HONOLULU (AP) — A politically rejuvenated President Barack Obama arrived here late Wednesday for an 11-day family vacation in his home state.
Air Force One touched down shortly before midnight
local time. The president headed to the rented oceanfront home in Kailua Bay
where his wife, Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, and dog Bo have been
vacationing since Saturday.
The president had planned to arrive Saturday, too,
but pushed back his departure to stay in Washington while lawmakers wrapped up
a frenzied and productive lame-duck session.
He begins his vacation on a high note, having
secured victories on a nuclear arms treaty with Russia and the repeal of the
military's ban on gay service members. He also struck a deal with Republican
lawmakers to allow tax cuts for all income earners to continue, a compromise
that angered some liberals but won Obama rare support from the GOP.
At a Washington news conference Wednesday, Obama said
the accomplishments of a postelection session of Congress demonstrate "we
are not doomed to endless gridlock." He described the six-week lame duck
session as "a season of progress for the American people."
The waning weeks of 2010 provided the president a
much-needed boost following a volatile year and a self-proclaimed
"shellacking" in the November midterm elections. Awaiting Obama come
January is an economy still struggling to achieve steady growth, a Congress
more heavily laden with Republicans and a host of GOP challengers poised to run
for his job in 2012.
With that in mind, the White House says the
president is looking forward to spending a few days outside the glare of the
Washington spotlight.
"He is as much as anything anxious to spend
time where he grew up with his family and to see his sister," White House
press secretary Robert Gibbs said.
Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her
family also live on Oahu. The president plans to visit with several childhood
friends while on the island as well, Gibbs said.
Christmas in Hawaii has become a family tradition
for the Obamas, who are spending their third straight year in Kailua. Obama
also was forced to delay his departure last December due to action on Capitol
Hill, where lawmakers worked until Christmas Eve to pass his signature health
care overhaul legislation.
At the time, Obama spokesman Bill Burton told
reporters traveling to Hawaii with Obama that the president's Christmas wish
for the press corps was to "relax and to not anticipate any public
announcements or news-making events."
It wasn't meant to be. On Christmas Day, a
23-year-old Nigerian man allegedly attempted to blow up a jetliner bound for
Detroit. The incident consumed Obama's vacation, with the president receiving
thrice-daily updates from the White House Situation Room and national security
staffers briefing reporters, often at a moment's notice.
Administration officials will be prepared for any
similar surprises this year. A small team of White House advisers, including Burton,
deputy chief of staff Jim Messina and deputy national security adviser Ben
Rhodes, are traveling with the president, who will receive daily briefings.
But unless outside events interfere, there will be
little else on the president's schedule. As in past years, the president and
first lady are likely to start their day with a morning workout at a gym at
Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Obama has said he loves a secluded beach at the base
and intends to "hit a couple of golf courses" while on the island.
Still, locals are likely to catch a few glimpses of
the president during outings around town. Obama and his daughters have been
regular visitors to Island Snow, a beachwear store famous for its shave ice — a
version of what mainlanders know as snow cones.
If there's anything threatening to intrude on Obama's vacation plans, it could be Mother Nature. Oahu has been pounded with rain throughout the week, and more showers are forecast for the days ahead.
Copyright
2010 The Associated Press.
(AP
Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
