Government

Obama Skipping Staggering Amount of Daily Intelligence Meetings

One of the centerpieces of the Democratic case for Barack Obama’s reelection in Charlotte last week was the President’s record on national security – specifically, his decision to pursue the operation that eventually led to the death of Osama bin Laden.

That impressive achievement, however, may be blunted by the force of revelations by former Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen in today’s Washington Post. Thiessen writes:

President Obama is touting his foreign policy experience on the campaign trail, but startling new statistics suggest that national security has not necessarily been the personal priority the president makes it out to be. It turns out that more than half the time, the commander in chief does not attend his daily intelligence meeting.

The Government Accountability Institute examined President Obama’s schedule from the day he took office until mid-June 2012, to see how often he attended his Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) — the meeting at which he is briefed on the most critical intelligence threats to the country. During his first 1,225 days in office, Obama attended his PDB just 536 times — or 43.8 percent of the time. During 2011 and the first half of 2012, his attendance became even less frequent — falling to just over 38 percent. By contrast, Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush almost never missed his daily intelligence meeting.

Thiessen was able to get comment from the White House’s National Security spokesman, Tommy Vietor, who told him,  “The president gets the information he needs from the intelligence community each day.”

Vietor’s reason for believing this is apparently that despite not attending meetings, President Obama reads the briefs on National Security that he receives every day, and simply can’t find time to attend the specific meetings. Thiessen does not find this persuasive:

Yet Vietor also directed me to a Post story written this year in which Obama officials discuss the importance of the intelligence meeting and extol how brilliantly the president runs it. “Obama reads the PDB ahead of time and comes to the morning meeting with questions. Intelligence briefers are there to answer those questions, expand on a point or raise a new issue,” The Post reported. “One regular participant in the roughly 500 Oval Office sessions during Obama’s presidency said the meetings show a president consistently participating in an exploration of foreign policy and intelligence issues.”

Not so consistently, it seems.

Thiessen has been a consistent critic of the Obama administration’s approach to national security and, as such, he is likely to be dismissed by liberals as a hack trying to turn a non-issue into an issue. Their argument might be considered stronger if not for reports that the President spends extraordinary amounts of time each day engaged in what amount to trivialities. For instance, one can imagine an argument that the President ought to spend less time perfecting his skill at bowling, and more time attending these briefings.

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Comments (150)

  • the rifleman
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:08pm

    My God people, how in the heck is he gonna get in a golf game or two if he’s gotta spend all day in dull meetings? He probably sends Joe in his place. That way Joe can lighten things up with his stupid remarks…

    Report this comment

    the rifleman  
    • sillyfreshness
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:18pm

      If Obama gets reelected, America will get what it deserves.

      Report this comment

      sillyfreshness  
    • DarkJello
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:19pm

      This story is kinda depressing, but not surprising.

      I agree with Rubio, “he is not a bad person, just a bad president.”

      Report this comment

      DarkJello  
    • Wildblue3
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:20pm

      The problem with that is that intelligence is a foriegn concept to Biden. You can tell this in the way he speaks.

      Report this comment

      Wildblue3  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:28pm

      Obama is the main threat to our security and he knows it…our enemies are laughing while we self destruct.

      Report this comment

      MCDAVE  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:29pm

      silly………i must agree with you 100%

      Report this comment

      oldguy49  
    • barber2
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:31pm

      Rifle: True. And Joe is the Democrat ” expert” on foreign affairs. Or, as Eastwood noted, the ” intelligence of the Democrat Party .” LOL

      Report this comment

      barber2  
    • rx4nv
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:43pm

      As long as his speech writers are there, we are good to go.

      Report this comment

      rx4nv  
    • mersey
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:47pm

      This is probably a blessing in disguise. Can you imagine the damage this man could do if he had interests outside of himself? The golf course and bowling alleys are an excellent place for Obama to spend his hours each day.

      Report this comment

      mersey  
    • Sirfoldallot
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 3:10pm

      Why worry, if Obama gets reelected no 1 will have a job , There will be no security as we know it.

      Report this comment

      Sirfoldallot  
    • Xyskalla
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 3:20pm

      Information? I don’t need information before making decisions. I already know what I’m going to do.

      National Security? I didn’t come to Washington to cater to partisan politics. I have more important things to do, I have an election to run, conservatives to vilify, fund raisers to plan, I have taxes to raise, regulations to implement, free stuff to give out and extra money to throw away. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the right… thing… to do!

