Obamas Head To Camp David Wednesday, Give Vacation Another Try

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and his family are trying again for a little rest and relaxation.

The president is heading out to the presidential retreat at Camp David on Wednesday morning. The five-day stay in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains gives the first family a head start on the Labor Day weekend.

Obama's last vacation break in Martha's Vineyard didn't feature a lot of quiet time. That break began late due to a hurricane and was interrupted for Obama's announcement naming Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to another term. Obama also gave the eulogy for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, his former Senate colleague.

Comments

[marysandra]

Camp David is hardly a vacation, it's just a seclued "white house" with less staff and no photographers. Good place to write a no holds barred speech for next Wednesday..{hey, I can hope}Maybe mentioning to the teabaggers that they are just a pink slip away from losing their health care.
Oh wait, I forgot, they all work for the gov't ! or Fox News, or are already on Medicare...take your pick! Please Mr. President, lose the teleprompter next week..and speak from your heart!

[mary clyne]

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=H&cycle=2010&recipdetail=S&mem=Y Help me spread this link all over the internet PUBLIC OPTION NOW !!!

[NevaforLeadership]

Medicare, Medicare D, Medicaid and social security -- all public options are projected to bankrupt the US within a couple of decades -- take up the entire US budget -- no room for any other programs - and you want to add another one to the list?

The US has the best medicine and healthcare in the world, because it is private. It just needs to sort out access and costs.

Change the solution to focus on reducing costs through healthy living (diet and exercise), end to smoking, required coverage (not just when a healthcare need is looming), control on entitlement to certain procedures and costs, prohibit doctors from investing in any healthcare companies; salary remuneration for doctors; increased responsibilities for nurse practitioners; not-for-profit hospitals and other facilities; start immediate study to see if system like that in Singapore can be gradually introduced into US - just some ideas.

Reduce costs and access will fall into place.

There is some certainty in a public option: greater and greater costs and less and less efficiency (that's always the way it is when the government spends other people's money), less and less disposable income as taxes increase to pay the costs; paying for other people's healthcare when they use the system over and over again while you do not; abuse of the system through overbilling and overuse.

[RACVC]

So let me guess, you have health insurance, you're on Medicare or Medicaid, or you're rich.
Your suggestions are appropriate but clearly not sufficient.

[SPQR1775]

Cheaptrills? with a name like that, who take "YOU" serious? President OBAMA, the greatest President the USA and the world had every witness, accused of doing too much, by Bigoted Souther Republicans, who claim to fame is to be anti-gay, anti-black, anti-immigration (ooops, they all came to America on the Mayflower), "we didn't land on PLYMOUTH ROCK, PLYMOUTH ROCK LANDED ON US!", X. They use the bible as their moral compass and when they fail, they said I am OK God is with me, they are against Gay marriage, but can't be the "standard bearer" for their own marriage. The are against prostitutes, but they can't seem to stop sleeping with them. They don't lead, they follow and they are more ignorant that the people they represent, wow, even the inhabitants of NABU are waay more advance that the huddle mass of low conscious ignorant, bigoted, racist and facism southerners whose God is capitalism and "religion" the root of ALL EVIL!". Gingrich, became a Catholic and they welcome him in, totally against the Catholic Principles, he married and divorce 3 times, but with the likes of Vitter, Guilliani, Gingrich, Jindal, Sanford, who really want to be associated with a Religion that has lost its moral bearing, morality, honesty and temperance. If you don't have INTEGRITY you have nothing! OBAMA has it all and white folks hate that!

[marysandra]

spqr...I agree with you completely..but as a "cradle Catholic" ie.born and raised, I feel the Church has lost its moral authority, as do many Catholics, but for those to whom their religion still brings some comfort, much of this is a distraction, although in the case of the disgraced priests, it is a moral horror. However, the teachings remain, and faith remains..I gave up long ago in disgust, but there are those who do find some relief from daily life in their Church's beliefs and rituals. Many African Americans and other minority groups attend my local parish. I think this current pope should stop speaking like he has any credibility, at least with Americans.How some of the above named characters in your post became Catholics is beyond me. But money talks even in church, I guess. I will return to the Church when they allow gay marriage, and women's rights, so probably not in my lifetime.

