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@Joe Fattal...I agree with you. It would have meant more to someone who didn't have a choice of ham, turkey or roast beef to eat to meet the President Elect who plans on helping make things better for people like the homeless.

The troops are important too but how many of the troops in IRAQ or Afganistan would love to be stationed in Hawaii. Heck I would like a job in Hawaii...it's cold in Boston this time of year.

I am not downing Obama just agreeing with Mr. Fattal!

By glancing thru the posts, I believe that there are some very sick and potentially dangerous people out there! I hope somebody is watching these posts for precaution. These sickos need to be watched.

Do we have to argue and point fingers about things that aren't even an issue?

Mark calls those who don't support Hussein and the liberalcrats bigots. These George Soros Kool Aid drinkers are the meanest, most back, hobnail boot wearing bunch of communists ever. Brook no dissent liberalcrats.

It is sad that so many who survived the Jim Jones Kool-Aid debacle have now succumbed to the Obama kool-aid debacle. I wish you all the best of luck under his presidency and hope that when lay-offs continue under Obama's plan to increase taxes on the "wealthy" and the corporations those who voted for him are the first to go – let's see how much you like his message and his change then.

I so, so love it. Secret Service agents in Hawaiian shirts!

I am really sad to see such negative posts. Obama did not need to go out and "politic" on Christmas. You people are so jaded by 8 years of a president that does nothing, that you fail to recognize a truly caring person. God bless Barack and his wonderful family.

P.S. He feed the homeless on Thanksgiving too.

stop your hating you neocon repubs. Come back in 4 years with your worthless words.

Republicans are disgusting. Get your party on track and get rid of those crooks.

Obama will be doin just fine.

How convenient that the cameras and reporters were "allowed" to be there. If he truly wanted the respect of the military, he and his family could have arrived quietly and helped cook and serve the Marine's holiday meal, and respectfully asked the press to not report on it. "Serving" is best represented by quietly and discreetly meeting the needs of others. Shaking hands in front of the cameras is easy. Peeling spuds and washing heavy pots and pans is not. Just because he is the President-Select doesn't negate the aspect of true service, or how he should evidence the same. But here we have yet another liberal coming into office who never wore the uniform, so I guess this shouldn't be that much of a surprise. Shaking hands and writing self-agrandizing autobiographies is, after all, much easier than getting shot at.

Why do people keep saying this vacation is on taxpayer's money? He's not the President yet. He didn't take Air Force One.

Obama caring about our troops is a sign that he will be a great comander in chief for not only the United States, but also the world. He cares about what really goes on overseas, and he wants to help all the troops.
Willy Brown, that comment you left there is very demeaning and ignorant at the same time. No offense, but the statement that you typed had a 57 IQ written all over it. Next time read the article,and then comment instead of splashing us with your unnecessary attacks. Remember this quote Willy and all the others who type these kind of comments; Divided We Fail, United We Stand. God bless America.

I don't see why anyone can find fault with this. It's not something he had to do. He's not the President yet. I think it's great that he did this.

Obama haters, get a grip. Did you all complain of all of President's Bush's photo ops? How about when he posed with a fake turkey. Better yet did you all whine when he posed under the MISSION ACOMPLISHED sign?
billy-bayou, what did you want Obama to do, start a war when he became of age so he could fight ?
Boston Irish, get over it. Mrs. Obama is just as patriotic as you are. You should tune into someone other than Hannity and Rush.
Jean, Obama isn't President yet and he has his own income to pay for his travels. Our tax dollars are going to pay for his protection. Unfortunately there are a lot of crazy people out there who don't want to see him become President.. Did you complain as much about the vacations Bush has taken on our tax dollars.

GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT FOR ALL OF US

A REAL COMMANDER IN CHIEF !!!

HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE MILITARY BUT MY DAD WAS FOR 16 YEARS.

I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT, THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE

ELATED TO HAVE A "COMMANDER IN CHIEF" INSTEAD OF THE

"MORON IN THIEF" WE HAVE HAD FOR 8 MISERABLE YEARS.

IMAGINE RISKING YOUR VERY LIFE FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF

THE POCKETS OF BUSH, HIS LOBBYISTS,HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS.

Boston Irish December 26th, 2008 11:52 am ET
_______________________________________________________

Let it go. That is not what she meant. And she HAS explained what she meant about a hundred times. But it sounds like you stopped listening to anything she had to say after that.

Anyway. Way to go President elect Obama.
I can now say, I am pround of my country AGAIN. After being hated by the rest of the world for the last 7 years because of the idiot that has resided in the white house.

Wow, a lot of negativity on this blog from the GOPers. No matter what Obama does, these folks will not be happy. I noticed a couple comments about Obama flying to Hawaii on the taxpayers' dime. Where did you get that idea? Rush, Hannity? Got proof? Hawaii is where he was born and raised. This is home to him and where he goes for family holidays. Get off it, folks, your jealously and hate are showing.

To Jean – NY – The Obamas paid for their vacation – not you or any other taxpayer. Good grief, get a life.

This was a nice thing Obama did. It is a shame that there are idiots out there that didn't make a new year's resolution to speak positively.

Tim................

Uncalled for..........believe it or not there or democrat Christians here that do not appreciate your humor..............humor? Make that sour apples!

Bring Them Home, I believe these troops might argue with the "get them out of there" and "we should have never been there" statements. They are in Hawaii. As for the troops in Iraq, they will be home by May 20, 2009. That's 16 months from inauguration, right?

I don't know why everyone keeps saying we have a "commander in chief we can be proud of".

As a former military man.....let me tell you there is nothing about Obama that makes me proud.

