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Yes, the one and only Nancy Pelosi. http://youtu.be/KoE1R-xH5To
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That female is about six beers short of a six pack. Whenever I want to read or hear stupid, I tune into Nancy's latest comments about almost any topic. She's such an idiot. I know die-hard liberals who hate her lol.
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Obamas set new record for vacation travel expenses; stonewalled documents finally released It took filing a lawsuit, but Judicial Watch discovered Friday that President Obama has set a new record for travel on the taxpayer dime. The conservative watchdog group obtained travel records from the U.S. Department of the Air Force that show the Obamas racked up $7.4 million during just three trips in 2013 – in flight expenses only. The records, revealed Friday, include the Obama family’s Christmas vacation in Hawaii from Dec. 21, 2012, to Jan. 5, 2013. During that stay, the president took a short break and flew back to Washington to work on a budget deal, then returned for the rest of his vacation. The second trip was in early August, 2013, when Obama flew to California for a private fundraiser with DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, then appeared with Jay Leno on the “Tonight Show.” Later that month, the Obama family vacationed in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit in August 2013, after repeated stonewalling by the White House. The group reported: * The outbound flight to Honolulu for the Obamas’ 2012-13 Christmas vacation cost taxpayers $2, 214, 393.60. The return flight to Washington cost $1,871,961.60. Flight expenditures alone came to $4,086,355.20. * The outbound flight to California in August, 2013 for Obama to dine with Katzenberg and appear on the “The Tonight Show” cost taxpayers $1,209,926.40. The return flight to Washington cost $935,980.80. Flight expenditures alone came to $2,145,907.20. * The outbound flight to Martha’s Vineyard for the Obama family’s August vacation cost taxpayers $890,323.20. The return flight to Washington cost $273,945.60. Flight expenditures alone came to $1,164,268.80. * The grand total of $7,396,531.20, Judicial Watch pointed out, only accounted for flight expenses for the three trips. “The fact is, the Obamas are abusing the public trust and the taxpayers with unnecessary luxurious vacations and travel,” Judicial Watch said in its report. “These staggering costs show why these documents were covered-up and we had to sue in federal court to get them. Another transparency fail for the Obama gang, but thanks to our federal lawsuit it is another accountability win for the American taxpayer.” http://www.bizpacreview.com/2014/03/01/o...released-103822
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So, it costs more to get him from D.C. to Leno than it does to get an aircraft carrier underway from Norfolk??
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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And his term isn't even over yet 
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Well the President is one of the most powerful men in the country. Not really sure why we're acting surprised when the costs to protect him are so high.
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Well the President is one of the most powerful men in the country. Not really sure why we're acting surprised when the costs to protect him are so high.
He could cut those costs in half if he vacationed at Camp David. He could cut those costs in half if he vacationed only at his home in Chicago. They could leave a permanent secret service staff there and still save money. I guess he believes in the, "some animals are more equal than others" philosophy.
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At least the deficit has been cut in half from what President George the Untouchable left in 2009.
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At least the deficit has been cut in half from what President George the Untouchable left in 2009.
And where do you get those numbers? From the whitehouse.gov site?
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The problem is where he decides to go. Fort David and Texas was good enough for Bush why not Obama!
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As president he deserves a paycheck of $100M+ / year. He is far more important (and his job is far more demanding) than any of the CEOs in America - and he should be paid like it.
If he wants to take an expensive trip (and the tax payers pay for it) - it's peanuts compared to what tax payers should be paying him.
Honestly, we should multiply the pay of all our elected representatives by a factor of 10, at least. It's still peanuts in the grand scheme of things -- and it puts their salary more on par with what they could earn in industry, which would help avoid conflict of interests, and other payoffs on the side from business leaders.
~Lyuokdea
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It's probably not cutting costs if he goes to Chicago. Let's be real, does anyone want the President staying at a major city? The whole vacation problem is just hilarious to begin with. All the Presidents are being so outrageous with their vacationing. They're adding such a microcosm to the debt that focusing on this instead of something more costly is so completely inane and pointless, but it gives people something to thump their chest to.
