Summertime: Obama & Biden spend 34 hours on Air Force One & Two flying with family to campaign events and international summits

The Obama's and Biden's spent the past 7 days flying around the country and across the ocean attending fundraising campaign events and attending international meetings.

For his part, Mr. Obama took a day to fly to Boston MA and Miami FL in order to attend DNC events. When he was in Washington DC, he hosted a Father's Day Luncheon, welcomed the WNBA Champion Fever to the White House, and spoke about LGBT Pride. To be fair, he did spend one hour or two receiving 2 daily briefings, and met with a Congressman.  This week, he flew to Dublin Ireland and attended a 2 day G8 Summit. He also thought this would be a great opportunity for his wife, children, and others to visit that country, staying in extravagant hotels.

• With president at G8, Michelle Obama enjoys Irish links 
• First lady Michelle Obama claims ritzy digs during Irish visit
• Michelle Obama's $5 Million Ireland Visit

Meanwhile, VP Biden took his wife Jill to California for a few days where they attended a few campaign fundraising events as well.

Weekly Air Force One and Helicopter flying time (34.5 hours total):

• President Obama (and family): Northern Ireland to Berlin Germany  : 4.5 hours
• President Obama (and family): White House to Belfast Northern Ireland  : 10.5 hours
• President Obama: White House to Boston MA to Miami FL to Washington DC : ( 1.5 + 3.5 + 2.5 ) = 7.5 hours
• VP Biden and wife : Washington DC to Camp Pendleton, Calif. (round trip)  : 12 hours

Below is a summary of President Obama's official schedule during the week of Wednesday June 12 through Tuesday June 18 2013.

Today, Tuesday, June 18, 2013

• President Obama attends the second day of the G8 Summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. The activities included participating: in a family photo; plenary sessions; walking ant talking with UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Ireland; eating lunch; and meeting with PM Cameron, Chancellor Merkel of Germany, President Hollande of France, PM Letta of Italy, and PM Zeidan of Libya. When the Summit ends, Mr. Obama will leave Northern Ireland and fly to Berlin Germany.
• VP Biden talked about gun violence again.

Monday, June 17, 2013

• President Obama flew to Belfast Northern Ireland where he participated in the first day of the G8 Summit. There, he spoke at the Waterfront, met with Prime Minister Cameron, various leaders on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, delivered a statement, met with President Putin of Russia, attended a session, annd had dinner.
• While Mr. Obama attended meetings, Michelle Obama, their children, and other guests enjoyed Ireland on our dollar.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

• VP Biden attended a campaign event at Hobee's coffee shop.

Friday, June 14, 2013

• President Obama - received a daily briefing at 9:45 AM. Next, he hosted a Fathers's Day Luncheon at 11:30 AM. And, he finished the day by welcoming the WNBA Champion Indiana Fever to the White House.
• VP Biden attended a DNC event with his wife in California.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

• Mister Obama received a daily briefing at 11 AM. Then, at 11:40 AM, he met with Congressman John Dingell. Lastly, he spoke about Gay Pride at 5:05 PM.
• VP Biden delivered remarks at a celebration recognizing the Honorable John D. Dingell.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

• President Obama left the White House at 10 AM and flew to Boston MA, where he delivered remarks at a campaign fundraising event for Ed Markey. He then left Boston and flew to Miami FL where he attended to evening DNC events. He returned to the White House late that evening.

Obama: No time for America when meeting with foreign leaders and attending fundraisers

The Presidential duties of the past two weeks have been primarily focused on meeting with leaders of other countries and fundraising.  Very little time has been dedicated to the American public, leading the country, or working with any members of the Congress or Senate.

Having read the public schedule of the President over the past few months and summarizing it on this blog, we finally realized how little time Mr. Obama spends on U.S. domestic affairs versus meeting with and entertaining foreign leaders and diplomats. For example, whenever the President is abroad, his daily schedule appears to be filled with meetings and attending events.

However, when he is here in this country, his schedule typically accounts for only 2 to 3 hours of his time, unless he is on the campaign trail. In those cases, he will board Air Force One early in the morning and travel to various cities in order to attend campaign events.

