Thursday Open Thread
President Obama leaves today for a 10-day summer vacation on Martha’s Vineyard but once again faces Republican criticism that he’s taking time off while the country faces tremendous problems, even though all Republicans in Congress have just taken a whole month off.
The Chicago Sun Times notes that this is Obama has been away from the White House and Camp David on vacation for all or part of 38 days over the last 2 and a half years. He has been to Camp David for an additional 32 weekend days, for a total of 70 days.
Meanwhile, the conservative hero George W. Bush, at this same point in his first term, spent 225 days on vacation.
So basically, you idiot jackass lying conservative Republicans, shut up.
And the greatest quote of the day, if not the year goes to the St. Louis Beacon on Republican Lt. Governor Peter Kinder: “Kinder says his only relationship with [the] stripper was to watch her dance.”
Finally, a Democrat from the Democratic wing is (probably) running for something:
Okay. But she shouldn’t expect any help from the titular head of the Democratic Party.
(Sorry, I’m feeling a little gloomy today.)
If Warren is as smart as I think she is, she won’t let Obama get within three states of her.
Saw this on the cover of the Philly Inquirer on my lunch break and it stopped me in my tracks…
http://gawker.com/5832200/bridal-shop-refuses-to-sell-a-lesbian-a-wedding-gown
Not sure if y’all seen this but let’s just file this under Duh….
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/opinion/crashing-the-tea-party.html
For a long time we in the political class were warned not to say *class warfare* because it was incendiary.
Now, Forbes, that’s right Forbes Magazine, is talking about global class warfare. Go see it:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2011/08/15/u-k-riots-global-class-war/
Rebecca,
Thanks for that link. It is interesting that some capitalists are now thinking that American Republican economic policies are killing capitalism.
The writer also casually accepts a lot of Karl Marx’ thinking regarding the capitalist use of religion to hoodwink workers and keep them from fully grasping their subjugated situation.
So it is not Obama, but Grover Norquist who is bringing back Marx. Again – the law of unintended consequences rules resplendent.
Bush spent 225 days in his own home in Texas, when Congress was in recess.
Mr. and Mrs. Dear Leader took separate jets to Martha’s Vineyard.
The Dear Leader was heard to remark “let them eat peas”.
Atlas noted:
Prairie Chapel Ranch was set up with all of the necessary communication gear and the staff quarters and offices to keep the President on the job, even when he was at his home in Texas. Heck, he even received state visitors at his ranch.
No President ever really goes on vacation.
other than Obama, im sure you wanted to add.
Everyone seems to gloss over the fact that, at this point in his first term, Bill Clinton had only taken 28 vacation days. Say what you will about Bill Clinton; that guy LOVED being president. I get the feeling Obama’s inconvenienced by it. Like he’s all ‘Shit. I had NO IDEA there was more to this job than fancy dinner parties and flashing cameras.’
I personally don’t give a shit whether Obama takes vacation or not. Frankly, I think he does more damage when he’s in Washington, so I would encourage him to flit around the globe 365 days a year. I do find it interesting that each side has a different set of rules when the other side’s president takes vacation.
I say let him vacation all he wants, just please don’t insult me with the photograph of him with the furrowed brow listening to his counter-terrorism specialist briefing him. Is that supposed to make everyone forget he’s (working tirelessly for the poor) on an island frequented by the very same filthy rich people he demonizes day after day?
Also, can we JUST ONCE have a president pictured reading a book that isn’t a classic?? So fucking sick of the highbrow nonsense. I would be more impressed if he was holding a copy of a Tom Clancy book. Maybe then he’d learn something about REAL counter-terrorism. haha
“Prairie Chapel Ranch was set up with all of the necessary communication gear and the staff quarters and offices to keep the President on the job….
So ignoring Al Quida threats while in Texas was just as easy as ignoring them in DC. Got it.
the very same filthy rich people he demonizes day after day
If by “demonize” you mean “decline to prosecute” and “extend overly generous tax cuts that bankrupted the nation,” then I guess you are right.