Dear Mr. President,
Thank you for saddling us, the American tax payer, with the expense of providing you and your wife a night out on the town. It shows great fiscal responsibility to fly a jet to New York City, forcing the New York City police department to pay overtime to provide added security in city already financially strapped. How wonderful of you to burn 10’s of thousands of gallons of jet fuel to fly to and from. You burned more gallons of jet fuel in this little adventure then I will gallons of gasoline in my life time.
Mr. President how many AIG executive bonuses could have been paid with the total tax dollars spent for your night of entertainment? I do not begrudge you a diversion from your many and continual responsibilities, however I resent the fact that I helped pay for it. Just as you asked that bonuses paid to AIG executive be returned so am I asking you to reimburse the American tax payer, from your own pocket, for the expenses incurred in your, “date night.”
Allow me to remind you of the outrage from the American public at the bonuses and perks provided to and by banking executives while their employers were close to failure and receiving government aid. So am I outraged at another expense added to your trillions of dollars budget and growing deficit. As you are an employee of the American tax payer and I am a member of that body I seek reimbursement on behalf of all tax paying Americans for any and all expenses incurred by you for non-job related travel and entertainment costs.
You are gainfully employed and well compensated. I do not feel as one of your many employers, our tax dollars do pay your salary, you should be subsidized for these frivolous extravagances.
Sincerely,
Steve Duff
Good luck with that Steve! Thanx for being responsible enough to at least post this.
The way I see it, the attitude behind the spending for the “date night” shows the root of the problem when seen in the light of one simple question. "How much is it?"
Anyone who is responsible will at least silently ask themselves that question, which leads, hopefully, to a mental glance at the checkbook balance, which would demand another question, “Do I have that much to spend?” That’s what used to be considered "responsible."
This responsible thinking somehow all gets thrown out the window with most politicians.
I was hoping Obama would truly bring change in this area, but his actions prove disappointing.
It would be nice if for once ‘they’ would at least ask themselves - "If this had to come out of my own pocket, would I do it?"
Great letter Duffman! 
I don’t recall anyone complaining about all of Bush’s trips to Crawford or how much vacation time he spent there. Come on guys - if the President wants to go to NY and see a show, I don’t have a problem with it.
I assume that the Obamas paid for the entertainment themselves? So the problem here is with the transportation and security costs. Seems to me that security is something we should provide the president. Transportation too, when it is official business - but then, he is a target all the time, so all instances in which he goes anywhere are cases in which security matters, and are official business. So…we have to ask, are we willing to pay for the cost so that the president can do something other than work? The answer should be “yes, within reason.” We’re all human - the president needs entertainment and stress release more than most of the rest of us. So…was this trip within reason? Sure. As were Bush II’s trips to his ranch. Same thing. It is something we should be willing to pay for, for our own good. Seems to me, anyway. At least he went to something good. Might have been some reason to complain if he had gone to see the new terminator movie or something… 
On an unrelated note, and having nothign to do with the play, I once saw Joe Turner at Joe’ Star Lounge in ann arbor. About a year before he died, maybe two. What a show.
Yeh - but Bush never told CEO’s how much money they could be paid - or replace them if they do make too much money or have too many perks. But - this falls smack in the middle of my extensive anger list.
Mmmm… yeah… The President has been pissing me off for months. I just haven’t written any letters. I don’t have facts or figures, but on the face of things, it appears (to me anyway) that he is spending way too much time goofing around. TV “talk” shows, dinners with sports celebs, Hollyweird celebs, shootin’ hoops with college and NBA players etc, etc… Instead of all these millionaires, how about inviting a few hundred recently unemployed over for dinner? Let them regale the Prez and family with tales of what the real world out here is like.
I fully realize that he cannot do much single handed to fix the mess we are in, but geez man… show some concern and personal responsibility. Your country is burning!
Maybe we should start calling him “Nero”?
D
Like John Stewart said - at least Nero could play the fiddle… or was that Bill what’s his name - I forgetted.
Nero played a lyre, according to Suetonius’ “Lives of the Ceasars” - which is a really great read, BTW.
Seriously, all those appearances have a point - he’s trying for that transparency thing. he also recognizes that the political beast is moved by public opinion, and that actually talking in a publicly visible way helps form public opinion. Seems to me he is committed to actual arguments, and actually including the people in the conversation. Unlike, say, the last president or his boss, the last VP. What, you guys don’t like democracy?
What, you guys don't like democracy?
Sure I like democracy. You know where I can find one?
D
No, I don’t like democracy. I thought we were a representative Republic though.
No, I don't like democracy. I thought we were a representative Republic though.
BAWAHAHA...BAWAHAHA... huh?
ATTENTION INHABITANTS OF EARTH!!
Appoint ME as "All-Being; Ruler of Time, Space and Dimension"... I'll take care of EVERYTHING!
Submit to my policies or DIE! (where did I put that anti-matter bomb darnnnit?)
AB
Yeh - but Bush never told CEO's how much money they could be paid
Well Bush never really had to - he left the mess for Obama to clean-up.
I mean Obama is damned if he does & if he doesn't.
Everyone screamed at him for the guys getting the bonuses, which were in their contracts prior to Obama, but then when he told the CEO of GM that he had to go, the right screamed at him again.
I personally could give a hoot about what the right thinks.
They had their chance for 10+ years and look at how they left this country - in shambles.
I personally think Obama is doing a GREAT job considering the circumstances (the entire economic system of the US collapsing).
I have absolutely no regrets voting for him.
Hey D - I guess having Nancy Reagan over wasn't good enough for you :-)
Actually Mr. Soul what started this whole mess was the NINJA act under the Clinton administration. Deregulation under Bush pushed it along.
After reading all of the replies to my orginal post, I am not surprised many of you dont give a hoot. To me at a time when we have been asked to become fiscally austere, to pull in our financial horns so to speak, when we all know our government has spent us into a bottomless debt hole, this is a very large slap in the face. It equals, you do without, but I wont.
Lead by example, not just words = talkin is easy, the doin is hard.
Hey D - I guess having Nancy Reagan over wasn't good enough for you :-)
Nope. Now if he coulda conjured up the Gipper himself, I'd been impressed. (and scared!)
D
PS
what started this whole mess was the NINJA act under the Clinton administration.
There you go throwing that darn 'truth' out there... shame on you Duff...
PPS I remember the lessons from before... I'm done. I wish Obama all the best... for MY sake.
Well hopefully I’ll only have four years to be on the “idiot antagonist” side. I kind of like it!
Maybe this is the change!?
Actually Mr. Soul what started this whole mess was the NINJA act under the Clinton administration
I am not sure what the NINJA act is but I've heard the right try to blame this on Clinton.
I don't buy it.
If you are referring to the Act that helped people get more homes, then that was a good act. And you're talking about just the mortgage crisis which is only one of the crisises.
I mean it's just too funny because Clinton's been out of office 8+ years and the Republicans have bascially been in control for 10 years, and they're still trying to blame Clinton for things.
Obama has got to really screw up to not get re-elected.
Unless something really bad happens, I think it's quite likely he'll be around for another 4 years (sorry about that).
Oh, I give a hoot, duffman. I never said I didn’t care. I just argued that this was not a serious bit of malfeasance, but an appropriate activity. But certainly leading by example would be good.
I mean it's just too funny because Clinton's been out of office 8+ years and the Republicans have bascially been in control for 10 years, and they're still trying to blame Clinton for things.
And the left is only beginning a lifetime of blaming Bush.