Posted on 02/13/2009 11:50:13 AM PST by fiodora
resident Barack Obama is getting away from Washington for a few days to his home in Chicago, leaving behind Cabinet headaches and a partisan divide over his economic stimulus package.
Obama was to make a Friday afternoon flight with his wife, Michelle, and daughters to his chilly hometown, his first return there since taking office. Aides said he planned a low-key, four-day holiday weekend, including a Valentine's Day dinner on Saturday with his wife and a likely basketball game with friends.
Congress this week reached a compromise on a $790 billion economic package that Obama had wanted to sign before he went on vacation. Instead, he was likely to see Congress pass it while watching C-SPAN.
"Diverse viewpoints are the lifeblood of our democracy. Debating them is how we learn from each other's perspective. We temper each other's excesses, we make better decisions," Obama said Thursday in Peoria, Ill., where he stumped for final passage of the massive tax cutting and spending bill aimed at jolting the economy back to life.
"But the debate is now coming to an end. ... It is time for Congress to act, and I hope they act in a bipartisan fashion."
But even as he anticipated victory on the stimulus bill, he suffered a major setback when a third member of his Cabinet withdrew his name from nomination. This time, New Hampshire Republican Judd Gregg said he would remain in the Senate and decline a job running the Commerce Department, the second person to withdraw from consideration for the post.
"The one thing I want to make sure of is that people don't take from this the notion that we can't get Democrats and Republicans working together," Obama told reporters after Air Force One landed in Springfield, Ill., where the president spoke at a dinner marking the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. "I am going to keep on working at this and eventually we are going to break down some of these barriers."
Obama aides say the president plans a weekend largely out of sight, his first real break since his inauguration on Jan. 20. Last weekend he flew by helicopter to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains.
During the time between his election in November and his inauguration in January, Obama stayed in his Hyde Park home and kept a predictable routine: gym in the early morning hours, breakfast with his family, then work at his office. He sometimes ventured out for dinner at restaurants or at friends' houses, but that dropped off as he neared Inauguration Day.
Obama aides said they expected a similar agenda this trip, which was expected to last until Monday.
Less than a month in, and already taking a vacation. I wonder what Mikey Moore would have to say about that?
You now, we have to take it easy on him... you know, like how he had to get out of the White House the other day to talk to some school kiddies.
TV Reporter in Crawford: "Mr. Bush, what's your reaction to President Obama going on vacation for Valentine's Day?"
Bush [splitting logs, hesitates]: "Vacation already? Imagine that!" [smiles, goes back to splitting logs]
Wow. I never knew that V Day was a vacation time. Man, Berry is just full of information.
Not even there to vote “present”....
Jeez, if he is so badly unravelled already, what is he going to be like two or three years out?
resident Obama. I like that.
Wonder why he didn’t choose Hawaii like he usually does? Hmmmm....
Geee....something happened in Chicago on Valentines Day years ago....right there on the tip of the tongue......
Perfect word
He hasn’t even been on the job for a month and he’s taking a vacation? I start a new job on the 18th. Do yall think my boss would mind if I took a 4 day weekend in a couple of weeks?
Um...Activism/Chapters?
If you were absolutely unqualified for the job, no he wouldn't. ;)
Lazy, par for the course. All alike
Great minds think alike and all that...
Not to worry we have all the money in the world to blow away on fuel for these idiots..to go to Chicago to meet their terrorist friends for Valentine day..Why is it every time Bush tried to take a vacation he was shunned by the left, but when these idiots want to spend the week end in Chicago after all the stress of two weeks traveling the country using more fuel on stupid things.Like his wife Michaelle and her frieds and mother going on a speaking tour..What is a speaking tour?These commie make me sick..
He hates being in the White House. Don’t look for him to spend much time there. Too many people around watching him and his entire life is about secret deals and hiding things.
LMAO!
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