A president of leisure

American Thinker ^ | October 26, 2009 | J.C. Arenas

[jazusamo]

If there has been any question as to how seriously Barack Obama takes his presidency, the mounting evidence is providing an answer.

Last week, we discussed the president's permanent campaign and the fact that in nine months in office, he's attended 22 fundraisers -- Bush only participated in six in his first year in office. While Obama has been raising money for Democratic campaigns, he has left a "gone fishing" sign for the leaderless Democrats in Congress.

Today, Politico ran a story that discloses that Obama has already played golf as many times in nine months as Bush did in almost three years, but golf isn't his only game of choice. Various media sources have recently covered the president's basketball games at the White House. We already knew that Obama was a sports fan, but the Baller-in-Chief seems to be more concerned with victory on the greens and hardwood than on the battlefield.

We've read about the president and first lady's weekend in Chicago - taken while an urgent stimulus package sat on his desk unsigned. We've also looked from the outside in at their nights out in Paris, New York City and failed trip to Copenhagen. But have we read anything about a successful stimulus, recovery in the job market, the passing of any key legislation, or a decision about the war in Afghanistan? Have we been entertained with any stories about how the president's apologizing to the world for our "sins" has helped advance American interests? Anything about how the president's call for nuclear disarmament has changed the minds of rogue nations?

No, you won't find any of those stories on the front page. Instead we get fundraising, golf, and basketball. Who would complain if we were talking about Brad Pitt or Justin Timberlake in between movies or albums? No one, why? Because neither is the President of the United States. Barack Obama is. Obama is not some celebrity performing artist who can fly around the world in between projects and sip chi-chi's on the beach while he collects royalty checks. Obama is the leader of a nation that is currently engaged in two wars and handicapped by a faltering economy, increasing unemployment, a weakening dollar, and unsustainable debt. Has Obama presented any viable solutions to change the course of any of those problems? No, so you'll have to excuse me for not celebrating another "Yes We Can!" chant at a $30,000/plate fundraiser, his declining handicap, or his improving jump shot.

Liberals were incensed over the number of "getaway trips" former President George W. Bush made to his ranch in Crawford. But do you think they will join us in criticizing President Obama's leisure activities? Apparently we need to find something for the president to do, because he has too much time on his hands.

Fore!

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon and donate if you haven’t done so!

[DGHoodini]

Don’cha get it? It’s the new Rat Pack.

[henkster]

The dilettante President.

[GOPJ]

If President Bush had acted this way the press would have been screaming bloody murder.

[StandUpChuck]

His leisure plate is full.

[jazusamo]

Absolutely, they’d have crucified him and you don’t read a word about this in the enemedia.

[Krodg]

If President Bush had acted this way the press would have been screaming bloody murder.

DU is still trying to compare the Crawford ranch getaways to what Obama is doing. I don't see the similarity.

[oldbrowser]

The dilettante President

He is what he is. We got what we wanted.

[GnL]

Who’s “we,” Kemo Sabe?

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Rat Pack, yes.

A new meaning for it, The Rat (Party) Pack

.. maybe even another meaning to all those trips away from the White House, the cigarette pack.

If I am remembering correctly Ronald Kessler the author of a new book about the Secret Service and the presidents said Obama plays golf a lot because he's free to smoke there. He's smoking now more than ever -- I am darn near sure that's correct because Obama says he's not. I've heard several interviews promoting the book.

Mr. Kessler says the Secret Service claims that Obama does not smoke in the White House. I find that hard to believe but I guess he could step outside of the Oval Office and go out to a balcony off the living quarters.

But what about all those hundreds of hours on AF One? I wonder.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Not only is the economy going sour, but according to polls, the nation is growing intolerant of what many consider to be the first couple's abuse of power. Four examples serve to make the point:

1. First, when Mrs. O attacked the farm sector last year because it resisted her plan to impose high export taxes on its harvests, the nation rallied to the defense of the farmers, much to her surprise.
2. Second, her decision to confiscate privately held pension accounts was loudly denounced as a violation of the rule of law.
3. Third, there is a widespread belief that her government is using the state intelligence service to collect information against the president's "enemies."
4. Fourth, an overwhelming majority of natives resent the privileges and jet-set lifestyle of the first family while national living standards plummet.

