But here's the thing: In December, we never left Washington, D.C., until the day after Christmas. Never. Mr. Bush and his wife, Laura, would always depart the White House a few days before the holiday and hunker down at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. After a few years, I asked a low-level White House staffer why.

I still remember what she said: "So all of us can be with our families on Christmas."

Who was "us"? Hundreds and hundreds of people, that's who. Sure, the reporters who covered the president, but also dozens and dozens on his staff, 100 Secret Service agents, maybe more, and all of those city cops required whenever the president's on the move in D.C.

For me, that one-day delay was huge. My kids were 6 and 8 years old when Mr. Bush took office. When he went home to Prairie Chapel that last time in 2009, my girl was driving, the boy was 6 foot 1. But in the meantime, I was home for eight Christmas mornings, playing Santa, stoking the fire, mixing up hot chocolates.

Curl went on to how much that has changed since Obama took office.

All that has changed with President Obama. No more press plane, for one. Reporters are on their own — so taking family is, say, $1,000 a pop. Not likely. And this president would never delay his trip to his island getaway. He's off every year well before Christmas. Hundreds and hundreds head off with him, leaving family behind.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/25/joseph-curl-christmastime-george-w-bush-was-santa-/

Quote from: Solar on December 26, 2014, 03:37:31 PM
But here's the thing: In December, we never left Washington, D.C., until the day after Christmas. Never. Mr. Bush and his wife, Laura, would always depart the White House a few days before the holiday and hunker down at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. After a few years, I asked a low-level White House staffer why.

I still remember what she said: "So all of us can be with our families on Christmas."

Who was "us"? Hundreds and hundreds of people, that's who. Sure, the reporters who covered the president, but also dozens and dozens on his staff, 100 Secret Service agents, maybe more, and all of those city cops required whenever the president's on the move in D.C.

For me, that one-day delay was huge. My kids were 6 and 8 years old when Mr. Bush took office. When he went home to Prairie Chapel that last time in 2009, my girl was driving, the boy was 6 foot 1. But in the meantime, I was home for eight Christmas mornings, playing Santa, stoking the fire, mixing up hot chocolates.

Curl went on to how much that has changed since Obama took office.

All that has changed with President Obama. No more press plane, for one. Reporters are on their own — so taking family is, say, $1,000 a pop. Not likely. And this president would never delay his trip to his island getaway. He's off every year well before Christmas. Hundreds and hundreds head off with him, leaving family behind.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/25/joseph-curl-christmastime-george-w-bush-was-santa-/

As flawed as Bush was on many policies there is no doubt he is a true patriot. He is a gentlemen who considers others with a classy lady for a wife. The same cannot be said for the current residents of the WH.

Quote from: supsalemgr on December 27, 2014, 05:37:34 AM
As flawed as Bush was on many policies there is no doubt he is a true patriot. He is a gentlemen who considers others with a classy lady for a wife. The same cannot be said for the current residents of the WH.

Yep, when the two are placed side by side in honest comparison, one actually comes off looking like the Devil, caring for no one but himself..

Quote from: Solar on December 27, 2014, 05:47:47 AM
Yep, when the two are placed side by side in honest comparison, one actually comes off looking like the Devil, caring for no one but himself..

Not to mention one a fighter pilot, the other a guy that handed out forms...

Quote from: Mountainshield on December 28, 2014, 04:58:23 AM
Not to mention one a fighter pilot, the other a guy that handed out forms... for the communist movement.

FIFY Finished It For Ya....

Quote from: supsalemgr on December 27, 2014, 05:37:34 AM
As flawed as Bush was on many policies there is no doubt he is a true patriot. He is a gentlemen who considers others with a classy lady for a wife. The same cannot be said for the current residents of the WH.

I agree with everything you say.  I'd like to add one more point; I was part of a group of Republicans that felt GW abandoned his base on many critical domestic policy issues.  He used his "compassionate conservatism" to try to enlarge the republican "tent".  Many of us felt, George ignored us and listened to neocons who just wanted to change who controled Washington; not it's scope and size!

He, nonetheless, was the head of our party and while I differed with him on many issues, I felt he was a good POTUS (compared to what we have seen from the left wing).

Why is it that we, Conservatives, speak our minds about our Leaders, including what we dislike about them, while it seems the entire Left Wing is merely an echo chamber for everything their guys ever do; whether they really agree with them or not.  Oh yeah, I forgot; the ends justify...everything!

Quote from: wally on December 28, 2014, 10:46:16 AM
I agree with everything you say.  I'd like to add one more point; I was part of a group of Republicans that felt GW abandoned his base on many critical domestic policy issues.  He used his "compassionate conservatism" to try to enlarge the republican "tent".  Many of us felt, George ignored us and listened to neocons who just wanted to change who controled Washington; not it's scope and size!

He, nonetheless, was the head of our party and while I differed with him on many issues, I felt he was a good POTUS (compared to what we have seen from the left wing).

Why is it that we, Conservatives, speak our minds about our Leaders, including what we dislike about them, while it seems the entire Left Wing is merely an echo chamber for everything their guys ever do; whether they really agree with them or not.  Oh yeah, I forgot; the ends justify...everything!

When you have no shame anything is OK.