"Secret Service, other law enforcement, Military Man and equipment power, Federally owned vehicles.

Not to mention US Air Force aircraft used to transport his kids to England to they could see the set of Harry Potter 7 on their birthdays or the Secret Service and the Military closing off a major beach in South America so Michelle and her friends could go for a swim."

This is nit-picking over nothing really. They are perks of the job in my opinion. Sure I would be unhappy if an average citizen did it, but the President is not an average citizen. Neither is his family by association. I may not have voted for him, but I still respect him simply because he is our President.

Has anyone ever considered that the closing of the beach or the use of Air Force planes for these happenings might have been the Secret Service's idea, and not the President's?

Their job is to protect the President and his family. The easiest way to do that is in a sterile, controlled environment. Nobody in, nobody out. Hence, sending his children to England on a commercial airliner would provide too many variable risks for the Secret Service's liking. Same as going to a crowded public beach. The family of the President deserves to live a somewhat normal life. Truth is Michelle Obama and the children probably don't like how suffocating the Secret Service is. That's probably why Michelle Obama makes as many public appearances as her husband does. For her, it's probably like a Friday night out on the town because she gets to be around new people whom she's never met.

And as far as Chris Christie....If he knew if might look bad, if he knew people might complain, then maybe he shouldn't have used the helicopter. Even if there was no extra cost involved. Even if it was within government regulations. He only paid for it to quiet the media.

The problem with these types of stories is that too many journalists attempt to sensationalize it. As a result, we probably will never know all the truth and details about it. It begins as finger-pointing, and ends when one side finally decides to just ignore it.

So the moral of the story is: if you know someone is looking to find fault, you better be prepared to deal with s**t when it comes.

none of the liberals has anything to say about this? how convenient...

The url said something about Tom Coburn, but I got nothing but a blank page. That's pretty much the kind of sourcing that we've come to expect.

lol... right... liberal way out... works fine for me

it goes to a pdf file, with the top 100 stimulus money wasters...

Tell us about them!

Same with a Governor, thats my point. BOTH parties do it and I don't press the issue unless its something way out there.

Still costs the taxpayer no matter who it is. There is no difference between the Presidents limo, Air Force One, Marine One or the governors chopper.

Dont ya think useing a government helicopter to watch a mere five innings of a baseball game is way out there? expecialy considering he had a black limo drive him 100 yards from the chopper to the ball diamond?

What is realy repulsive is he is crying for austerity from everyone else.

Its that chicken hawk mentality again. Ya know war is good if your not the one fighting it

Austerity is good if your not the one who suffers from it.

Damn that magical republican thinking

its a big file, which one do you wanna know about?

Kind of an odd question, don't you think? How would I know? Your blank page didn't give me much to go on.

Your right, Obama should be riding a bicycle.

Just admit if was moronic and wastefull to fly in a government helicopter to watch a mere five innings of your sons baseball game.

I bet the cost involved in that could have purchased the uniforms for dozens of youth baseball teams or kept one teacher on the payroll for a month,

Just as moranic as shutting down a beach in a major tourist area so Michelle can go swimming.

I think its all about using a state owned helicopter for personal use that pisses him off,. and I find it outrageous too!

Do they also shut beaches down for govenors wives?

Come on we are talking the first lady.

I dont think I could identify the govenors wive even in my own state.

big differance.

fix your computer...

it's the word republican that pisses him off... nothing else

Actually we all should be riding bicycles.......self propelled transportaion is where its at healthier and better for the environment