I hope you all had a nice time last night and that you are enjoying the holiday.
To those of you nursing hangovers, remember, a bit of the hair of the dog that bit ya does wonders . . .
Thank you all for a wonderful year. The website is doing extraordinarily well, and it’s all thanks to you. Because, I can cut down all the trees in the forest I want, but if you don’t hear them and enjoy listening – or at least feel challenged or interested – then I haven’t made a sound.
I’m looking forward to a great year, to trying some new things, and to continuing the mission so many in the press ignore: Holding the White House accountable every single day of the year.
So Happy New Year, and my best wishes to all of you and your families.
Keith
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
I am saying Happy Tuesday! One day at a time, as they say. To think of another year like 2012–well, I can’t. I need to pace myself, but seem kind of bad at it. As for WHD, this is a stop many times a day–I just need to not take it so seriously. The people involved in DC clearly don’t.
Totally agree, love your comments Star. Happy New Year to you.
I see our hard working dictator is heading back to Hawaii. Yay, not.
Slap in the face taxpayers! Uggggggg
Happy New Year Keith.
So everyone doesn’t have to wade through all the replies from yesterday’s post, I am, if you will permit me, re-posting my comment on the fiscal cliff.
It is now January 1, 2013 and this is my final 2012 tally for Obama and his year of travel on AF1.
Schedule is based on that reported here on WHD. Mileage is calculated from major city to major city. Hourly operating expense is as reported in USAToday and the UK Mail, 2010. These costs are simply for AF1, and DO NOT include any support aircraft, ground transportation or other related travel expenses (hotels, meals, etc.)
Total miles AF1 December 2012 = 11,016
December 2012 cost for AF1 = (11,016 /550 avg. air speed of AF1) * $181,757 p/hr for AF1 = $3,640,427
YTD 2012 cost AF1 – YTD miles: 167,550 domestic 53,899 international = 221,449 miles
(221,449 /550 avg. air speed of AF1) * $181,757 p/hr for AF1 = $73,181,647
That’s right, by my calculations, President Obama spent over $73million dollars of taxpayer money for his private jet (aka Air Force 1). With the costs of additional aircraft to ferry supplies, equipment, etc., plus the costs of accommodations for his staff, Secret Service, and others that may have flown with him, I would guesstimate the cost of all the travel in 2012 was double or more.
Happy New Year!
Now that the election is over, I am hoping that the travel costs will drop considerably. I plan on tracking 2013, and I am thinking of doing a month to month comparison between 2012 and 2013. Thank you all for the positive feedback on this endeavor. I hope that it has been as eye opening to all of you as it was to me.
Keith, THANK YOU for all that you have done for all of us this past year, and for all the words of encouragement that you have provided. Even though the GOP is getting to seem less and less relevant, there is still a fight to be had for the Republic. It is my hope and prayer that all conservatives, classical liberals, libertarians, and those that hold out for the future of the nation continue to talk and preach common sense until the victory is won, or we are all in chains.
Happy New Year and thank you, patriot. I’m hoping and praying with you.
Hard to believe one man can spend $73 million per year just on airplane travel alone. Another expense we don’t often think of is the advance team for every presidential visit. Add in all the other logistics you mentioned and that $73 million could well be tripled.
A good primer for those who wonder who can claim what and when for official travel – http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21835.pdf
Good piece on the price of the AF-1 ops. Very expensive, indeed
A big ‘thank you’, Shofar! You have done a herculean job of keeping track of the high-jacking of AF1 for campaign purposes. The cost to taxpayers is staggering when you consider all the extras. I doubt if his travel costs are going to drop – VJ told us he plans to do more traveling in his second term. He’s not going to stop until the wings fall off! It’s all about his ego.
Shofar,
The Republican Party aka GOP is
now and will be extinct in the near future. The newly established Tea Party will gain strength and become a major player enacting future laws saving our dear Mother Country. Or at least I pray we have the sanity to do just that.
Truly nauseating!
Thanks Shofar, the Prezzie is back in the sky, Hawaii bound! Aloha!
Great job, Shofar. Thanks for all this hard work.
Shofar, thanks again for tracking and calculating that for us. I always look forward to the information you post. Happy New Year!
One of the best things of 2012 for me was finding your blog! AND I can’t even remember how I linked out to you. Well, I am kinda old.Happy new year to you–I enjoy all your posts!
(Oh God, Bo bit me too? I thought it was just Obama!….) HAPPY NEW YEAR, Keith!
A wonderful and prosperous New Year to you and your family, Keith!
Thank you for all you do, Keith, and Happy New Year to you and all my WHD friends.
Our NY eve was very subdued. Husband and I were snuggled up watching a Gunsmoke episode with our five dogs when midnight rang. We’re just grateful for all that God has graced us with.
With what’s happening in D.C., there’s not too much to celebrate anyway. We’re watching these crooks all join hands and sing cumbayah as they steal more of our wealth and liberty with their stealth $330 BILLION stimulus.
Mark Levin sure has these corruptocrats pegged…
http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-welcome-to-representative-constitutional-government-not/
Susan, this might interest you. My friend has been tracking the attendance of the college football games. Up to now only two bowls were sold out…..Alamo and Chick-fil-A.
Thank you, OldTimer. Those stats are a good sign.
