Asa Jay's weblog

It’s March 2014.  The First Lady, her daughters and her mother have just landed in China, basically for vacation.  Oh some will say it was for “soft diplomatic relations” but we all know it’s Spring Break for the kids and the First Lady had to get away from the resident in the White House.  Just how many vacations does this family need?  Just how much is this costing the taxpayer?  As Mel Brooks so aptly put it years ago:  “It’s good to be the king!”

The first black President to ever be elected to the highest position in the executive branch of the United States of America government.  It was a grand time in which barriers would be broken down, races would be equalized and bi-partisanship would rule.  Now one year into a second term this resident of the White House continues to illustrate the cultural background which defines him and those like him, and those -who- like him.  It’s all about the Entitlements.

This shameful President has spent more tax dollars gallivanting about on vacations than any other President in the past.  Sure, inflation might account for that, but to this degree?  How many vacations does this family need in a year?  Well, as of February 2012, Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner listed 16 vacations taken by the First Family, whether together or separately, using taxpayer money to fly to exotic and domestic locations:

— President’s Day 2012, Michelle and the first daughters in Aspen, Colorado to ski.
— Christmas 2011, the first family in Hawaii for an extended vacation.
— Summer 2011, in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., for the annual beach break.
— June 2011, the first lady, her mother and daughters traveled to South Africa and Botswana.
— President’s Day 2011, the first lady and first daughters travel to Vail to ski.
— Christmas 2010, in Hawaii.
— August 2010, the first family traveled to Panama City Beach, Fla., for some sun and fun at the beach.
— August 2010, Obama spent the weekend alone in Chicago for his 49th birthday bash.
— August 2010, the first lady and daughter Sasha traveled to Spain for a mother-daughter vacation.
— August 2010, summer vacation again at Martha’s Vineyard.
— July 2010, the first family went to Mount Desert Island, Maine.
— May 2010, the first family had a four-day trip to Chicago.
— March 2010, first lady and daughter spend Spring Break in New York City.
— Christmas 2009, Hawaii again for the annual break.
— August 2009, at Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon for a short vacation.
— August 2009, their first summer vacation as first family at Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

For those who failed to graduate elementary school, that’s an average of four vacations per year up to that point.  But just look at the list, eight alone were in 2010.  Did this resident of the White House even -work- that year?  And how often does he really have to go to Hawaii?  Most families would be happy with just -one- trip in a -lifetime-.  He takes one every year.   Not only that, he sends his wife and kids away on overseas vacations without himself.  A vacation for mom and the daughters in Spain; 2010.  June 2011, just the girls to South Africa, and again in 2011 just the women to Vail.  Wow, the President of the United States of America sending his wife and daughters on several vacations on their own.  Just how does that illustrate good family values?

Doesn’t this action by the sitting resident only support the stereotypical culture from which he comes?  It’s like he doesn’t really want to be a father, or even a husband, send the wife and daughters away regularly, and at our expense.  Women are only something for his own personal satisfaction and they get in the way when he’s trying to do his “man” thing.  I’m sure he loves his wife and daughters, err… maybe I’m not -that- sure.  How about his trip to go golfing with Tiger Woods in February of 2013?  Maybe he was consoling his buddy for getting caught in adultery and reminding him how it’s supposed to be done.  Hey, it’s all just another entitlement, right?

Being President is not a right, it’s a privilege.  It takes willing personal sacrifice and if you are married with kids, they need to understand the sacrifice and live through it with you, not be traipsing off to exotic locations because they think it’s an entitlement of your job or you think they are getting in the way.  Vacations of the nature this sitting resident is taking should come out of his own pocket, not ours, especially if he doesn’t even take them with his wife and daughters.  Just what does it cost to take all those vacations anyway?

How about over seven million dollars in 2013 alone, just for three trips?  Yes, that’s what Judicial Watch found out via a lawsuit.  Honestly, that’s money that could have been better spent, period.  Imagine seven million just for three trips in one year, no multiply that by the five years he’s been in.  That’s $35,000,000 of taxpayer money.  Well, I guess that’s only a drop in the bucket when you consider he’s nearly tripled the national deficit. What does this really show us though?

This shows how much this resident really believes in “Entitlements.”  By his actions, he sincerely believes he is king, that he is “entitled” to take as many vacations as he wants; to use our government and military assets as he pleases to enjoy his elected “mandate.”  By his actions he illustrates the problematic mentality of the culture he purports to represent; the culture of entitlement.  He shows us a culture of “me,” it’s all about “me.”  It doesn’t matter how hard anyone else has worked to make a living, this resident shows the nation his view of how “money belongs to other people;” it’s his way of “equalizing” the playing field; of taking from the rich, but not giving to the poor.

I’ve said it here before, this is a simple abuse of power, abuse of taxpayer money and abuse of executive privilege.  This President should be fired.

Save the taxpayers money, reduce the deficit.
Asa Jay for President

If I were elected President of the United States of America, I pledge that during speeches I will not use a teleprompter, nor will I give speeches with a horde of people behind me.

