Randomletters

I dont follow politics, but it seems like what he does the most, is take vacations/trips and spend ridiculous amounts of money. What do you guys think about his 200million/day trip to India? His trip will total 2 Billion dollars.

__________________
<----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

nil4t

Did he go by space shuttle?

Callandor

__________________

iPlayer

Seriously. What?

Source?

Randomletters

Hes bringing along a posse of about 3,000 people, Renting out the entire Taj Hotel, Along with:

"Navy and Air Force has been asked by the state government to intensify patrolling along the Mumbai coastline and its airspace during Obama's stay. The city's airspace will be closed half-an-hour before the President's arrival for all aircraft barring those carrying the US delegation.

The personnel from SRPF, Force One, besides the NSG contingent stationed here would be roped in for the President's security, the official said.

The area from Hotel Taj, where Obama and his wife Michelle would stay, to Shikra helipad in Colaba would be cordoned off completely during the movement of the President."

I guess hes never heard of teleconferencing, or hell fly who ever hes meeting here. Don't talk about cutting spending and tightening belts to save money then go on to spend 2 billion dollars on a 10 day vacation.

I don't vote, so I guess I don't get to "complain" I'd just like to know why this is ok...

__________________
<----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

Randomletters

US to spend $200 mn a day on Obama's Mumbai visit

Obama’s Mumbai Trip Will Cost Americans $200 Million Per Day! | Sandra Rose

__________________
<----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

Randomletters

It would cost less for them all to meet at the Mir space station

__________________
<----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

iPlayer

This is a leisure trip and not a diplomatic visit? :O

Randomletters

Its a diplomatic visit, with the wife and kids. But in no way is the cost justified. Especially from the President of the United States, during what's basically a rescission.

__________________
<----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

Veridian3

I highly doubt that this will be the cost of the trip... if it was then Fox News would be all over it. In the end though, the cost is all relative to the end result. For example if the meeting over aircraft building works out then the trip is worthwhile...

"In fact, says Froman, "That's why he's going to Asia...That will be his agenda regardless of the outcome of the election [Tuesday]."The president will try to generate those jobs by doubling U.S. exports via trade agreements and commercial contracts with partners in Asia.

For example, Obama hopes to secure a deal with India for that country to purchase ten Boeing C-17s, including training, ground equipment and other items. The deal could be worth as much as $5.8 billion dollars and, the White House hopes, a job-booster."


Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/20...turns-overseas

Randomletters

What if it doesn't work out, Why cant he have these meetings via Teleconference?

Entire Taj Mahal Hotel Reportedly Booked for Obama Mumbai Visit - FoxNews.com

That cant be cheap, There are about 570 rooms in the hotel, even at $200/night (rooms list from $200us to $500us) thats $114,000 a day

__________________
<----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

IvanV

$200M/day?! Whew! India is a huge country, though, making some good deals could return the billions. Still, it seems a little excessive.

We've had a small taste of those security measures when Joe Biden visited. No flights above the city except for patrol choppers, people who lived down town were told to pull down the curtains and stay away from the windows as the area was covered by snipers, manholes were welded shut and half the city was blocked at different times so people were unable to leave their homes or return to them from work.

It's a silly way of bringing two countries closer because, after all that, few people were looking forward to some next similar high visit and I doubt that the guest felt that welcome having spent two days in what was a ghost town from his perspective, surrounded by special forces, snipers and whatnot to keep him safe from phantom danger, and it was his, or America's, own choice; by contrast, when Bush visited Albania in 2007, he got so up close and personal with the crowd that someone managed to steal his watch.

__________________
If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Neshi

India is a country that's pretty big on tradition, stature etc. especially with the people in charge, iirc. Going in big like Obama is doing will only benefit the relations. A teleconference call, especially for a deal that could be this big, just doesn't cut it.
It is pretty excessive, I am sure they could have done it with less expenses. But still.. if the deal works out it only brings good news to the US.

__________________
If one does not attach himself to people and desire, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live?

Life is just too damn short for if's and maybe's

Veridian3

They would also have to book the entire hotel regardless. If you dont then anyone could be in another room planning a terrorist attack. After all, it was Mumbai that was attacked in 2008 when 170+ people were killed and 300 injured (random civilians and not high profile politicians)

The Commonwealth games in New Delhi had 100,000 security staff (read armed military) to protect sports people and civilians.

Its just the world we live in and if you want to go about normal tasks for your job then you have to deal with it. For a President, who is a high profile target, then that means an excessive amount of security for trips like this.

