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To: Wharf Rat who wrote (9843)	2/20/2012 10:01:30 AM
From: longnshort	1 Recommendation Respond to of 85487

Well it has been a whole month! Just weeks after 17-day Hawaii vacation Michelle hits the slopes with daughters on Aspen ski trip By Hannah Roberts Last updated at 6:46 AM on 19th February 2012 Comments (129) Share With the economy on its knees, many American families have had to forgo their annual holiday just to make ends meet. But barely a month after returning from a luxury Christmas break in Hawaii Michelle Obama is on holiday again - this time at the exclusive Colorado ski resort of Aspen. The First Lady Michelle Obama is spending Presidents' Day weekend in the upmarket resort with her daughters, Sasha and Malia, and was seen hitting the slopes - albeit apprehensively - on Saturday. Cool rider: Michelle Obama, pictured, has gone skiing in Aspen, Colorado with her daughters, Sasha and Malia Easy does it: The First Lady and her daughters Sasha and Malia are in Aspen for Presidents' Day weekend The Secret Service have been in town for the past few days looking for safe places for the family to relax. Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo confirmed Mrs Obama arrived Friday afternoon, saying, 'it's a privilege to have the first lady here.' He told the Aspen Daily News he met with Secret Service officers and has placed seven of his deputies at the service of the First Family. More... Plane stupid? Obama praises Boeing plant he tried to CLOSE during visit to aircraft factory Boost for Obama as Republicans back down and Congress passes bill to extend tax cut for 160m U.S. workers until end of year The Obamas are staying at the home of Jim and Paula Crown, owners of the Aspen Skiing Co, the Daily News reported. Last year the first lady gave a speech at their home, in front of about 150 supporters. Each paid between $1,000 and $10,000 to attend the joint fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and President Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign. Snowtime: The Secret Service have been in Aspen for the past few days looking for safe places for Michelle, Malia and Sasha to stay The holiday is not the first time the first girls have been on skis. Their first attempt came in Feb 2010 when she took the girls to Liberty Mountain Resort, in Carroll Valley, Pa. just is 60 minutes from the White House. And last year Mrs Obama took Sasha and Malia to Vail and Beaver Creek last Presidents' Day just days after the President tried to sell his cost-cutting budget to the American people by asking them to stay at home. Splashing out: Aspen in Colorado is one of the country's most elite and expensive resorts Holiday home: The Obamas are reportedly staying on the estate of Jim and Paula Crown, of Chicago, who own a home on the Tiehack side ‘If you’re a family trying to cut back, you might skip going out to dinner, or you might put off a vacation,’ he said. Once again while Mr Obama returned to the White House after a fundraising trip to West Coast, the rest of his family headed to Colorado – rather than visiting slopes closer to Washington in Virginia or Pennsylvania. Their trip came despite previous criticisms over the family's extravagant vacations, including a trip last summer to Martha's Vineyeard where the family rented a farm estate for around $50,000 a week. Holiday heaven: Mrs Obama raised eyebrows when she left earlier than her husband for their annual Christmas holiday in Hawaii incurring extra costs Mrs Obama also raised eyebrows when for the second year in a row she left earlier than her husband for their annual Christmas holiday in Hawaii, incurring additional expenses of an estimated $100,000. The 17 day holiday is estimated to have cost taxpayers $4milloion. No public events are scheduled for the first lady’s visit to Aspen. Read more: dailymail.co.uk

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (9843)	2/20/2012 10:01:59 AM
From: longnshort	1 Recommendation Respond to of 85487

The Obama Vacation List -- President’s Day 2012, Michelle and the first daughters in Aspen, Colorado to ski. -- Christmas 2011, the first family in Hawaii for an extended vacation. -- Summer 2011, in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., for the annual beach break. -- June 2011, the first lady, her mother and daughters traveled to South Africa and Botswana. -- President’s Day 2011, the first lady and first daughters travel to Vail to ski. -- Christmas 2010, in Hawaii. -- August 2010, the first family traveled to Panama City Beach, Fla., for some sun and fun at the beach. -- August 2010, Obama spent the weekend alone in Chicago for his 49th birthday bash. -- August 2010, the first lady and daughter Sasha traveled to Spain for a mother-daughter vacation. -- August 2010, summer vacation again at Martha’s Vineyard. -- July 2010, the first family went to Mount Desert Island, Maine. -- May 2010, the first family had a four-day trip to Chicago. -- March 2010, first lady and daughter spend Spring Break in New York City. -- Christmas 2009, Hawaii again for the annual break. -- August 2009, at Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon for a short vacation. -- August 2009, their first summer vacation as first family at Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (9843)	2/20/2012 10:11:31 AM
From: Bill	4 Recommendations Respond to of 85487

The record is clear and undisputed: 1. Bush signed the bailout of GM. 2. Bush's interrogations found Bin Laden.

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (9843)	2/20/2012 10:22:25 AM
From: TimF	2 Recommendations Respond to of 85487

Obama didn't intervene to keep GM alive, it likely could have survived (and in the long run probably been healthier) without the Obama effort of tilting the bankruptcy deal (and its bankruptcy, not the other actions, that saved GM, and make it profitable now by removing the debt it couldn't afford to cover) in the favor of the unions. The stronger (then they otherwise would have been, not then they had been at some points in the past) unions make for a weaker GM. Also the political favoritism for the unions, against creditors who were senior to the unions, might in the long run raise GM's cost of capital (while charge less interest in exchange for being a senior creditor when you find that when push comes to shove your no longer senior?). As for OBL Obama was at the helm when it happened, but the effort was launched by Bush. I wouldn't give either of them huge credit for it, both gave the type of orders I'd expect a president to give. Still I guess meeting expectations deserves some minimal credit. The real credit goes to those who conducted the inteligence effort, and then to the SEALs.