Such is the case with a thread I've just read on the trip Obama and his wife are taking - to India, Indonesa and also South Korea. He is not on vacation, as many people in this thread insist, he's actually working. Yes, he may go out to dances at night - but, see, when heads of state go to other countries, they usually do do work during the day and then allow themselves to be taken out to sample local culture at night.
(And, although Rush and probably Hannity and Beck have been saying the cost of the trip is $2 mil a day, that cost is debatable, and in any even the Afghan war costs $2 mil a day, so what's the big deal? At least this trip may see some money heading back toward the US in the form of trade deals.
I did point out that it was odd that Obama would go dancing in India but wouldn't eat dinner with the President of France (last time he was there) but that's a separate issue.
The point is that people are really unbalanced when it comes to Obama - yes, he's proven that he will spend megabucks on his own vacations - vacationing in Martha's Vineyard rather than the money-strapped coast of Florida - but he is not on vacation during this trip to India, and he is not spending 10 days in India.
(Furthermore, India and Pakistan are nuclear countries whose relations are not good. Anything the US can do to help keep peace between the two would be a good thing. Now, that's what the Secretary of State is for, not to mention our ambassadors, but there's a lot of good will when a President visits.)
Rush will undoubtedly excoriate Obama for this trip on Monday. Just as Bush could never do anything right to Democrats so Obama can never do anything right for Republicans, even if, in this case, it's been reported that he's come up with a $10 billion trade deal with India.
Here's the thing - Bush wasn't perfect. No President can be. Obama isn't all bad. Ys he's a socialist intent on reworking the US into a socialist model, but he's still doing some good things.
Here's an article on the President's trip. And note that this trip was planned long before the Nov 2 elections.
Obama: India and Pakistan Must Bolster Peace Efforts
U.S. President Barack Obama is in New Delhi after discussing the sensitive subject of the U.S. relationship with Pakistan during a meeting with Indian students in Mumbai.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted Mr. Obama upon his arrival Sunday at the airport in the Indian capital, the second stop on the president's 10-day Asian tour.
The two leaders are scheduled to meet for dinner later Sunday, before announcing a series of deals Monday on issues including counter-terrorism and climate change.
Mr. Obama told students in Mumbai Sunday the U.S. is working with Pakistan aggressively to combat the cancer of Islamic extremism, but that progress is not coming as quickly as the U.S. would like.
India blames Pakistan for fostering Islamic extremists who carried out the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed more than 160 people.
Mr. Obama told students gathered at Mumbai's St. Xavier College Sunday India has the biggest stake in Pakistan's success in the fight against extremists. He said India does not need the distraction of security troubles at a time when it is starting to see success on the global economic stage.
President Obama called on the long-time rivals to bolster peace efforts, and said the United States is willing to be a friend and partner in the process although it cannot impose peace on the two nations.
Mr. Obama also said a strong relationship between the U.S. and India has "limitless potential," potentially serving as an anchor for security, prosperity and progress for Asia as a whole.
Mr. Obama says he believes India is no longer a rising power, but one that is taking its rightful place among world leaders.
President Obama began Sunday in Mumbai, dancing with Indian students to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali.
Mr. Obama will next visit Indonesia on his 10-day Asian tour. He lived in Indonesia during part of his childhood. He then travels to South Korea for the summit of leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies.
The president is expected to raise the issue of China's tight control of its currency, which many lawmakers and business leaders say makes Chinese goods cheaper to sell on world markets. Mr. Obama is also hoping to announce progress on the long-stalled U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement.
President Obama will also visit Japan.
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