtime."

By the end of his trip, President Obama will have taken nine vacations and visited Camp David 14 times for a total of 80 vacation days since he took office. But at the same point in his first term, President George W. Bush had taken far more time away - 14 trips to his ranch in Midland, Texas, and 40 to Camp David, totaling 225 days.

Presidents, thought, are never truly on vacation. Crises often arise - for example, the Christmas Day bomber tried to strike while President Obama was vacationing in Hawaii. For President Bush, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf during a long stay at his ranch.

The White House says they're confident that most Americans understand that with such a high-pressure job, a president deserves and needs some time to unwind and recharge.

Still, it's been a rough summer for the administration, with Mr. Obama's approval ratings taking a hit amid the slow economic recovery and the Gulf oil spill disaster.

But compared with other recent presidents, Mr. Obama may not be in such bad shape.

"President Obama's approval ratings are certainly lower than they have been in the past, but it is worth noting they're higher than President Clinton's approval ratings were in 1994 at the same time and even higher than President Reagan's approval ratings were in 1982 at this same time. I think the Reagan and Obama situation are sort of good comparisons because Reagan also had inherited a very difficult economy," Jennifer Palmieri, of the liberal thinktank Center for American Progress, told the "Early Show."

"The president's had a lot of legislative victories but the White House understands very clearly that you don't get points with the American people for legislative victories. They want to see results. The uncomfortable truth the white house is wrestling with [is] a lot of these policies they've enacted take time for people to see results in their everyday lives … that's just going to take some time."

[wasadem1]

You wine baggers are a real hoot. Bush, race, Bush, race. Pretty narrow life! I like Bush not because he was a great president. He was not. I like him because he bugs the hell out of you all. And I like the worn out race crap almost as much.

[cdimice]

The President and or his family can take a vacation when he can DIP into HIS OWN pocketbook/bank account, and pay for it himself.. And NOT take advantage of the struggling Citizens of the USA.. who by the way can not take the same lavish vacation that he does... SO maybe he should just go camping and cook out on a propane stove and sleep in a tent, on an air bed or in sleeping bags....
Oh yeah, maybe the President should pay for OUR vacations.... or give us a stimulus for a few vacations a year...
Just Sayin'..... when HE can on his OWN,financially(having worked, and paid taxes etc. and not at a job FUNDED by the USA) afford to take ALL the vacations he does, pay for the fuel in the vehicle of choice for his travel pleasure, the hotels, the meals, etc... with his OWN money and not that of the GOVT and the Citizens of the USA... then he can go where ever he wants to....

[wanttobeheard]

They've been to Russia, Mrs. Obama and her daughter just came back from Spain, taking the trip after telling Americans to support the Gulf Coast and vacation there. Obama is constantly traveling, constantly traveling and all of this on tax payer dollars. What was the dollar amount Americans paid for Mrs. Obama?s trip to Spain? I believe the dollar amount just to pay for her security was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid for by Americans. Obama has really scammed the American people. People are finally starting to wake up, but what are we going to do about. Obama doesn't care about Americans and he proves it everyday with his actions. Words without action are nothing. A few days ago people were commenting on Bush spending so much time at his ranch or at Camp David and he wasn't traveling all over. He was working while he was there most of the time and his time there doesn?t even begin to compare to amount of money that Obama's travels have cost Americans, rather he is "on the job" or not. I'm sorry, but I don't call his stints on shows like the View as working and whose dollars sent him there? I can not even begin to imagine the dollar amount the Americans have paid for all of his travel rather his is traveling for "his job" or just to travel.

[dmgg711]

What the GW Bush loyalists have forgotten is that he had a drinking problem, even in the White House. His get aways to his Texas ranch or Camp David with his staff was where he could unwind, away from the watchful eyes of the White House household staff. How many vacations did he take with Laura and the girls at some resort or getaway? Laura Bush and the girls took those vacations together but not Bush. Why? Because his booze came before his family. President Obama is clearly a family man who will spend as much time with them as he can. After being on those fund raising trips and stress with the economy and probably hearing rhetoric from our Xenophobic public, I wouldn't blame him if he too took to drink, but he has a lot more intelligence not to fall into that rut.

[wanttobeheard]

Funny! I think that this is the best one yet that I have heard about Bush. This is the first I've heard this one. President Bush, you know have a drinking problem. What next?

[ibsteve2u]

I think - based upon experience - that the concept of a President "on vacation" is hilarious, with the likely exception of G.W. Bush.

a) I have some experience (very dated) with the communications...um...megaplex that follows a President around...that surrounds him. A President is NEVER outside of reach (and I bet that, given the shrinking of comm gear, a President these days finds that some sort of comms device is even in the can - the one area that used to be a refuge of sorts).

b) I recall working for a multinational corporation...and being laden with beepers and setting up laptops with permanent connections to my home location no matter where I went so that I could both monitor activities and be able to respond to a crisis immediately. My point is that a conscientious person never lets his or her responsibilities fade entirely away...

And this President is conscientious (which may suggest to you why I said "with the possible exception of G.W. Bush"...not that he was particularly in control of his Presidency even when in the Oval Office).

[nubwaxer]

Junior Bush took a LOT more vacation time. http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/2506288,CST-NWS-obama18.article

[ibsteve2u]

Oh, you don't have to go that far to find the stunning amount of time that Dubya was playing hookie: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4728085-503544.html

Methinks he wouldn't dared to have taken that much time away if he even felt a need to pretend that he needed to maintain awareness of U.S. and global events.