      Report this comment

      Xyskalla  
    • ambrosia
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 3:56pm

      From the very day, this Punk took office,
      he found it boring & a drain on HIS agenda to have to deal with
      the daily PDB…that is a fact !

      Reviewing pending security threats to the country
      was ALWAYS George Bush’s first business of the day.
      He was smart enough to sense
      that if America was in danger of attack….NOTHING else mattered.

      The American people will never be burdened or know
      of all the threats & terror acts in progress,
      that were ferreted out & stopped before catastrophic results.

      The only matter important to Oblameo was HIS agenda.
      Just as he couldn’t be bothered with the Gulf Oil Spill-
      neither should he be bothered by security briefs.

      “Somebody PLUG the damn hole-
      America can ABSORB another terror attack”…those are his quotes !

      He was NEVER presidential material,
      he was all about “getting social justice”-
      don’t bother him with trivial things like security, Iran, Israel & the economy.

      He hires his own personal chef who, now
      is brewing a special “Honey Ale” in the White House.
      A few distributors are going to market it,
      as “El Presidente” Honey Ale…a tip of the beer mug to Latino voters ?
      Someone needs to ask-
      who is paying & benefiting from this ?

      Oblameo is lugging cases of “El Presidente” on Air Force One
      to pass out on the campaign trail.

      Community organizer turned micro brewer-
      in the meantime, presidential duty is a side gig..
      His TOP PRIORITY is thyself.

      We’ve got a LOSER…We NEED a Leader !

      Report this comment

      ambrosia  
    • lefty5005
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 3:56pm

      No offense to those who think Obama is not a bad person, just a bad POTUS. I am convinced he is a bad person also. He identifies with radicals, racists, communists, terrorists and people of bad character and integrity. He is a pathological liar and deceitful. Most of his policies since 2009 have been to misrepresent America, bad mouth America or help diminish an already poor economy. He does what is best for him, not for his country and is a selfish egocentric person. Despite the left touting his intelligence, it is obvious he is not because he is choosing not to show his college transcripts and records which could only indicate they are either less than average or non-existent. I don’t want a D student as POTUS no more than I want a guy who barely passed astrophysics running NASA. Yes, there are good managers who were not so good students but typically they do not command at the highest levels because there are too many smart people who are good leaders.

      Report this comment

      lefty5005  
    • PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 4:05pm

      No America does not deserve Obama since he was not eligible to run for US President in the first place, he is a fraud. And if he is re-elected after this time being vetted it will because the media has continued to cover-up the Fraud. The biggest Hoax ever perpetrated against the American People! See http://www.usasurvival.org “The Unvetted” and http://www.obamasrealfather.com…watch the 5 trailers provided included is one before the press club in Washington DC in July 2012. Don’t be fooled again.

      Report this comment

      PIGSWILLNEVERFLY  
    • FREEDOMoverFEAR
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 4:06pm

      Why don’t we make a law outlawing all politicians from using teleprompters? Who do teleprompters help? Only stupid people who can’t memorize a speech or people who just regurgitate someone else’s ideas, either way neither type of person should be elected to office.

      Outlaw Teleprompters for political use.

      Report this comment

      FREEDOMoverFEAR  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 4:14pm

      Who needs intelligence meetings anyway? Obama’s got Valerie Jarrett running the country while he continues his perpetual re-election campaign.

      Report this comment

      AvengerK  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 4:16pm

      Priorities,,,,,,golf, fundraising, party with clooney, basketball with Reggie Love, campaigning……….and more golf…….

      Report this comment

      Detroit paperboy  
    • calebjim
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 4:34pm

      The truth be known, he probably would be in over his head. I really doubt his intelligence in most situations.

      Report this comment

      calebjim  
    • glockpacker
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 4:36pm

      Silly: Not really. The lib-tards get what THEY deserve. The rest of us get SCREWED.

      Report this comment

      glockpacker  
    • Leadthemtothelight
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 5:01pm

      Shocking to hear that the POTUS clearly doesn’t give a **** about national security. I am really scared when I consider that Janet Incompetano is driving the ship. But what the hell these liberals want to see this country flushed down the toilet either by economic destruction or terrorist. Why attend a national security briefing if you have no intention of enforcing laws that will keep us safe. God protect us from the idiots currently in the white house.
      Romney/Ryan 2012….

