US Presidential trips overseas

When the going gets tough, the Obamas get going - usually on vacation. But whether it's a foreign affairs kind of trip or a golf outing, the important thing is to get out of town where the press can't ask you embarrassing questions to which you have no reasonable answer. I think the example he sets is a bad one. Leading by example in rough economic times is important. I think Queen Elizabeth has tried to do this and she doesn't even have to get re-elected. You have to earn the respect of the people, they don't owe it to you. Unfortunately, every trip overseas is just another opportunity for him to commit some protocol faux pas or do something to embarrass the nation.

I have mixed emotions when it comes to our President traveling like has been. First, it is good he isnt here to cause more trouble. But then that means he is embarrassing us around the world. Second is the cost involved, we pay for security, air force one, etc (not his clothes). But then when he is gone, we seem to do better. Mixed emotions.

It is interesting that most of the time when he leaves the country the stock market goes up and when he returns and starts to work on some new policy the market goes down. What the market is looking for is stability and he is not providing that. He said he was going to focus on job creation and then pushes through more regulation on the financial markets. He will make a speech about a new policy and that is the last we hear about it. He promised to try the Gitmo detainees in civilian court and after months of explaining why this is important he orders them tried at Gitmo by the Military.

I realize someone posting from the United Kingdom won't necessarily be current on how US government works, so here's some help. One of the duties of the President of the United States is this thing called "conducting foreign policy." It's the reason that the State Department reports to a Secretary who serves at the President's pleasure. Conducting foreign policy involves talking to foreign people, such as they have in South America and Ireland amongst other places. Sometimes they come here to talk to him, sometimes he goes there to talk to them. As to whether he buys new outfits for each trip, who but he and his tailor cares? He buys his clothing with his own money.