Obama to See India on $200 Million a Day
**Written by Doug Powers
Seemingly every election day estimate predicting increasingly bad news for Democrats is met by an exponential rise in the cost to taxpayers for President Obama’s “I’m outta here” world tour. Coincidence?
Mumbai: The US would be spending a whopping $200 million (Rs. 900 crore approx) per day on President Barack Obama’s visit to the city.
“The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit,” a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said.
About 3,000 people including Secret Service agents, US government officials and journalists would accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and US security agencies are already here for the past one week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments.
And if the Democrats lose the Senate, expect another $50 million in room service tabs alone, Tea Party ingrates.
To put it in perspective, $200 million is enough money to buy a pair of Lanvin sneakers for over 370,000 Indians.
The president’s “carbon footprint felt ’round the world” tour will also utilize at least 40 aircraft, or as Al Gore calls it, “Wednesday.”
**Written by Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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$200 million per day?! For 10 days?! I don’t think the Apollo 11 mission cost that much!
I do not think I can even find the words.
George Bush would have been crucified in the press for a fraction of this amount. Elitist or opportunist?
Don’t dictators loot their country (e.g. their national treasury) before being kicked out??
If so, BHO is just getting a head start.
That’s a lot of Slumdog Millionaire gameshow appearances.
I want to see the expense report either before or after I see the BC, I don’t care.
It would all be with it, and cost us less, if bho promised to resign and stay out of the U.S. while he is gone!
L
Let’s see..$200,000,000 / 3,000 = $67K per person per DAY.
The cost of Iraq is reported by the WORST site I could find to be about $800 billion thus far. That’s from 2003 so say seven years or about 2500 days making it $320 million per day. Divided by roughly 100,000 troops is $3100 per DAY per soldier.
Protecting the president costs 20 times more per person than fighting a WAR with aircraft carriers, tank battalions, etc?
C’mon – where’s all the money REALLY going? (Or maybe we’re going to war with India and don’t know it yet?)
Does TOTUS get per diem?
It would probably cheaper to buy the Taj Mahal Hotel and let him stay there….forever.
Does no one else think this article is, shall we say…poorly sourced?
pfft, that’s all? I’m goin’!
…
er, what are they wearing this season?
One of those rare times that I find myself agreeing with you Chap.
I’m asking you lot about what to wear, because, why would I ask someone who turns to Lanvin for athletic footwear?
Sari spacey.
$200 million per day.
That’s enough cash to pay the cost of Obama giving out pre-loaded iPods to the first 650,000 people he meets ….each day.
But…. the good news is that’s less than the $4.7 billion per day in debt he’s run up when he’s his socialist mojo back here in the US.
So maybe this is a bargain.
“working” his socialist mojo….
I’m calling it Obama’s Ego Trip.
Cause that’s exactly what it is. He’s taking something like 40 planes, a ridiculously large entourage, renting out the entire taj mahal 5 star hotel, PLUS large parts of other hotels.
What? His hundreds of Czars are too good to double up?
This trip is designed by either him, or his handlers to build up his ego after getting his ass kicked in the polls.
Its the biggest, most self important ostentatious and expensive trip in memory, perhaps in history, all to tell Obama “look how important you are. you’re still the most important man in the world”
Its his “ego trip”
From how I read it, I did not come across the $200,000 per day only that it would cost that much for the time in Mumbai (which is not the entire 10 days).
I still think that the 500 rooms, 40 planes, and 3000 personnel going along is over the top, but this looks more like it is going to be spent on security and the likes and in that case $200 million really does not go a long way.
For 67 cents a day I’m willing to pay my fair share for all eternity to keep him and his entourage out.
why? what did you do?
