Patterico's Pontifications

12/22/2008

In Defense of Obama’s Vacation Rental Selection

Filed under: General — WLS @ 2:51 pm



[Posted by WLS Shipwrecked]:

I’ve seen some snarky articles around the web mentioning Obama staying in a $9 million mansion while on vacation in Hawaii.  Frankly, most of the coverage is nonsense.

First, while the house did sell last January for $9 million, the fact is that it sits on a one acre parcel of beachfront property at the far end of Kailua Beach.  That parcel of land itself, with nothing on it, would sell for more than $7 million easy.  Much smaller lots along the beach in Kailua or Lanikai sell for no less than $5 million.  The popular saying among the real estate people here is “They ain’t making no more beach front property.  Pay what you have to pay if you want some.” 

Here is the Yahoo Maps Satellite view of the house.  The Secret Service probably likes this a lot because its bounded on 3 sides by water, is at the end of a private road which had a normally unmanned guard shack at the entrance — Secret Service occupies it now — and has only one entrance to the property itself at the end of the street.

Obama vacation house.

The property has two houses, both of which suit the property, but neither is  a “mansion.”   The neighborhood where this house is located is not “swanky” at all.  It’s a nice neighborhood, and some new very expensive houses were recently built just a few lots away from the house where Obama is staying, but the overall character of the neighborhood is “comfortable” but far from ultra-high end.  Houses not on the water in this neighborhood go for $1 million and higher.  But since the “average” home price in Hawaii is close to $600,000 — and that won’t buy you much — houses for $1 million aren’t really luxurious. 

And, yesterday Obama played golf at Olomana Golf Course.  This is the same course he played at last summer. 

He’s the President-elect and he could play at any course on Oahu that he wanted to play.  But he chose Olamana — a public course owned by the City&County of Honoulu — which plays about 6000 yards.  It’s pretty much your basic “muni” course — nothing fancy.

And the course was not closed to the public as I’ve seen written elsewhere.  The hole immediately in front of him and the hole immediately behind him were kept open by the Secret Service, but otherwise the course was open for normal play. 

And, the guy has gone to Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base to work out two straight mornings.  If you move the Yahoo image directly up, you can see the “back” entrance to K-Bay is about a 1/2 mile from the house where he’s staying, though the drive to get there is a little longer.  This is clearly the quickest, easiest, and easiest to secure location he could use.

— WLS Shipwrecked

82 Responses to “In Defense of Obama’s Vacation Rental Selection”

  1. The guy is entitled to some peace and quiet, and most importantly, safety for his family. I have my disagreements with Barack Obama on a lot of things, but this is definitely not one of them.

    Joe (dcebbd)

  2. Indeed, finding property that the Secret Service will approve security for is difficult. Nonsense to make an issue of this.

    SPQR (72771e)

  3. The only thing Hussein O has to fear is democrats, and maybe an Islamist or two who view himas an apostate. Other than that he can walk the streets without fear, as long as he does as we all do and stays out of the black area’s of any city/town.

    Scrapiron (ce69ff)

  4. You should see his security cordon around his home in Hyde Park – I believe it’s been many generations since a President has come from a truly urban area. Residents within a four – block square peremiter must go through blockades and security checks, manned by both Secret Service and local Chicago Police, and this will be in effect the entire time he’s in office, whether he’s currently in the White House or not. Seems prudent, but what a pain for the neighbors, eh?

    Dmac (e30284)

  5. Call it what you will, Patter; the fact is it’s BLING presented by a Chicago thug to his moll; or, if you prefer, a gang-banger to his *itch!
    So did you really expect circumspect from the classless nouveau riches

    elixelx (bfcb6e)

  6. Kerry had similar security in Boston and he lost!

    The Boston cops told my daughter-in-law about how many times they had been called to the Kerry house when she was throwing lamps at him, like Hillary used to throw them at Bill. Michelle looks like a tough babe. He had better not cross her. Outside the house, he has nothing to worry about. Leave him alone.

    What is it with these Democrats and their wives ?

    Mike K (f89cb3)

  7. Thanks for injecting some much needed common sense.

    Terrence (8fd35a)

  8. Absolutely Obama should be able to enjoy vacation.

    I would just like one of the lefty bloggers swooning over his beefcake shots to admit they should have been less ridiculous about Bush going on “vacation”.

