On Mar 12, 5:20*am, "ODONOVAN, Himself" wrote:
New York Times questions timing of Obama *family Australia/ Indonesia
trip: No real diplomatic reason to go but it is the kids' spring
break. Date night was cheap by comparison , but this?

http://preview.tinyurl.com/714zEvleths

Excerpt:

"..The trip is unusual, experts say, in that there is no economic
summit or other multinational gathering for the president to
attend..."

IOW just a taxpayer funded junket for the kids and the whole Obama
entourage?

A president can go anywhere he wants, just ask Bush and Reagan, and
that even includes a president who happens to be a Democrat, by the
way.

"Bush on track to become the vacation president
By JULIE MASON Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau
Aug. 9, 2007, 9:01PM

President Bush tries to set an example for Americans whenever he can,
in terms of physical fitness, faith, optimism and a certain overall
moral rectitude. He also sets an excellent example on taking vacation.

On Thursday, Bush left for a weekend in Kennebunkport, Maine, and his
family's summer compound, Walker's Point. On Monday, he heads to his
Crawford retreat, where he has spent all or part of 418 days of his
presidency, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS News White House
correspondent and meticulous record-keeper.

Never a fan of Washington's more cosmopolitan pleasures, Bush will be
in Central Texas for about two weeks, with an overnight trip to Ottawa
to meet with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.

At a White House press conference Thursday, Bush appeared to be
already inhabiting his vacation mode, shedding the businesslike,
sometimes grim demeanor he's had of late to slouch against the podium
and be avuncular.

He gamely joked and mugged with reporters, at one point raising two
fists in a boxing stance to illustrate what not to do in a photo op
with the president of Iran.

"You don't want the picture to be kind of, you know, duking it out,
you know?" Bush said " 'OK, put up your dukes.' That's an old boxing
expression."

Bush's August sojourn will be his 65th trip to Crawford, according to
Knoller.

The 1,600-acre ranch has proved a durable haven for Bush, who often
disappears into its varied landscapes for days or weeks at a time
without public appearances. He has an attractive stone house, shaded
swimming pool, miles of rugged bike trails and law enforcement at
every entry point keeping people out.

"I fell in love with it the minute I saw it," Bush said of his ranch
in 2001. "I like being out here. I like spending a lot of time
outside."

The presidential vacation-time record holder is the late Ronald
Reagan, who tallied 436 days in his two terms. At 418 days, and with
17 months to go in his presidency, Bush is going to beat that easily.

Even so, this year's August vacation for Bush is a contrast to
previous years such as 2005, when he dragged out vacation in Texas to
five weeks. That was also the year Bush remained on vacation
immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit.

Vice President Dick Cheney generally takes August off, often heading
to Wyoming or coastal Maryland. Congress left last weekend and is gone
until Sept. 4. The Iraqi parliament is taking August off, too.

Still, all this governmental time off is more than most Americans are
taking. A recent survey by Yahoo Hot Jobs found nearly half of
American workers did not take all of their vacation days last year.

Bush, on his 10th visit to Kennebunkport as president (according to
Knoller), is scheduled for lunch Saturday with French President
Nicolas Sarkozy. Indeed, on the issue of vacation, at least, Bush is
much like a pleasure-seeking Frenchman. According to Expedia.com,
French workers get about 39 days off a year and generally take all but
one."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5042364.html