http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/08/AR2010080801558.html

Obama invited a bunch of all-stars to play a p/u game in front of wounded veterans (seem like that might be rubbing things in a bit?).

The real question is....could Lebron and Obama's ego fit in the same gym?

I don't know...It's like he's sitting around trying to find an excuse to invite a bunch of pro players for a game. Oh, gee, I think I'll use my office as POTUS to live out my own personal fantasy camp. This guy is such a joke.

^^^You forgot to add that while he's hanging out with LeBron & Co., BHO cleverly gets Michelle out of the way by sending her off to Spain...on the taxpayer dime of course.

This guy's a piece of work.

I feel much better knowing that there is still a real fear among the Conservatives that Obama may well win the 2012 Election and so they fixate on the really big issues like who Barack invites to a pick-up basketball game and the fact that he sent Michele out of town "on our dime". I guess the feeling is that if they just keep the negative stuff coming, some of it will stick in the memories of the electorate. I have a feeling that this quality of selective memory is more common among the Conservatives and we have two years plus to go before Barack is running for anything. I'll bet the conservatives are shaking in their boots, deathly afraid that the economy is going to start showing real signs of growth but I already know that my comments will be attacked with conservative talking points, designed to flood our senses with so much bull that we will have trouble differentiating between the factual and not factual. Here's a handy little trick to keep it separate. If a conservative says it, it's only for the purpose of electing another wave of tax-cut based good loyal Americans instead of the socialist, commie, non-citizen, leftist bomb throwing radical, etc etc etc ad nauseum. By the way, Michele has been sent to another country at our expense....Oh, you guys knew that already. Thank God Laura didn't go anywhere on the public tax-payers dime. it's so stupid it boggles the mind.

I don't care about the pick-up game, probably some of the veterans were excited to see them.

Michele's trip is indefensible, even if the Obamas picked up 100% of the expenses. It is Congresstional Democrats, particular from "red" states with high unemployment that should be angriest. There's nothing wrong with taking a vacation, but when you have a 10 day trip to Martha's Vineyard scheduled for later this month, and millions of Americans are suffering economically and are cancelling even modest vacations, going to a a 5 star Spanish resort (that the vast majority of Americans could never afford) more or less on a lark shows a ridiculous lack of judgment.

They are acting like the trailer park folks that just won the lottery.

Swamp Fox;447089 wrote:I feel much better knowing that there is still a real fear among the Conservatives that Obama may well win the 2012 Election......

We should all be afraid.....very, very afraid.

Manhattan Buckeye;447121 wrote:I don't care about the pick-up game, probably some of the veterans were excited to see them.

Michele's trip is indefensible, even if the Obamas picked up 100% of the expenses. It is Congresstional Democrats, particular from "red" states with high unemployment that should be angriest. There's nothing wrong with taking a vacation, but when you have a 10 day trip to Martha's Vineyard scheduled for later this month, and millions of Americans are suffering economically and are cancelling even modest vacations, going to a a 5 star Spanish resort (that the vast majority of Americans could never afford) more or less on a lark shows a ridiculous lack of judgment.

They are acting like the trailer park folks that just won the lottery.

1.But let me guess...it was alright for Laura Bush to take her daughters on shopping trips to Milan,Tokyo,Paris,and New York on our dime though wasn't it

2.That last statement was out-of line and shouldn't have been allowed,but it's not suprising though.

wkfan;447125 wrote:We should all be afraid.....very, very afraid.

Not afraid at all here......looking very much forward to it

ccrunner609;447107 wrote:^^^^the only chance he has is if the pubs win the house and the senate. Then his insane policy trian will come to a screaching hault.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN

"1.But let me guess...it was alright for Laura Bush to take her daughters on shopping trips to Milan,Tokyo,Paris,and New York on our dime though wasn't it

2.That last statement was out-of line and shouldn't have been allowed,but it's not suprising though."

In case you aren't aware of current events, we're looking at generationally high unemployment, a domestic disaster in a region that depends heavily on tourism, and a first couple that has lectured us proles on cutting back. The handlers that allowed her trip are just as to blame as the Obamas.

SwampFox is incorrect, it isn't just Republicans/conservatives that are angry, it is Democrats/liberals and practically everyone else but the sycophants nestled up the Obamas' arses. It was a colossally stupid move.