    I believe it was HuffPo, currently hosting pics of Barack on the beach, that kept a count of how many “vacation” days Bush took.

    MayBee (fd43fa)

  9. Comment by Dmac — 12/22/2008 @ 3:52 pm

    Just how many times through those check-points will it take before Bernadine goes ballistic against The Man again?

    Another Drew (83402d)

  10. My rats buttocks could care less where Hissoner is staying for Christmas.

    Dandapani (7aefb0)

  11. Jeezzz he is soon to be the leader of what is left of the free world. He sure as hell is not going to spend his vacation with his brother in Kenya.

    Huey (99686e)

  12. If this guy can kick it in luxury mansions while Americans are losing their jobs, starving and living in cardboard boxes…then hey. Hope and Change, baybeee.

    jcurtis (c96c2b)

  13. #12 jcurtis

    Don’t worry, we only need to worry about the homeless for another month or so.

    Once Hopie’s in office, we won’t hear a peep about them for a l-o-o-o-o-o-ng time.

    As for the vacation home, I hope some day I can live next door. To heck with the haters!

    Pious Agnostic (b2c3ab)

  14. Dmac, a pain? People pay big money to live in gated communities with incompetent drunken faux security, Obama’s neighbors are gettin top of the line security.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  15. Fair enough – but whenever anyone wishes to have a visitor over, the levels of security they’ll go through may become annoying over time. Think TSA, but without the wit.

    Just how many times through those check-points will it take before Bernadine goes ballistic against The Man again?

    Ha – what makes you think her and Ayers won’t be making official visits to the WH next year? The hell with waiting for him to come home, go straight to the source.

    Dmac (e30284)

  16. It is as silly to complain about Baracky’s vacations and golfing as it was to complain about President Bush’s “vacations”.

    JD (037526)

  17. President’s don’t take vacations, they just perform their duties in a multitude of locations, and at all hours.
    It is truly the 24/7 job.
    Starting 1/20, BHO will start to get some indication as to why CEO’s earn the money they earn in a job that has no requirement for physical labor, and no clock to punch-in, or punch-out, on.

    Another Drew (83402d)

  18. Spot on, AD. Spot on. The Leftist will forget all of their screeching about President Bush going on vacation. Actually, it appears they have already washed that down the memory hole.

    JD (037526)

  19. The MSM will spin Obama’s vacations as necessary for “stimulating the local economy.”

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  20. The Leftist will forget all of their screeching about President Bush going on vacation.

    Your lying drunk of a war criminal spent 40% of his time in office in vacation, mostly sleeping it off.

    Horrible Leftist (d9762f)

  21. HL – Not only are you vile, sad, and pathetic, but most of all, you are an abject unapologetic liar. But thank you for proving my point.

    JD (037526)

  22. Comment by Horrible Libtard — 7:07 pm

    Hey your poster boy had the job bought for him, remember? Just like room service. He fit the bill, read well and got the part. ($700 million, IFYKWIM and ITUD.) But let the young’n vacation. He deserves a rest.

    And don’t forget. He never sat at a big boy’s desk before, unlike George Bush and Sarah Palin. So Hawaii could be the perfect getaway.

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  23. The Boston cops told my daughter-in-law about how many times they had been called to the Kerry house when she was throwing lamps at him

    Really? How juicy! I respect her a little more than I did before.

    Dmac, you have met a TSA with wit? “Think TSA, but without the wit.”

    Patricia (ee5c9d)

  24. #

    Absolutely Obama should be able to enjoy vacation.

    I would just like one of the lefty bloggers swooning over his beefcake shots to admit they should have been less ridiculous about Bush going on “vacation”.

    I believe it was HuffPo, currently hosting pics of Barack on the beach, that kept a count of how many “vacation” days Bush took.

    Comment by MayBee — 12/22/2008 @ 4:31 pm

    Exactly!!

    I wonder if they are going to do newscasts with
    shots of people in bread lines and out of work then switch over to Obama walking down the beach with his man tits (to droopy to be a “buff” chest),like they did of the 9/11 towers coming down with a switch to Bush with the chainsaw.