If I can’t speak from the heart or my notes, I have a problem.  Yes, I may write out my speech, massage it, edit it and make it as perfect as I can.  But if I’m reading it verbatim, I won’t do so from a monitor that gives people a false sense that I’m paying attention to them directly at that moment; I’d rather be genuine and a teleprompter doesn’t help.  If I find some kind soul in my administration has thought better of it, and placed teleprompters so I might use them “just in case,” I will not begin speaking to the people until the teleprompters are removed and that invisible barrier no longer exists between me and the people I am trying to reach.  There is nothing more distracting as a viewer than to watch a speaker look in only two directions and never at the audience in general.  Connecting with an audience is imperative.

If I’m going to give respectful words of potential wisdom to constituents or those I’d like to be my constituents, it makes no sense to have them standing or sitting behind me.  I don’t think it lends any more or less credibility to the speaker, but as a listener, it’s downright distracting.  I don’t care if they are military, firemen, policemen or other working citizens… they don’t need to be behind me, they need to be in front of me, so I can see them, so I can connect with them, so they can connect with me.  Putting bleachers full of people behind me gives a false and disingenuous appearance that those people support what I’m talking about, when in reality they may not and would rather engage in intelligent discourse; I’m certain if they don’t agree with me they don’t want to have the “appearance” that they do.  And if some “handler” tells me it’s better to have a bunch of people behind me… they’re fired on the spot.

Honesty, integrity, Truth.Asa Jay for President

If I were elected President of the United States of America, I pledge I will, when able and available, eat some meals with the troops.

Respect for the men and women in uniform needs to be a visible part of a President’s commitment to the nation.  They are the protectors, pledged to uphold the Constitution and by extension of the authority granted to me as Commander in Chief, they are my direct reports.  By sharing a meal with them I hope to speak with them directly about the issues they face both in the military and civilian life; to gain insight to their concerns.  I would try to do this at least once a month if not more often.

These young men and women have been facing a new kind of persecution that to a retired military member like myself is unconscionable.  The victims of the Fort Hood massacre have not been treated like combatants when it has been made clear the murderer in this case was acting on behalf of the enemy.  Veterans and their families struggle with everyday living due to both mental and physical limitations prolonged war has put upon them, but many don’t receive suitable support when they come home.  The current resident of the White House has appeared to poo-poo the notion these veterans deserve anything because “they volunteered.”  As President, I would recognize they deserve better even though it was voluntary service, because there was great sacrifice that accompanied that service.

Today there are several civilian charities focused on supporting military veterans but we have to ask why it has become incumbent upon them to provide for their needs?  On the one hand it allows those who most appreciate the sacrifice of our veterans to give freely as they wish.  On the other hand, if the government as a whole doesn’t support our military members both when serving and when they come back, it will reduce the number of interested volunteers, possibly lead to decreased morale and by that reduce the overall effectiveness of our military.  That is a position that only endangers the defense of the United States of America overall.  It’s time to change that.

I don’t of course have all the solutions.  I would however concentrate on working with those in the military and those in the civilian sector who are most qualified to develop better support systems.  We need to recognize the contribution of these men and women, treat them with respect and help them as needed to reintegrate into our civilian sector when they are finished with their volunteer service.  One way to help that process along is to understand how the troops feel; what they are hearing and what they need.  The best way for a President to understand that, is to sit down and have a meal with them.

Respect for those who respect the Constitution.
Asa Jay for President

If I were elected President of the United States of America, I pledge to be there when our dead soldiers arrive back in the United States of America.

There is no greater sacrifice than our countries sons and daughters who volunteered for the military and gave their life in defense of the Constitution, our freedoms and our liberties.  I can’t promise to be there for every arrival due to other obligations of the office, but I pledge to do my best to be there and will -not- for any reason miss one due to vacation, unlike our current sitting resident of the White House.  In the most recent news, Russia has exercised it’s might in the Crimea region of the Ukraine; people are worried this might lead to another cold war, and our President is making plans for -another- vacation.  Really?  I guess it’s cool to let the country go to hell while you trot off to play even more golf.  Nevermind the number of soldiers killed in overseas actions has doubled on your watch and you conveniently hide the facts.  Do you ever go to Dover to meet the dead soldiers?

These members of our volunteer military deserve our respect and the right kind of President shouldn’t be ashamed of shedding a tear if necessary on behalf of the families in the U.S.A who are thankful for their sacrifice.  I pledge to be that President, the one who understands the strength of our military is what keeps us free; the kind of President who understands the sacrifice; doesn’t relish the idea of putting our sons and daughters into harms way but knows it’s importance and one who is willing to thank them for their sacrifice in meaningful ways.  I pledge to refrain from patronizing the military; to refrain from firing generals who don’t necessarily see things “my” way as long as they fulfilled the obligation of upholding the Constitution.

We’ve all lost friends, neighbors, family, but the loss of someone you know who served in the military takes on greater meaning for those who truly understand the sacrifice and reasons for service.  Yes, there are those people who think every soldiers life taken has been a waste, but those people don’t truly understand the freedom for which they fight; the reason that person joined the military.  The loss of a military member is painful not only for their family and friends but to us as a nation as well.  The President should be the first to acknowledge that and should be there when our dead soldiers come home from any overseas mission.

Respect for those who respect the Constitution.
Asa Jay for President