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Quote:
As president he deserves a paycheck of $100M+ / year. He is far more important (and his job is far more demanding) than any of the CEOs in America - and he should be paid like it.
If he wants to take an expensive trip (and the tax payers pay for it) - it's peanuts compared to what tax payers should be paying him.
Honestly, we should multiply the pay of all our elected representatives by a factor of 10, at least. It's still peanuts in the grand scheme of things -- and it puts their salary more on par with what they could earn in industry, which would help avoid conflict of interests, and other payoffs on the side from business leaders.
The pres makes a little over $400K a year. When he's out of office he gets a lifetime retirement, and all the speaking fees, consulting fees, and whatever else he can get. The pres also gets secret service protection for life. We shouldn't pay one dime more.
Instead of paying congress more, we should prosecute those that take bribes. As of now, they almost have to kill someone on the house floor to get convicted of anything. Of course, you'd probably not find any witnesses, as no one is ever in the house.
![[Linked Image from s2.excoboard.com]](http://s2.excoboard.com/forums/25521/user/302752/484538.gif)
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Quote:
It's probably not cutting costs if he goes to Chicago. Let's be real, does anyone want the President staying at a major city? The whole vacation problem is just hilarious to begin with. All the Presidents are being so outrageous with their vacationing. They're adding such a microcosm to the debt that focusing on this instead of something more costly is so completely inane and pointless, but it gives people something to thump their chest to.
I'm sure it saves money over Hawaii, France, China, or Africa. Seeing as you agree with me, the president should go to Camp David. It's already secure. It's a short helicopter ride from DC. This is where they stashed the VP after 9/11.
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I really don't care where the President goes to vacation. Lyuokdea is right that the President should have more spending power, but I don't believe that he or congress should get a pay raise.
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I really don't care where the President goes to vacation. Lyuokdea is right that the President should have more spending power, but I don't believe that he or congress should get a pay raise.
No, the president should not have any spending power, just like the Constitution says. Congress holds the purse strings, the president is supposed to execute the laws as written. He is not allowed to make things up as he goes.
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Who cares what the Constitution says. The people who wrote the Constitution didn't follow it. Not to mention the Constitution is extremely outdated.
Also, that's not what I mean by spending power and you know it.
Last edited by CHSDawg; 03/24/14 06:02 PM.
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And where do you get those numbers? From the whitehouse.gov site?
Yes, you can find it there. I can provide you with a fair-and-balanced source (FOX News)
CBO projects $1.2 trillion deficit for 2009
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
WASHINGTON —
The federal budget deficit will nearly triple to an unprecedented $1.2 trillion for the 2009 budget year, according to grim new Congressional Budget Office figures...
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2009Jan07/0,4675,BudgetDeficit,00.html
A new report released Tuesday says the government's budget deficit is set to fall to $514 billion for the current year, down substantially from last year and the lowest by far since President Barack Obama took office five years ago.
Last year's deficit registered $680 billion. Obama inherited an economy in crisis and first-ever deficits exceeding $1 trillion. The 2009 deficit, swelled by the costs of the Wall Street bailout, hit a record $1.4 trillion, while the deficits of 2010 and 2011 both registered $1.3 trillion...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/...ar-report-says/
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Who cares what the Constitution says. The people who wrote the Constitution didn't follow it. Not to mention the Constitution is extremely outdated.
Also, that's not what I mean by spending power and you know it.
I care what the Constitution says. I think those who don't should move to a nice little dictatorship somewhere. It's not outdated, it's a rule of laws to set up the form of government that we have. Without it, we may as well live in a dictatorship. I'm sure you'll enjoy it once it's no longer followed.
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So can you tell me why that revenue bills should originate in the house instead of the Senate? Have you read the Constitution before? If so, I think you'll understand why it's outdated.
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So can you tell me why that revenue bills should originate in the house instead of the Senate? Have you read the Constitution before? If so, I think you'll understand why it's outdated.
