Who here thinks that the President's decision to stop White House tours was made because he couldn't find any other unnecessary expenses in his $3.6 trillion federal budget?

Who thinks his decision was made to have citizens symbolically feel the pain of the sequester because the Left's apocalyptic warnings of a 2% reduction in growth turned out to be laughably false?

And, by the way, Richard, that greedy conservative Newt Gingrich offered to put up the money to resume tours two weeks ago. Do you think the President or anyone in his administration has put in a telephone call to take him up on it?

Right o JC... greedy Donald Trump also volunteered to cover these costs. President Obummer does not a clue to saving our tax dollars.

Trump and Gingrich don't give a flip about good government; they see the $74k as an incredibly cheap PR expense. The proper way to deal with this is to look at the WH books, not ratchet up some cheesy cable TV indignation. If the WH wants to get a conversation going re: priorities, good for them.

I know in the old days, "W" would've just declared "Condition Orange" and there'd be no tours and that would be that.

"Trump and Gingrich don't give a flip about good government; they see the $74k as an incredibly cheap PR expense."

What difference does it make?

What flavor is the KoolAid® this time around Richard? You realize that the cost to maintain the WH tours going for the balance of the fiscal year is around two million dollars, compared to the cost of the Obama's Christmas vacation which was at least four million dollars. So tell me Richard, which expense benefits a greater percentage of Americans?

When asked by a reporter if Obama planned to share the pain with his fellow Americans by cutting back on his vacations, White House BSer Carney could not give a straight answer. It's pretty comical, except for when you realize that there are people out there like Richard that think cancelling the tours is a serious budget cutting measure.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/342467/cancelling-white-house-tours-saves-less-cost-one-obamas-vacations-andrew-stiles

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/reporter-asks-carney-will-obama-cut-back-lavish-vacations-golf-trips_707767.html

President Obama got to you to prove his point about the Sequester !!!!!!

Just wait there is more to come besides cancelling the WH tours !!

Does somebody want to tell Lois that her arguments run contrary to the White House talking points?

Bless her heart, poor thing.

"the Left's apocalyptic warnings of a 2% reduction in growth turned out to be laughably false?"

Can we say the same thing about the right's apocalyptic warnings about the reduction in growth of the Defense budget?

"Donald Trump also volunteered to cover these costs."

PR BS. Such "gifts" from private citizens to government agencies and officials would fall under all sorts of laws and regulations (to prevent graft, corruption, bribery, etc.).

Trump and Gingrich are just playing politics, and you fell for it.

"Can we say the same thing about the right's apocalyptic warnings about the reduction in growth of the Defense budget?"

Yes we can Steve! How about for once we ALL AGREE that the small reduction in the increase in the federal governments budget doesn't mean squat unless of course those in charge make sure, via their spending priorities, that it DOES MEAN squat?

Gingrich and Trump are clowns! So is Obama and so are 95% of the idiots the idiotic American electorate sends to DC.

PR BS. Such "gifts" from private citizens to government agencies and officials would fall under all sorts of laws and regulations (to prevent graft, corruption, bribery, etc.).

Please list them. Thank you.

"""Trump and Gingrich are just playing politics, and you fell for it."""

The whole mess is about playing politics and last November, 50.6% of American voters fell for it. What an ungodly waste of time and money as we postpone America's recovery for political games for at least four more years.

"Trump and Gingrich are just playing politics, and you fell for it."

Ah, the irony.

"Please list them. Thank you."

Are you freaking kidding me? You honestly think it would be legal for Trump to give Obama money ostensibly to run tours of the WH? You guys are truly crazy.

Who is he supposed to hand the cash to? The director of ATF? The NPS (who actually owns and runs the White House)? Obama personally?

You may wish to start with 18 USC 201 for some of the laws.

But honestly...once again, THIS is what passes for rigorous intellectual discussion of the issues? "Trump said he'd pay for it nya nya nya..."

No wonder things are so f'ed up...

It's very simple actually. All Trump (or anyone else) has to do is give the money to the IRS on top of their regular taxes. The IRS will cheerfully accept it. Then let Obama know that the needed "revenue" is there so he can stop acting like a petulant little brat and perhaps he will begin to engage in some "rigorous intellectual discussion of the issues".

Yeah, I had a hard time not laughing when I used "Obama" and "rigorous intellectual discussion of the issues" in the same sentence.

No White House tours... yet two weeks ago, a trip on Il Air Force ! at $180 K to hype grren cars... 600 people went with Obama to Isreal... BUT... the best... Biden ONE night stay at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris...almost $600 K... NO... that was NOT a typo... $600K...
AND... there is NOT $74 K/ wk ??? PLEASE !!!!!