As I noted earlier here and here, political leaders (the UK’s new PM excepted perhaps) live more like monarchs than is befitting a republic. Well, if you have quasi-kings, you gotta have queens too apparently.
Michelle Obama, according to one account, is channeling the former Queen of France: Marie Antoinette! This is a bit of an exaggeration to say the least. But isn’t it at least unseemly and bad politics for Mrs. Obama to try to top Entourage by bringing her 40 gal pals to Spain for a vacation - at much expense to the U.S. taxpayers? Here is one snip from the story with this admittedly over-the-top comparison:
But while most of the country is pinching pennies and downsizing summer sojourns – or forgoing them altogether – the Obamas don’t seem to be heeding their own advice. While many of us are struggling, the First Lady is spending the next few days in a five-star hotel on the chic Costa del Sol in southern Spain with 40 of her “closest friends.” According to CNN, the group is expected to occupy 60 to 70 rooms, more than a third of the lodgings at the 160-room resort. Not exactly what one would call cutting back in troubled times.
Reports are calling the lodgings of Obama’s Spanish fiesta, the Hotel Villa Padierna in Marbella, “luxurious,” “posh” and “a millionaires’ playground.” Estimated room rate per night? Up to a staggering $2,500. Method of transportation? Air Force Two.
To be clear, what the Obamas do with their money is one thing; what they do with ours is another. Transporting and housing the estimated 70 Secret Service agents who will flank the material girl will cost the taxpayers a pretty penny.
As much as I am glad that you keep pointing these outrageous indulgences out, I think you are being too easy on them, Grover. Let’s call it what it is: disgusting. It is yet another sign of the haughty superiority with which our “leaders” estimate themselves, and of the purpose they believe we serfs in their country serve—namely, as pawns in their schemes and as support for their fabulous ways of life.
Isn’t it hard to imagine Laura Bush doing this kind of thing? Just saying.
[...] discussed Michelle Obama’s lavish lifestyle as first lady before. Meanwhile, the President hasn’t exactly endeared himself to a nation struggling [...]
[...] … and President Obama looked as rattled as John Kruk facing Randy Johnson in the 1993 All-Star Game (except that Larry Connors’ question was a first strike right down the middle). Not sure, though, if this was lefty vs. lefty as it was in the Kruk-Johnson matchup. Either way, you gotta admit that Connors had some guts going into the White House, toeing the rubber, and firing such a good one (and a fair one too). Pileus was on top of this issue long ago: for example, see here. [...]