Ten-Day POTUS Vacation: The Obamas Have Arrived on Poshy Martha’s Vineyard for Another Family Vacation
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on August 19, 2010
Pres. Obama boards Air Force One, leaving for his 10-day-vacation at Martha's Vineyard... does it look like he's more gray in this photo? | Photo credit: ABC News
In the “so long, farewell, you peasants” photo above of POTUS boarding Air Force One to go on his 10-day vacation (he works sooo hard!), does it look like he needs a Grecian Formula touch-up?
Hmm. Maybe it’s just my computer monitor.
For this “breaking news” on Pres. Obama’s latest vacation, the Associated Press has combined two reports in one… R&R time for Obamas on Martha’s Vineyard.
Bo the First Dog didn’t get to fly on his own vacation jet this time. Darn.
And we’re all rooting for FLOTUS Michelle Antoinette — we’re frantically concerned that she’s recovered fully from last weekend’s vacation to Florida, and from the previous week’s glitzy vacation to Spain. It’s HARD WORK spending other people’s money… no one appreciates that, apparently.
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. – President Barack Obama and his family have arrived on Martha’s Vineyard to begin a 10-day vacation.
The first family landed at the island airport Thursday afternoon following an Air Force One flight from Washington to a Coast Guard station on Cape Cod, then a short helicopter ride across Vineyard Sound.
The president greeted well-wishers under sunny skies — accompanied by his wife, Michelle, and daughters Sasha and Malia. Malia is just back from summer camp. Pet dog Bo came along, too, happily roaming the aisles of the presidential jet.
Aides say Obama is looking to recharge his batteries after a strenuous start to the year. But he left Washington with one last blast at the GOP — for blocking a Senate vote on a small business aid package.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is fleeing the heat and headaches of the capital in search of summer’s greatest delight: some time to unwind and kiss the office goodbye. Even if it is the Oval Office.
With his wife, Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia and pet dog, Bo, in tow, Obama is hoping for a pleasantly uneventful 10 days as he heads to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., on Thursday.
“Just like a lot of American people, the president is taking a little time with his family to recharge his batteries,” deputy press secretary Bill Burton told reporters.
Obama ditched his jacket and tie Thursday afternoon and boarded Air Force One along with a small group of aides, including senior adviser and family friend Valerie Jarrett, who also has a house on Martha’s Vineyard. Mrs. Obama planned to travel separately with Sasha after picking up Malia from summer camp.
The long-awaited vacation comes after a hectic three-day fundraising and speechmaking sprint across the country and with new poll numbers showing Americans none too pleased with Obama’s handling of the economy as crucial midterm elections approach.
Then there’s the broiling controversy over a proposed mosque near ground zero, which Obama elevated last week by saying Muslims have the right to build in New York, a position a number of fellow Democrats are avoiding.
Continued high unemployment might seem to argue against an extended vacation at an exclusive island out of reach for most Americans. First lady Michelle Obama took flak over her recent jaunt to Spain.
The ultra-expensive Blue Heron Farm at Martha’s Vineyard was the same locale the Obamas chose for last year’s $35,000 rental-a-week summer vacation: Our Deficit Grows and Obama Goes… On Vacation to Uber-Pricey Martha’s Vineyard.
H/t to Hot Air, Weasel Zippers, and The Powers That Be for this gag-worthy, elitist welcome sign for Dear Leader erected at Mansion House Inn… a liberal lovefest for wealthy progressives. Funny, no mention of ruining the economy, vomiting socialism all over America, and growing the government and the national debt bigger than Michael Moore… or breaking the record for playing golf by a US president.
Liberal Lovefest: Mansion House Inn has a 'welcome sign' for the president
From NY Daily News, President Obama begins 10-day vacation in Martha’s Vineyard:
WASHINGTON – President Obama on Thursday starts a 10-day vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, where he can enjoy watching the sun sink below the horizon – instead of his poll numbers.
The summer playground off the Massachusetts coast is brimming with Secret Service agents and extra state police. A Coast Guard cutter will patrol the waters off the property.
“I do think that just like a lot of American people, the President is taking a little time with his family to recharge his batteries,” spokesman Bill Burton said.
Not that the burdens of the presidency may not interrupt him. Obama has a knack for scheduling his break when big events intrude.
Last summer, Sen. Ted Kennedy passed away while the Obamas were on the Vineyard, and Obama went to Boston to speak at his funeral.
During their Christmas holidays in Hawaii, the underwear bomber tried to blow up a plane bound for Detroit, leaving people asking at the time who was in charge when the terrorist nearly struck.
The White House is taking steps to make sure Obama keeps plugged in, even while he’s on one of the island’s members-only golf courses…
The First Family is expected to stay “up-island” again at Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, the remote multimillion-dollar property where they resided during last summer’s Vineyard vacation, according to a law enforcement source.
Obama Family Vacation: Blue Heron Farm, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
I’ve been to Martha’s Vineyard before. Much of the island and its temporary inhabitants are completely disconnected from reality — which is why liberal politicians love it there so much.
From Hot Air Greenroom, The Obamas Flee to Martha’s Vineyard:
Fresh off of Michelle Obama’s whirlwind trip to Spain, the Obamas are fleeing to another vacation spot. While Obama promised to vacation in the Gulf to prove things were better, he ended up spending less than 48 hours there — and he didn’t actually swim in the Gulf either, as promised. Fresh off the news that jobless claims have jumped again, the Obamas are fleeing to Martha’s Vineyard today. You know, always best to keep a low profile by going on an inexpensive, discount vacation spot like Cape Cod!
[...]
Meanwhile, Americans are continuing to suffer. I wonder how many Americans can afford to go jet-setting like the Obamas — Spain! Florida! Cape Cod! — in between golf games and star-studded fundraisers.