Once again, i dont doubt that this is a huge trip, i just doubt the cost quoted on these less than reputable sites. E.G. The boats that are being put on patrol... yes they would have cost but what would they be doing otherwise? Sitting unused or patrolling somewhere else with the same cost. So its not a cost specific to this trip... but people wanting to put a negative slant on the report can say it is.

EDIT: Also worth pointing out that India is a far different situation to Albania (which was hugely pro american) and an active president is far more of a target than on in the last year of his term in office.

Neshi

True. These costs would be made regardless of where they're at. Same goes for airforce etc.

__________________
If one does not attach himself to people and desire, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live?

Life is just too damn short for if's and maybe's

temeteus82

Well Mir is in the bottom of the Pacific sea so it would cost more

__________________

Randomletters

LOL I completely missed that. Poor space station

__________________
<----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

Falstaff

Anything that Pres. Obama does is expensive.

__________________

temeteus82

Does anyone have any figures how much president Bush JR's trips to out side USA costed??

__________________

Judas

with inflation figured and such..... just about as much.. occasionally more or less... depending..

__________________

Optix

This is what happens when I work the late shift.

Buy a webcam you cheap mother@*$#!

__________________

SFOSOK

My only question is why would he want to go to India? If smells anything like the food I would probably throw up on site.

It might be cheaper too if countries split the bill. Why does the dinner always have to be on the US, that's just sexist.

__________________
*Warning* - Explicit Content Preceeding



METAL!!

Veridian3

"President Barack Obama has used his first visit to India to announce $10bn (£6.1bn) worth of business deals to help boost exports and jobs in the US."

"The $10bn in deals, including aircraft purchases, will support 54,000 jobs in the US."

President Obama Arrives In Mumbai To Pay Tribute To Terror Victims And Focus On Economy | World News | Sky News

Mr cairo

<edited> Sorry i dont actually recall posting this so i deleted it .... must have been a beer post

__________________
Please consider Sponsoring my wife for the race for life

OmegaRED

It would be worse if Obama said to Indian leaders "Hey guys we're low on cash how about you fly out here". America has to always project power and that would come off as weak. Not to mention Obama is on official business and jobs are at stake he's not playing golf and sight seeing.

__________________

Neshi

reactions to this thread already shows what happens in the whole of the US. People are only seeing the bill and bitch about it, while neglecting what this trip will mean to the US economy in the long run.

__________________
If one does not attach himself to people and desire, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live?

Life is just too damn short for if's and maybe's

synthesis204

I enjoy how everyone seemed to miss this post/point.

temeteus82

So would 2 Billion USD's be justified to get more jobs to US ? I would say yes when it comes to the President of the USA to cut a deal that will do just that....

Anyway no-one hasn't informed me how much the trips of former Presidents have costed! I bet they are around same level than now. So what's the problem in here?

__________________

synthesis204

People like blasting Obama for the current economic situation, even though he has improved the situation (albeit not to a great extent) and it wasn't his fault to begin with (see: past 20 years of presidents).

He also has passed more bills in a year than Bush did in 3....just saying.

Falstaff

Obama is a great speaker,and he has great speech writers, but he is promoting a very expensive agenda, and the burden of the cost of all the changes is and will be borne by the middle class America that did NOT VOTE FOR HIM. Any tangible gains in jobs at home wont be realized for years after he is gone. India and China are the emerging or established economic super powers, so we had to establish relationships with either one years ago to maintain our economic posture as well. The truth of the matter is that the Obama administration has mortgaged away the future of three generations of our youth just to pay for the entitlements that he signed into law. That his administration is struggling to maintain the Democratic agenda, has changed players and advisors many times. Obama's great strength is that he can surround himself with advisors, because he is primarily an orator, a lawyer, and an idea person but he has not real qualifications as a leader, other than the sound and timber of his voice. Americans want answers and we are a fickle nation, turning immediately on any president that cannot sustain his leadership without force of will.
Americans are speaking out from both corners of the conservative and liberal left and exclaiming their distrust and second thoughts about a "spending" not mending president.
Any president, left or right of the political center would have or should improve relationships with any economic partner that trades with the west.
Obama's trip to India or to any other country will to join the National Security Council is a good thing regardless, I just wish it didnt cost so damn much.
I am desperately hoping we can get the country back on track economically myself and Obama can finally address what he promised long ago.
But then regardless of his race or sex or his leadership ability, he did promise change didnt he?
Oh yeah....change is coming.

__________________