W in town

I'm starting a thread in the politics section but I really hope this doesn't start another pissing match. I actually want to know what both sides think about this issue.

George W was in town (Billings) stumping for the incumbent Republican Senator today, and on the local newscast they mentioned that he was going to make like 13 stops in the next week or so to campaign for various candidates.

Well, it got me to thinking...who's paying for this bullshit? If a politician wants to go to a dozen states on a whirlwind tour that's fine with me, but why the fuck am I paying for it? It's expensive enough to fly the prez and his entourage around when they're actually on official business, but the incredible amount of money being burned while he's stumping for candidates seems kinda unethical in my book.

And before anyone on the left starts salivating about Bush's wasteful ways; Bill did it, too. I don't think this is a party issue, I think it's just another way the gov't is blowing our tax dollars.

When ever the President travels the American taxpayer pays for it. I've seen first hand what a small visit costs. Clinton and Al Gore came to my town numerous times during that administratiion...Gore had a favorite uncle that lived in my town.

He has a large group of Secret Service that travels with him. Several airplanes and numerous vehicles accompany him.

Another money drain occurs when cities and counties have to pay large amounts of overtime for security personel.

All this activity starts days before the actual visit. Just a half hour stop can cost untold dolars...From the Federal and local level.

This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It is a taxpayer issue.

If a President travels to campaign the DNC or the RNC should pay the tab.

Its how politics works. You talk to groups with money, you ask them for money in exchange for their vote. You use that money to campaign, run ads, get name recognition, etc.

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Originally Posted by WhiteWidow

Its how politics works. You talk to groups with money, you ask them for money in exchange for their vote. You use that money to campaign, run ads, get name recognition, etc.

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Well, in this case, no...the President isn't using his own money (or money he raised) to fly all over the place on a plane he chartered.

Basically we're paying for the gasoline.

Everything else involved with the president's trip is already budgeted -- the Secret Service works round the clock, so do the pilots of Air Force One, and the crew, the mechanics, and the president's handlers, and everyone else.

While I don't agree with a sitting president stumping for buddies on the taxpayers' dime, it doesn't cost us any extra. We're paying the money anyway, even if the Air Force One crew sits in Virginia and twiddles their thumbs.

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Originally Posted by ScoopKW

Basically we're paying for the gasoline.

Everything else involved with the president's trip is already budgeted -- the Secret Service works round the clock, so do the pilots of Air Force One, and the crew, the mechanics, and the president's handlers, and everyone else.

While I don't agree with a sitting president stumping for buddies on the taxpayers' dime, it doesn't cost us any extra. We're paying the money anyway, even if the Air Force One crew sits in Virginia and twiddles their thumbs.

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Better re-think that logic. I don't think stumping for buddies is in the budget. If it is please show me where that item is.

Who pays for the extra food, lodging, and other expenses incured on stumping trips. Wonder how much jet fuel is used to stump...Bet that would finance a small country. Bet if he were not stumping he could be utilizing "budgeted" money to the betterment of the country...Not the betterment of a political agenda.

Who pays for the locals to man posts for hours while the President stumps? There is an incredable amount of manpower used there.

Ever think of the concequences of shutting down major roads for hours while the President runs around stumping. There is much more to it that just paying the presidents crew.

Stumping for buddies is a needless expense taxpayers incure. Hell...Many republicans trying for elected office don't really want GB around them any way. :smiley36:

It should be the responsibility of the respective parties to finance stumping.

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Originally Posted by cigarsarge

It should be the responsibility of the respective parties to finance stumping.

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They do. When he was here twice for fundraisers, we (by "we" I mean the Connecticut Republicans) had pay quite a few "expenses." I can find out more details if you'd like but I do know that the Connecticut Republicans had to pay lots of expenses associated with his campaigning and fund raising stops.

Lots of times the President is on official business and takes a detour for political stuff and when he does take that detour, the state or national party picks up the tab.