      Report this comment

      Leadthemtothelight  
    • The_Jerk
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 5:04pm

      That’s because Obama has an aversion to intelligence.

      Report this comment

      The_Jerk  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 5:32pm

      Obum can’t handle intellectual activities. Someone else did his college work, wrote his books and gives him oral recaps of all meetings he skips (most). Obum can read a teleprompter well, provided he practices his speech beforehand. Sometimes, he gets too lazy and doesn’t check the speech for “big words.” That’s when the errors happen.

      @LEFTY
      Very few public figures will admit Barack is evil. Politicians obviously can’t. If incompetence were the only problem, we wouldn’t be deeply concerned about election fraud in November.

      Report this comment

      kryptonite  
    • Wool-Free Vision
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 5:40pm

      My browser kept crashing when trying to load this page. So I put it in debug mode and found that it was just a syntax error: “Obama” and “Intelligence” used in the same sentence presents a logical paradox which cannot be resolved.

      Report this comment

      Wool-Free Vision  
    • urnokid
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 8:13pm

      He don’t attend because there is no intelligence in the democrat party.

      Report this comment

      urnokid  
    • muffythetuffy
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 10:34pm

      Russian agent Obama getting his INTEL BRIEFINGS from Russian KGB. Obama is worth over 100 ICBMs to the Russians and a fleet of ballistic missal subs.

      Report this comment

      muffythetuffy  
  • Joel Knows
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:03pm

    Seems to be a simple choice for the wonderful leader: he chooses ignorance over intelligence any day for any problem, but when you’ve been deified by unquestioning followers, and believe your own press clippings, then the attitude becomes all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-wise.

    Report this comment

    Joel Knows  
    • Devildog0166
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:53pm

      A far cry from what he really is, unknowing, clue-less and cowardly!
      Semper Fi

      Report this comment

      Devildog0166  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 7:51pm

      The less he knows, the less he can tell the Iranians……..so this may not be a bad thing…..

      Report this comment

      Detroit paperboy  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:01pm

    why should he show up his golf game is why more important, and besides if he tells other countries what to do they will obey,he is god remember

    Report this comment

    commonsenseguy  
    • RLTW
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:07pm

      Everything you say is true, I’ve also heard Obama “the dear leader” has 18 holes in one.

      Report this comment

      RLTW  
  • libsareignorant
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:00pm

    it’s well-known the big Zero doesn’t like to get up too early in the mornings. Heck, that meeting is probably like 930AM….he can’t be there that early all the time!…..

    Report this comment

    libsareignorant  
    • scrudge
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 5:45pm

      praying to aLLAH takes time

      Report this comment

      scrudge  
    • RobbieTLHughie
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 10:28pm

      Why hasn’t anyone on this website who has an incredible amount of animus towards the President said word one about how this was a claim made from thin air from a political rival of the President’s?

      Report this comment

      RobbieTLHughie  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:00pm

    Remember, these are INTELLIGENCE meetings, there is a prerequisite to attend these.

    Report this comment

    Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:03pm

      Then how in Hades was he permitted to attend in the first place???

      Report this comment

       
    • Devildog0166
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:51pm

      You took half of my comment First he doesn’t care and second he is a idiot so he doesn’t quite qualify to be present.
      You would think by now Obonehead would be playing on the PGA tour. But then again, I don’t think they will allow Secret Service Agents to toss his ball back into the fairway after he hooks a tee shot on the tour.
      But then again Oblowhard just might change that rule too since he is the Coward in Chief.
      Semper Fi

      Report this comment

      Devildog0166  
    • Mustanger
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 3:39pm

      Your right, intelligence makes the imposter in chief uncomfortable. That would explain why he gets advice from scholars in the academia circles.

      Report this comment

      Mustanger  
  • Bruce01
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:56pm

    43 % of his time attending these meetings. He plays over 100 rounds of golf thats 10% of the days in office, basketball?? beer summits?? Bo and Joe have got to go.

    Report this comment

    Bruce01  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:54pm

    From what I have heard, all Obama does is watch ESPN and other shows on tv when he is actually in the White House. I’m not at all surprised that he doesn’t attend most of the meetings.
    He has Valerie to do his work for him, and he pays her handsomely. It’s no wonder why he sealed ALL his school records. He probably scrimped by and had other people do his work for him, while he choomed.

