Airplanes, buses, receptions, and tennis to avoid Syria, Egypt, plus ongoing IRS and Benghazi scandals

The latter part of last  week was occupied by President Obama's 2 day bus tour from Buffalo NY to Scranton PA. The purpose was to promote college affordability.  Along the way, he stopped in 6 cities and was joined in part or all by VP Biden and Secretary of Education Duncan.

White House photo of President Obama in Tully NY

When the weekend began, Mrs. Obama flew to New York City to attend the U.S. Open. Mr. Obama remained in Washington and most likely golfed.

As this week began, the President focused on national interests by receiving daily briefings two days in a row. He also met with a group of mayors, presented the Medal of Honor, greeted Debate Champions, and is hosting a "March on Washington" reception at the White House.

Weekly Air Force One and Helicopter flying time ( 8.25 hours total):

• Mrs. Obama and daughters : Washington DC to New York City (round trip): 3 hours
• VP Biden : Washington DC to Houston TX : 3 hours
• President Obama (VP Biden and Arne Duncan): White House to Buffalo NY : 1.25 hours
• President Obama (VP Biden and Arne Duncan): Scranton PA to Washington DC : 1 hours

Below is a summary of President Obama's official schedule during the week of Wednesday August 21 through Tuesday August 27 2013.

Today, Tuesday, August 27, 2013

• President Obama received a daily briefing at 10:15 AM. His next appointment is at 2 PM, when he will meet with mayors about reducing youth violence. Lastly, he and wife Michelle will host a reception for the March on Washington at 7:30 PM.
• Mrs Obama is hosting a private screening of: "The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights.”
• VP Biden hosted a breakfast meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry. Afterward, he will fly to Houston Texas where he will delivers remarks at The American Legion National Convention.

50th Anniversary of March on Washington (from msnbc.com - Photo by Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

Monday, August 26, 2013

• President Obama received a daily briefing at 10 AM. Then, at 11:30 AM, he met with faith leaders. Mr. Obama next awarded the Medal of Honor to Staff Sgt Ty M. Carter at 2:10 PM. He ended the day after a 4:15 pm meet and greet with the 2103 Urban Debate National Champions.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

• Michelle Obama flew to New York City to see a Broadway play and attend the U.S. Open. To justify expensing this to the the American taxpayers, Mrs. Obama delivered remarks and participated in Arthur Ashe Kid's Day.

At Kids's Day (from nydailynews.com photo: Cory Sipkin/New York Daily News)

Friday, August 23, 2013

• Leaving Syracuse, President Obama made a visit to the Tully Junior-Senior High School soccar practice in Tully NY. Then, he participated in a town hall meeting at 12:45 PM at Binghamton University in Binghamton NY. After that, he drove to Scranton PA, where both he and VP Biden delivered remarks on college affordability at Lackawanna College. He left Scranton at 5:50 PM and flew back to DC. He was back at the White House at 7:05 PM.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

• President Obama left the White House at 9 AM and flew to Buffalo NY where he began a 2 day bus tour. In Buffalo, he delivered remarks at the University of Buffalo (11:23 AM). Next, he drove to Rochester NY and spoke to college students, graduates and educators at Magnolia's Deli & Cafe in Rochester NY. Then, he drove to Syracuse NY where he spoke at Henninger High School at 6:25 PM.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

• Although nothing was listed on the official White House agenda, President Obama participated in a video conference about the Affordable Care Act (photo of the day).

MV Vacation's over! So, now it's time to honor another football team

If you have ever been to Martha's Vineyard, you will know why President Obama wants to return every year for a family vacation. This year, the weather was beautiful, and Mr. Obama was able to play 6 rounds of golf, dine at some fabulous restaurants, and spend some time on a private beach.

Great Image from gadling.com

The following links provide some very interesting pictures and summaries of Mr. Obama's vacation.

• Obamas Leave Martha's Vineyard After 8-Day Vacation
• Obama family wraps up Martha's Vineyard vacation
• The Obamas' 2013 summer vacation

But, all good things come to an end and the family returned to the White House late Sunday night.

Back at work, the President received 2 daily briefings and met once with his senior advisers once. He also met with financial regulators.

Today, he is spending the afternoon honoring the 1972 Champion Miami Dolphins.

Also today, the First Family introduced a new female dog that they purchased. it is another Portuguese Water Dog named Sunny.

Weekly Air Force One and Helicopter flying time (4 hours total):

• President Obama (and family): Martha's Vineyard to White House : 2 hours
• Obama daughters : White House to Martha's Vineyard : 2 hours

Below is a summary of President Obama's official schedule during the week of Wednesday August 14 through Tuesday August 20 2013.


Today, Tuesday, August 20, 2013

• President Obama received a daily briefing at 9:45 PM. Next at 2 PM, and lastly, he honors the 1972 Miami Dolphins at the White House.

1972 Miami Dolphins - from addmorejuice.com

Monday, August 19, 2013

• President Obama received a daily briefing at 11 AM. After, he met with his senior advisers at 11:45 AM. He completed his workday by meeting with finzncial regulators at 2:15 PM.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

• After finishing a day of golf, the President and his family left Martha's Vineyard and returned to Washington DC.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

• President Obama although on vacation, made a statement about the unrest in Egypt.
• The two daughters of Mr. & Mrs. Obama arrived in Martha's Vineyard.

