Posted on 12/24/2009 9:52:50 PM PST by libh8er
President Barack Obama left the cold weather and bitter politics of Washington, D.C. behind Thursday as he and the first family arrived on Oahu for a ten day Christmas vacation.
The president, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha boarded Air Force One in route to Oahu just a few hours after the U.S. Senate passed a healthcare overhaul bill 60-39 that failed to win a single republican vote.“The reform bill that passed the Senate this morning, like the House bill, includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable,” the president said before leaving for the Aloha State. “Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny you coverage on the basis of a preexisting condition.”
Yet to be settled is what will emerge from the Senate and House versions of the bill, which will likely be determined in a process known as conference committee.
Republicans still hope to defeat the final mock-up of the bill with most polls showing public support waning, especially among the elderly.
“Our members are leaving happy and upbeat,” said Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. “The public is on our side. This fight is not over.”
Arriving at Oahu’s Hickam Air Force Base at 3:35 p.m. local time, the president told Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono he was ready to relax. The first couple surprised a crowd of about seventy-five people when they took ten minutes to shake hands and extend holiday greetings.
"It shows that he cares about the military,” said serviceman Eric Wilson. “He took time out to come shake our hand.”
"He asked me what I wanted for Christmas and New Year (and) told us he wishes us a good day and the rest of the year,” said ten year old Jessica Taylor, whose father is a member of the U.S. Secret Service.
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann believes the Obamas’ ten day vacation on Oahu will do wonders for the state’s tourism industry, which has been deeply battered by the U.S. recession.
"I think it's going to create all kinds of demand,” the mayor told Khon2. “People are gonna want to come here when they see the president sunning and funning in Hawaii having great time.”
Despite spending $100,000 or more on presidential security, Hannemann believes the expenditure is an investment that will pay tremendous dividends for the cash strapped city, which faces a $140 million deficit during the next fiscal year.
"People talk about additional traffic congestion (and) how much it's going to cost to provide security through HPD - you know, it's all worth it.”
The first family is staying at a private residence on Kailua Beach valued at $8.9 million. Throngs of people lined the road in the sleepy town as the presidential motorcade made its way to the home on Kailuana Place.
Earlier in the day Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the president planned a low-key vacation.
“When I said that there were no scheduled public events, there also aren’t a lot of scheduled private events,” Burton told reporters onboard Air Force One. “I think the president is going to wake up and see where the day takes him.”
I really miss “W”
Carbon.
Footprint.
Cheers!
...and Merry Christmas.
Certainly NOT to church.
Merry Christmas to you !
Hint: The White House insiders and press pool would certainly know from traveling with the Pres__ent whether he gets on a prayer rug and faces Mecca 5 times a day.
When that is revealed, you know the long knives have come out and Rahm is no longer feared.
Cheers!
(Thanks)
Me too.
I miss Reagan even more!
LOL. You must be a mind reader. Seriously.
I pondered earlier about the muslim having a prayer rug in the WH, but decided he really only worships himself and wouldn’t risk the Secret Service discovering the rug, would he? Unless there’s a black muslim in his Secret Service detail...hmmm.
Merry Christmas, you!
So Boma is staying at a private residence on Kailua Beach valued at $8.9 million.
When Sarah and her family were there the other week for two days, if she were to stay at such a residence, the MSM would have been all over that.
oh waite, there were all over her visor.
Rush will also be in Hawaii over New Years playing golf. Maybe they will run into each other..
So much for letting air crews, secret service an their famlies be together for Christmas by keeping his seditious criminal ass planted in DC till Monday at least.
What a punk pos potus this pandering poser halfrican clearly is....
Doom on his agenda to make EVERYONE suffer....
Another "Back the truck up..."
According to several sources out of Hawaii (including The Honolulu Advertiser, which doesn't allow us to quote them here), tour flight operators in the area are pretty much grounded because of the no-fly zone around the Obamas, meaning they are LOSING money every day the thug is there. Some estimates are about $30,000 each. How is this helping the tourism industry?????
BO looks paler and his hair is grayer, too. Has he been dying his hair and wearing cosmetics?
I'm sure all the local churches are giving prayers of thanks that he's not. A church visit would be a logistical nightmare and would totally disrupt the intention of the services.
As far as I know he's never attended church in Hawaii and even if he had during high school, he probably was too stoned to pay much attention.
That’s right. Sarah is criticized for everything and he is praised for everything. The house boys better watch out for him.
I suspect he’s HIV positive.
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