The dust has not even settled nor all of the carnage of the Democratic Party carried away after yesterday's near historic record-setting sea-change in congress with the American people vehemently and unmistakably repudiating President Obama and the Congressional Democrats' agenda of severe fiscal malfeasance, and yet President Obama is still seemingly oblivious to the message.The Democrats' unwanted and largely ineffective spending which has added over $5 Trillion more to the national debt since having taken control of congress in 2007, including the passage of the un-constitutional health care act, were the primary impetus for voters' anger yesterday according to most exit polling.
So what does President Obama intend to do to correct his course? Why, he plans to leave the country for ten days starting with a visit to Mumbai, India. The costs estimated for this ten day trip are $200 million dollars a day, or for those not wanting to do the math, 2 BILLION dollars for the entire trip.
"The huge amount of around $200 million (a day) would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said. An entourage of around 3000 people will be accompanying the presidential delegation including government officials, journalists, and Secret Service personnel. Of course President Obama will be accompanied on the trip with his wife Michelle and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
The entire Taj Mahal Tower Hotel, 570 rooms in all, have been rented for the Presidential visit accordingly.
Now I certainly don't begrudge our president having adequate security on foreign travels, but it certainly strikes me as ludicrous to have 3000 people traveling with him in over 40 planes, while ferrying six armored vehicles, and several Marine One helicopters for his use while abroad.
To add insult to injury, India is not expecting any "big bang" results from the forthcoming visit of President Barack Obama, India's Foreign Secretary has said. In other words this trip does not significantly advance the interests of America nor India. It, seemingly, is a "much needed" vacation with a little diplomacy thrown in to justify the trip.
So with all of this being said, it strikes me that our president, despite the horrific losses his party just suffered at the hands of irate American voters yesterday, still has not heard nor understood the message we sent. Surely a man of such intelligence cannot be that politically tone deaf and that foolish!
With millions of people still searching for employment and the economy still not showing any significant signs of improvement, is spending $2 Billion dollars on a trip to India, South Korea, and Indonesia really the best use of President Obama's time and our taxpayers' dollars right now? I guess he will be surprised when he gets our next message in November of 2012. I guarantee you that message will be heard by him as he packs his belongings to return to Chicago!
UPDATE 11/4/2010: There have been multiple sources now reporting that are skeptical as to the original claims regarding the amount of money to be spent on President Obama's trip. No credible source is able to cite what actual costs for the trip will be, however. The Whitehouse has stated that the cost numbers are wildly inflated but have cited security reasons for not disclosing an exact figure. Suffice it to say, that the actual amount of money being spent is indeed likely lower than what the Indian Government official originally claimed.
Nontheless, the 3000 member entourage, 40 planes, etc. still are ludicrous and will be exorbitantly expensive in addition to the entire rented Taj Mahal Towers Hotel. The main premise of this posting, that the expenses incurred on this excursion to India that serve no significant U.S. interests immediately following the message sent by the American people after Tuesday's elections still strikes one as being politically tone deaf. The spending of what will still amount to many hundreds of millions of dollars regardless does not strike one as being very fiscally warranted or prudent, accordingly.
UPDATE 11/4/2010: There have been multiple sources now reporting that are skeptical as to the original claims regarding the amount of money to be spent on President Obama's trip. No credible source is able to cite what actual costs for the trip will be, however. The Whitehouse has stated that the cost numbers are wildly inflated but have cited security reasons for not disclosing an exact figure. Suffice it to say, that the actual amount of money being spent is indeed likely lower than what the Indian Government official originally claimed.
Nontheless, the 3000 member entourage, 40 planes, etc. still are ludicrous and will be exorbitantly expensive in addition to the entire rented Taj Mahal Towers Hotel. The main premise of this posting, that the expenses incurred on this excursion to India that serve no significant U.S. interests immediately following the message sent by the American people after Tuesday's elections still strikes one as being politically tone deaf. The spending of what will still amount to many hundreds of millions of dollars regardless does not strike one as being very fiscally warranted or prudent, accordingly.
