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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: mongers on August 11, 2014, 05:22:43 PM

Title: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: mongers on August 11, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
Both Obama and Cameron are now on two week long holidays.

Is this appropriate at a time when the world seems to be processing a lot of history ?


More broadly, when, where and how often should senior politicians and leaders go on holiday ?
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: citizen k on August 11, 2014, 07:21:36 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 11, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
... how often should senior politicians and leaders go on holiday ?

All the time.

Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2014, 07:33:41 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 11, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
Both Obama and Cameron are now on two week long holidays.

Is this appropriate at a time when the world seems to be processing a lot of history ?


More broadly, when, where and how often should senior politicians and leaders go on holiday ?

This just in, puddytat:  the world is always processing a lot of history.  It's sort of a non-stop kinda process.  Doesn't mean you can't catch a few rays and a Long Island Iced Tea once in a while. 

They're on vacation during the traditional vacation time.  Plenty of people go on two week vacations in the middle of summer, they just don't have their SIOP officer with them.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Sheilbh on August 11, 2014, 07:39:15 PM
I don't mind them going on holiday.

But I think Cameron should probably recall Parliament and head back to London for the day. The military are now supporting the Americans in Iraq and that is, like a terrorist attack, one of the times when I think the PM should say something even if it is interrupting his holiday.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Caliga on August 11, 2014, 07:46:10 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 11, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
Both Obama and Cameron are now on two week long holidays.

Is this appropriate at a time when the world seems to be processing a lot of history ?


More broadly, when, where and how often should senior politicians and leaders go on holiday ?
Never.  We need a President like Jimmy Carter again... except a non-shitty version would be great. :)
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Tonitrus on August 11, 2014, 08:41:12 PM
Pretty sure I heard on the news the other day that Putin is on vacation as well.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Phillip V on August 11, 2014, 08:46:11 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 11, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
More broadly, when, where and how often should senior politicians and leaders go on holiday ?
Let the leader decide.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2014, 09:21:08 PM
Christ, had to delete all those posts.  Sleep it off, Siegy.  Goddamn.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Siege on August 11, 2014, 09:23:37 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 11, 2014, 09:21:08 PM
Christ, had to delete all those posts.  Sleep it off, Siegy.  Goddamn.
I don now what I said.
What did I say?
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Siege on August 11, 2014, 09:24:46 PM
I don't re,emeber!
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Eddie Teach on August 12, 2014, 12:59:20 AM
Quote from: mongers on August 11, 2014, 05:22:43 PM
More broadly, when, where and how often should senior politicians and leaders go on holiday ?

Off season, to get good deals and save the taxpayers money.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Viking on August 12, 2014, 02:07:09 AM
Never, they should be worked until they have mental breakdowns which they mitigate with anti-depressants or benzadrine to make sure they can't think straight when dealing with significant issues.

Politicians are like a grognard's cardboard counters, if they aren't at the front they are being wasted.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Razgovory on August 12, 2014, 02:37:02 AM
Quote from: Viking on August 12, 2014, 02:07:09 AM
Never, they should be worked until they have mental breakdowns which they mitigate with anti-depressants or benzadrine to make sure they can't think straight when dealing with significant issues.

Politicians are like a grognard's cardboard counters, if they aren't at the front they are being wasted.

That's kinda what happened to Nixon.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Viking on August 12, 2014, 04:00:49 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 12, 2014, 02:37:02 AM
Quote from: Viking on August 12, 2014, 02:07:09 AM
Never, they should be worked until they have mental breakdowns which they mitigate with anti-depressants or benzadrine to make sure they can't think straight when dealing with significant issues.

Politicians are like a grognard's cardboard counters, if they aren't at the front they are being wasted.

That's kinda what happened to Nixon.

And Anthony Eden and Kjell Magne Bondevik.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on August 12, 2014, 04:29:20 AM
About 32 weeks a year of holiday/other work would seem appropriate.

Government ministers might need to work longer hours of course.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Caliga on August 12, 2014, 05:35:38 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 12, 2014, 02:37:02 AM
That's kinda what happened to Nixon.
Nixon went on vacation plenty, though.  He had a place in the Florida Keys and a place out in San Clemente too.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: derspiess on August 12, 2014, 12:28:10 PM
Presidents (and I assume PMs) are working even when they're vacationing, so I'm not getting worked up about this.  It was a silly criticism of both Bushes and it's just as silly now. 
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Grey Fox on August 12, 2014, 12:33:49 PM
Siege, we need to talk with your wife. Can you get her here?
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Razgovory on August 12, 2014, 12:34:59 PM
Quote from: Caliga on August 12, 2014, 05:35:38 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 12, 2014, 02:37:02 AM
That's kinda what happened to Nixon.
Nixon went on vacation plenty, though.  He had a place in the Florida Keys and a place out in San Clemente too.

He still burned out.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Admiral Yi on August 12, 2014, 04:36:48 PM
They should schedule vacations during the winter, when less shit happens.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Valmy on August 12, 2014, 05:30:31 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 12, 2014, 12:28:10 PM
Presidents (and I assume PMs) are working even when they're vacationing, so I'm not getting worked up about this.  It was a silly criticism of both Bushes and it's just as silly now. 

I did get to learn a lot about Kennebunkport, Maine during the Bush I administration.  That is just a cool name for a vacation town.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: crazy canuck on August 13, 2014, 03:22:59 PM
Quote from: Caliga on August 12, 2014, 05:35:38 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 12, 2014, 02:37:02 AM
That's kinda what happened to Nixon.
Nixon went on vacation plenty, though.  He had a place in the Florida Keys and a place out in San Clemente too.

Dont forget his famous vacation in China
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: mongers on August 13, 2014, 03:25:38 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 12, 2014, 05:30:31 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 12, 2014, 12:28:10 PM
Presidents (and I assume PMs) are working even when they're vacationing, so I'm not getting worked up about this.  It was a silly criticism of both Bushes and it's just as silly now. 

I did get to learn a lot about Kennebunkport, Maine during the Bush I administration.  That is just a cool name for a vacation town.

You misheard, that was the initiation ceremony they performed there.
Title: Re: When Should Politicians Go On Holiday ?
Post by: Sheilbh on August 13, 2014, 04:02:54 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 12, 2014, 12:28:10 PM
Presidents (and I assume PMs) are working even when they're vacationing, so I'm not getting worked up about this.  It was a silly criticism of both Bushes and it's just as silly now.
But it's different. PMs are directly accountable to Parliament.

The issue isn't that they shouldn't have a holiday, but that if something big happens, like using the forces overseas or a terrorist attack then they should recall Parliament to explain their position and let the Commons debate the issue.

Personally I think it would've been better if Cameron recalled Parliament after the UK started helping out the US in Iraq and then he had another fortnight's holiday than recalling it now and coming home a day early.