I couldn't care less about Michelle Obama's vacation to Spain. I do, however, think it was a poor choice given the current situation in the Gulf and at a time when her husband is urging Americans to tighten their belts. Sometimes, it is good for those in the political spotlight to practice what they preach.This is one of those times.She could have had a positive impact on a beach community on the Gulf.

Manhattan's perception is on the money and his trailer park analogy is exactly how many Americans will perceive the trip to Spain.

I'm not afraid of Obama winning a 2nd term, I think right now it abosolutely won't happen - 2012 won't come quick enough for many people, including many who voted for him....But, yes, I AM afraid of Obama winning a 2nd term as we all should be. This guy is an idiot who just happens to be eloquent.

Actually, winning the lottery is not a bad characterization. He's used his office to get rub elbows with the celebs, be one himself on talk shows and the like, and even to collar some pros into his own personal fantasy camp. Almost seems like the office is more of a game to him and a way to indulge his ego. This is far from the first (nor sadly, the last) example in a long line from the Office of Self Promotion.

gibby08;447131 wrote:


Not afraid at all here......looking very much forward to it

You're not afraid of becoming a socialist country where our money goes to poor inner city people who have no interests other than spending it and no interest in bettering themselves?


Oh wait, I'm not afraid either, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.

lhslep134;447221 wrote:You're not afraid of becoming a socialist country where our money goes to poor inner city people who have no interests other than spending it and no interest in bettering themselves?


Oh wait, I'm not afraid either, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.

If you're a poor inner city person with no interest in bettering themself, it's a pretty good deal

gut;447250 wrote:If you're a poor inner city person with no interest in bettering themself, it's a pretty good deal

It's a great fucking deal and that's the problem. I don't want my money going to scumbags who don't deserve it. I want my money to go to necessary things, not socialist programs.

Manhattan Buckeye;447121 wrote:I don't care about the pick-up game, probably some of the veterans were excited to see them.

Michele's trip is indefensible, even if the Obamas picked up 100% of the expenses. It is Congresstional Democrats, particular from "red" states with high unemployment that should be angriest. There's nothing wrong with taking a vacation, but when you have a 10 day trip to Martha's Vineyard scheduled for later this month, and millions of Americans are suffering economically and are cancelling even modest vacations, going to a a 5 star Spanish resort (that the vast majority of Americans could never afford) more or less on a lark shows a ridiculous lack of judgment.

They are acting like the trailer park folks that just won the lottery.

I tend to agree. They had to know this would get bad press didn't they? Sure, Mrs. Obama is a private citizen, but she also sets an example for everyone. I think they can take vacations, but I think they ought to do things like, say, take a trip down to the Gulf and take pictures fishing or something.

lhslep134;447265 wrote:It's a great fucking deal and that's the problem. I don't want my money going to scumbags who don't deserve it. I want my money to go to necessary things, not socialist programs.

social security and medicare are socialist programs...do you not want your money to go there?

Manhattan Buckeye;447121 wrote:I don't care about the pick-up game, probably some of the veterans were excited to see them.

Michele's trip is indefensible, even if the Obamas picked up 100% of the expenses. It is Congresstional Democrats, particular from "red" states with high unemployment that should be angriest. There's nothing wrong with taking a vacation, but when you have a 10 day trip to Martha's Vineyard scheduled for later this month, and millions of Americans are suffering economically and are cancelling even modest vacations, going to a a 5 star Spanish resort (that the vast majority of Americans could never afford) more or less on a lark shows a ridiculous lack of judgment.

They are acting like the trailer park folks that just won the lottery.

Fact is, presidential families have money. It's impossible to launch a successful campaign anymore without being completely loaded. They are living within their means, just like every other Presidential family in recent memory who has spent money and gone nice places. If you were a millionaire, I wouldn't expect you to live in a box in your front yard just so I could feel better about myself. Stop making it sound like they took the last of the money out of Social Security to finance this trip.

Any white players or is this a pickup game of racism ....Just asking the question?

ts1227;447419 wrote:Fact is, presidential families have money. It's impossible to launch a successful campaign anymore without being completely loaded. They are living within their means, just like every other Presidential family in recent memory who has spent money and gone nice places. If you were a millionaire, I wouldn't expect you to live in a box in your front yard just so I could feel better about myself. Stop making it sound like they took the last of the money out of Social Security to finance this trip.

Where did they have money before Obama's books? I know that they met at Sidley Austin, but I don't think either of them spent any appreciable time there. Michele stopped working, Barack did his community thing and later was in the Senate....whatever, I don't get your point, they are completely dissing their own people. DEMs/liberals should be the most angry.

