Obama Vacations at GOPer's House, His Own Expense

(NEWSER) - The president's first summer vacation is to a classified destination, but on the streets and beaches of Martha's Vineyard, it's no secret that Barack, Michelle, and their daughters are spending August on the island. The first family is expected to stay in Oak Bluffs, a longtime vacation spot for the black elite. The low-key commander in chief is planning nothing like Bill Clinton's celebrity-studded Vineyard holidays, reports the New York Times. More»

As Congress heads toward overtime, the president may be stuck in DC

(NEWSER) - Someone break the news to Sasha and Malia: They may have to body surf the Hawaiian waves without dad this year. With Congress’ lame duck session likely headed into overtime, President Obama has resolved to stay in Washington to sign anything it passes, meaning he may not find himself en route to the Aloha State this weekend for his annual Christmas break as planned. “If Congress is here, the president will be here,” Robert Gibbs says, telling the press corps, “I think you’ve got a few extra days to pull together those Christmas presents that you put off buying.” More»

From Kremlin to Paris and slave port, first kids get quite an education

(NEWSER) - Sasha and Malia Obama might not be in school, but their summer vacation has been anything but lazy—the girls have seen the Eiffel Tower, the Kremlin, and Monticello as part of what the first lady calls “Camp Obama." And though there’s been plenty of fun, such as a recent Beyoncé concert, most activities have been educational and even somber, like a recent visit to a slave port in Ghana, the New York Times reports. More»

Trip is for family time, to see aging grandmother, Dem says

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama departed for Hawaii today to kick off a week-long vacation with his family, Reuters reports. He’ll take part in a welcoming rally and fundraiser there, but will otherwise rest from campaign rigors. John McCain attacked his rival’s “beach vacation” in light of the hardships facing ordinary Americans. But Obama defended the trip as an important opportunity to see his grandmother. More»

Price of flying Air Force One has gone up since last estimate

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has officially arrived in Hawaii for his family’s annual Christmas getaway to the state, and what a pricey trip it is: The Hawaiian Reporter estimated the cost of the vacation at more than $4 million. The exact cost of the trip is unknown, but based on the military’s most recent estimate that Air Force One costs $181,757 per hour to operate, the paper estimates the cost of the flight alone at $3,271,622, plus another $100,000 or so for Michelle Obama’s early flight down. More»