Justin,

You said; “Steyn is off base for two reasons. First, I’m pretty sure I heard on the radio that strict animal importation rules in Hawaii mean that the First Canine is staying behind in Washington, D.C., so Bo can’t be averaged into the cost.”

The fact is the first dog “Bo” underwent 6 months of quarantine shots and washings and certification by a veterinarian that the shots and wash treatments were applied as prescribed in accordance with Hawaii law to certify Bo was rabies free. Hawaii is the only state that is rabies free. So Bo will be making the trip like he did last year.

Every president since President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt has vacationed one or more times in Hawaii during their term or terms in office.

I don’t see the problem with a person that was born in the state visiting family and friends once a year.

President Obama and family have been spending Christmas with family and friends since before he was a senator. For Christmas he rents a private house on a peninsula in the town of Kailua due to security concerns and direct accessibility to Marine Corps. Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay and less than 20 min to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam where Air Force One is parked.

Kailua town is not a “luxury beach resort of Kailua” as Mark Steyn so eloquently tries to portray it. It is a regular Hawaii town on the windward side that has some pretty nice residences but as in all of Hawaii, there are no ethnic neighborhoods and everyone lives together regardless of color, ethnic origin, wealth or religion. The only luxury beach resort on Island of Oahu is “Kahala Mandarin Oriental” which has been a favorite of Presidents, international royalty and movie stars. It is located in the Kahala district of the south shore behind diamond head.

Every time President Obama returns for Christmas he does visit site of his mother’s ashes, his grandmother and grandfather resting place.

His half-sister lives here and all his boyhood friends that he grew up with and attended school with.

Justin,

BTW, Every U.S. president from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush has stayed at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental luxury beach resort and no one complained about their expensive vacations.

Ken,

Which president jettisoned off to Hawaii just as the country was about to teeter off a fiscal cliff?

Max D,

NO PRESIDENT!!

President Obama has stayed in Washington, DC until Congress and the Senate has recessed for Christmas and the New Year holiday each year before starting his Christmas vacation and has indicated he will stay till Congress and the Senate works out a deal unless they recess for their holiday, leave Washington, DC to let everyone fall off the cliff.

The First Lady and children are expected to arrive Dec. 17, 2012 without the president.

Like last year, the President will arrive later when negations are finished in Washington, DC.

"Which president jettisoned off to Hawaii just as the country was about to teeter off a fiscal cliff?"

Oo, oo! [waves hand enthusiastically] Right here! Teacher, the answer is: POTUS 44!

Can you say "really bad optics"? A POTUS relaxing in paradise as everyone's taxes go up.

Some,like "sammy" really oughta be dumped.
Posted by joe bernstein at December 9, 2012 10:03 AM

Let me take this time to thank the folks at Anchor Rising for allowing me to comment here.
and happy holidays to all ...including Mr Bernstein