While of course the president deserves a vacation occasionally, this is borderline ridiculous. All this president does is go on vacations, go golfing, and hang out with athletes and celebrities. He rarely does any actual governing. He loves the perks of the job, but he doesn’t want to actually do the job. Being the president is undoubtedly a stressful job, but it also requires actual governing. Obviously the campaigner-in-chief can’t understand that.
From The Boston Globe, Vineyard buzzes less for Obamas’ second visit:
OAK BLUFFS — Sharky’s Cantina is once again mixing its “Obamarita’’ cocktail, with tastes of the president’s favorite fruits, and the Locker Room on Circuit Avenue has restocked the “I vacationed with Obama’’ T-shirts.
But as Martha’s Vineyard prepares for the first family’s visit tomorrow — their second summer stay here since President Obama took office — the excitement that marked last summer’s arrival of the fresh-faced commander in chief seems to have ebbed like the tide.
[...]
But in the final days before his second visit, some residents say the excitement has waned along with Obama’s popularity after two years in office. Others say his poll numbers are not the issue; they just want to give the president the quiet he seeks.
“It’s not as hectic or as crazy’’ this year, said Maya Sharp, a clerk at Alley’s General Store in West Tisbury, one of the locations the president visited last summer. She remembers the excitement when Secret Service agents came into the store announcing that the president would visit. No one else was allowed in the store when he came in to buy candy for his two daughters.
“It’s just a laid-back feeling now,’’ Sharp said. “It’s like ‘Wow, he’s coming — again.’ ’’
One barometer of the plunge in excitement has been the sale of Obama-themed T-shirts, which designers had been banking on after the craze of last year. Clothing labeled with the president’s name sold by the thousands, helping to salvage a tough economic year for the island.
But this year’s T-shirt sales are much less brisk, merchants say.
“Last year, Obama gave you goose bumps, but I don’t think you’re going to see that this year,’’ said Alex McCluskey, co-owner of the Locker Room, who sold more than 4,000 “I vacationed with Obama’’ T-shirts last year. But so far this year, he said, his hot item is T-shirts of former President Bush asking, “Miss me yet?’’
[...]
Obama’s vacation, like last year, falls during the island’s unofficial grand finale of the season, and the first family has an open invitation to the week’s events. An annual agricultural festival kicks off tomorrow in West Tisbury. The annual Grand Illumination of the Gingerbread Cottages in Oak Bluffs occurs tonight, and Friday brings a fireworks spectacular that residents say rivals Boston’s Fourth of July festivities. First dog Bo has also been invited to a communitywide dog walk Sunday.
Additional:
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Obama Family’s Wacky Photo Ops in Florida: Barack’s “Hole in One/Messiah” Putt-Putt Golf Photo & the Embarrassing “Obama Swimming in the ‘Gulf’” Photo and Leftist Media: Michelle Obama’s “Marie Antoinette” Spain Vacation vs. Nancy Reagan & Laura Bush Replacing Old, Chipped White House China and Unemployment Bad, More Jobs Shed… More Backlash on Michelle Obama’s Lavish Vacation — Public Beach Closed for Her by Police, Ingraham’s Parody of FLOTUS Vacation Diary and Yes, She’s Our “Uptown Girl”… Michelle Obama’s Ridiculously Lavish Vacation in Spain (video) and More Bleak “Hopenchange”… Record-Breaking: More Than 780,000 Families in Illinois Receiving Food Stamps and Bad News: Police Layoffs of Up to 30 Percent for East St. Louis… Blame It on Obama’s Terrible Economy and “Skin in the Game” Barack-Style– First Family’s Dog Bo Flies to Obamas’ Maine Vacation on a Separate Jet
Camp of the Saints: The Pablum Puke Of The Day
Freedom’s Lighthouse: TOTUS Goes on Florida Vacation with Obama – Video
Mcnorman’s Weblog: Letterman To POTUS, You Will Have Time For Many More Vacations Very Soon
Gateway Pundit: Obama Slams Congress For Not Passing Urgent Jobs Bill… Then Goes on 4th Family Vacation In a Month and As Michelle Returns From Spanish Extravaganza Obama Cuts Food Stamps to Nation’s Poor and Krauthammer on Michelle O: A vacation to Spain Is a “Bad Idea for a First Lady Who Literally Tells Us to Eat Our Spinach” (Video) and Worst. Jobs. President. Ever… July Unemployment Rate Remains at 9.5% and Michelle And Sasha’s Excellent Spanish Adventure…At Taxpayers Expense! and First Lady’s Most Excellent Spanish Adventure Will Cost US Taxpayers Over $200,000 and IT’S OFFICIAL: Barack Obama Is Worst Jobs President Since Great Depression and After US Economy Loses Another 125,000 Jobs Obama Says: “We’re Heading in the Right Direction” (Video)
The BitchClown’s Blog: Obama Still Not Swimming In The Gulf of Mexico – Swims in ST. ANDREWS BAY Instead
Legal Insurrection: Yeah, But Laura Bush Went On An African Safari
Diary of a Mad Conservative: Michelle’s glitzy Spanish vacation
Nice Deb: Monday Menagerie and Michelle et al’s Excellent Adventure In Spain
Pundit & Pundette: It’s easy being queen
Michelle Malkin: Unemployment at 9.5%; another Obama econ adviser bails; Mrs. Obama hits the beach
Mail Online: ‘Michelle Obama is a modern-day Marie Antoinette’: First Lady slammed for lavish Marbella holiday
Blue Crab Boulevard: Marie Obama
Motor City Times: Freep Op-Ed Advocates Higher Energy Costs For Everyone Except Low Income Households
Ace of Spades HQ: Obama Two Points Higher Than 39%
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