    Report this comment

    Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:54pm

    Dictators do as they please.

    Report this comment

    Tri-ox  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:53pm

    Why go to a meeting when Dear Leader already knows everything? After all, isn’t he the Smartest Guy in the History of Everything? Well, in everything except working an iPhone.

    Or counting.

    Or etiquette.

    Or humility.

    Or geography.

    Report this comment

     
  • termyt
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:53pm

    People. He’s a busy, important man. He can’t save us all and the planet, too if he’s needlessly tied down with trivial matters such as the security of the United States. He has lessers for that.

    Report this comment

    termyt  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:51pm

    No worry, since I’m sure that Obama reads the national security reports while sitting upon his “throne”.

    Report this comment

    Diane TX  
  • coyote1hell
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:50pm

    He hates, to be the most incompetent person in the room…that is why he spends so much time on the Golf Course……….

    Report this comment

    coyote1hell  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:48pm

    It’s been said before –
    Obama is not the main problem.

    THE MAIN PROBLEM is a public that lets this jackwad stay in office for one more day.
    I cannot believe that Obama is ahead in some polls.

    What are these people thinking?? Oy yeah – they’re NOT thinking….

    If we elect this SOCIALIST / MARXIST into office….. then America gets what it deserves.

    FAILURE

    Report this comment

    Eric_The_Red_State  
    • grimmster
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:14pm

      @Eric.
      The only reason obama is ahead in some polls, is because thats what they want you to believe,in this race with this idiot for prez,ignore any and all polls….

      Report this comment

      grimmster  
    • Meggars53
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 4:52pm

      Eric, keep in mind that most polls are over sampling deems and women as much as 14%, which will skew any poll. Also, Carter was way ahead of Reagan after the convention, but lost by over 9 points.

      Report this comment

      Meggars53  
  • BloodSweatandTears
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:48pm

    Nothing to interfere with his career moves…

    Report this comment

    BloodSweatandTears  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:47pm

    Does he know “something’s up/something’s coming?” That was the impression I got from his dnc non-performance. he thinks he is home free. How wrong, eternally wrong he is.

    Report this comment

    kickagrandma  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:52pm

      Three possibilities:

      He does not care about the intel information; as he continues on his crusade to crush and collapse the nation once and for all into a communist system with him at the helm.

      He could indeed know of a pending war or strike coming, that will enable him to carry out with greater force and effect the above mentioned plans of his for the nation.

      The more likely one is his continuing contempt of the Republic government, the narcissism he has, and his growing insanity are being shown more and more clearly with each passing day; when he goes over the edge into complete madness, he will be capable of doing any monsterous plans he can conceive of.

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • BloodSweatandTears
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:53pm

      Dear Kick, what do you read in this;

      Some say that the big O will never get out of office and others think R&R will produce a landslide…Somethings been bugging me about both theories, then I ran into this one:
      How Oblamo can win the election by means of a law called NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE or NPV, that is slowly creeping through the state legislatures to easily win all the 270 electoral votes required. It sent shivers up my spine on its subtly and cleverness. We won’t know what hit us and it will all be legal and a permanent progressive nightmare. You see it means to give the left/dem leaning larger cities the power to over rule the sub urban areas and virtually rob them of their conservative leaning votes. Cities like New York and Los Angeles will over rule any conservatives….etc. A critical number of states have already adopted it and it’s just a matter of time until enough do. Once that happens the big cities will call all future elections. See the link below.

      here:http://gulagbound.com/22535/#.UEqnp479PVU

      Report this comment

      BloodSweatandTears  
    • GlennaBeckski
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:12pm

      Having watched the first 20 min or so of his speech (fell asleep) I thought he seemed almost dead in a spiritual sense. Obviously not in the sense of his faith but almost like he was resigned to a preconceived outcome and he was just going through the motions.

      Maybe all hell will break loose pre, mid or post election and BO is PO’d history will color him as the 1st black president on whose watch the United States imploded. Not an impressive legacy to leave especially if you’re a narcissist.

      Report this comment

      GlennaBeckski  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:15pm

      @BloodSweat:

      I understand completely, even if Romney gets enough of the electorial college votes; there will still be the inevitable SCOTUS challenges from all corners by the Democrats, and the final tally by the Senate (under Reids control) that has to certify the total. Either of these can still give Obama the win despite the desires of the people.

