Obama Visits Bunch of Grapes Bookstore

Yesterday, Obama and his daughters went book shopping.

As the black Suburban carrying the president and his family pulled up, the crowd, which continued to grow, cheered and waved.

Daughters Sasha and Malia left the vehicle first, followed by their father, and they entered the bookstore. A member of the security team walked over to the corner of Main Street and Cromwell Lane. Times managing editor Nelson Sigelman, who had stepped out for a stroll, was standing on the corner along with a small group of people.

"Who wants to be lucky and meet the President," an agent said. "We can take 30 people."

One by one the group was scanned with an electronic security wand and lined up from the sidewalk to the waiting vehicle to greet the president when he left the bookstore. "Stand strong," one man said as he shook Mr. Obama's hand.

"Nice to see you," Mr. Obama said as he shook Mr. Sigelman's hand. "Nice to see you, too, welcome to Martha's Vineyard," the newspaperman replied.

"Four more years," some members of the crowd began to yell. Read more at MV TIMES

MV Gazette had the scoop on the book Obama bought: "The Bayou Trilogy," by Daniel Woodrell and "Rodin's Debutante" by Ward Just. Apparently Just is a local.

Obamas Spend New Year's Day on the Beach and Playing Tennis

Obama will sign the 9-11 responders health bill into law today from Hawaii. Obama will be back in DC on Jan. 4.

President Barack Obama spent New Year's Day at the beach and playing tennis on Windward Oahu.

The president began his day with a workout at the Semper Fit gym at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Just before noon, the president, his family and friends took a short motorcade ride from Kailua, where they are staying, to Pyramid Rock Beach at the edge of the base.

News reporters and photographers traveling with the president were kept away and weren't able to see whether the president went in the water. The Obamas spent part of Christmas Eve at the same white sandy beach.

Pyramid Rock has been dubbed "one of Oahu's bodysurfing jewels" by Midweek magazine. The Marine Corps sponsors an annual bodysurfing contest there. More at Star Advertiser

Obama Goes to Barbecue on North Shore

More on the Obama vacation as it winds down. Obama is due back by Jan. 4.

President Barack Obama and his family today traveled to the North Shore for a barbecue with a high school friend at his beachfront home.

Obama's 20-car motorcade traveled from Kailua to Mokuleia on a hourlong drive for an afternoon visit with longtime friend Bobby Titcomb.

Obama also visited Titcomb on the same day a year ago. Star Advertiser

Obamas Eat at Alan Wong's in Honolulu

Alan Wong cooked for the Obama party, which included Obama's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng and her husband and several Obama friends from Chicago and Hawaii:

President Obama and his party caused quite a stir dining at Alan Wong's Restaurant Honolulu on South King Street this evening -- one of his favorite restaurants.

Onlookers waited patiently outside Alan Wong's for three hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of the president, the first lady and the rest of their party. The award-winning eatery is in the same neighborhood where Obama grew up, and the president's motorcade passed the Honolulu apartment where he once lived with his late grandmother and the Baskin Robbins ice cream shop where he worked as a teenager. More at the Star A

Obama Goes Snorkeling and Golfing

The press was told that they were out of luck for photos.

President Barack Obama is snorkeling with friends and family at Hanauma Bay, a favorite destination for the first family during their Hawaiian vacations.

The president's motorcade arrived at the nature preserve late Tuesday morning. The area is closed to the public on Tuesdays, giving the president's party a chance to enjoy the bay in private. Reporters and photographers traveling with the president were also kept away. The group spent about two hours at the bay and left just before 1 p.m.

The Obamas spent time at Hanauma Bay last Christmas. The area is popular with snorkelers and is known for its coral reef.

After the beach, the president hit the links at the Mid Pacific Country Club, golfing with friends Bobby Titcomb, Mike Ramos, Eric Whitaker and Marty Nesbitt. The president finished 12 holes before leaving as the sun was setting over Kailua. Read more at SA

Obama Takes a Bunch of Kids Out for Shave Ice

Obama Takes Family Bowling

President Barack Obama is passing the time on a cloudy, rainy day with a family trip to the bowling alley.

The president, 12-year-old Malia and 9-year-old Sasha arrived at the bowling alley at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Monday afternoon. It's the same base where the president plays golf and where the first family uses a private beach.