West to East, North to South and back again: Mr. Obama travels the country and then Vacations in the Vineyard

Wrapping up his West Coast visit, President Obama flew back to Washington DC and prepared for his Martha's Vineyard August vacation. Making sure he is informed about national security issues, he received 3 daily briefings.  In addition, he met with Secretary of Defense John Kerry. Other than that, he attended a meeting with the Prime Minister of Greece.

The President and his wife left DC on Saturday and flew to Martha's Vineyard. On the way, they took a detour to Orlando Florida and spoke at a Disabled Veterans Conference.

Making sure that their dog was not discomforted, they flew him separately to Chilmark MA on an Osprey helicopter it was reported by HotAir. However, the Politico photo below shows the dog leaving Air Force One.

Politico.com Photo Gallery showing Bo leaving Air Force One

So, one of these 2 sources is wrong or misleading. The children did not accompany their parents either. They will fly by themselves to the rented vacation house later this week aboard the busy Air Force One.

Weekly Air Force One and Helicopter flying time (13.5 hours total):

• President Obama (and wife): White House to Orlando FL, to Cape Cod MA, to Martha's Vineyard MA : (2 + 4.5) 6.5 hours
• Bo, President Obama's Dog : White House to Martha's Vineyard MA : 2 hours (although, photos show him leaving Air Force One)
• President Obama : Los Angeles CA to White House : 5 hours

Below is a summary of President Obama's official schedule during the week of Wednesday August 7 through Tuesday August 13 2013.

Today, Tuesday, August 13, 2013

• President Obama is on vacation in Martha's Vineyard with no scheduled events.

Monday, August 12, 2013

• President Obama s on vacation in Martha's Vineyard with no official scheduled events. However, he did announce more administration appointments. Plus, a White House photo was released showing him receiving a daily briefing with Susan Rice in the MV vacation home.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

• President Obama, along with his wife Michelle, left the White House at 9:05 AM and flew to Orlando FL where the President and First Lady delivered remarks at the Disabled American Veterans Conference at noon. After that, they were back on Air Force One and flew to Cape Cod, MA and then to Martha's Vineyard to begin their vacation.

Friday, August 9, 2013

• Mister Obama received a daily briefing at 10 AM. Then at 2 PM, he signed the student loan bill. Next, he held a rambling press conference at 3 PM. And finally, he ended the day with a 4:15 PM meeting with Secretary of Defense Kerry.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

• President Obama attended a daily briefing at 10:15 AM. He was then free until 2:55 PM when he held a meeting with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of Greece.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

• President Obama, on the West Coast, was interviewed by the Zillow CEO at 1 PM PST. Then, at 3:50, he delivered remarks to soldiers at Camp Pendleton. Mr. Obama then boarded Air Force One at 5:20 PM and flew back to Washington DC.

The Birthday Boy played Golf

Since President Obama celebrated his 52nd birthday last Sunday, it was a very light work week for him. He managed to attend 2 daily briefings, meet with his senior advisers once, Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew, and the President of Yemen.

On the serious side, he received 2 sports teams at the White House: members of the former Negro League, and the UConn Huskies Women's Basketball Team.

In addition, he flew in 11 friends from Hawaii and Chicago to play golf last Saturday. And then, the whole group went to Camp David for Mr. Obama's Birthday Party.

Today, he is off to California to tape a guest appearance on the Tonight Show.

Weekly Air Force One and Helicopter flying time (6 hours total):

• President Obama : White House to Phoenix AZ to Los Angeles CA : ( 4.5 + 1.5 ) = 6 hours

Below is a summary of President Obama's official schedule during the week of Wednesday July 31 through Tuesday August 6 2013.

Today, Tuesday, August 6, 2013

• President Obama left the White House at 10:10 AM and flew to Phoenix Arizona where he will tour Erickson Construction and speak. Afterward, he will fly to Los Angeles CA. Once there, he will tape an appearance on Jay Leno's "Tonight Show".

Monday, August 5, 2013

• President Obama received a daily briefing at 9:45 AM. Next, he met with his senior advisers (10:45 AM). The next scheduled appointment was a meeting at 6 PM where he met with baseball players of the former Negro League.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

• President Obama returned to the White House.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

• President Obama played 18 holes of golf with 11 of his friends from Hawaii and Chicago. He then went to Camp David and hosted a birthday party for himself.

Friday, August 2, 2013

• President Obama received a daily briefing at 10 AM.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

• President Obama had lunch with VP Biden at 12:45 PM. Then, at 2:15 PM, he met with bipartisan members of Congress. At 3:45 PM, he held a meeting with President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi of the Republic of Yemen.  Lastly, he held a reception for the 50th Anniversary of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law at 5:55 PM.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

• President Obama met with the House Democratic Caucus at 10:10 AM. After, he met with the Senate Democratic Caucus (11:25 AM). He then welcomed the 2013 NCAA Women's Basketball Champion UConn Huskies to the White House at 2:10 PM. He finished the day with a 4:30 meeting with Jack Lew.