      Failing that, as may of us expect, Obama may go for broke, nullify the elections and declare martial law on some manufactured reasons for a full scale coup and his dictatorship.

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • 762x51
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 5:28pm

      Snow – I understand completely, even if Romney gets enough of the electorial college votes; there will still be the inevitable SCOTUS challenges from all corners by the Democrats, and the final tally by the Senate (under Reids control) that has to certify the total. Either of these can still give Obama the win despite the desires of the people.

      Failing that, as may of us expect, Obama may go for broke, nullify the elections and declare martial law on some manufactured reasons for a full scale coup and his dictatorship.

      I got just two words for you on the outcome of that scenario – CIVIL WAR.

      Report this comment

      762x51  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:46pm

    The Narcissist feels that hes not needed at these Intelligence Meetings. He knows all and don’t need their input.

    Report this comment

    AJAYW  
  • IOWAGIR
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Well they interfere with his campaigning and how is he suppose to improve his swing if he is attending those. Just sayin’…

    Report this comment

    IOWAGIR  
  • barber2
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Obama: the empty chair in the White House. Even when he ISN’T campaigning…

    Report this comment

    barber2  
  • Charybdis
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:44pm

    Why is this a surprise? We already know that Obama had to be dragged off the golf course in time for the Situation Room photo-op after Panetta made the decision to take out OBL. And that was after Valerie Jarrett talked him out of giving the order three times earlier.

    Report this comment

    Charybdis  
  • jackact
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Intelligence meetings require…..intelligence.
    Which reminds me; where are the SAT, LSAT, college transcripts (including affirmative action grade curves) and Harvard Law Review publications of ‘the smartest man ever to assume the US Presidency?

    Report this comment

    jackact  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Give him a break, he’s busy. He’s got Leno tonight, Letterman tomorrow and Entertainment Tonight in between…there are a lot of important responsibilities involved with being POTUS, he doesn’t have time for all those boring meetings!

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
    • barber2
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:34pm

      AND he has to work on his post campaigning ” flexibility” since he made that promise to Comrade Putin ….

      Report this comment

      barber2  
    • SITDOWNANDSHUTUP
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 6:39pm

      Gonzo

      I think we should rename him “imPOTUS”

      Everything about him and his polices are limp and ineffective.

      Report this comment

      SITDOWNANDSHUTUP  
  • ErinLindsey
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:41pm

    can we sue Obama for “Presidential malpractice”??

    Seems like he’s lazy and isnt even bothering to make the slightest effort to do any real work.

    Report this comment

    ErinLindsey  
  • floridareader
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:40pm

    He might ask “intelligence, what’s that?”

    Report this comment

    floridareader  
    • IOWAGIR
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:47pm

      he would ask that if he had any in the first place.

      Report this comment

      IOWAGIR  
    • taxpro4u03
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:49pm

      Let’s NOT forget: ‘penalty’ now means ‘tax.’ — using that logic (Alinsky-speak) — Intelligence Briefing means — determining if today is “no underpants day, for cause” which ’cause’ is ‘plausible deniability.’ I LIKE how this new linguistic gymnastics event works ;-)

      Report this comment

      taxpro4u03  
  • huey6367
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:39pm

    If he attended these meetings people might expect to make decisions.

    Report this comment

    huey6367  
  • Obama Snake Oil Co
    Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:39pm

    Because when Obama and intelligence are used in the same sentence, there is automatically assumed gramatic error.

    Report this comment

    Obama Snake Oil Co  
    • IOWAGIR
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 1:48pm

      Lol!

      Report this comment

      IOWAGIR  
    • Devildog0166
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 2:57pm

      Or Oxy-moron or that he is just a moron!
      Semper Fi

      Report this comment

      Devildog0166  
    • kettererbg
      Posted on September 10, 2012 at 8:55pm

      Saying Owebowma and intelligence in the same sentence is an oxymoron. Regardless, he is putting the USA at grave risk by doing this. His command decisions can’t possibly be made with any responsible judgement while lacking the information needed to make any rational decision. He is the purest form of a traitor and violating his oath of office at the same time. Wait. I believe we have the Manchurian candidate.

      Report this comment

      kettererbg  

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