The Obamas haven't had much in the way of beach weather since the president arrived here Saturday. More rain is forecast throughout the week. Read more at Hawaii's Star Advertiser

Obamas Spend Quiet Christmas With Family and Friends

The White House said the first family would be joined on Christmas Day by the president's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, who lives on Oahu, the island where Obama was born and spent most of his childhood. Several of Obama's childhood friends are also in town, along with family friends from Chicago, his home for most of his adult life.

On the first family's Christmas Day menu: steak, roasted potatoes, green beans and pie.

Thus far, Obama's excursions in Hawaii have been mostly to the gym and golf course. On Christmas Eve he visited the beach with his daughters.

Mrs. Obama skipped the beach so she could give some lucky children a Christmas surprise. The first lady answered calls for the "Tracking Santa" program, a Christmas tradition run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. With help from NORAD's Santa Route Schedule, Mrs. Obama was able to tell children Santa's whereabouts as he made his Christmas Eve rounds. Read more at Star Advertiser

Obama's Vacation Reading

Obama's reading "President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime." Obama's day two:

President Barack Obama began his second day of vacation in Hawaii the same way he started yesterday -- with a morning workout at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

The president and first lady were seen in a motorcade which left their Kailua vacation compound at 8:07 a.m. and arrived at the gym a few minutes later.

People waved and took pictures as the motorcade passed.

The president and first lady returned to the vacation home at 9:51 a.m.

On the way back, they may have caught a glimpse of a sign welcoming the family to Hawaii posted along the canal leading to the compound. The sign read: "E Komo Mai Obama Ohana."

A neighbor told reporters covering the president that she was able to meet first dog Bo when she was out walking her dog yesterday. Star Advertiser

Obama Golfs in Hawaii With Friends Dec. 23

On Obama's first full day in Hawaii, he golfed, which is par for the course. Ha!

After a little bit of work and a morning workout, President Barack Obama hit the links on his first day of vacation in Hawaii.

The president spent the afternoon golfing with childhood friends from Hawaii, Bobby Titcomb and Mike Ramos, as well as Eric Whitaker, a pal from Chicago, at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course overlooking the ocean at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

A media pool report said it is believed to be Obama's first full golf outing since Oct. 24, when the president played 18 holes at the Andrews Air Force Base course.

Obama returned at 4:45 p.m. to his rented vacation home in Kailua, where he is expected to spend the rest of the night. More at the Star Advertiser

Obama Arrives in Hawaii Video

Obama is joining his family and Bo. They arrived in Hawaii Dec. 18. Obama stayed behind until Congress finished its work. Hitching a ride home on Air Force One: Sen. Daniel Akaka and Rep. Mazie Hirono:

After a 10-hour flight, President Barack Obama arrived in Honolulu under a waning moon on a humid night.

It was 74 degrees with humidity climbing past 88 percent at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam when Air Force One touched down at 11:49 p.m.

About five minutes later, Obama appeared in the doorway of the jet wearing a long-sleeve white dress shirt and khaki long-pants. He waved to the members of the press.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) followed the president down the stairs. Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Gary North, 15th Wing Commander Sam Barrett, and Air Force Capt. Tyisha Owens greeted Obama and Owens presented him with a lei.

Obama got into his black SUV and the motorcade departed within 10 minutes.

The ride to his vacation home lasted 25 minutes, with the motorcade arriving in Kailua at 12:25 p.m. Read the rest here

Obama's Off to Hawaii Returning to DC Jan. 4

From Hawaii's newspaper:

President Barack Obama departed Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility in Maryland at 1:53 p.m. Hawaii time on his way to Honolulu to begin his Hawaiian vacation.

The president departed the White House at 6:34 p.m. after wishing a Merry Christmas to staff and media gathered for his departure.

Obama, wearing a long black coat to ward off the frigid Washington, D.C., temperatures, was accompanied by personal aide Reggie Love and other staffers.

Obama is scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam late tonight or early tomorrow morning, to rejoin his wife and two daughters who already are staying in their beachfront vacation home in Kailua.

His scheduled arrival is at 11:50 p.m. The airspace around Honolulu Airport will likely be shut down to departing and arriving flights when Air Force One lands. More at the Star Advertiser

Obama Family Minus Obama Heads to Hawaii

Obama said he'd wait until Congress is done. START treaty ratification is all that's left. The final vote on DADT repeal has passed (65-31) including 8 republicans! Now it heads to Obama's desk for signature.

President Obama is sticking around Washington while Congress votes on a few final bills, but his family isn’t waiting any longer to go to Hawaii for vacation.