Because when the Constitution was originally ratified, the House members were directly elected by the people, where the Senate members were elected by the state governments. The 17th amendment should be repealed, as this would make state elections more important, which was the original intent.
Would you like to tell me what's outdated?
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Did you just say we shouldn't elect our own leaders? Hahahaha. Here I thought you were against oppressive regimes.
Yes, there should be no reason why the Senate can't start revenue bills. You really never said why it's right, you just said why it happened, not why it's right.
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Did you just say we shouldn't elect our own leaders? Hahahaha. Here I thought you were against oppressive regimes.
Yes, there should be no reason why the Senate can't start revenue bills. You really never said why it's right, you just said why it happened, not why it's right.
We should elect our leaders, at the state level. The 17th amendment lessened the states' power in the federal government, giving us the monstrocity we have now. This was purposely done by the wilson administration to lessen the power of the states, but convincing the people they were getting shafted by not electing the senate. This is why pinheads like harry reid wind up staying in the senate forever.
Our government was supposed to be a union of states, not a federal overseer of the states. This is part of the problem.
Nice little laugh by the way. Is that one of those alinsky concepts, to belittle someone that doesn't share your beliefs?
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400k is nothing, there are mediocre Goldman Sachs employees who make twice that. And freaking football coaches who make 20x that. Arod's contract is worth more than every president in history has ever been paid combined.
Let that sink in a minute
~Lyuokdea
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We had a Union of States, it was called the Articles of Confederation. It didn't work out then, it wouldn't work out now.
People like Harry Reid stay in power because people elect him to represent them. And I know a Statist like you would rather not have people make decisions, but it is for the beset.
I guess. I just have a tendency to laugh when people say dumb things, it's more of a defense mechanism and not a way to shame your views.
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400k is nothing, there are mediocre Goldman Sachs employees who make twice that. And freaking football coaches who make 20x that. Arod's contract is worth more than every president in history has ever been paid combined.
Let that sink in a minute
So, you're saying that our elected officials should be there for money, instead of love of country? The original intent was our public servants should do their duty for a love of country.
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I definitely don't want some schmuck who loves his country. I want somebody who is really good at his job. Those people deserve to be paid.
~Lyuokdea
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Eh, the only problem I have with the idea that politicians need to be paid more is that we live in a society that says "You always need more money." Adding money to their salaries will only make bribing that much more common place imo.
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I definitely don't want some schmuck who loves his country. I want somebody who is really good at his job. Those people deserve to be paid.
And hence, the problem with our current government.
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Jc
Methinks the people who have the most important job of running the country should spend more time working and less time vacationing. Seems like congress and the dictator king, I mean president, is always on vacation.
The quote is "With great power comes great responsibility"
Not "With great power comes many lavish vacations"
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And hence, the problem with our current government.
Yes - I want "politicians to be really good at their jobs"
That is what's wrong with this country.
~Lyuokdea
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j/c
Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I was under the impression that presidents had to pay for their own vacations - aside from the cost of AF 1, and of course security. Also, anyone not on official business that travels with them had to/has to pay the equivalent of a first class ticket as well.
Now, like Michelle in Africa, or China - SHE may be their on "official" business, but her friends, etc have to pay their own way.
O in Hawaii - he has to travel on AF 1, no doubt......but the house he rents comes out of his pocket, right?
Or am I thinking wrong?
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j/c
Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I was under the impression that presidents had to pay for their own vacations - aside from the cost of AF 1, and of course security. Also, anyone not on official business that travels with them had to/has to pay the equivalent of a first class ticket as well.
Now, like Michelle in Africa, or China - SHE may be their on "official" business, but her friends, etc have to pay their own way.
O in Hawaii - he has to travel on AF 1, no doubt......but the house he rents comes out of his pocket, right?
Or am I thinking wrong?
No, this is correct. AF1 + security tend to cost more than the actual trip (this is the life of being POTUS - you do, in fact, need that type of security).
~Lyuokdea
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We had a Union of States, it was called the Articles of Confederation. It didn't work out then, it wouldn't work out now.