Obamas in the US? Nope. Kirchener's in Argentina. Sounds familiar, though, no? Fellow-travelers cut from the same cloth.

Source: WSJ, "Argentina's Kirchner Targets the Press," October 25, 2009.

[Nashvegas]

Obama is at -12 in the polls, I hope he keeps up the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Perhaps he will be at -60 by 2012

[jazusamo]

That’s quite a parallel, definitely sounds familiar.

[ridesthemiles]

This narcissist is only interested in the perks of the job...not the actual job.
He likes the travel and all the trappings.
He loves commanding the networks to give him prime time at the drop of a hat.

He is so in love with himself, he refuses to see the unrest he is fomenting.

It will come to him, tho. Just wait and see.

[GOPJ]

Almost everything at the White House was available in Crawford. It was “working from home” - which many of us do in the modern world.

Playing golf is NOT working - it's playing. Obama needs to take the job seriously - even if the press does have it's collective head in the sand...

[jazusamo]

I believe you’re right, he loves commanding anything that puts him in the spotlight but can’t handle the hard stuff. He’s too naive to realize the hard stuff is why we have a president.

If it ever does come to him it’ll be an oh **** moment.

[Krodg]

I agree. Obama never wanted to be president, he just wanted to win the game.

[oldbrowser]

Who’s “we,” Kemo Sabe?

I was speaking of the electorate as a whole. I saw through the guy from day one because he never had any details for his grand statements.

[flaglady47]

Obama is lazy. He wants the perks of the job, not the job. That’s why I believe he couldn’t care less if he wins or loses another term. He can as an ex-Prez make tons of money, enjoy paid world-wide speaking engagements, and live the high-life (which will include cheating on Michele bigtime, mark my words).

Obama is a narcissist with an ego as big or bigger than Bill O’Reilly’s, and that’s saying something.

[freekitty]

That’s all he and his family do is leisure.

[giotto]

Don't forget the bowling, the fabulous White House concerts every other night, skateboarding in the White House, ice cream jaunts with the kids, New York City 767 flyovers, fun movie nights with pizza flown in from St. Louis...

It's good to be the King!

[giotto]

Obama is lazy. He wants the perks of the job, not the job. That’s why I believe he couldn’t care less if he wins or loses another term.

He is lazy. This is why we'll never see his college transcripts. I'd be surprised if he pulled anything better than a C average. But the powers that put him in office will never allow him to sit out a second term. He's their slave, and they can destroy him in a heartbeat. All it would take is to release to the media all the information they have sealed in their vaults.

[Running On Empty]

I think he wanted both.

[Running On Empty]

I would suspect that he already assumes he has the second term signed and sealed.

That is what narcissism, in action, is like.

So I believe he does care “if he wins or loses a second term”, but that he could likely assume that it’s already in the bag.

[jackibutterfly]

"If President Bush had acted this way the press would have been screaming bloody murder."

He DIDN'T act that way, and they still screamed bloody murder!

[calex59]

Bozo isn’t supposed to lead democrats, he is supposed to lead the country, something he fails at daily.

[flaglady47]

“So I believe he does care “if he wins or loses a second term”, but that he could likely assume that it’s already in the bag.”

From a narcissist point of view you are right. However, from a “he’s lazy” point of view I’m right. I don’t think he wants the work that goes along with bring Prez. Why do the work when you can get so many perks anyhow as ex-Prez. Travel the world, make lots of money, indulge your pleasures. Although he’s managing to be Prez while doing very little work. Leaves it up to others while he travels, plays golf, parties, and plays politics.

[Verginius Rufus]

Any President who gets defeated for re-election tends to be viewed as a failure, and Obama definitely doesn't want that.

I expect the Obama re-election effort in 2012 to be the Nixon re-election campaign of 1972 on steroids...they'll be using dirty tricks that never even occurred to anyone in CREEP.

[pankot]

Why shouldn’t he take time off? He’s got the Czars and Rhambo to run the country.