The time on vacation is silly. The places of vacation aren't.
Bush, Bush and Reagan were far more likely to be in Crawford, Kennebunkport, or the Western White House, land that they owned and operated, than they were to be in places like Martha's Vineyard or Maine at a hotel or B&B.
That's a big difference, since the cost of securing land they already owned is lower and far less intrusive than trying to secure a public hotel, B&B or the home of some campaign donor. ( http://www.hawaiireporter.com/president-obamas-million-dollar-plus-trip-to-hawaii-costs-to-taxpayers-detailed )
And having lived in Chicago, even the cost of securing the Obama's Hyde Park home ( http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Chicago-Police-to-Stop-Guarding-Obamas-Home-60664427.html ) isn't cheap compared to securing the other three locations I mentioned.
And unlike Michelle's trip to Africa, I don't think the former FLOTUS were bringing a hairdresser and makeup artist along for the ride (yes, she had both with for her "humanitarian" trip). If Angela Jolie can afford to go au naturale on her many trips to far off places, so can FLOTUS. Or she can do her own damn hair and makeup.
Someone who can't draw the line between necessary and discretionary spending in their personal life shouldn't be running the country at a time when we need to cut trillions of debt and excess spending.
