Posted on 04/18/2010 5:59:59 PM PDT by autumnraine
A massive volcanic plume covering most of Europe forced President Obama to cancel a Sunday trip to Poland to attend the funeral of the nation's president. But the last-minute change left an opening in his schedule, so the president headed to the links for a round of golf instead.
On a cool but sun-drenched Sunday, the president and three golfing companions went to Andrews Air Force Base to play 18 holes. It is the 32nd time Mr. Obama has played golf since taking office Jan. 20, 2009, according to CBS Radio's Mark Knoller.
After canceling the Poland trip on Saturday, the White House announced that Mr. Obama had no public schedule for Sunday. He was to have arrived in Krakow in the morning, attend the 2 p.m. funeral and leave for home by 5 p.m., arriving back at the White House after midnight.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, Maria, along with dozens of top Polish government officials were killed April 10 when their airplane went down in heavy fog after clipping a tree on approach to Smolensk, Russia.
Mr. Obama has not gone to the Polish Embassy in Washington since the accident, but Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. both have. There, they signed a condolence book.
Mr. Obama was not the only world leader to miss the funeral because of the expanding volcanic ash cloud. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also canceled.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, flew by plane from Moscow for the funeral.
Other foreign leaders used different modes of transportation to get there. Slovenian President Danilo Turk decided to drive the 500 miles to Krakow. Romanian President Traian Basescu traveled to northwestern Romania by helicopter and then continue by car through Hungary and Slovakia.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Let us not forget, either: a Pole helped us win OUR freedom.
He’s taking Michelle and the kids to Ashville in a few weeks.
He uses a golf club because he throws like a girl.
I thought he was going to brave the ashes?
This has also struck me as very odd. It seems to show that he knows the people who propelled him to power far outweighed (in numbers/money/influence) any amount of honest, real votes in his district or state.
So golf it is!!!!
Really? They were so enamored with him pre-election. I have often wondered after his horrid treatment of Britain and others, what they thought now.
My favorite guitarist (Brian May) gave such a raving post on his website about him winning I was almost sickened. I wish I could ask what he thinks now.
Indeed. Carter and Clinton were both national disgraces but this Muslim Marxist punk is completely unfit for the office he temporarily holds.
“There’s enough reason to dislike this president without this idiotic article and inflammatory headline. Sometimes people just need to give it a rest.”
Oh whatever. I’m so sorry you are tired of hearing and reading about what a jerk Obama is. Some of us Americans are actually ashamed by his (non) actions and since he is the representative of US, we’d like him to act like a decent human being.
No, I'm worried that you're right. I've had a bad feeling about this presidency since the beginning.
It's almost Shakespearean in character: The hero has a huge and fatal personality flaw; for the next three acts you watch it play out in some tragic way.
Why, since that is exactly what he did!
Has he even been to the Polish Embassy to show his respects?
Even Hillary Clinton did that!
The mood was somber at the Polish Embassy in Washington Sunday when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stopped by to pay her respects.
We wouldn't want to disturb his entertainment since he works so hard at avoiding work.
He should have used the spare time paying his respects at the Polish Embassy. No class POS.
I’m glad he didn’t show up and put a tarnish on the ceremonies.
32 times in approximately 452 days. Once every 2 weeks. Most working people who enjoy playing golf may get once a month, if that often. This dude is a total tool, and I can’t wait for the hammer to hit the nail on the head so to speak.
Pleeeez! This is Air Force One we’re talking about people. If Zero had really wanted to go, there’s no way it couldn’t have made it, even if it took a bit longer. AF #1 doesn’t have to worry about flying the great circle.
Disgusting. If it was not safe to fly over there he should have at least stayed inside out of respect.
Ugh. Any details? Is he taking over the Biltmore or the Grove Park Inn?
On a cool but sun-drenched Sunday, the president and three golfing companions went to Andrews Air Force Base to play 18 holes. It is the 32nd time Mr. Obama has played golf since taking office Jan. 20, 2009, according to CBS Radio’s Mark Knoller.
Mr. Obama has not gone to the Polish Embassy in Washington since the accident, but Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. both have. There, they signed a condolence book.
Other foreign leaders used different modes of transportation to get there. Slovenian President Danilo Turk decided to drive the 500 miles to Krakow. Romanian President Traian Basescu traveled to northwestern Romania by helicopter and then continue by car through Hungary and Slovakia.
Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip made the 18-hour drive to the funeral, while Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus made the trip by car and train. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko left Kiev with his wife at 7 a.m. Saturday for the long road trip.
Mr. Obama has played golf far more often than former President George W. Bush. In his eight years in office, Mr. Bush played just 24 times. His last time as president was Oct. 13, 2003.
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