"You get what you pay for..."

Well, we already know the prez and family are Christmas (I mean Holiday) vacationing in Hawaii. And we already know that we, as taxpayers, foot almost all of the bill. I was not going to blog about this since I have in the past, but when I started reading how much the expenses are, my disgust is off the chart.

Let's talk about where the prez's staff and White House Press Corp stay - the Moana Surfrider, one of Hawaii's oldest and most ELEGANT hotels. (See photo above) Rates are higher for the holidays (I'm sure especially the Christmas holidays.) Besides its stunningly beautiful view of Waikiki, and its traditional architecture, it is one of the most pricey hotels in the state.

The flights were the most expensive item for this trip, and with his wife and daughters (and whoever travels with them) leaving early (and on a separate flight) this cost us a ton of money. Although the prez is covering his lavish beach rental, we have to cover everything else including the costs for housing the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Seals in beach front and canal homes in the same area. We also pay for local police over the visit and the city ambulance that accompanies him 24 hours a day. We pay for the cargo aircraft that transports the presidential limos, helicopters and other support equipment to Hawaii and staff for these. Other costs are the renting of an entire floor of an office building in the area, security upgrades and additional phone lines to several private homes where the prez and friends are staying, including bullet proof glass, home security systems disabled and new security measures put into place. There are the car rentals and fuel for the White House staff staying at the Moana Surfrider and additional travel costs for Secret Service and While House staff traveling ahead of the prez.

The total cost (based on what is known) for the 17-day round trip vacation to Hawaii for the President, his family, staff and security is an estimated $4,113,038. The Hawaii Reporter shows the total cost far exceeded the $1.5 million dollars it cost for their Hawaii vacation last year.

Once again, I'm speechless...

**All figures taken from The Blaze and the Hawaii Reporter