I was wondering when this was going to be discussed! I mean, the unbelievable amount of planes, autos, helicopters, etc. that Obama is bringing over there, plus all those rooms they are reserving, plus the Coast Guard security because Obama has a window view of the ocean while he is there. I figured the cost to be in the millions per day. HOW DOES HE GET AWAY WITH THIS? He is stealing my money to do this insane trip. This should be broadcast to the farthest corners of this country…what he is doing is totally criminal. ALL.THAT.MONEY!! My God, I am so angry about this, I can’t tell you!! This only thing that will make me feel better is to see some of the a-holes being fired TODAY!!
There will be reckoning faster than you can say Darrell Issa congressional investigation.
VOTE!
You could always stitch together a few Hermes scarves, viola, a sari.
viola: could also be voila!
Well… it a takes a lot of cash to support a … Government in Exile.
Can you prove it is not true?
This is one of those times a smart president would just say “India, cheaper to bring them here”! Just another expensive taxpayer funded vacation….
how’s that deficit looking Big O?
No. But unlike you, aaparently, I can be a bit discerning about jumping in blindly to any puddle that my narrative.
And while he trots his metro-sexual arse around India…..
-Iran’s centrifuges continue to spin
-Almost 10% of Americans are out of work
-Our debt sits at unprecedented levels
-Bomb makers across the middle-east dream up new ways to get bombs onto planes
But no worries. Obama’s got 3000 people in India having a grand old time.
How much you want to bet he asked his staff to find out if there are any good golf courses near Mumbai?
Obama ‘gets it’ though. He KNOWS where voter anger is coming from. . . he’s angry too. Americans and him are angry at George Bush and that’s why Democrats aren’t doing as well.
It’s both Bush’s fault and the fact that everyone is racist.
You have a problem with spending 200M a day on a 10 day trip? Well, let me just tell you what Bush did. . .
ugh, it won’t stop. These people in DC are not responsible at all. They really think there is a money tree and it is called the American taxpayer.
The only thing the democrats are capable of doing is spending money. . . and they expect you to love them for it.
NJ,
You don’t think visiting the world’s largest democracy smack dab in the middle of the Islamic world and bordering on the only other superpower, that happens to be a huge (and growing) trading partner might directly help many of those issues?
India, strategically and economically, will be far more important to us in this century than any European nation.
Oh if that puddle suits you, you have no trouble jumping in. Or tell me you didn’t vote for Obama.
Chap is right about India being an important Democracy and it does make sense for the President to be making the trip. The problem I have is not with the trip itself, it is the size of the entourage. How is anyone to take the President seriously (not that many of us did in the first place) when he says that he wants to focus on fiscal responsibility when he takes 3000 personnel, on 40 aircraft, booking 500 rooms?
Actions speak louder than words Mr. President.
How many days could he have rented Disney World/Epcot with that amount of money?
Lets see -
The Taj – which is not cheap considering there are several types of rooms to stay in – regular to very high end. The cost of the civil servants – say a million a day – cost of fuel, plane time all the other equipment and support staff – the cost of the Indian Military and security staff – except for very very special people, everyone else cannot be armed – I can see this as the Ego Trip of all time – tips not included.
I’d like to know just how much money has been spent on all these vacations the Obummers have been taking.
HAHAHAHA… This is definitely not right. $200MM a DAY? No way. Maybe 4200,000 a day. I don’t think you could shred $200MM that fast much less spend it.
I’m not an Obama apologist but seriously, this number is total BS. The source for that $200 million is some unnamed official in in the Indian govt. posted on an obscure website. This is a hoax or just propaganda to embarrass Obama. There are so many reasons to oppose Dems we shouldn’t have to rely on garbage like this.
$200,000
Think how many bottles of hand lotion you could buy with $200,000,000… And lollipops? Forget about it! There aren’t that many lollipops in India eh Chapotier?
Yeah, Doug you should have caught this. $200MM is ridiculous.
He probably just wants to pick up a few ideas on how to run this country while he’s there.
Although in this country, the sacred cows would be SEIU workers.
This can’t possibly be real – why does the article say “The U.S. would be spending…”
I know our liberal elite leaders have no problem spending our money, but this really needs to be fact-checked.
Sounds like a figure Biden pulled out of thin air.