[Cheapthrills]

It is difficult to take a vacation from yourself. Maybe Obama is finally figuring out that words mean something and oration wears out without actions to match. His persona and charisma are fading..hopefully he is realizing that and coming to terms with himself.

[ElsaIndy]

Exactly. He needs to take some quiet time to figure out just what his positions are so he can enunciate his principles and make policy based on his principles. This also involves banging some heads together including Democratic heads to get some consensus.

Being president is not the same as being a community organizer. A president has to take positions that are unpopular and lead.

Obama may be looking at one term unless he defines his prinicples and begins to lead.

[PoliticalAmazon]

I think he's a one-term president, anyway. He has squandered his political capital by sacrficing our best interests by compromising our needs and his promises to the GOP. His ego got away from him. His obsession with being seen as the "Bipartisan President" has set him up for the GOP to reclaim power.

We handed him an uber-dem majority in Congress, and an incredible mandate, and he blew it. He must have really thought he was so magnificent that the GOP would not do what they have always done when offered bipartisanship and compromise: use it to belittle the offerer and force the offerer to accept whatever the GOP wants in the bill or policy.

With the mandate we handed to him, he should not have to be begging Americans at townhall meetings to back the health-care reform we so desperately need.

He has lost much of his progressive base, and even some of the GOP cross-over voters.

He is so weak at this point, it will take a miracle if he gets reelected.

[verycold]

I suggested Camp David from the start. Why pick a tourist town? Even if Ted had not passed away the camera following him around has to get very old.

[PoliticalAmazon]

I don't know--the Obamas seem to very much like being in front of the cameras. I think it is more likey that he chose to vacation in a tourist spot BECAUSE it would give him and his family lots of celebrity treatment, with fans and photographers following them around.

[takeyourballandgohome]

B/c Camp David is their home, it is not vacation! Is it too difficult to understand there is a fellow, usually, walking 3 steps behind Obama, always, carrying "a briefcase"!!!

[NevaforLeadership]

Can't say I've noticed his persona and charisma fading -- the opposite, in fact.

Instead of working with the president to initiate the best healthcare reform for everyone (reform that could be refined and fine tuned down the road), Republicans have obstructed the process every step of the way, in the end harming not only Democrats but also themselves.

In good faith, President Obama sent healthcare to the congress to come up with reform. Instead of working as a team, they fell into chaos and allowed themselves to be swayed by influence peddlers and their own uncertain egos.

My suggstion: remove their healthcare coverage until they can come up with fair coverage and cost structures for everyone.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Well, of course the GOPers obstructed him. That's what they do. Obama's mistake was blowing his political capital on his obsession with being seen as "The Bipartisanship President." The GOPers see bipartisanship and compromise as a sign of weakness and they move in like sharks to take down their victim's political power and capital.

They've done it very well, too. Not only has Obama's approval numbers gone down with moderates, he's lost a good portion of his progressive base. We KNOW for a fact that the Palin-loving GOP core voters will NEVER vote for anything associated with Obama.

I think Obama has let his ego squander his political capital, and if he is not reelected it will be his fault, and no one else's.

[tabatha]

""Bush has spent more than a year of his presidency" at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. On August 19, 2005, "he broke Ronald Reagan's record of 335 days for America's most vacationed president and went on to take the longest presidential vacation in 36 years," Dale McFeatters wrote August 8, 2006, ScrippsNews editorial.

"Everyone deserves a vacation. I myself took two weeks off in July," Ann Sullivan wrote August 10, 2006, The Ithica Journal.

"Still, there is a time and place for everything. George Bush is spending at least 10 days in Crawford, clearing brush and riding his bike while the Middle East is in flames and American service men struggle to quell a civil war in Iraq.

Even Tony Blair postponed his August vacation to work for a settlement in the Middle East. What kind of a dilettante do we have (when he chooses to be) in the White House?"

