Literally. Plus parts of a couple other hotels. And they're bringing an enormous posse along. Who they all are or why they need to be there, I can't say. But I think we need a new word; "tone-deaf" doesn't begin to describe the Obamas' disconnectedness from the American people.
The Times of India reports:
To ensure fool-proof security, the President’s team has booked the entire the Taj Mahal Hotel, including 570 rooms, all banquets and restaurants. Since his security contingent and staff will comprise a huge number, 125 rooms at Taj President have also been booked, apart from 80 to 90 rooms each in Grand Hyatt and The Oberoi hotels. The NCPA, where the President is expected to meet representatives from the business community, has also been entirely booked.Well, he is a pretty good president. But the costs of this trip must be astronomical.
The officer said, “Obama’s contingent is huge. There are two jumbo jets coming along with Air Force One, which will be flanked by security jets. There will be 30 to 40 secret service agents, who will arrive before him. The President’s convoy has 45 cars, including the Lincoln Continental in which the President travels.”
Rumors that the first couple and their entourage will be riding in on elephants haven't been confirmed.*
And Michelle is planning a royal visit with some prostitutes. For real:
Adding to the Obamas’ busy schedule is Michelle’s likely visit to Kamathipura, where she will meet commercial sex workers on the invitation of an NGO. The highprofile visit is likely to inconvenience the citizens, as there could be a complete clampdown on traffic on some main roads of south Mumbai and sanitisation of buildings flanking them.I wonder whether she'll wear her $600 food bank sneakers so as not to lord it over the prostitutes.
*Husband made that up. But the rest of it is true.
How bout a little Sinatra to put us in the traveling mood?
**Update: It's another Obama summit. 200 CEOs will comprise part of the president's vast entourage. They're coming along to attend a gold-plated "panel discussion and brainstorming session." It's not clear who's paying for tab for the 200. From DNAIndia:
Meanwhile, over 200 chief executives of US companies in the Obama entourage, including Pepsico’s Indra Nooyi and Wal-Mart’s Mike Duke, will interact with CEOs of top Indian firms, both in Mumbai and Delhi.Why isn't the "next generation" using technology instead of costly, risky, old-school travel for their meeting? Maybe they could brainstorm about that.
On November 8, captains of the US industry will get a chance to interact with senior representatives of the Indian government during a day-long summit in the capital, which will be jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and US-India Business Council (USIBC).
During that summit in the capital, [various Indian ministers] are expected to share their views on government plans and policies with the American and Indian industry honchos. A networking reception will follow the day-long brainstorming.
As reported earlier, industry leaders from the two countries will hold panel discussions and interactions on various issues in Mumbai on November 6.
The issues will revolve around ‘innovation that will shake the economic destiny of the 21st century’, ‘next generation leadership’, and ‘leap-frogging technology through collaborations’.
Has anyone in the administration explored the option of not making this exorbitantly expensive trip when the country is in such bad financial shape? Whatever happened to "belt-tightening"? To paraphrase that guy in New Jersey: We can't afford it. We don't have the money.
Obama sure loves his summits, but this has got to be his most costly thus far, coming in a probable second to his nuclear summit in DC last spring.
From 2009, Jason Zengerle wrote on Why Obama is Obsessed with Summits: it's "the ultimate empty gesture."
Linked at MichelleMalkin.com (Buzzworthy) -- thanks!
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If you were writing a novel and thought to include this trip to India as a plot point, you would almost certainly scrap it because it would be that unbelievable. This has to be the most passive-aggressive maneuver from these two to date.
ReplyDeleteI think we need to let this kind of thing go. The secret service more than likely made this decision.
ReplyDeleteA more modest trip, or none at all, would mean a more manageable security situation. We don't know who they're bringing along but I bet 9/10s of the posse doesn't need to be there.
ReplyDeleteI agree that he probably shouldn't go at all. That city most certainly has issues with safety after what happened there a few years ago.
ReplyDelete"I think we need to let this kind of thing go. The secret service more than likely made this decision."
ReplyDeleteNo, no, JACG. This is exactly the kind of thing we need to set the stage for the next election cycle, which starts in, oh, about twelve days. I figure we get to spend November 3rd celebrating phase one, and then start beating the drum incessantly with this stuff.
We absolutely have to remember that this is the easy election - 2012 is the one that decides whether we return the country to its founding principles. Not only do we get a chance to unseat another NINETEEN Democrat senators, but we can also throw out EVERY SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE who doesn't vote the way they promised in this cycle - which means primarying out the Republicans and then beating the Democrats.
And this President is only too willing to oblige. Stunts like this can be used as simple but effective bludgeons against every Democrat: "In these economic times, do you think it makes sense to fly an enormous Presidential party to India?"
It's simple stuff, really. And Democrats either have to further distance themselves from the administration and risk the wrath of Party, or they have to try to justify this egregious behavior and watch their constituents flee in droves.
So no quarter, JACG. Latch onto these stories and keep hammering away. Only the most delusional will be able to support this self-appointed aristocracy.
"Whatever happened to 'belt-tightening'? To paraphrase that guy in New Jersey: We can't afford it. We don't have the money."
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase POTUS and FLOTUS: "Everyone needs to sacrifice" and "Everyone needs some skin in the game."
This is reprehensible. A waste of OUR money and a boondoggle! The president's travel budget (including his "czars" and administration - and ESPECIALLY the First Lady's) should be at the top of the budget cuts Congress proposes in January 2011. Probably even before defunding NPR, PBS, and the CPB. Their budgets combined could not approach the costs this president and his wife have accrued in 20+ months.
I'm somewhat with Conservative Girl: India has been a victim of radical islamist and other terrorist attacks. Of course, our President can't bring himself to call the radical muslims terrorists, so even if this is the rationale for this extravagance, we aren't going to hear that.
ReplyDeleteMore important is the fact that India is an extremely important ally for the US; let's see what comes of this trip. Obama has tended to treat our democratic allies like s--t; let's see if maybe he can change that trend.
Here's the issue in a nutshell. Yes, security is important. Regardless of whether or not he's a goof, and he is, he's OUR goof and him getting whacked by a bomber because the SS couldn't secure the site properly in order to save money would be a bad thing. Biden would be in charge and Pelosi would be one step closer to being in charge. Honestly, you and I know the framers have to be saying, "Dammit Tom, I told you we should have put in a clause that redid the order of succession if faced with a line of idiots!"
ReplyDeleteAnyway, that said, you are seeing in action what we've suspected for a long time. The federal government and its leaders are in bed with large businesses in an organized fashion. It's called "European statism" something quite similar to Mussolini's Italy.
The difference is they feel powerful enough now not to care if we know. Maybe it is generational, the desire to be openly flagrant about their status, the "me first" generation is now in power. Or maybe they really do feel invincible. Either way, get used to it. The fact is with the key states being controlled by Soros backed state officials the days of "one man one vote" and honest elections are over. You'll witness the reality here on November 2. Any close election will be a stolen one.