Obama Ices Annual Hawaii Trip Until Congress is Done for the Year

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that President Obama will postpone his Hawaii Christmas vacation until Congress adjourns for the year.

The outgoing Democratic Congress still has much work to do before adjourning on a number of issues key to the administration. The Hill

Obama Golfs With Bloomberg Video

Tomorrow is Obama's final day of vacation.

President Obama teed off with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) on Friday during his Martha's Vineyard vacation.

The two spoke about the economy for 15 minutes in the clubhouse before heading out to the course at the Vineyard Golf Club, according to a White House pool report. The Hill

Obamas Lunch at Nancy's Video

Obama's vacation comes to an end this Saturday. On Sunday, he'll mark Katrina in New Orleans and on Tuesday, he'll give a speech on Iraq.
See photos of the Obamas' vacation here.

Obama and Friends Dine at Sweet Life Cafe

Since its raining at Martha's Vineyard, the Obamas have been indoors playing taboo and scrabble and tonight the Obama family ventured out with friends to Sweet Life Cafe.

For the first time since their arrival four days earlier, President Obama and the first lady braved a gale-force wind to dine out Monday evening in Oak Bluffs, choosing the French-American cuisine of The Sweet Life Café.

Joining them were Valerie Jarrett, a close family friend and one of the president's senior advisers, and Chicago pals Eric and Cheryl Whitaker. More at WaPo

Obama's Vacation: Books, Golf, Basketball

Obama, halfway through is 10-day vacation, is managing to stay away from the media:

A rainy, windswept Monday afternoon found Mr. Obama shooting hoops at the Oak Bluffs School with longtime Chicago friend and former Illinois public health director Eric Whitaker along with UBS chief Robert Wolf and his two sons.Last night the Obamas dined out at the Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs, marking their second visit in two years to the contemporary French American restaurant tucked off Circuit avenue and owned by Susan and Pierre Guerin. Their dining companions were Eric and Cheryl Whitaker and Valerie Jarrett. Last summer the Sweet Life was the only place where the Obamas had dinner out.
...

Islanders hoping for a more visible vacation by the president this year were disappointed over the weekend. Save a Friday morning trip to Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven the president eschewed the public limelight for an itinerary of low-profile rest at Blue Heron Farm, the private estate fronting the Tisbury Great Pond in Chilmark that the Obamas are renting for a second consecutive year. It appeared that three things were on the President’s mind before the weather turned rainy: books, beach and golf. Read more at Martha's Vineyard Gazette.

New Mid-East Peace Talks Date Set for Sept. 2

Hillary Clinton announced a relaunch of Mid-East peace talks tentatively set for Sept. 2, bringing together Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu.
It's interesting that CBS labeled this video--"Obama's vacations" as opposed to "peace talks to resume." I guess no one would watch if it was about peace talks because we'd much rather speculate and gyrate and play the Obama vacation game.

Obama Heads Back to DC Jan. 3

The Obamas visited the troops in Hawaii

Last night, the Obamas dined out. Today, they head back to the White House:

President Obama spent his last full night of vacation having dinner with the first lady and several friends at a popular local restaurant featuring Hawaiian cuisine.

It was a short meal by presidential standards. The Obama's were in and out of Lucy's Grill 'n Bar in almost exactly an hour and 45 minutes. Politico

If you missed the photos of the Obamas Christmas and their visit to Hawaii, you can catch up here.

Obama Gets a Snowbama Shave Ice

Obama may get more than just a shave ice named after him. Yesterday's outing to get shave ice at the Island Snow shop:

At least 100 people crowded around barricades yesterday afternoon outside the Kailua Island Snow shop to catch a glimpse of a casual President Obama, wearing sunglasses and dressed in shorts and a white T-shirt, enjoying shave ice with his daughters and about 16 friends.

Obama ordered shave ice for the group, going up to the counter with a long list of orders on lined notebook paper folded in half.

For himself, he ordered the shave ice named after him at the Kailua Road store — the Snowbama — which is a combination of lemon-lime, cherry and passion-guava.

"I like my shave ice straight, no frills," Obama explained.

