Telegraph – by Nick AllenWhen President Barack Obama goes on holiday to the seaside things can get complicated.
Rooms have to be found for dozens of Secret Service agents, someone has to carry a selection of presidential basketballs, and of course the family dog needs his own state-of-the-art aircraft.
Arriving in the idyllic coastal retreat of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Mr Obama left behind him in Washington DC high profile debates over the budget, government surveillance and his health care reforms. Instead, he will spend the next eight days playing golf, going to the beach, and buying books from the Bunch of Grapes bookstore.
In the air he swapped his suit and tie for khakis and a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, while Mrs Obama wore a yellow-and-white summer dress.
Bo, the president’s Portuguese Water Dog, arrived separately on one of two MV-22 Ospreys, a hybrid aircraft which takes off like a helicopter but flies like a plane.
It was the first time the Ospreys have been taken on holiday by a US president.
More than 70 hotel rooms, each costing up to $345 (£220) a night, have been booked out for Secret Service agents, who took charge of luggage including two large mesh bags full of basketballs.
The Obamas are staying in Chilmark on the western tip of the island, an area that is dotted with multi-million dollar homes. The neighbours include actor Ted Danson and the singer Carly Simon.
On several previous visits the Obamas had stayed at the 28-acre Blue Heron Farm, but it has since been sold to Britain’s most celebrated architect, Baron Foster of Thames Bank.
The president has therefore had to downsize to a $7.6 million, 5,000-square foot retreat on nine acres which is owned by a businessman friend from Chicago. It includes a basketball court.
As a result Mr Obama will be staying closer to public roads which will have to be closed as his motorcade heads for the golf course or bookshop.
The Martha’s Vineyard Times newspaper warned residents to expect “extraordinary and lengthy up-island detours”. Local officials also emailed residents, saying: “Anyone aggrieved by this closing should email or call the White House.”
Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said: “Obviously, when you’re President of the United States, you carry a little baggage when you travel. And that’s true whether it’s on a summit, international meeting, a domestic trip, or for a vacation. I know he’s looking forward very much to some down time with his family. I’m sure he’ll see some friends.”
Hell, I figured he’d pack all his crap in a ’69 Caddy & head out; dragging the muffler & spewing oil smoke. He has no shame beating the taxpayers the way he does. Thinks he’s a Al Capone….lot of difference between a “gangsta” & a “gangster”.
I wish it wasn’t called “HOME” they love to spin that word “HOMELAND” where homeland equals Canada, Mexico and the US.
Ain’t there a VET “LOCALLY” who can babysit that damned dog for a few days? WTF!?
I WISH SOMEONE WOULD PILE A BATTLESHIP OF OATH BREAKING ACCUSATIONS WHILE THEY REST, SO THEY GET NO REST. I think they should stay awake for the next 30 days, grind their brains down on meth. Or other “legalized stimulants” for these oath breaking scum.
I want them to be a total WRECK, i want to see big black sacks under their oath breaking red eyes.
When they have digestion problems from eating one meal a day for day after day.
When they have heart palpitations from staying awake and being scared to death for day after day
When they SWEAT at night flipping around from nightmares.
When they smoke so much the throat hurts.
When they have that Unstoppable Nausea from butterflies in their solar plexus from breaking their oath and that feeling of pooping the pants.
When their heads feel like popping cause Aspirin doesn’t work anymore. Cause drinking too much, is going to make you feel like crap no matter how many oath breaking lies you tell about it.
This is really getting out of hand. I don’t think the SOB deserves any vacation at all, much less an expense paid one, and much less his damned mutt.
This bum is doing all of this on purpose.
“Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said: “Obviously, when you’re President of the United States, you carry a little baggage when you travel.”
How that son of a bitch, Carney can go around saying that with a straight face is beyond me. How that son of a bitch, Carney can continue to look at himself in the mirror in the morning is also beyond me. How that son of a bitch, Carney is still walking around without even being given the “Shoe” treatment that George W. Bush was given, is also WAY beyond me.