Michelle Obama and Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, will be leaving for Christmas break on Saturday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters on Friday. Politico

The Obamas in Martha's Vineyard Video

Obama stops at Air Station Cape Cod on his way to Martha's Vineyard:

Obama and his daughters stop at a local book store.

Michelle, Malia and Sasha stop for ice cream at Mad Martha's where they have the ice cream flavor Barack My World:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

For vacation reading, Obama apparently has an advanced copy of Jonathan Franzen's new book, "Freedom."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Obama Family Heads to Martha's Vineyard Aug. 19

The Obamas will be vacationing for 10 days, which means it's time for critics to spend endless hours pontificating whether Obama deserves a vacation and if now is the right time and if Martha's Vineyard is too foo foo, etcetera, etcetera. Fun times.
Read more about Obama's visit at the Vineyard Gazette.

12:35 PM	The President departs the White House en route Andrews Air Force Base South Lawn Open Press
12:50 PM	The President departs Andrews Air Force Base en route Martha’s Vineyard Andrews Air Force Base Travel Pool Coverage
2:00 PM	The President arrives Cape Cod, Massachusetts Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station Open Press
2:15 PM	The President arrives Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts Travel Pool Coverage

Who Pays for Obama's Vacations? And Other Whining About Obama Vacations

Update Jan. 5, 2013: False reports about Obama's vacation time, expenses and Air Force 1 travel abound on the internet, with a wide range of tales. My personal favorite is the one in which Bo gets his own plane. I mean, what kind of idiot would believe that?
The latest from CBS's Mark Knoller, who keeps track of presidential vacation days.

Since assuming office in January 2009, President Obama has taken all or part of 83 vacation days, according to CBS News White House correspondent, Mark Knoller. At that rate, Mr. Obama will be on par to take about 168 vacation days during his eight-year tenure.

....

Here's how Mr. Obama stacks up against more recent Presidents, if he keeps pace with 168 vacation days over eight years. President George W. Bush took all or part of 297 days at his Texas ranch. Bill Clinton took 174 days at Martha's Vineyard and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Ronald Reagan vacationed 349 days at his California ranch over eight years. Hawaii News Now

Update Dec. 22, 2012: Well, it's that time of year again. Rumors abound about how much money taxpayers spend on Obama's vacation and gullible people who want to believe the worst spread the gossip. Things to know: 1) Obama is never really on vacation. 2) The Obamas pay for personal expenses, food, lodging... 3) Bo doesn't fly in his own plane 4) Obama deserves family time 5) Factcheck on Obama's AF1 travels 6) Factcheck on Obama's vacation days - hint, he doesn't take more than any other president.
For more info on presidential travel, see this report.

Update June 18, 2012: Ann Romney gets a little ahead of herself, talking about how she and Mitt will vacation as president and first lady, and goes on to say that the Obamas take a lot of overseas vacations. What? Apparently, Ann Romney, who lives in a bubble, is counting G20 and other presidential business as vacations or she's spending too much time at Fox News. FLOTUS made a trip to Spain with the girls, but that's the only overseas vaca I know of.

Update Aug. 18, 2011. It's that time of year, the time to knock Obama for taking a vacation--as if he could really do that. Once again, it's CBS's annual vacation day report: Obama has taken 61 days so far, Reagan took 121 at the same point in time, Bush, 200. WATCH

Every Obama vacation it's the same thing, a bunch of self-righteous fools run their mouths all over the internet saying that Obama's vacations are taxpayer funded and that Obama goes on a lot of vacations. Wrong on both.

I've noticed that our worthless media outlets haven't made any attempts at reporting on the presidential travel policy. There's just a lot of misinformation out there from people trying to manipulate other people (and blatant racism--just read the comments on Michelle's trip to Spain at FoxNation. It seems a black first lady isn't allowed quite the same freedom as a white first lady. Never has there been so much fuss over a first lady's vacation. Yes, Laura Bush vacationed with an entourage as well).

Here is what I found out:

Obama's vacations have been far fewer than Bush's.

Factcheck.org lists Obama's vacations so far.

Bo doesn't fly in his own plane.

As far as Michelle Obama's four-day Spain vacation--the Obamas pay for it because it's a private trip. From the White House press briefing:

Q Okay, one last thing real quick. Just to get it on the record, the First Lady’s trip to Spain with Sasha, what portion of that is paid by taxpayers and what portion by --

MR. GIBBS: I would point you over to the First Lady’s office. It’s a private trip and is being paid for that way.