Fact is, presidential families have money. It's impossible to launch a successful campaign anymore without being completely loaded. They are living within their means, just like every other Presidential family in recent memory who has spent money and gone nice places. If you were a millionaire, I wouldn't expect you to live in a box in your front yard just so I could feel better about myself. Stop making it sound like they took the last of the money out of Social Security to finance this trip.

I think you are missing his point. Where the money came from is totally irrelevant. The choice to vacation anywhere other than the U.S is the point. Kanye(the new secret service code name for Mrs. Obama) chose to spend thousands of her dollars to support a foreign economy, while the tourist communities on the Gulf Coast are struggling. I don't think this decision will cause her popularity to plummet, but going to the Gulf would have given a boost to her public perception and the perception of her husband, whose approval numbers are falling.

Any white players or is this a pickup game of racism ....Just asking the question?

LeBron James, Grant Hill, Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Shane Battier, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Etan Thomas took part the event, in a gym at Fort McNair, near the White House, as did UConn star Maya Moore.

Read more: http://www.newser.com/story/97582/obama-nba-stars-play-hoops-for-troops.html#ixzz0wE7f0qkL

The sycophants like Gibby don't want to "get it" where Michelle Obama's stupidity is concerned.

It wasn't more than 3 weeks ago that Mrs. Obama was filmed on the beach in the Gulf saying, "Come down here!"

Then she packs up and takes tens of thousands of dollars and spends it in SPAIN during what her husband constantly calls the worst economy since the Depression.

Was the economy this bad when Laura Bush took her trips? Of course it wasn't.

If that had been the case, then you can be damn sure the Bush's would have been vilified by the press for leaving the country to take a vacation.

Oh and (no link) I've since heard the White House is now saying Mrs. Obama's trip had to do with visiting a sick friend.

Of...course...it...did.

Had that really been the case, the TV news would have been blasting it from stem to stern BEFORE they had set foot on Spanish soil.

This group will lie at the drop of a hat if they think it will help them get out of a tough PR spot.

Sadly, there are lots of dumb people out there who will buy the lie.

I think Las Vegas is still waiting for the Obama's to take a vacation down there....Oh, wait, that's would be irresponsible.

BoatShoes;447394 wrote:They had to know this would get bad press didn't they? Sure, Mrs. Obama is a private citizen, but she also sets an example for everyone.

Michelle Obama may be a "private citizen" but she is married to the POTUS making her the nation's First Lady. That makes her a de facto public official who has direct access to the use of taxpayer dollars to finance top-shelf Spanish vacations.

I agree with most posts above stating that BHO could have used Michelle's vacation as a golden PR opportunity had she taken her respite along the Gulf Coast.

Rest assured that had this been a Republican First Lady taking a high-dollar vacation and spending taxpayer dollars in a foreign land during tough national economic times, we'd never hear the end of the outrage from the left.

Frankly I have no objection to Michelle Obama taking vacations and I completely understand that taxpayer dollars are needed to make that happen. What I cannot understand, however, is the apparent flippant disregard for American sensitivities in light of negative national economic issues...or at the very least I'm appalled that the BHO Administration blundered this badly by allowing it to happen.

Yes, whether the Obama's can actually afford the vacation or not, it is a FACT that the tab for secret service and other protection is footed by the taxpayer, including Air Force 2 (which probably costs several hundred thousand just for fuel on a round-tirip to Spain).

But what's a few hundred thousand when you are pissing away billions of dollar on failed socialist programs?

I gues Obama could so something a little more symbolic, like give up golf. Oh. wait, that's been done before. Perhaps you would feel better about them if they gave up all of the things every American President has had and start shopping at the local stores and doing their own cooking. Of course, that would cause low-level members of the White House staff to lose their jobs. Imagine the outrage if that happened.


Should some unknown Republican pull off the upset in 2012 (and it would have to be an unknown, as all of the "serious" contenders are unelectable right now), I'll be anxious to hear the justification for any kind of trip or expense that he/she and their family incur. It's just too bad this forum wasn't around when Ronnie and Queen Nancy were in the White House.

stlouiedipalma;447619 wrote:It's just too bad this forum wasn't around when Ronnie and Queen Nancy were in the White House.

I agree. It would have been a refreshing change of pace to talk about robust economic growth and being un-apologetic about being American.