August 3: "Bush gets a 'look-see' at the border before starting summer break," Associated Press.

August 4: "Bush Has Short Vacation Reading List," Washington Post.

August 8: "Olbermann Frets over Bush's Vacation, Compares Bush to Neville Chamberlain,
" NewsBusters.

August 10: "Metal worker Heath Krenz, right, looks on as President Bush attempts to bend a steel beam during a tour of Fox Valley Metal-Tech" in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Washington Post.

August 11: "Bush, on a Quick Trip From His Texas Ranch, Says Americans Are Safer Than Before Sept. 11" New York Times. "

etc.......

[PoliticalAmazon]

Bush isn't president now. Obama is. We didn't hand Bush a mandate We handed a mandate to Obama.

What Bush did as president will not excuse Obama squandering his political capital by trying to be bffs with the GOPers in Congress, who will NEVER like him, and will ALWAYS use every offer of bipartisanship and compomise as a way to screw over the one who offered it.

But if you want to bring up Bush, realize that when it became public knowledge that our economy was taking, even Bush was not so delusional that he and his family went jetsetting all around the world and country like bon vivant debutantes.

That's pretty bad---Bush Jr as president was more sensitive to what Americans were going throug with the economy failing than OBama is as president.

[marysandra]

Hi PolAmazon...Here we are again, no matter what constructive opinions you offer, you get the same litany..."well Bush did so and so" . a man who stole one election and probably Ohio in the second one, cannot not be compared to someone elected by a large majority, who had high hopes for him. He needs to start "keeping it real" again, that's why many of us liked him in the first place..I started to wonder the minute he brought Tim Geitner in and wall street and the banks became the focus of attention, and not the unemployed or those losing their homes..Personally, I think he should have sent the family off to their rented mansion on Martha's and stayed home and worked the phones and twisted arms for healthcare. or visited the "blue dogs" on whaterver golf course they were hiding. While family time is important, he is the president, not some guy with a regular life, at least for now. A lot of people are depending on him who can't afford to take bike rides with their kids, heck they can't even afford the bike. I miss LBJ, a lot, these days. Obama is beginning to look a lot like a corporate shill to me, hope he proves me wrong. But,"if it walks like a duck." you know the rest.

[thevillagewag]

Bush eats cake while the residents of New Orleans swim in river Katrina.

[bron's mom]

Do you really think that Obama really had a break last week? It wasn't a vacation. At Camp David he does not have to be "on" for the media. I want my president to have adequate time with his family. I want him to be able to rest, relax, to renew himself. I want him to have time to prepare himself to fight for the public option for health care.

[vie2012ne]

I'd want to leave town too, after making such a hash of things ...

By 2010 the American electorate will be thoroughly sick of this dude.

[HypocriticalSpamazon]

That must explain why Bush stayed gone so long.

[Marrymeplease]

Something must be lacking upstairs. Obama didn't mess things up, it was GW. I'm sure you guys have made yourself forget the past eight years. This President was lefted a pile of dog doo that he is still trying to clean up. And if Americans are stupid enough to go back to the Republicans who help ran things during those eight years. They deserve what they get. The past eight months the Republicans hasn't given us any answers to any problems. All they have done was say NO. So when it comes time to vote, we will sit down and say this is where Obama stands, what are the Republicans answers? What did they do when they help GW? People haven't forgotten the last eight years that fast. I know I haven't. This President walk into office with a economy disater lefted him. Two wars. So 2010 let us go back to the guys who help put us in this mess. I don't think so.

[raaf]

Would be a nice video compilation, Obama on vacation and again and again and again....

[harobamason]

Afraid Bish holds that title.

[raaf]

But for how long? It looks like Barack is seriously trying to takeover that title from Bush.

[LadyTee]

raaf: It would have also been nice to video a complilation of Bush's vactions...week after, after week, after week, after week. Oh dear me, I'm sure the video would have been entirely too long to peak anyone's interest.

[1088]

Bush was on Vacation for 8 years, while Cheney ran the country into the ground.