If you want a full breakdown on presidential, first lady and vice presidential travel policy, check out this report:

For security and other reasons, the President, Vice President, and First Lady use military aircraft when they travel.1 The White House generally categorizes the trips as fulfilling either official or political functions. Often, a trip involves both official and political, or unofficial, activities. When a trip is for an official function, the government pays all costs, including per diem (food and lodging), car rentals, and other incidental expenses. When a trip is for political or unofficial purposes, those involved must pay for their own food and lodging and other related expenses, and they must also reimburse the government with the equivalent of the airfare that they would have paid had they used a commercial airline. When a trip involves both official and political activities, a formula determines the amount to be reimbursed for that part of the trip involving political activities. Whether a trip is for official or political purposes, the Air Force pays all operational and other costs incurred by the use of the aircraft. While the travel policies of specific Administrations concerning the reimbursement of expenses for unofficial travel generally are not publicly available, it appears that policy guidelines developed by the Reagan White House have served as a basis for the travel policies of subsequent Administrations.

Also, Obama DESERVES vacation time. He has perhaps the toughest job in the world. As President he's always on the job, day and night, and no vacation is ever a real vacation, the kind that he can take in obscurity and without worry of pirate attacks or whatever.

Obama also has a family to preserve. He's human.

Not everyone in America gets to take a vacation, but is that the President's fault? Does that mean he shouldn't take a vacation.

People who can't take a vacation need to look at their own spending habits. After all, the recession can also be blamed on American lust for material goodies. In the lead up to the recession, people bought homes they couldn't afford, used their houses like ATM machines and were busy keeping up with the Joneses, who were wealthier than they. Wall Street took advantage of that greed to meet OUR demand.

People ought to stop blaming Obama for everything and take a look at themselves. Obama is the president, not Superman. I'm rambling. 

Then there's always the whining about Obama's choice of vacation locations, as if Maine is too luxurious. It's funny, Americans aspire to be wealthy, but hate those who are wealthy.

Then there's always the burning question every single time Obama goes on vacation: Should Obama go on vacation now? As if there is ever a good time to go on vacation if you're the president.

I would understand if Obama was a lame president. But he is perhaps one of the most productive ever.

People who whine about Obama's vacations are being idiotic and petty.

I am happy that Obama is taking vacation time and spending time with his family, shooting hoops, golfing and doing whatever it takes to do be of sound mind and body.

In the first year and a half, Bush took 96 vacation days, Obama, 36:

Obama Family to Vacation on Florida Gulf Coast Aug. 14-15

Michelle Obama on the gulf coast beach where she spoke earlier this month

No other details yet. USA Today says that the Obamas usual vacation at Martha Vineyard is unofficially slated for Aug. 19-28.

Obama Family Vacation in Maine Video

Read more about their trip and see photos at the Bangor Daily News. This is their last day of a two-day getaway. Obama arrives back at the White House around noon.



It's always nice to hear people say they actually like Obama. The shallow media narrative says there isn't a single person on the planet who thinks Obama is a great president.

The Obamas on Maine Vacation Day 2

Obama and family began their second day of vacation on Maine's Mount Desert Island on Saturday with a short trip from their hotel to an athletics club and spa in downtown Bar Harbor.

The president, First Lady Michelle and the couple's two daughters — 12-year-old Malia and 9-year-old Sasha — left the Bar Harbor Regency hotel just before 10 a.m. Saturday, winding their way through town as spectators watched and waved from the sidewalk. The Obamas quickly exited their SUV and entered the Bar Harbor Club, a private establishment on the downtown waterfront.

Built in 1929 by legendary Wall Street financier J.P. Morgan, the Bar Harbor Club offers a variety of activities for the Obamas, including tennis courts, fitness facilities, pools and a spa. Read more and see photos at the Bangor Daily News

The Obamas Bike Ride in Maine

The Obama family arrived in Maine today for a two-day vacation. They started with a bike ride.

Within 40 minutes of landing, the president and family were taking a private bike ride on the carriage roads around Witch Hole Pond, located just northwest of Bar Harbor. Earlier at the airport, the president disembarked Air Force One first, stopping to shake hands and talk for several minutes with Gov. John Baldacci, his wife, Karen, and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, who presented the family with several bags of Maine gifts. Michelle Obama and the couple's two daughters — Malia, age 12, and Sasha, who is 9 — then exited the plane and greeted the governor and congressman. Read more and see photos at BDN