Convention watch: Obama, aloha

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:59 AM by Domenico Montanaro

DEMOCRATS: Hawaii Rep. Neil Abercrombie says Obama may head to the islands before the convention. "It's very likely that he'll be taking a little R and R before the convention," Abercrombie told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. "We'll know soon. It's under consideration and a virtual certainty."

REPUBLICANS: The Minneapolis St. Paul Host Committee has met its $39 million goal in cash and in kind contributions. They are still working on the overall fundraising goal of $58 million, largely for hospitality and corresponding events.

The ice was removed Monday at Xcel Energy Center, a week before the arena is converted for convention use. RNC staffers got a couple hours beforehand to skate on the home ice of the Minnesota Wild.

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Comments

Pauline Zee, NY said: " Remember how the media treated Bush with the drunk driving charges? Let's see if they get anywhere near Obama with is past drug history". 1. Are you saying that Obama has drug charges against him? 2.What "drug history"? Don't you have him confused with the other candidate's wife?

margaret, baltimore, md. (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 8:11 PM)

===========
:::: 2.What "drug history"?

Peg, read Obama's book. Also, it's better to be quiet and have people think you are a fool then to make a public display of yourself and have people know you are a fool.

Pauline Zee, NY (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:04 AM)

Jeff, TX,
I can’t speak for Ira and Donna; but I like this site for the many differing opinions. I feel I am getting out of it what I am putting into it. Maybe if you expanded your rhetoric to include something more substantial than rote party line, you would find it rewarding, as well. Feel free to ‘cut and run’, if you must.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:05 AM)

Hawaii tourism is way down. People just can't afford the prices anymore. Its nice to know that Obama can go and get his R & R, while Americans way of life continues its decline. Job losses, home losses, companies selling out, dollar decline, pay cuts to go along with rising prices of everything. America has fallen apart in just eight years. Obama nor Mcbush will be able to fix this. Everyone will see after their first term.

Brother Odd (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:13 AM)

I'm not sure what your point was Brother Odd. Was it that neither one of these guys is going to address and fix our nation's problems? Or that Obama will get some R&R during this campaign? I suspect that not working on the weekends like John Sydney McCain III would eliminate the need for R&R but I'd prefer to have a president at least attempt to put in as many hours as I do, which does include working on weekends.

Tommy, Detroit, Michigan (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:23 AM)

Debate Please

Offshore vs. Onshore
100 more years of killing vs. Ending Iraq War
Rich vs. poor
Same Old Stuff vs. Real Change
More Oil vs. Using less Oil
Past vs. future
Wall Street vs. Main Street

We need answers to these issues

BJ, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:26 AM)

Who cares about Obamas past drug use??
I care more about the fact that McShame cant use a computer, his wife spent 750,000 on her credit card, she uses a small plane to get around and McShame doesnt even know what year this is

Nj (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:31 AM)

I'm glad to hear that the little problems that Americans are facing won't get in the way of ANOTHER extravagant Obama family vacation. I couldn't believe it when he took his first vacation in the middle of a Presidential Primary! I supported him up and until then. But then I wondered...how much did he want to work to get the nomination? And, how much did he understand or care about the rest of us?

When he was planning his vacation -- I was trying to figure out how to feed and cloth my kids!

Karen (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:43 AM)

Paul Zee, the sarcasm margaret implied--which you clearly missed--was that McCains wife had a professed perscription drug problem.

Yes, Obama--like a large majority of our responsible country did some recreational drugs, when he was a YOUNG MAN. Was he an addict like Cindy McCain, in her adult life? I doub't it, I mean he DID graduate from Harvard suma cum laude.

Just because you have an uneducated and false concept of marijuana--which has been force fed to you by the powers that be--doesn't mean it is such a bad thing.
I would argue that drunk driving and putting others lives in direct peril is a lot worse than smoking some herb with your college buddies in your dorm...

"[...]it's better to be quiet and have people think you are a fool then to make a public display of yourself and have people know you are a fool"

jay, tampa,fl (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:49 AM)

whats the big deal if McCain can use the internet. Did you know Bill and Hillary cannot type?

sue (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:52 AM)

Karen, after you vote Republican, how exactly are you planning to feed or cloth your kids? You think these 8 years would have opened up your eyes. Obama using his hard earned cash to take a vacation angers you, yet McBush's failed economic policies that have devastated our economy are ok by you???

Pauline Zee, BUSH was CHARGED with drunk driving. Obama has no drug charges. DUH.

No wonder this country is failing miserably. With ignorant citizens like this - if this is the future of the USA, God BLESS AMERICA!!

MB, DC (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:54 AM)

Amazing. People actually try to associate Obama taking a much needed vacation with his family to their own personal problems. Obama is running for President to make changes to help Americans. He can't make those changes overnight. Don't blast the guy because he takes some needed time off and spends it with his family. That is absurd.

John Chrichton (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:57 AM)

"I'm glad to hear that the little problems that Americans are facing won't get in the way of ANOTHER extravagant Obama family vacation. I couldn't believe it when he took his first vacation in the middle of a Presidential Primary! I supported him up and until then. But then I wondered...how much did he want to work to get the nomination? And, how much did he understand or care about the rest of us?

When he was planning his vacation -- I was trying to figure out how to feed and cloth my kids! "

Trust me, I get your economic situation--which has been caused by bush and the republicans, and will continue under mccain--but please don't assume that Obama is a bad guy becuase he takes a break from campaigning EVERY DAY for the past 17 months. Obama has worked hard in his whole life to get where he is today. He has earned his own personal money from his books. What gives you the right to judge how he uses it to take his family on a trip? I am sure if you were able you would take your kids on the same trip. If you think that because Obama takes a couple days to rest during what will be like 21 months of nonstop campaigning and getting no sleep is such a negative thing then try to consider where McCain and Bush were when Hurricane Katrina struck. Out celebrating McCains birthday on a landing strip somewhere--at the time where the country actually needed him.

Maybe you should be angry with George Bush and the republicans for the mental vacation they have taken for the past 8 years.

Jay, Tampa, FL (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:57 AM)

Shawn M, Philadelphia (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:01 AM)

You know what is really depressing. All the posts I read that are nothing but innuendo, complaining about vacations, computer use, middle names, e-mail rumors - I don't care who you vote for - but I wish you could vote on the issues - I met a lady who agreed with every Obama position - but was going to vote for McCain because Obama "might" be a muslim. Personally I think the New Yorker magazine overestimated the intelligence of the American people. Most seem to just vote on a feeling.

KA, Wildwood, Fl. (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:04 AM)

"I'm glad to hear that the little problems that Americans are facing won't get in the way of ANOTHER extravagant Obama family vacation. I couldn't believe it when he took his first vacation in the middle of a Presidential Primary! Karen

Oh PLEASE!!! Don't even go there on vacations. McCain takes off every weekend once he was declared the "Presumptive" and George has been on vacation for at least 1 year of his 8 years in office. There has NEVER been a Prez on vacation as much as W, especially a "war president" as George likes to refer to himself! What a nasty piece of work!

You also might want to remember that Obama's grandparents live in Hawaii and his grandmother can't travel.

the facts, missoula, mt (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:13 AM)

Tommy, Detroit Mi...Karen at 9:43 just made part of my point. The other part is McBush is no better!

Brother Odd (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:21 AM)

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