“Air Force-estimated cost of $181,757 per flight hour” http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/01/obama-air-force-one-2010-by-the-numbers.html

–and Carbon Footprints— (What about your Carbon Footprint Mrs. Obama?)

* A car with 40 mpg fuel economy driven for 2400 miles emits 0.708 (of CO2 aka ‘Carbon Footprint’)

* A average airplane flown for 2400 miles emits 1.164 (of CO2 aka ‘Carbon Footprint’)

And with many thanks to our British Reporters–please read on.

SPAIN: AUGUST 2010
Michelle Obama and 40 of her friends paid for personal expenses, such as hotels and meals themselves.
* But the U.S. taxpayer would have paid for the 68-strong security detail, personal staff and use of presidential jet Air Force Two.
* Payment for the secret service team ran at around $281 each – nearly $98,000 for the duration of the summer break.
* Use of Air Force Two comes in at $149,900 for the round trip, not including time on the ground.

Mrs Obama’s personal staff, of which there were an unknown number, should also be taken into account

HAWAII: DECEMBER 2010
According to the Hawaii Reporter the costs were: $63,000 on an early flight bringing Mrs Obama and the children to Hawaii ahead of the President
* $1,000,000 on Mr Obama’s return trip from Washington on Air Force One
* $16,000 to rent nearby homes for Secret Service and Navy Seals
* $134,000 for 24 White House staff to stay at the Moana Hotel
* $251,000 in police overtime
* $10,000 for an ambulance to be on hand at all times

SKI TRIP TO VAIL: FEBRUARY 2011
Michelle Obama and her daughters stayed at the Sebastian hotel on Vail Mountain, where rooms cost more than $2,400 for multi-bedroom suites.
The family appear to have flown there on Air Force Two.
They were escorted to the resort by about a dozen vehicles, including 15 state and local law enforcement officers.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD: AUGUST 2011
The Blue Heron Farm estate, where the Obama family stayed, rents for about $50,000 a week.
Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama flew to the estate just hours before the president to make the most of the holiday – again, incurring extra flight costs.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the Coast Guard was required to keep ships floating near the property. The presidential helicopter and jet remain at the ready and security agents will be on 24-hour duty.

HAWAII: DECEMBER 2011
According to the Hawaii Reporter the costs were:
* $63,000 on an early flight bringing Mrs Obama and the children to Hawaii ahead of the President but add security and personnel for a total of about $100,000
* $3,271,622 on Mr Obama’s return trip from Washington on Air Force One
* $151,200 to rent nearby homes for Secret Service and Navy Seals
* $72,216 for 24 White House staff to stay at the Moana Hotel

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2103173/Just-weeks-17-day-Hawaii-holiday-Michelle-Obama-takes-daughters-ski-trip-Aspen.html

I also believe it is time for users to step up. Why is it such a hard concept that perhaps there should be some nominal charges for bus users, athletic fee’s and students in general. Teachers have offerred many solutions and a willingness to cut back. The district says it will lose about $200 per student in state funding. Well, parents? My kids are in private school and I am making cuts in my personal spending to keep them there. The free lunch is over people! It’s time for ALL parents to step up.

Repeal the open space tax. It has been used and abused. The $6MM spent on Edwards open space, millions on the Bair Ranch, Homestead…….what a joke! Those are liberal ideas for job creation? Nice.