By Craig Andresen on March 14, 2011

Over the years, many people have questioned the number of “vacations” or trips, our president’s take. Usually, those doing the questioning are of the opposite part as the sitting president. That is to be expected and that said, the question again begs to be answered. Is Obama taking too many days off and or too many trips?

I have no problem with a president who from time to time, takes a few days to get away from Washington. Arguably, the job is the most difficult on earth. Presidents have always taken working vacations just to recharge the mental batteries. Camp David, the ranch, the Vineyard, Kennebunkport all have been, in recent history, the favorite retreats for presidents. They go, relax and work away from the confines of the oval office, entertain foreign leaders, run the affairs of state and clear their heads. I’m okay with that. I get it.

Obama on the other hand seems to have elevated the practice to a level which defies rational explanation. During the first year of his presidency, Obama went from country to country on what many on the right deemed the apology tour. It seemed that no sooner would he get back from apologizing for the greatness of America in one overseas destination, he would be off to another to extend our apologies to another. Bowing to this leader and scraping to that one, on and on it went. Now, one COULD claim that these trips were diplomatic in nature but, I challenge them to point to what, exactly, was gained by it all. Those who liked us BEFORE the “We’re sorry we’re great” world tour still liked us and those who didn’t…still don’t.

Once Obama seemingly had decided he had apologized for everything the United States stood for to anybody who would lend an ear, he started taking vacations to rest up from all the crow eating. Sometimes, it was just the first family sans president going on trips here and there. At other times, they all went wherever they went. One side trip departure from their actual vacation/campaign swing in the summer of 2010 took them to the Grand Canyon. More than 2 weeks of secret service ground work preceded the jaunt. They spent all of 2 ½ hours viewing the wonder of the world complete with a catered lunch and off they went again…at a cost of just over 7 million dollars.

When Obama is not trotting about he’s either having state dinners, 2 of which featured very lax security and one of which featured some very anti American music or parties for friends and various elected officials and their families. Many of those parties feature Obama’s White House Ale…his own white home brewed…brew. Beer summit anyone?

And let’s not forget the golf. Including the 3 golf outings president Obama has had to date in 2011, our president has had 63 trips to the links since taking office. Each round, including the to and from drive from the portico lasts about 5 ½ hours. That’s 1,134 holes in 2 years. It’s not just the time spent swinging sticks either as no outing by a president golf or otherwise, comes cheap. There are logistics to be worked out, security concerns, communications concerns, and an entourage to be considered. He usually plays with staff members, which means THEY playing on OUR time too. And don’t you figure they are playing on a closed course? I would certainly HOPE so and SOMEBODY has to foot THAT bill too. Right?

This is the commander in chief, the man at whose bidding, our men and women are engaged in desert wars and while they fight, he tries to stay OUT of the sand. While Americans tighten their belts in the wake of a horrible economy and search for work, he and his family take vacations. While people in foreign lands fight and die for freedom against oppressive dictators…he has another party and another brew.

As Japan suffered it greatest disaster from a devastating earthquake and tsunami and while their reactors began to melt, Obama actually stood at a microphone and told the world he was heartbroken…the next day…he went golfing…again.

Forget the Sputnik moment…Is THIS Obama’s, “Let them eat cake” moment…or is it just…par for the course?