Doesn’t that get into the “How do you prove a negative?” argument? Not really fair to chap and a very poor argument indeed. Embarrassing actually.
I’d be willing to take the hit if only his government stayed in exile….I suspect India will insist he and his entourage leave and we take them back, or they cut off all customer service phone banks until we do.
Could be a translation thing. 200 million rupees is about 4.5 million dollars.
I noticed this last paragraph from the NDTV article:
Is the Indian food really that hard on the president’s insides to warrant blocking off such a large area just for him to drop the kids off at the pool?
Single-handedly bankrupting America. I’m sure he’s just so proud of himself! Disgusting, unprecedented, unbelievable! God save us from a 2nd term!
To what purpose are 3K people going to India?
No matter the number of extra zeros, 3000 people and 40 planes is excessive. And why are WE paying for the press to travel with him? Let them pay their own way.
POTUS, TOTUS, couple of secretaries/aides, and security. Out of the goodness of my heart I’m willing to spring for Michelle and the kids. But the rest is just waste. And we can’t afford more waste.
I’m thinking we could buy India for that money!
How do we de-fund the White house?
Ben Kingsley isn’t looking too good in that picture!
To ensure fool-proof security, the President’s team has booked the entire the Taj Mahal Hotel, including 570 rooms, all banquets and restaurants. Since his security contingent and staff will comprise a huge number, 125 rooms at Taj President have also been booked, apart from 80 to 90 rooms each in Grand Hyatt and The Oberoi hotels.
The officer said, “Obama’s contingent is huge. There are two jumbo jets coming along with Air Force One, which will be flanked by security jets. There will be 30 to 40 secret service agents, who will arrive before him. The President’s convoy has 45 cars, including the Lincoln Continental in which the President travels.”
“TOTUS will be flying in on a special 747 equipped with all the amenities needed for safe flight and comfort as well as another 747 equiped as a mobile kitchen for Obamas personnal chef who will also be flown in on a specially equipped 747″
Obama promised to take them along to visit their old jobs.
Sadly, the way we’ve been spiraling deeper into debt, India might be in a better position to by us!
Can’t Obama use the local transportation?
http://deeptidewan.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/india-bus.jpg?w=450&h=463
Yes, this would pi$$ him off.
Has he actually said why he’s going? Will the news media report on his meetings, or will they all be on an Elephant ride the day he hosts the head muslim in India for dinner?
The source for this seems pretty shaky to me. I think Obama is by far the worst president this country has ever had, but $200,000,000 a day is a ridiculous claim. Since today is the day to vote, I’m going to vote “no” on this.
Yes. He feels that it is bad for China to hold so much U.S. debt, so he’s offering to sell our markers to India.
Why are we paying for the press to travel?
Simple. They’re part of his full-time staff.
I’m just a hopeless homophonic.
There comes a time when major drug cartel leaders and organized crime bosses find that “moving around” has become too high risk. The price and logistics of security become beyond what might be humanly possible. These crime figures usually hole up somewhere and create layers of “outside” personnel to insulate and protect them and their families from harm. It is not necessarily a pleasant life but that is the “life they’ve chosen”, a price must be paid. I believe Obama et all have reached this very tipping point. As a concerned and caring citizen I am not willing to share this price with this man or his family. I am willing to let him “hide” in any spider hole of his choosing (perhaps 100k a day tops)till the end of his term where I would be willing (at the taxpayer expense)to send him anywhere outside of the U.S. he chooses to go as long as he agrees not to come back.
On November 2nd, 2010 at 4:13 pm, Danceswithdachshunds said:
I’m just a hopeless homophonic.
I read on Newsmax.com that He and Michelle received a special invitation to India’s largest mosque and that this mosque is the second largest outside Mecca and Jerusalem. Anybody heard anything about that?
He could have done a web conference and bought a curry lunch for the entire population of India!
He does know how to spend OPM.
horrors!
I know, I was just trying to curry favor.