Happy New Year to you, Keith, and all who post such thoughtful, intelligent comments at this great site.
To Keith and all of the WHD gang, my good wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year. This blog got me through the down days of the 2012 campaign. I hope that this country and those who lead us (of at least pretend to do so) can get this mess straightened out. Star is right: one day at a time! Best wishes to all.
Don’t cut down too many trees Keith! The greenies will scream bloody murder! Have a wonderful and prosperous New Year! Thanks for all you do to enlighten and listen to us!
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, Keith! Thanks for carrying the torch that has brought so much clarity to your readers. We value your perspective in these muddied, often despondent times.
All best wishes for a prosperous, healthy 2013!
Thank you Keith, for all that you do! I credit this blog and comments here with helping me get through the rough times. Never in my life have I feared for our country as I have with this president. As we begin this new year I wish you all peace, health and prosperity. Happy New Year!
Best wishes to you, Keith. And thank you for this site.
Keith, when it comes to “trying some new things” for WHD please do not switch over to that ‘Disquss’ comment system. I saw some other websites I follow switch over to it over the past few weeks. I find that system kinda annoying (re: having to ‘register’…)
I second that–can no longer see comments or comment on The Caller or Newsbusters–due to their insistence that I load a browser I don’t want.
Happy New Year to everyone who regularly comment here at WHD, and a HUGE Thank You to Keith for his excellent site!
There are indications that Issa and Cantor are not going to go along.
You might be right.
Like the lady said “buckle up”, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
Happy New Year to everyone here.
Keith,
as many others have said here, your site helped me make it through that horrible election season and its horrible conclusion. whenever I would hear the MSM say something particularly disgusting, I’d run over to WHD for a dose of sanity.
thanks also to Granny Jan, Star, and all the other regulars, who instruct and inspire with their comments.
here’s hoping for a better 2013!
Happy New year Keith Many thanks for the wonderful forum you have provided with the WHD. I have enjoyed the reading, commenting, getting educated and above all, entertaining by you and the faithful here. Forward unto Dawn!
and to you and your family and the “family” here.
Thanks for this blog Keith. Hope your new year is wonderful.
So did anyone else but me hear that the President has Air Force One on standby if the deal goes through? He’s going back to Hawaii!!!!! That is just unfrickin believable to me. We are so screwed!
Yep… 5am landing…sickening!
Happy New Year Keith! I have enjoyed your blog all year; you are a light in the darkness for many people I am sure! Keep up the good work!
May the Heavenly Father watch over and protect this still great Republic and its patriots.
Thank you Mr. K for providing this terrific forum.
Out with the old – in with the new! Happy New Year to you and your family, Keith, and to the fabulous WHD brigade!
Just spent the past 36 hours in an Obama-free zone in the semi-wilderness of the snow-capped mountains of sunny SoCal – away from the madding crowd. Just the kidlets, grand-kidlets, dogs, and Mother Nature – a sure-cure for Obamaphobia, albeit only temporary.
Looking forward to another year of holding these crooks accountable, Keith. We need you more than ever.
It’s more than a one-man job. Keith has his work cut out for him and we have to rip the white flag out of the hands of the GOP.
Sweet Girly1…quite the accomplishment in my ol SoCal:)
Happy New Year
To you too Sadie:))
If you don’t write a huge story on this jackass running back to Hawaii, well Ill just have to taunt you again…
I agree. Well said. Happy, happy, joy, joy. 2013, dang times flies.
Keith Koffler 2020, a man with vision….
Happy New WHDyear to all posters and the impostors too.
Good job, KK. Happy New Year! Will keep reading :)
“Holding the White House accountable every single day….” oh, sweet music to my ears indeed. You are that rare kind of journalist, Keith.
I wish you and everyone here a Happy New Year. I am so glad that I can peek in here and experience the real American voice. Let´s look at it on the bright side. It can´t be worse, I mean he can´t be reelected this year too.
Fiscal cliff avoided, Obama heads back to Hawaii
WASHINGTON, D.C. (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Congress finished passing legislation to avoid the worst effects of the fiscal cliff on Tuesday night, and President Obama boarded Air Force One to salvage a few days of his planned Hawaii vacation.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20482141/house-passes-cliff-avoidance-bill-obama-flying-to-hawaii
Obama’s Hawaii Vacation Tally
2008 ~ $1 million USD (Rough estimate excluding the cost of AF 1)
2009 $4 million USD
2010 $4.2 million USD
2011 $4.2 million USD
2012 $7.6 million USD
—
2013 $4 million USD
2014 $4 million USD
2015 $4 million USD
2016 $4 million USD
Total cost:
~$37 million USD
Numbers are based on HawaiiReporter’s cost estimates for Obama’s “family tradition” of traveling to Hawaii for the Christmas holiday.
To date, the American tax payer has already been burdened with a cost in the vicinity of $21 million dollars for these vacations.
Assuming Obama keeps this “family tradition” going through his second term, the tax payer can expect to have picked up a tab exceeding $37 million dollars just for Obama’s Hawaiian Christmas vacations before he leaves office January 2017.
Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!
I doubt if what I’m thinking translates into Hawaiian. Hope it rains..lots.
Thanks for your kind comments. Looking forward to spending 2013 with all of you!
A bit late, but Happy New Year to you Keith! And to all the wonderful posters here!