[HypocriticalSpamazon]

Co-sign!

[Terriac]

People, don't assume that he never works while on vacation. I'm betting he does quite a bit of work even then. And Camp David is just another place to work as well. So stop bellyaching and making assumptions about things you don't know.

[t iessa]

And Bush said he worked while he was on his many vacations, too.

[jayHG]

No he didn't......Bush made no bones about what he was doing....relaxing!!!

[LoveGuv]

You're constantly saying how it doesn't matter what Bush did.

How many times have you griped about people saying "well, Bush did it!"

tsk, tsk, tsk.

[OldFreddie]

Bush often took his entire staff to Texas to work, I remember some of them meeting with Cindy Sheehan when she was protesting outside the ranch.

[Rope-A-Dope]

I haven't used all of my vacation time in any one of the past five years for fear of losing my job.

[roannamac]

So sorry to hear that. That really sucks.

[kappa08]

livin large and with little to show for it...have a blast dude while the rest of us fight your battles

[Indie2008]

I guess you have to fill the space with something while waiting for Glen Beck's talking points for the day.

[HypocriticalSpamazon]

Who are you fighting? Congress is on vacation, too.

[spiritpony1]

and the "battles" you fought???

[kappa08]

can YOU define HIS health care plan?...how many times does his staff need to float "no public option" just to see how it plays to the base that got him elected?....sorry I can do with out the cheeky smile and burger runs and would rather see a LEADER with a focused resolve to deliver our civil right of health care. I'm not sure what the "upside" to being an American is anymore? My patience has run out with his complacency and his boring approach.
Did you like his banking reform?
How about that telecom immunity?
...cool with his placation to the insecure right wasting more dollars and lives on a second war we won't win?....bang on me all you want it doesn't change the fact that he's weak at the knees and unwilling to get our backs....

....just jacking you apologists is enough of a "battle" to keep the best of us busy all day long. It's like herding cats.

[roannamac]

In the words of my man Barney Frank.. "on what planet do you spend most of your time"? You're lucky HuffPo doesn't let us cuss.

[kappa08]

why because I have the guts to call him out?...do you feel his last nationally televised press conference was a motivated health care call?....as motivated as when he was asked about his self important loud mouth Harvard pal?...WAKE UP!!!! IT'S ON!!!! not tomorrow, not next year NOW!

[Yurdelite]

Your call yourself a Kappa? Puhleeze, don't embarrass them bro.

[alfatu]

And he still won't get a break with all these crazy folks out here. I guess it comes with the territory.

[claylandg]

I understand taking time off , on Vacation but he should have known that this is no 9-5 job it comes with more than any of us know, and to think that he could get time off without interuption is just silly. He needs to get back to work.

[HypocriticalSpamazon]

You first!

[Sabreen60]

Umm, I think he knew exactly what was in store for him - all of it. Two weeks is not a long time, especially since he's accomplished more in 8 months than B00sh and his brain did in 8 years.

[tdh]

Bush was on a permanent vacation -- seriously, he logged more vacation days than any president in history.

[KnowzyRowzy]

Pres Obama, when the going gets tough you don't extend your vacation!

[rcwblessed]

All of Congress had the entire month of August off and won't be back to work until after Labor Day. The President is more than entitled to a 2-week vacation, whether you and your ilk approve or not.

[tisfilm]

President Obama's Labor Day trip to Camp David is his tenth visit there since taking office, according to CBS Radio's Mark Knoller. Obama has spent all or part of 20 days there, Knoller says.

President George W. Bush traveled to Camp David 14 times during the same period. He spent all or part of 42 days there.

[majormoderate]

Camp David is basically an extension of the White House. Presidents can function just as capably from Camp David as from the White House... One's just in the spotlight while the other is secluded.

[rcwblessed]

You intentionally forgot to add that most of the time Obama spent at Camp David was on weekends. Why do you fringers insist on distorting the facts. The only other people who believe your nonsense are your fellow fringers. And that makes you appear ign0rant to everyone else.