President Obama arrived on the Vineyard early Thursday evening to begin a 10-day vacation with his family, marking his third consecutive August visit to the Island during his Presidency. Like the last two years, the arrival was low-key and closed to the public. Traveling with the President were White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan and deputy press secretary John Earnest, White House trip director Marvin Nicholson and the family dog, Bo, freshly groomed for the trip.
First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia arrived earlier in the day around 2 p.m., and were quickly whisked to the Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark where the family will spend their summer vacation. The Obamas are scheduled to stay on the Island until August 27. No public events are planned, although the President is expected to conduct sporadic press briefings.
Marine One touched down at the far end of the airport by the airport business park just before 6 p.m in the hazy August dusk. A few miles away, crowds lined the road from Alley’s General Store to the Chilmark estate to wave at the Presidential motorcade as it sped past.
The Obamas stayed in for their first night on the Vineyard.
A complete story about the arrival of the President will appear in the Friday Gazette.
This article appears in August 16, 2011.
I don’t see it as any source of pride that the Gazette is falling all over itself to report on the First Family. Surely there are more important issues on the Vineyard than sending someone to photograph a plane landing? What’s next: Breaking news – First Lady orders Secret Service to pull over at the Black Dog for a ham and cheese? Pulleeeze. If you MUST report, then make it balanced. Tell us how many SUVs are in that entourage to Blue Heron Farm. How much is it costing us taxpayers? How many houses are the Secret Service renting and who is footing those bills? Show photos you’ve asked readers to submit that might have uncomplimentary placards. But if you only plan to fawn, then don’t bother calling yourself a newspaper. Call yourself an annex of the official White House press corps.
So the wife and kids had to fly separately with a separate plane and security detail? Couldn’t wait a day? How much extra did that cost? They are insufferable, inconsiderate, lazy, self absorbed users of the American people. I am sick of hearing about them and their parties, and their vacations, and their past times.
A very warm welcome to the first family, we are honored and consider it a privilege to host the President of the United States of America and family on a much deserved vacation, enjoy!
Mark
well deserved vacation??
Even someone whose job performance is considered lackluster by many, deserves time off. And Cynthia, that was quahog chowder, not ham and cheese.
I don’t see the benefit? All I know is I am here for MY vacation and they disrupt it….time for them to go and and find a nice 3000 acres in Illinois….where they and the entourage(s) can have space galore.
SO OVER THEM!!
I, Poseidon, summon all sharp-toothed denizens of the deep to gather off the Vineyard. Oh, yeah, and if any of you Portuguese Men of War and Red Tide can make it, that would be cool, too.
We were on island the same time the Obamas were the last two years. Hopefully they will have better weather this time around. The nor’easter from last year is one of the reasons we didn’t return this year. Too expensive for four rainy days in-a-row.
Pulleeze is right. Taxpayers have paid for presidential vacations for many, many years – so get over that. This is a person who puts his life on the line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year for 4 years, for the people of the USA. I would think a regular vacation would be small compensation for such a serious job, no matter what political views you adhere to. Welcome to the Island, Mr. President and family. Enjoy your stay.
You might be interested to know that the pilot was a “Hottie” — and my son!!!
How unfortunate that President bashing seems to be the hip new thing. It has already gotten old. Welcome, President Obama. Enjoy your working vacation.
This is news because people love to read about what is going on here on the island. Sounds like we have a bunch of republican ladies responding. You guys might want to turn on Rush and call him to complain. The rest of us like to read what is happening on our island home.
Since when is the President not allowed to take a vacation? Since when is it not news that a President comes to visit? I am ashamed of many of my fellow Americans for their negativity and divisiveness. It’s obvious many Americans don’t want the President to succeed, and that’s a sad commentary for our future.
Warm welcome to the POTUS and family! W had 180 days of vaca at this mark of his presidency. Not a good one to compare to, but does put things into perspective. More importantly, Obama can’t really achieve anything while congress is out on vaca, might as well enjoy the Vineyard. Hope weather is fair! Cheers!
I really shouldn’t read this before breakfast, I lost my appetite.
The economy is tanking, people are unhappy out of jobs and can’t pay their bills, and guess what?
Our leader and his moocher is eating lobster and basking in the sun. Great example..
He deserves a vacation, a permanent one.
Hello, this is reality calling Martha’s Vineyard – it not okay two have two planes for the first family arriving 4 hours apart. This may be normal there but it is inexcusable in the rest of the country.
Mr. Obama, Please speak to all the millionaires and billionaires on the island to pay their fair share. You surely are surrounded by them on Martha’s Vineyard, cwertainly they feel as Mr. Buffett do, tired of being coddled. Let them know the rest of the country need to share some of their fortune. They have plenty and the masses need their money more than they do. 🙂
Where’s an RPG when you need one.