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The Royal Presidency
Mark Steyn-
Obama lives better than kings
From the New York Daily News:
“Snooki Gives Kate Middleton Advice on Being a New Parent.”
Great! Maybe Kate could return the favor and give Snooki and her fellow Americans some advice. About fiscal prudence, for example. Say what you like about a high-living, big-spending, bloated, decadent, parasitical, wastrel monarchy, but, compared to the citizen-executive of a republic of limited government, it’s a bargain. So, while the lovely Duchess of Cambridge nurses her baby bump, the equally radiant president of the United States nurses his ever more swollen debt belly. He and his family are about to jet off on their Christmas vacation to watch America slide off the fiscal cliff from the luxury beach resort of Kailua. The cost to taxpayers of flying one man, his wife, two daughters, and a dog to Hawaii is estimated at $3,639,622. For purposes of comparison, the total bill for flying the entire royal family (Queen, princes, dukes, the works) around the world for a year is £4.7 million — or about enough for two Obama vacations.
According to the USAF, in 2010 Air Force One cost American taxpayers $181,757 per flight hour. According to the Royal Canadian Air Force, in 2011 the CC-150 Polaris military transport that flew William and Kate from Vancouver to Los Angeles cost Her Majesty’s Canadian subjects $15,505 per hour — or about 8/100ths of the cost.
grayscape
December 9th, 2012
He’s not my king – I didn’t vote for him.
old_oaks
December 9th, 2012
If anyone in this country wants to tone down American exceptionalism, personal presidential expenditures would be the most appropriate place to start. I have no idea why we elevate the office as much as we do. While security is important, it is far too extravagant for any single human being, president or not. That’s why we have a process for replacing presidents.
Anonymous
December 9th, 2012
Obama must be reaching the point he’s played more golf games or had more vacations than all the other presidents combined.
squiggley
December 9th, 2012
Ummmm…make that Lord and Savior !!!!
Diann
December 9th, 2012
Sorry. I saw “Mark Steyn” and I went to my happy place….
-sigh-
…I’m back now.
cfm990
December 9th, 2012
I guess I’ll have another slice of cake.
Madam Guillotine, please report for sharpening.
eternal ¼ cracker p
December 9th, 2012
Air Force One reportedly cost $56,800 per hour to operate in 2004.
That’s 31.2% of the cost, just 8-9 years ago.
At this rate, it will cost a mere quarter-MILLION dollars per hour by the time 0bama leaves office.
Oh, shit, silly me – I’m assuming he can’t have a third term.
Make that $400,000 per hour by the time he might leave office after his third term.
Ten Megaton
December 9th, 2012
“While security is important, it is far too extravagant for any single human being, president or not. That’s why we have a process for replacing presidents.”
Good argument for suspending any and all security for this particular human being. Give the Secret Service a vacation.
Ten Megaton
December 9th, 2012
Freeloading slacker POS.
Jeannine
December 9th, 2012
Enjoy your trip not, you effin freeloaders.
bitterclinger
December 9th, 2012
I keep trying to take comfort in a recent Levin rant about Ogabe: The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Bari’s fall ought to be a doozy.
Nutjob
December 9th, 2012
To bad the plane wasn’t powered by solar panels and sudden cloud cover shows up midflight over the pacific.
Nutjob
December 9th, 2012
“Yep, thats right, its your money, thats why were waving, thank you for working harder, longer and for less pay and higher taxes”.
“you guys might have to cut back if the economy starts to falter, but me and the spendocrats sure the fuck are not”.
Blink
December 9th, 2012
Parasites.
Nutjob
December 9th, 2012
People need to stop waving to the arrogent fuck and just start fipping him off.
If he waves back that’ll just prove he’s a narcissists asshole.
NOLIKEO
December 10th, 2012
They are entitled. They have about worn out AF1. If he can work it out, next he will become King. I detest those grifters.
I just can’t help it….
Fruit and Nut Statist
December 10th, 2012
ITs just a big fucking money sucking machine designed to suck the life out of America like a hood thug beating the life out of an old white man. And for the same reasons.
Fruit and Nut Statist
December 10th, 2012
The picture caption in a logical world would be “goodbye forever, we are moving to Kenya to raise goats”
Nutjob
December 10th, 2012
OR
“Thank you my good people of Kenya for accepting and allowing my family exile until Holder files an appeal with the UN for my impeachment”
“If you don’t have a palcae for me and my family, I shall have you build 1 for me”
Nutjob
December 10th, 2012
if you don’t have a palace
Jake
December 10th, 2012
Don’t blame me, I voted for the American.