Obama Hawaiian Vacation Update: Two Politically-Correct Control Freaks Who Squander the American People’s Money Appear to Be Having a Miserable Time

(via The Black Sphere) — So, while America languishes in Obamacare terror, the Obama family packed up the basketballs, haute couture, the dogs and dog food, Grandma and the girls and climbed aboard Air Force One.

A 9 hour flight later the First Family et al landed at Oahu to enjoy the holidays. The stunning price tag? Somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 million dollars, give or take an $181K per hour on Air Force One or two.

One would think that with those kind of dinaros nothing but holly-jolly glee would be splashed across the faces of the Obama family.  However, based on one of the first vacation pictures to emerge, it appears to be quite the contrary.

Straight out of Honolulu, HI, USA, Barack Obama and  Michelle, along with their children Sasha and Malia, attended the NCAA basketball game between Oregon State and Akron at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Michelle Obama’s brother, Craig Robinson, is the head coach of Oregon State and coincidentally must have found himself in Hawaii at the same time as the first family.  As happenstance would have it, Craig will likely be joining the happy clan for Christmas…uh sorry…the holidays.

The problem is that judging from the photograph of the first family taking in the sports event featuring Uncle Craig’s team, things appear to be rather tense.

Little Sasha doesn’t appear to have Christmas joy written all over her pretty little face. Michelle looks downright irritated, and Barry’s usual  Colgate Smile is missing. He looks worn, disgusted, and visibly angry.

Based on that array of sullen mugs, the “trouble-free Hawaiian vacation” Mr. Obama was hoping for got off to a rocky start.

Now either the situation here at home where the historic president’s socialist utopian dream is crumbling before his very eyes has got Barry down and Michelle livid, or the lovebirds are at each other’s throats and cannot hide their hate for each other.

Come on people, a $4 million Oahu vacation for 17 days and that’s the best expression these two spoiled brats can muster up?

They aren’t even pretending to be happy. The President and first lady look more like pallbearers at funeral then spectators at basketball game. In fact, Barack looked much happier at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Though, we should note, the Missus was sporting the same un-happy face.

The moral of this story: Other people’s money can’t buy  happiness, or obviously love. Socialists  attempting to rob the freedom of others oftentimes become prisoners in their own private hell.

And while Americans struggling to get by celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, two politically-correct control freaks who squander the American people’s money appear to be having a miserable time.

[H/T The Black Sphere]

Obama’s Hawaiian Christmas Vacation Price Tag

(via Hawaii Reporter) — Michael Tasselmyer of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, estimates the 18-hour roundtrip aboard Air Force One, which he said costs $179,750 per hour for flight and operation, will total $3,235,500 for the roundtrip. A Congressional Research Service report released in May 2012 matches that figure.

There are reports the President might also stop on the island of Maui, a 30-minute flight from Oahu, which would add additional expense.

The cost for USAF C-17 cargo aircraft that transports the Presidential limos, helicopters and other support equipment to Hawaii has never been disclosed, but the roundtrip flight time between Andrews Air Force Base and Hawaii is 21.5 hours, with estimated operating cost of $12,000 per hour. (Source: GAO report, updated by C-17 crew member).

The U.S. Marine Corps provides a presidential helicopter, along with pilots and support crews for the test flights, which travel on another C-17 flight. That is $258,000, not including costs for the 4-to-6-member crew’s per diem and hotel.

U.S. Secret Service, Navy Seals and Coast Guard rent homes along the canal and ocean for $250 per room per night, according to residents renting their homes. Real estate source said the delegation rents at least 7 homes in the area, and arrive ahead of the President, costing taxpayers more than $183,750 for the length of the visit.

White House staff who do not stay in Kailua secure hotel rooms at the posh Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa on Waikiki Beach. Hotel rooms typically rent for $670 a night, but the hotel offers discounted government rates for about $255 per night, according to hotel public relations manager Diana Su. The hotel does not disclose information about The White House visit. However, estimating prices for room, as well as Transient Accommodation Tax and General Excise Tax, for about two dozen staff, totals more than $100,000. The President is accompanied by 22 vehicles, whether he goes golfing and to a basketball game with friends at his Punahou alma mater or to body surf at Sandy Beach and local favorite restaurants such as Nobu’s and Buzz’s Steakhouse.

Honolulu Police are on special duty, paid $250,000 by city taxpayers, and another $10,000 is spent on around-the-clock ambulance detail.

There are several costs the White House annually refuses to release, citing security.

• For example, The White House rents an entire floor of an office building in Kailua on the canal during the President’s stay
• Security upgrades, such as bulletproof glass, and additional phone lines, are added to private homes, while existing security systems are disabled.
• Rental cars and fuel for staff and security, as well as additional travel costs Secret Service and White House staff traveling ahead of the President, are kept secret.
  

The White House has not released expenses, citing security concerns.  However, the most conservative estimate, based on what is known, for a 17-day vacation in Hawaii for the President and his family and staff and security is more than $4 million. (source)

The Obama’s Set to Spend The Holidays in Hawaii for 17 Days Compliments of The American Taxpayer

Overworked and underpaid, Barack Obama is taking his family to Hawaii for 17 days starting December 20. Where will the Obama family hole up? In some small bungalow, perhaps?

Don’t count on it; his first three years as president, Obama rented a $24,500-per-week gated Plantation Estate, next to the white sand beach of Kailua Bay. Last year, in a nearby house, Obama truncated his vacation the day after Christmas to fly back to Washington to nail down an emergency budget deal with Congress, but this year, a bipartisan deal in the works should allow Obama to remain in his cloistered paradise.

But taxpayers should be grateful, at least Obama is spending less than the roughly $60 million he spent for the family to tour Africa last summer.

[H/T Breitbart]