For example, during the past few days that Obama has been in Seoul Korea, he has met with at least 6 world leaders and attended various work and ceremonial sessions. Before his trip, he spent 2 days with PM Cameron of the UK and met twice with PM Kenny of Ireland.

But by comparison, during the days he was in the White House, he only met with his senior advisers twice, had two Daily Briefings, and met once with Panetta, Clinton, and Geithner. At no time did he meet members of the Senate or Congress.

However, 12 campaign events were attended. Mr. Obama led the field with 6, VP Biden had 4, and Michelle Obama is credited with two.

Below is a summary of the travel events of President Obama, his wife Michelle, and Mr. and Mrs. Biden during the period of Wednesday March 14 through Tuesday March 27 2012.


Today, Tuesday - March 27, 2012

• Mr. Obama attended a plenary session and met with PM Yousaf Gillani. Afterward, he departed Seoul, Korea to fly back to the United States.
• Michelle Obama participated in the Cherry Blossom Festival Tree planting ceremony; and then she met with spouses of senior enlisted leaders
• VP Biden hosted a breakfast with Hillary Clinton

Monday - March 26, 2012

• Obama held bilateral meetings with President Hu Jintao of China and then President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. Later, he participated in a Nuclear Security welcome ceremony, dinner, photos, working  sessions and lunch
• Jill Biden spoke at 2012 National 4H Conference. In the evening, she and her VP husband hosted a reception honoring Women's History Month

Sunday - March 25, 2012

• President Obama held bilateral meetings with PM Erdogan of Turkey, President Lee Myung-bak of Korea, President Medvedev of Russia. He also attended a  news conference, working dinner, and spoke at Hankuk University
• Mrs. Obama welcomed school children for White House Kitchen Garden spring planting

Friday - March 23, 2012

• Mr Obama made a personal announcement. Later, he departed DC and flew to Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Mr. Biden attended a campaign event in Coconut Creek FL

Thursday - March 22, 2012

• President Obama delivered remarks in Oklahoma City. He then left Cushing OK and flew to Columbus OH where he toured Center for Automotive Research before flying back to DC

Wednesday - March 21, 2012

• Obama left DC and flew to Las Vega, NV. There, he toured Copper Mountain Solar 1 Facility and flew to Roswell NM where he delivered remarks. Afterwards, he flew to Oklahoma City OK
• VP Biden delivered remarks at a service hosted by Bipartisan Policy Center

Tuesday - March 20, 2012

• Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden met with Irish PM Kenny. Next, they all had St. Patricks Day lunch. In the evening, President & Michelle Obama hosted a St Patricks Day reception and VP Biden attended.
• Michelle Obama attended a campaign event at Locanda Verde, New York City

Monday - March 19, 2012

• President Obama spent 1 hour receiving a daily briefing and meeting with senior advisers. In the middle of the afternoon, he met with Hillary Clinton. At dinnertime, he attended a campaign event at the W Hotel.
• Mr Biden attended a campaign event in Morristown NJ for Menendez.
• Michelle Obama held a campaign event at Chelsea Piers, New York City

Saturday - March 17, 2012

• Joe Biden traveled to Pittsburgh PA and attended the parade. After, he went to a campaign event.

Friday - March 16, 2012

• President Obama flew to Chicago IL and attended 2 campaign events. Afterwards, he flew to Atlanta GA and attended 3 more campaign events.
• VP Biden was in Wilmington DE, but no official reason was given.

Thursday - March 15, 2012

• Obama spoke at Prince George's Community College
• Mr. Biden attended a campaign event

Wednesday - March 14, 2012

• Mr. Obama, Michelle, Joe & Jill Biden welcome PM Cameron. Then, the  President held 2 meetings with him and other delegations. He held a press conference the day. In the evening, the 4 first entertainers hosted an evening State Dinner for the Cameron's.
• The Biden's and Hillary Clinton hosted lunch for the PM.

Ireland is first stop in a six day European Trip

Today, the President and First Lady kicked off their 6 day European tour of four countries. They began their trip from Washington by flying on Air Force One.

First up was a stop in Dublin where the president addressed the people in Croke Park. Next he travels to Moneygall to visit his great-great-great-grandfathers home before he moved to America in 1850.

Other notable Presidents that have Irish roots include: John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan.

The president will then spend the evening in Dublin before flying off to his second stop in London tomorrow.