Congress (if they had a set) should put a screeching halt to all his travel!!!
hopefully the process to handle that and many other spending problems is taking place today…remember elections have consequences.
Bringing the “World Economy” joyous news, as he starts his campaign for Leader of the New World Order. What better place to start his global campaign…have you seen the sizes of their phonebanks? Plus, good buddy Stern has already expanded the global SEIU offices here…more ignorant masses to fool, and to rob blind. I can hear it now, “Alms! Alms for The One! Alms!” (Of course he’ll have to swear off Wagu beef for awhile…)
Now, if he can just lie his way out of the “muslim” label here….
Well I guess you both missed the sarcasm. I was paraphrasing Axelrod who was accusing Rove of getting foreign money for the campaign. Yes it is a poor argument, but I have found chap is fond of poor arguments as long as he is making them.
Do you know how many red potions and heart containers that could buy?
RedDog, Mister P is making a funny about how the White House made multiple claims that the US Chamber of Commerce was taking foreign money to run ads against Democrats. The White House had no proof of that and when asked to prove it, (I believe it was Axelrod), said “Can you prove they are not?” which really was an embarrassing statement.
up yours America, we deserve ours
Can you prove that you were?
Heh. This from the guy that tried to simultaneously claim that Hawaii politics are purely local and that anti-Obama sentiment would carry Djou into office.
The point I am sure is that the Obama administration did not tell us the cost. So without an accounting we do not know what it cost. Remember that transparency thing. The 40 planes and 550 hotel rooms must be an exaggeration also, because that to me is just as unbelievable as 200 million per day.
I think the Rs.900 crore approx in his statement is rupees translated into dollars. Too lazy to do the math today.
You see local in Hawaii means “a local” rather than “a haole”. I have noticed before you have a definition problem as well as a problem with sarcasm. What is amazing that Djou is now favored once again despite running in an area that voted 70 percent for Obama.
9 billion rupees is $200 million.
How do they even get all those rupees in their wallet? Maybe thats why they wear those turbans. To hold all those rupees needed to buy a
hamburgerpita bread.Favored by whom, exactly? Latest poll had Hanabusa up by 5. I guess you don’t have your finger on the pulse of Hawaaian politics as much as you pretend to.
I guess “favored” in Hawaii means “about 25% chance of winning” rather than “favored.”
I swear, I don’t care if Dems lose 90 seats in the House. I am going to enjoy HI-01 coming in Dem for no other reason than to shut you up.
Hanabusa? I took the road to Hana and the van to Hana. I have not taken the bus to Hana yet. I’d hate to be the driver of that bus.
Let’s just hand him the 2 billion in cash on the condition that he never comes back here.
If you’re poll shopping, you can get Djou up by 5 also.
Phone polls, exit polls, I’m sure most polls favor Hanabata. We’ll favor the final results.
Not shopping. Quoting the very latest one (and one with the largest sample size, fwiw). If I were poll shopping, I could also find Crist way up in Florida. But notice I am not predicting a win by him.
Why are so many people going with him? Do they expect something newsworthy beyond the expense of the trip?
Bwahahaha! You lying piece of lawyer!
You see “I don’t care” in DC means “I care but would still seriously consider sacrificing just to shut Mister P up” rather than “I don’t care.”
My theory is that Obama is flying to India to set up a campaign media and call center – for the 2012 election campaign…which begins tomorrow.
You see, outsourcing is cheaper than hiring Liberal activists, and more reliable than Liberal volunteers back home.
And this is all on the taxpayer’s dime, of course.
I have to admit, I didn’t read this article initially, because the title seemed so ridiculous.
However, now I’ve heard about this from other sources as well.
3000 people, 40 jets, 5 entire hotels rented for the full 10 day span, Dom Perignon Rose to be available on request for Michelle Obama.
WHAT THE F.
Did he not hear the roar of Tuesday’s vote? Is he trying to alienate the rest of his supporters, and ignite the passions of the Tea Partiers even more?
Young coconuts are heavier than the mature ones…
Just sayin’.