The president's daughters, Malia and Sasha, were in shorts, sleeveless shirts and rubber slippers. More at HI

Obama Gets a Hawaiian Rainbow

President Obama has begun his day, as usual, with a morning workout at Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s “Semper Fit” gym.

A media pool report from B.J. Reyes of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin said reporters were told first lady Michelle Obama was also there. More at HI

Obama Family Friend Injured in Hawaii

Apparently, the rumor mill is running at full speed. Everything is fine. No one tried to kill the president or the First Family or anyone. A child, on vacation with the Obamas, was hurt but is fine:

President Obama abruptly left the golf course Monday morning and returned to the home where he is staying in Lailua after the child of a family friend was reportedly injured there.

"The first family is fine," White House spokesman Bill Burton told the pool.

The child, whose father was golfing with Obama, was hurt in a "run-of-the-mill beach injury" and will require stitches, an official told the pool. More at Politico

Obama's Hawaiian Roots

In Hawaii, everyone's a minority.

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The Obamas Visit Marines in Hawaii

On Christmas day, the Obamas visited with Marines in Hawaii and the Bidens visited Walter Reed. See photos of the Obamas visit with the Marines here.

The Obamas spent about half an hour in the mess hall shaking hands with Marines and their families as they ate traditional holiday fare of turkey, ham, stuffing, corn and broccoli.

“Hi guys, Merry Christmas,” President Obama said as he entered the mess hall from a side door.

The president and the first lady went from table to table, reaching roughly a dozen, asking Marines where they were from and thanking them for their service.

“I’m proud of you guys,” Obama said at one point. The president, who was casually dressed in brown slacks and blue shirt sleeves, also chatted with a small child and autographed a picture. More at Politico

Obama Hawaii Christmas Vacation Photos 2009

More Obama Christmas photos and video here.

Updated Dec. 26: Obamas visit the Marines on Christmas day. Video of the visit here.




See more photos here.

The Obamas arrive in Hawaii. These photos were taken by the Honolulu Advertiser photogs. Check out shaved ice flavor Snowbama.
Honolulu police



Air Force One ready to take the Obamas to Hawaii. This is a beautiful photo
Getting off Air Force One
The crowd awaits the Obama family

The Obamas in Hawaii Live Stream

Live stream is over. The Secret Service gets to wear Hawaiian shirts:

The Honolulu Advertiser has a special Obama Ohana section here.

Obamas To Spend Christmas 2009 in Hawaii

Update Dec. 24: Now that health care is passed in the Senate, it's wheels up. The Obamas departed for Hawaii.

Update Dec. 23: Watch GMA video inside the Obamas getaway at Paradise Points Estate here.

Update Dec 22: Obama is not leaving on vacation until the work is done:

POTUS said he won't leave on vacation until: "I will not leave until my friends in the Senate have completed their work. My attitude is if they are making these sacrifices to provide health care to all Americans, the least I can do is be around and provide them any encouragement and last-minute help" they may need.

The Obama family is heading to Hawaii for Christmas. They will be staying here.

He is expected to arrive in Honolulu Dec. 23 and return Jan. 2, sources said.

Christmas in Hawaii has been an Obama tradition, although on previous trips home he visited his grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who died November 2008. Star Bulletin

OnOahu on Twitter is covering Obama's Christmas vacation. Lucky @chucktodd has mainstream media coverage duty.

Obama Extends Vacation

Back in DC, Obama plans some more off time this week:

"The president will continue his vacation through the end of the week,'' the White House press secretary announced this evening -- with a note that the media will be informed "if any public events are added to the schedule.''

The White House already had said toward the end of the Obama family's week of vacation that they would head to Camp David in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland later this week and spend some of the Labor Day weekend there -- Thursday through Sunday at camp. But a spokesman had said some events in Washington were planned Wednesday. Swamp

Obamas Go Snack Shopping on Last Day of Vacation

First Family Heads to Martha's Vineyard

It's Camp David today and tomorrow and then it's off to Blue Heron Farm at Martha's Vineyard on Sunday. Get ready for the slams from the right. I wish the trolls would go on vacation as well and give it a rest.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I hope Obama gets a well deserved rest.

President Barack Obama left the White House on Friday for a 10-day vacation, taking with him the beloved family dog and leaving behind an acrimonious debate about a proposed overhaul of the nation's health care system.

