Tonight, Jan. 4, 2013, I watched Rush Limbaugh and the Fox news crew with Steve Duchy condemning President Obama for returning to Hawaii to finish his vacation. How odd that these bigoted nitwits could utter such condescending remarks about our president.
To set the record straight for the local Confederacy supporters, here are some facts. At this point in their presidencies G.W. Bush had taken 180 days of paid leave and President Obama has taken 61 days. In eight years of the presidency, G.W. Bush spent 487 days playing golf at Camp David and took additional extended vacation of five weeks in one stretch, the longest of any president ever. G.W. Bush spent a total of 1,020 days on vacation while president.
The Confederacy and their supporters just can't stand it that a black president has taken some well-deserved vacation time. I also might add that this past year Congress only worked 126 days, but we paid them for 365 days plus benefits. Congress's approval rating is at a low figure of 16 percent, while President Barack Obama's is at 53 percent.
Facts are from CBS News.
Chuck Mehan
East Ridge
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Well, let's see now. As I recall none of those other Presidents were travelling on Air Force I back-to-back round-trips within a two-day span from D.C. to Hawaii accompanied by their families and an entourage of the various news media.
That is the best there is in our world....and the taxpayers pick up the tab for use of that ultra-high-class king of the skyways.
Charlotte Parton
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Mr. Mehan, I'm glad you set the record straight. President Obama delayed his vacation well into the weekend before Christmas and came back the day after, while the House was vacationing for a full week.
The Limbaughs, et.al, are simply out and out racists. That's just simple truth, and nothing's going to change them.
As for Bush and the Republicans in Congress, maybe it's best that they were AWOL, so they couldn't do any more damage to this nation than they already had.
I would hope that the November elections served as a wake-up call to the GOP to put politics aside and put country first, but that's probably just wishful thinking on my part.
Betsy Bramlett
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Wow, Chuck. Just lump everybody who isn't a Democrat into the confederacy. Just because you don't like someone saying anything about President Obama. We all know no matter who is in office they will catch heat no matter what they do right or wrong.
I really don't care how much vacation President Obama takes. I didn't vote for him in either election. I assure you that I'm not in the confederacy.
I take offense though with what you said.
Michael Shipley
Ooltewah
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In his attempt to "set the record straight," Mr. Mehan slightly distorted a couple of "facts."
First, according to Mark Memmot, a reporter for NPR , National Public Radio to you highly educated and right minded liberals and National organization for the Persecution of Republicans to us "confederates," Mr. Bush only played 24 rounds of golf during his entire eight year presidency. This resulted from his belief that it wasn't right to expend resources for his security while we were at war in the middle east.
Second, regarding "487 rounds of golf at Camp David," that is a truly extraordinary accomplishment considering there isn't a golf course there. There is a driving range and a practice green with three or four tee locations, but only one hole. Mr. Bush would have to play that hole 8,766 times? If he played the hole 487 times, that would still be less than 28 rounds, considerably less than 100.
You are entitled to your opinion, just as any other American. Please don't tell lies about someone who served our country, even if you don't agree with their actions.
Tom Cofer
Signal Mountain
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Ms. Bramlett should be ashamed of herself for calling Rush Limbaugh a racist. That is a classless accusation and has no place in a discussion where people are merely expressing a difference of opinion.
Douglas R. Swafford
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Mr. Mehan is leaving out a crucial fact in comparing Bush's vacations with that of Obama. The majority of Bush's vacations were to his private ranch in Crawford, Tx., therefore not costing much money at all. Obama takes very luxurious vacations along with an entourage. Many times he and Michelle will leave at different times (sometimes hours apart) which involves her flying on another jet while he is on Air Force 1.
Obama is out of touch.
Chloe Simpson
East Ridge
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Ok, not to beat a dead horse, but here is comparison info from Washington Times today:
President Obama: in his first four years has taken 131 days, dividing his time between Hawaii, Martha’s Vineyard and, of course, Camp David, the official get away of U.S. presidents. At this rate, he could hit 262 days by the end of his eighth year, about average for modern presidents
President Lyndon Johnson: During his sojourn at the White House, he, like Bush 2, spent time at his Texas ranch, Camp Davis, for 484 days.
President Jimmy Carter: Georgia was the destination for still another president, but the Carters were away only 79 days out of four years.
President Ronald Reagan: Another rancher, President Reagan would fly to Rancho del Cielo, his ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., spending 484 days there over eight years.
President George H.W. Bush: This president headed to the family compound in Kennebunkport, Me. for his get-aways for a total of 543 days in four years.
President Bill Clinton: Clinton liked vacationing by the ocean, probably because he was from land-locked Arkansas, but the work-alcoholic was only vacationing 152 days during his eight years, primarily on Martha’s Vineyard and Long Island’s the Hamptons.
President George W. Bush: racked up 1,020 vacation days in his eight years in office, including one five-week vacation, the most of any president in 36 years.
And if we compare days off in the first year alone, President Bush still nabs the honor with 69 vacation days, President Obama with 26 and President Clinton with 19.
So how do these two presidents stack up against their predecessors from President Washington through President Clinton?
Fact is, Presidents never really get a vacation as they are working while on trips. And most certainly all used government transportation, not private and had security protection while on these vacations.
John Fricke
Chattanooga
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Ms. Bramlett, the old "race card" has simply become a sad and grossly overused Democratic Party excuse for the lack of experience, qualifications, and performance in President Obama. Somehow, race did not play a role when Conservatives put more women and minorities in state and federal office in 2010 than Democrats did, a fact conveniently overlooked by the Left, which immediately set out to undermine and denigrate those individuals.
It may come as quite a surprise to you, but when Conservatives look at a crowd of 100 people, they see a crowd of 100 people.
When Liberals look at a crowd of 100 people, they see 13 Blacks, 13 Hispanics, 5 Asians, 2 Indians, 50 Caucasians--until they count all 100 folks in the crowd.
So who are the racists?
Mya Lane