People like Harry Reid stay in power because people elect him to represent them. And I know a Statist like you would rather not have people make decisions, but it is for the beset.
I guess. I just have a tendency to laugh when people say dumb things, it's more of a defense mechanism and not a way to shame your views.
The Articles of the Confederation of States did not work out as everything had to be unanimously approved, and every state had one vote. We will never all agree on everything.
You would qualify as a Statist much more than I would. As I said before, the Senate being elected by the state governments made the election of state governments more important. The 17th amendment was a power grab by the federal government, when the original intent was for us to have more power locally than federally. The Senators were given 6 year terms to stay in office longer as the states changed governments. Not for them to stay there for life.
I can understand you possibly laughing out loud, but typing it? That was obviously an attempt to shame me, and it won't work. I would suggest you read up on history and original intent of our government. We are supposed to be a union of local governments, not a huge federal monster that treats us all 'equally'.
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Quote:
j/c
Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I was under the impression that presidents had to pay for their own vacations - aside from the cost of AF 1, and of course security. Also, anyone not on official business that travels with them had to/has to pay the equivalent of a first class ticket as well.
Now, like Michelle in Africa, or China - SHE may be their on "official" business, but her friends, etc have to pay their own way.
O in Hawaii - he has to travel on AF 1, no doubt......but the house he rents comes out of his pocket, right?
Or am I thinking wrong?
I could be wrong but Me Thinks it comes out of your pocket! 
The Views Expressed By Me Are Not Necessarily The Views That You Will Agree With, I'm In My Own Little World But They Know Me Here.
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That female is about six beers short of a six pack. lol.
LOL that's all I needed to hear in this thread! I have nothing.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
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Quote:
j/c
Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I was under the impression that presidents had to pay for their own vacations - aside from the cost of AF 1, and of course security. Also, anyone not on official business that travels with them had to/has to pay the equivalent of a first class ticket as well.
Now, like Michelle in Africa, or China - SHE may be their on "official" business, but her friends, etc have to pay their own way.
O in Hawaii - he has to travel on AF 1, no doubt......but the house he rents comes out of his pocket, right?
Or am I thinking wrong?
No, this is correct. AF1 + security tend to cost more than the actual trip (this is the life of being POTUS - you do, in fact, need that type of security).
I thought I had that right.
So, the only thing O could do to save money on vacations would be to go to Camp David where security would already be figured out, housing for security already exits, etc OR take less vacations.
I know, and understand, that presidents need security - and I don't care which pres. it is: O, W, clinton, carter, reagan, etc.
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“They keep talking about drafting a constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys. It's worked for over 200 years, and Hell, we're not using it anymore.”
; Jay Leno
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Yes - and to be clear. The security cost isn't any different really if he's going to Hawaii, or Providence Rhode Island. It's just the difference between "places that are already secure" and "places that we need to go to first and secure before the president arrives"
I also assume that you save a bit of money (not counted) here, on security details involving the presidential limo etc. that don't need to happen once he's not in washington.
~Lyuokdea
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I definitely don't want some schmuck who loves his country. I want somebody who is really good at his job. Those people deserve to be paid.
This thread has thoroughly provided me with enjoyment periodically though the day.
Do you think we would get better candidates if we paid more? How much more? If I thought we could get a better candidate I'd gladly pay the right person $100 million a year. If he/she was any good, they would save the country 10x that in their first 90 days with a few swipes of the pen.
If the guy who runs the NFL is worth $10 million a year, what's the guy that runs the country worth? Because the NFL continues to grow in revenue, continues to grow in popularity while the country continues to go in the other direction.
Politics is an odd animal.. especially at that level. Generally we take a group of people, none of whom have ever managed a large budget, know very little about international affairs, know very little about trade and commerce, know very little about healthcare and immigration, know very little about management of large diverse groups of people, know very little about infrastructure.. then we elect one of them because they resonate with the largest group of people for totally irrelevant reasons and we ask them to do all of those things they've never done before and expect them to be successful..
Oh, on topic, Obama went on vacation and it was expensive.. ok, whatever.
yebat' Putin
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