He has accomplished nothing in his life except winning elections and graduating from Harvard.

Maybe journalists and reporters will find the courage to report the truth again.

this is a nice story about our next president, BUT you can bet some far right Limbaugh/Hannity lovers will find SOMETHING negative about it like they usually do. They haven't started yet I see but just give them time. Sad really sad indeed.

Where is the current idiot in charge? Has he gone back to his village yet?

I'd like to see President Obama send Bill Richardson to India to help avert a conflict with Pakistan. I know Hillary is his choice for the state department yet these two are nuke powers and mortal enemies which Bill knows and has experience. When it comes to nukes America doesn't have time for OJT!!!

It's nice to see that P.E. Obama leads by example. He has done so from the beginning.

greg, I have no doubt at all about his patriotism. I think he is probably a very patriotic person. What I doubt is his wife's patriotism, considering she had never been proud to be an American until he won the nomination and she knew she had a shot at becoming the first lady. No apology from her regarding this statement, so I take that to mean she meant every word she said. Sad to think this how our future first lady feels.

Shucks, we can tell you brook no diversity of opinion by your comments. Thats the democratic spirit.

Isn't this what the President - the Commander in Chief - is supposed to be doing? Where is that paragon of patriotism, anyway? Polishing up his lapel pin?

No doubt Limbaugh and others will find fault with this too...

Greg, You must remember, he did not do it on his own. He had plenty of cameras ready at hand for the visit. If he wanted to do it with no publicity, he could have managed that.

amen to that, shucks!

Thank God for Obama we have our self respect back!

Obama – Biden 2012

I adore you President Elect Obama, you know exactly what to do. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

I am so proud of our President elect.

God bless Barack Obama,his family and God bless America.

YES WE DID IT!

He probably should have spend some time with the homeless. They do have them in Hawaii. The troops will do just fine without him.

This makes him a great leader?? Just another in a long line of political stunts that we will get from the man who's political career was born in the cesspool of Chicago politics.

Greg Hodges:

President Bush spent time calling troops in the area where the combat takes place, the obama spent time shaking hands in the safe haven of Hawaii. He is a frigging joke. And I an way ahead of your next question, I did my time, I enlisted in the USMC, 1945. When did the obama serve the country.

Impressive – he flies all the way to Hawaii on our dime and then while on vacation takes a few hours out to visit some tropps. Nice to see his heart is with the tropps – could have used my tax dollars to go to Iraq or Afghanistan or Korea or Germany to vist the troops for the holidays. This way he didn't much have to put himself out of his cushy, high-fallootin' vacation.

Still have not heard him say he was wrong about the surge, which gave great comfort to our enemies. I could not get to Hawaii on the governments dime. If I could have I would have.

Finally,a man who can speak the english language.

Starting with bigotry filled comments from those who wants America goes even deeper in the hole we're in (so they can say -proudly- 'I told you so...') in 10..., 9..., 8...

To all those idiots who question Barack Obama`s patriotism, did you spend an hour of your Christmas shaking hands with the troops ?! I thought not.

We finally will have a commander in chief we can be proud of. I feel America's pride returning and our respect in the world improving just because of what we did on November 4th, 2008. Truly a turning point in American history and possibly the world. Don't underestimate our desire for change, equality for all, and our determination to succeed in making America a place for all people to be proud to call home no matter your race, religion, age, or sexual orientation. Our resolve is unequaled and paramount to our survival as the greatest nation on Earth. To those who would wish to restrict, divide, alienate, or attack this country or any of it's citizens from within, you are not welcome in this great United States of America.

It's great to see we are going to have a president that actually cares about the troops for a change.

they all deserve a hero's welcome, get them out of there and home for some family time

We should have never been there in the first place

Jail Cheney / Bush / Rove

now this is what america is all about.

that's great. just a reminder, mr president. we wont allow any major extensions to our stay in iraq. dont think the economy or any other issues will distract us from this demand. remember all those anti-war protesters during the campaign , that followed mccain around? they will follow you around, too, if you dont stick to your promises. good luck.

God bless you and your family President-elect Obama. Looking forward to your presidency.

I am so proud of our next President. Please show the Republicans that Democrats do love and respect our troops and Democrats are just as patriotic and maybe even more so than the Republicans.

God bless our President-elect!

Must have had to stifle a lot to mingle with the commoners (troops )but it makes good fodder for the swooning press!!

I heard he was handing out pink slips as his mere presence in the world will obviously erase any need for a military.

Have to get the money to keep his voters on government handouts to insure 2012 victory.

This changes nothing.

A person who is so free like president elect ,I like him too much may God bless him and protect him.

Wow.....amazing....the man is just amazing. By the way President – Elect Obama...I forgot to say it yesterday....but a big

Happy Birthday to you!

Talk about kissing butt. Obama suppossedly said NO photo opts on Christmas. And here he was, sneaking around a Marine Base so that he could get his picture taken with REAL men and women and attempt to look like a leader. How pathetic.

Well how nice of him to take time out of his busy Hawaiin Vacation.....this man is a God and just like the rest of us mere mortals.

Just before he sells them all down the river, acutally he already has, Hussein is providing aid and comfort to the enemy.

I'll bet our troops are anxious to serve under a President who appreciates them just as I was in 1981 under President Reagan. Retention, morale and espirit de corps should skyrocket as a sense of purpose tends to improve all situations.Time will tell but it is promising for our troops.

I bet Obama is wondering where and why he's in one of those 57 states today...

He didn't have to do this. He's not the president; he's not even running for office. What a great guy! I'm proud of my fellow REAL American.

I hope there is a renewed focus on our military members. They deserve a lot of credit and respect which they seldom get.