# A 17 day vacation? Are you shitting me? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 4, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787 "2017-08-04T17:14:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/21 "2017-08-04T18:30:57Z")
Get your NSFW Trump bubblehead here. [http://trailmix.cc/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/51MUdPPkZ6L.\_SL1098\_.jpg](http://trailmix.cc/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/51MUdPPkZ6L._SL1098_.jpg) warning, brain bleach not included. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/22 "2017-08-04T18:33:12Z")
Just do what I did whenever someone would post on FB about one of Obama’s golf outtings costing however many millions. Ask how much more money he would be spending sitting behind his desk. And here’s your trophy. ETA: > [@Morgenstern](#): > > Get your NSFW Trump bubblehead here. > > [http://trailmix.cc/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/51MUdPPkZ6L.\_SL1098\_.jpg](http://trailmix.cc/home/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/51MUdPPkZ6L._SL1098_.jpg) > > warning, brain bleach not included. You’ll love [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36_3MKM5g08). ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/23 "2017-08-04T18:41:50Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Unless we are being trolled, [this is the Newsweek cover](http://cdn4.thr.com/sites/default/files/2017/08/newsweek_trump_august_2017_cover.jpg) for the next issue. Seems appropriate for this topic. It appears to be real. One thing he has manage to accomplish is the total pissing off of folks that buy ink by the barrel. Joe and Mika did #FailureFriday as their hash tag a week ago. Today was #FelonyFriday. And they used to like him. I can’t believe Trump really thinks this is working out for him. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/24 "2017-08-04T18:48:37Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Unless we are being trolled, [this is the Newsweek cover](http://cdn4.thr.com/sites/default/files/2017/08/newsweek_trump_august_2017_cover.jpg) for the next issue. Seems appropriate for this topic. I just noticed the Cheetos bag. Well played Newsweek. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/25 "2017-08-04T18:49:30Z")
I’d pay for a beach picture of the big load ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/26 "2017-08-04T18:50:23Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The problem is that things don’t just run themselves in the absence of the President (or Congress, too) doing their jobs. There’s a thousand important decisions that need to be made in government every week, and quite a few of those bubble up to the White House. As I have seen first hand, part of the dysfunction in government today is that literally nobody is making those decisions on important issues right now. > > So even on issues which I have very strong disagreements with the White House, the inability to make any decisions on other pressing stuff, like how to deal with the debt limit, an Afghanistan policy, and so on, is very damaging. Think of it like a bad employee at grocery store: yeah, he might screw up a lot, but somebody has got to stock the shelves until someone better can come along. Right now, nobody is stocking the shelves in government, whether the crappy worker is on vacation or technically at work but watching the Three Stooges in the break room. You may make me into a Trump supporter with this music to my ears. However damaged our civil society is after decades of undermining from the state, I have confidence in our ability to prosper without direction from the government. It may seem like the sky is falling in D.C., but elsewhere I’m sure the problems will be solved without Donald Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/27 "2017-08-04T18:55:03Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Aside from whether you think whether someone is doing a half-assed job is a “substantial” issue, do you think Trump is working hard at his job? > > And I was just reminded that when Obama went on vacations, his press shop would tell folks what was on his reading list. Can we expect Sarah Sanders to release what is in Trump’s DVR cue? I have no earthly idea how hard he’s working, and dont really care. He can sit around eating desserts all day if he does good good work, and I won’t complain. Everyone has their own process. As it happens, I don’t think he’s doing good work, I disagree with just about everything he says and has done as president and generally consider him a feckless embarrassment. But I say again, criticizing a president for going on a “vacation” is silly. No president goes away and disengages from the world. Their aides come and bring work, the guy with the football stands by should he decide to incinerate the planet, and much money is spent to ensure his communication with the apparatus of state. Moreover, I don’t expect anyone to live their life with no down time, let alone a head of state. Trump is an idiot, an embarrassment and lots of other things. But I didn’t care when Obama went on “vacation” (and believe me, I heard about it from my conservative friends at the time), and I don’t care now either. Want to talk about wasted money and inconviencing the locals with absurd, over the top security? Fine, I’m there. But let’s dispense with the nonsensical outrage about the basic idea of a presidential “vacation”. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/28 "2017-08-04T18:56:59Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > You may make me into a Trump supporter with this music to my ears. However damaged our civil society is after decades of undermining from the state, I have confidence in our ability to prosper without direction from the government. It may seem like the sky is falling in D.C., but elsewhere I’m sure the problems will be solved without Donald Trump. Yes, but I think even you would admit that if the automobile of state is hurtling down the road at 100 mph, and it must turn to avoid a huge cliff, with Democrats are yelling at the driver to turn left and Republicans yelling to turn right, you would be one of the very few who might argue that it would be a victory if the car went straight and killed everyone on board. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/29 "2017-08-04T18:59:38Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > This is true. Which is why I am also questioning how the hell someone can golf 21 times AND watch about 5 hours of TV a day. > > Let’s take someone in your office. If they watch no TV and play no golf, a two week vacation sounds like it is even more deserved. Or, if someone takes no vacations, but they goof around a lot while basically working 7 days a week, then eh – it all comes out in the wash. But put those all together, and we’re talking about someone with so much free time, even while at work, while holding the most demanding job in the country. > > So why does anyone else bother to work hard at all? Forget me, even though that was my first concern here. All those coal miners in West Virginia? Dudes, stop all that longwall mining operations and go bowling every day. Doctors? Hey, have you ever tried Candy Crush? Better yet, have you tried playing it for three hours a day during your shifts? Being president is that easy. They are unaccountable to anyone. He’ll get a review three years from now, that is the only time he will be held accountable. If they lack the self-motivation to want to control as many people as possible, they have no reason to work. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/30 "2017-08-04T19:00:14Z")
5 hours of TV per day? What kind of TV does he watch besides the news? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/31 "2017-08-04T19:01:47Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > 5 hours of TV per day? What kind of TV does he watch besides the news? Why do you assume he watches the news? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/32 "2017-08-04T19:02:31Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > But I say again, criticizing a president for going on a “vacation” is silly. . . . . Moreover, I don’t expect anyone to live their life with no down time, let alone a head of state. > > Trump is an idiot, an embarrassment and lots of other things. But I didn’t care when Obama went on “vacation” (and believe me, I heard about it from my conservative friends at the time), and I don’t care now either. > > Want to talk about wasted money and inconviencing the locals with absurd, over the top security? Fine, I’m there. But let’s dispense with the nonsensical outrage about the basic idea of a presidential “vacation”. Are you as dense as Donald Trump? Because I have written several times that I don’t begrudge ANYONE taking vacations. Scroll through this thread. What I’ve said REPEATEDLY, and somehow you have missed, is that we have someone who takes a very, very large amount of leisure time during the workweek, and the weekends, and also is taking a long vacation. It isn’t one issue, it is three altogether. Fuck, I don’t know how people can be so stupid as to only be able to read the word “vacation” in every one of my posts. Are my posts so hard to read that it is like listening to Charlie Brown’s teacher? “wah wah wah wah VACATION wah wah wah – OH YEAH OBAMA DID IT TOO!!!” ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/33 "2017-08-04T19:05:31Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Yes, but I think even you would admit that if the automobile of state is hurtling down the road at 100 mph, and it must turn to avoid a huge cliff, with Democrats are yelling at the driver to turn left and Republicans yelling to turn right, you would be one of the very few who might argue that it would be a victory if the car went straight and killed everyone on board. The military would step in before that happened. They’ve already got one foot in the door with Kelly where he is. Anyway, I don’t want the state to crash, that could get ugly. A political revolution at this time would be dominated by bad thinking. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/34 "2017-08-04T19:08:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why do you assume he watches the news? It’s often about him. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/35 "2017-08-04T19:10:25Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Want to talk about wasted money and inconviencing the locals with absurd, over the top security? Fine, I’m there. But let’s dispense with the nonsensical outrage about the basic idea of a presidential “vacation”. Can you please point me to all your posts where you ridiculed Trump for repeatedly harping on Obama taking too many vacations? My search engine can’t seem to find them. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/36 "2017-08-04T19:12:54Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > … Are my posts so hard to read that it is like listening to Charlie Brown’s teacher? “wah wah wah wah VACATION wah wah wah – OH YEAH OBAMA DID IT TOO!!!” The difference is that between vacations, Obama did something, thus deserving a vacation. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/37 "2017-08-04T19:15:48Z")
Donald Trump brings out the Frank Grimes in all of us. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/38 "2017-08-04T19:19:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Can you please point me to all your posts where you ridiculed Trump for repeatedly harping on Obama taking too many vacations? My search engine can’t seem to find them. Didn’t say that - I said my conservative friends brought it up a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/39 "2017-08-04T19:20:49Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The military would step in before that happened. They’ve already got one foot in the door with Kelly where he is. > > Anyway, I don’t want the state to crash, that could get ugly. A political revolution at this time would be dominated by bad thinking. Ah yes, another fine example of libertarian orthodoxy: “Meh, don’t worry about it. The military will just step in and improve our democracy if things get too bad.” Oh, wait, that doesn’t sound right at all! I’m having a little bit of humor at your expense, but honestly, I would have never expected that response from you. You certainly keep me on my toes. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/40 "2017-08-04T19:24:34Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Because I have written several times that I don’t begrudge ANYONE taking vacations. Scroll through this thread. What I’ve said REPEATEDLY, and somehow you have missed, is that we have someone who takes a very, very large amount of leisure time during the workweek, and the weekends, and also is taking a long vacation. It isn’t one issue, it is three altogether. OK, all I’m saying is I don’t care. I don’t care about his supposed leisure time during the week, weekends and vacations. I only care about what he produces as president, which as I’ve said, is so far dreck. Very sorry to have upset you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787.md?page=3)