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.
‘Cause nothing says “romance” like a saturday afternoon cruise through Cabrini Green.
His staff was drained after placing the operational aspects of the Not So Stimulus plans in the hands of Pelosi’s minions.
His staff did no heavy lifting. Imagine if they did - it may have been postponed till July
The arsehole is just "playing President".
Gosh he sure takes enough vacations!
Give him a break...
a trip to the gym with his satchelman should do his nerves a lot of good
How much is this costing the taxpayer?
A vacation on Valentine’s Day? What a slacker.
Last weekend Camp David, this weekend Chicago. And they said GWB was never working.
Kind of like Al Capone being out of town when the Chicago St. Valentine’s day massacre occurred, Obama is in Chicago while the St. Valentines day massacre of the US economy is taking place in Washington.
Wondered if anyone would ‘get it’.
Oh, so he and MO have already visited with the families of the plane crash victims?
/s
Bush got into the office in suit before 7am and this goob doen’t get there until after 9am and doesn’t work a full day. Then dines at tax payer expense on exotic and expensive beef. Is it too soon to be sick of this goofball?
Has he even commented on it or offered his condolences or is he still campaigning?
When the going gets tough, Obama turns tail and runs.
Escapes?
If this ****** wants to leave the White House for good, who’s stopping him?
Like Michael Jackson, he's a lover, not a fighter!
(0bama)Call me on my Blackberry, if you need me
He already dumped his granny into the ocean. No need for any more photo ops there.
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