He was "the decider"...that is, his possible decisions were prepared for him, and he selected the appropriate one like a multiple choice test.

I have no doubt that the alternatives to what PNAC wanted him to choose that were presented to him were so far-fetched...so bizarre that they always knew he would pick their preference.

[daffy64]

I think only white people should flaunt money when they have it (ie John McCain) because it enrages a lot of white folks to see a rich black man enjoying his money.

Obviously.

[SpringsLinda]

"enjoying his money." HIS money?? Excuse me but it's not HIS money filling the jet fuel tanks on Air Force One!! And I doubt highly that Obama is pulling out his wallet for anything else he and the family keep wasting Americans money on!! I'm not saying he doesn't deserve a few days off here and there but keep it within a budget like MOST Americans have to.

Since YOU started this talking about "it enrages a lot of white folks to see a rich black man"..... Check your facts because Obama might be president, but he's NOT rich and what do "white folks" have to do with it? Obviously you're ignorant!! Go back to school. (Oh yeah, please pay for it yourself! Don't just sign up for another program that we'll have to pay for!!)

Jerk.

[colonel85]

Both the imposter and the female he brought with him to OUR White House spend entirely too many taxpayer dollars on far too many vacations. Neither of them has a clear perspective on how they are really perceived by real Honest-to-God Americans. Both are perceived as wastrels, African-American Rich and riding the gravy train to the end of the line. There is a possibility both will survive their excesses until Jnauary 20, 2013. Then with the curses and hate of America we will happily ship both to Kenya where they belong. He can be a real King over there. We don't deserve two arrogant, narcissistic Chicago, America-hating bums defiling our flag and country.

[daffy64]

Well said Mein Fuhrer.

[ibsteve2u]

Daffy: Think that should have been

"Well said, SS-Standartenf?hrer!".

lolllllll....

[Brokennews]

So, you APPROVED of the fact that George Bush took MORE vacation time than any President in History???

by raflin1 August 23, 2010 10:29 AM EDT




Ah, the first refuge for those that can't stand to see Obama stand on his own merit. Everytime someone says something critical of Obama, the first lame-asz place Obamanites (Exactly like Bushbots only for the other side) go to is: "But, but, but what about what Bush did??!!??" Here's a clue!! Bush did stupid stuff, but that in no way gives Obama a free ride from being called out on his stupid stuff! Some stuff Obama has done has been OK & some stuff not so much. Obama is a big boy now! The training pants have been off for awhile now! Let him have a chance to show that he's all grown up & stop trying to play his protective Mommy!!

[ibsteve2u]

Bush did "stupid stuff" because the right - the Republicans - ARE stupid.

They still insist on being "BMOGC" (big man on the global campus) even though they have unleashed their greed and their hatred of "labor"/the American people and in doing so hammered...HAMMERED...our industrial infrastructure with inequitable free trade and a CEO compensation system control by Wall Street - the Street that ONLY rewards short-term thinking, a.k.a. immediate profit.

It takes a wide and disparate range of industry to support a strong military - but our Republicans are so damned greedy that they have destroyed our ability to arm and fund the military we need to back up their mouths.

Republicans are like kids who brag to the neighborhood that they're going to WIN the snowball fight - but they keep their snowballs in the oven 'cuz they don't want to risk their soft and pudgy little hands getting cold.

[wasadem1]

Let Iman Barry go anytime he wants. Keep him the hell out of the White House.

[nappyfrodiva]

Seriously? People are wasting time on the fact that the President took a vacation? He has a job just like everyone else. Yes, his happens to be President but it is a paying job and guess what people? He gets vacation time like everyone else. If he wants to take time that he is owed to spend with his family, why not? Do you want people criticizing you for taking a vacation when you want? Regardless of what Obama does, he can't seem to get a break. And by the way, I didn't even vote for him but I do think he is getting a bum deal with him not being able to breath or it will be written about in the media - Headline: "Are hard working Americans footing the bill for President Obama's air that he breathes?" I guess it was inevitable that he would be criticized for everything that he does and we all know why.

[gfy6969]

Hmmm... Your "Username" is "naapyfrodiva"... I this Michelle Obama? This isn't about him taking a vacation. You're right, he is entitled to a vacation, but its not right that with the state that our country is in and while he promises "Change" and "Hope", he hasn't done squat.
Besides, how many vacations do you get from your job? Are you allowed to take 22 vacations over two years(not counting Michele's Spain trip AND the fact the year isn't over yet!)? Cause I'm pretty sure that there isn't one single American Citizen that works, that is allowed 80 days of vacation time over two years.
When you are the President of the United States of America, you are put in the spot light of the world and criticized by the world, if you don't like, don't apply.
Also, this part about Bush...He was at his Ranch most of the time, working, while being with his family, not showboating around the world the first three months he was in office, stopping to pick up his BS Nobel Prize and apologizing to the world for Americans.
Michelle taking a vacation to Spain with 40 of her closest friends and relatives, not counting the Secret Service that had to go with her is BS too. What was her purpose? It came back that she was trying to improve our relations with Spain, yet, our relations with Spain are fine, and MUCH better than MANY other countries. Look at all the footage from that vacation...its all about her and her daughter, friends and family shopping, playing, etc...she didn't do squat either.
I find it HIGHLY unlikely that you didn't vote for him, when you defend him so hard, nor that someone named "nappyfrodiva" would vote for McCain, so tell me, who did you vote for?