OAKHURST — Despite the ongoing national security crisis surrounding the Orlando terror attack, President Barack Obama is planning a visit to several national parks late this week, including Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico and Yosemite National Park in California.
The Yosemite region is anticipating his visit, including increased traffic and security around the park. Summer is high season for the Yosemite region, and accommodation is difficult to find under ordinary circumstances.
A clerk at a local store told the Fresno Bee: “He’s just another individual, another person,” adding, “They’re kinda screwed if they’re trying to get a hotel or campsite this weekend.”
Separately, the Bee also notes that Obama’s visit comes as the National Park Service is embroiled in a series of internal controversies, including claims of sexual harassment at the agency.
Obama has come under criticism for his frequent vacation habits since the very beginning of his presidency, when he took an extended trip to Hawaii as President-elect, despite an intense war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Last December, he delayed visiting San Bernardino after Islamic terror attacks there killed over a dozen people, stopping over only on his way to vacation in Hawaii.
In related news, a 23-year-old woman was recently convicted of defacing one of the most beautiful trails in Yosemite by sketching on rocks with markers — then posting her drawings on social media:
A 23-year-old San Diego woman was sentenced to two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service for damaging some of the most picturesque rock formations in seven national parks by drawing or painting on them using acrylic paints and markers.
Casey Nocket pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of damaging government property after painting a similar image called “Smoking Lady” and the handle “creepytings” on some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, including on the beginning of the John Muir Trail in Yosemite. She would post photos of her drawings on her social media accounts.
Obama is planning to visit Orlando Thursday before leaving for his vacation.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new book, See No Evil: 19 Hard Truths the Left Can’t Handle, will be published by Regnery on July 25 and is available for pre-order through Amazon. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
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