Obama left the White House's South Lawn by Marine helicopter early in the afternoon for the presidential retreat at Maryland's Camp David. He and his family then head on Sunday morning to Massachusetts' Martha's Vineyard, where they will stay at a private 28-acre estate that rents for $35,000 a week. They are expected to keep mostly to themselves.

The vacation will be a retreat from the contentious debate over Obama's health care overhaul, which has set back the White House's agenda. Aides say they don't expect Obama to wade into that controversy on vacation. Read more at MSNBC

From the Vineyard Gazette:

In sharp contrast to previous Presidential visits, the public will be shut out when Barack Obama and his family arrive on the Vineyard somewhere in a five-hour window on Sunday afternoon.
As the Martha’s Vineyard Airport and later a White House spokeswoman confirmed yesterday, there will be no chance for the media, or, more importantly, Islanders to see the First Family.

“It will be what’s called a closed arrival,” said the airport manager Sean Flynn.

“There will be no opportunity at all, really, for the public to view it. That’s the straight up, honest answer. You won’t catch a glimpse of anything.”

A presidential spokesman said later the First Family would land in Air Force One at Otis Air Base near Bourne on Cape Cod, where their arrival will be open to media, and then commute to the Island by helicopter, where it will not.

While the First Family vacations, everyone is hoping to get a piece of them, including the right wing trolls:

If, as appears to be the plan, the Obamas lie low for the duration of their vacation, they will leave a growing media circus with no headline act. It is understood most of the major networks and cable channels plan extensive coverage. Only yesterday it was revealed the Geraldo Rivera show, on Fox, plans to broadcast from the Island on Saturday evening.

There will be media briefings for the Washington media, but otherwise the news pickings look thin, something which may play to the advantage of certain Obama critics.

Cindy Sheehan, for example, the peace activist whose son Casey was killed in the Iraq War, plans a series of media events — among them a peace vigil in Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs and an event at the Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven.

“In addition,” said a press release put out by her handlers, “there will be impromptu gatherings during the week.”

Right-wing activists also are reportedly targeting the President during his time on the Vineyard. VG

Obama's Last Vacation Day

Yesterday, the Obamas visited his grandfather's grave and today is his last day in Hawaii. Now it's time to kick some McCain butt.

It seems McCain had some time to shine this week but he didn't do much shining. 

On Saturday, Obama and McCain will be together at a "civil forum" at Saddleback Church in California. The event will be moderated by Pastor Rick Warren. The event will be webcast online at Saddleback and at cnn.com.

Obama's Hawaiian Fundraiser, Basketball, Burgers

Obama at Punahou School

Obama's fundraiser in Hawaii yesterday pulled in $1.3 million. Then Obama played basketball at his former school and ordered burgers.

HA: The event capped a relatively relaxing day that included a pickup basketball game at Obama's alma mater, Punahou School, followed by a quick stop to pick up burgers and fries at Kua 'Aina Sandwich Shop at Ward Centre and then an afternoon picnic at Magic Island with Obama's children, who splashed in the ocean.

Obama arrived at Punahou in late morning wearing a gray T-shirt and black shorts and carrying a basketball as he was greeted by James Scott, Punahou's president, Scott's wife, Maureen, and Kevin Conway, Punahou's high school principal.

Obama attended Punahou from fifth grade in 1971, played on the Punahou basketball team that won the state championship his senior year and graduated in 1979.

After working out with some of his campaign staff and high school teammates for nearly two hours, Obama emerged from the Thurston Center wearing a Punahou baseball cap.

He waved to parents, staff and students and hugged his high school dean, Paula Kurashige, whom Obama said helped get him into college.

A few minutes later, University of Hawai'i students Craig Dias, 19, of Makaha, and Leah Yamamoto, 19, of Kailua, were driving around the Ward Complex of shops looking for a place to eat when they saw Obama's entourage pull into Kua 'Aina.

"We were going to eat someplace else and then we saw him," Dias said.

Obama ordered six half-pound cheeseburgers, eight third-pound cheeseburgers, 10 kids' burgers and 20 orders of fries, owner Bryan Botelho said.