    Baxter Greene (8035ae)

  25. like they did of the 9/11 towers coming down
    shots of people in bread lines and out of work then switch over to Obama walking down the beach

    Right on. That’s how the story goes.

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  26. Both the Ayers and Louis F households are outside the barriers. We are too, but if the Secret Service sneeze, we hear it. It IS a hassle getting through, as we have many friends and some activities within the perimeter. This week they have reopened Hyde Park (51st) and it makes getting around a lot easier. An out-of-town stranger stopped me tonight to ask directions to Provident Hospital. Much easier to say “go to 51st and turn west and after a few lights it will be on your right,” than “go to 53rd, turn here here and here….”

    The local cops call the SS the “jocks.”

    Obama's Neighbor (f28dac)

  27. By the way, we’re falling for the Soros plan hook liner and sinker. Talk about some new dog for the brats, like a piece out of Parade magazine. Fluff up the news with stories which make Thuggy look bad at first, only to distract. Pull out the beach shots and go for the Access Hollywood crowd. Again. Repeat.

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  28. Not only are you vile, sad, and pathetic, but most of all, you are an abject unapologetic liar.

    So, what are you disputing? That your president is a liar? That your president is a floor-crawling drunkard? That your president spent 40% of his term on vacation? That your president is a war criminal? Which one to you dispute, you addled wingnut?

    Horrible Leftist (d9762f)

  29. By the way, we’re falling for the Soros plan hook liner and sinker. Talk about some new dog for the brats, like a piece out of Parade magazine. Fluff up the news with stories which make Thuggy look bad at first, only to distract. Pull out the beach shots and go for the Access Hollywood crowd. Again. Repeat.

    Tell me: Is it a VLWC? Are you suffering from Obama Derangement Sydrome this soon? Bud, it’s going to get worse for you. So much worse. Ha ha ha ha! Nutcase!

    Horrible Leftist (d9762f)

  30. We really do have to give HL just a little bit of credit. At least it is honest in its choice of names. Kind of like the troll that calls itself assclown (I shit you not) over at proteinwisdom. Truth in advertising, if you will.

    JD (037526)

  31. HL: What is O’s drug of choice while on vacation: Chicago Crack or Maui Wowie?

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  32. So, what are you disputing? That your president is a liar? That your president is a floor-crawling drunkard? That your president spent 40% of his term on vacation? That your president is a war criminal?

    Yes. Prove them. Each and every one of them.

    Liar.

    JD (037526)

  33. President Bush is YOUR President too, twatwaffle.

    JD (037526)

  34. “That your president is a liar? That your president is a floor-crawling drunkard? That your president spent 40% of his term on vacation? That your president is a war criminal? Which one to you dispute, you addled wingnut?”

    HL – You’re funny. All you’ve offered up is fantasies and unproven assertions. Show something with some backup worth disputing and then we can talk. Until then, your just another BDS gasbag who can’t find his ass with both hands.

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  35. Finding its ass should be fairly easy. It is where its head is jammed … All it has to do is open its eyes.

    JD (037526)

  36. This VLWC of which you speak. Most of us call it ‘the machine.’ It’s a Chicago thing.

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  37. That your president is a liar? BDS
    That your president is a floor-crawling drunkard? BDS
    That your president spent 40% of his term on vacation? BDS
    That your president is a war criminal? BDS

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  38. I guess Obama could have spent the holidays at a 5 star hotel that was worth 900 million or whatever.
    The underlying value of the property is of little consequence… unless Rezko is subsidizing it, in which case I’ll get interested

    SteveG (a87dae)

  39. I dont give a shit if he is staying in a cardboard box in the ghetto of Honolulu… The fact is, he is relaxing in 80 degree weather in the most pristine vacation spot in the nation while us poor folk are freezing our asses off and struggling to pay heating bills… Of course that is on top of all of the other financial struggling that we are having to do.

    chris (1c120e)

  40. Nice post WLS.

    love2008 (0c8c2c)

  41. Starting 1/20, BHO will start to get some indication as to why CEO’s earn the money they earn in a job that has no requirement for physical labor, and no clock to punch-in, or punch-out, on.

    Yes, AD! Exactly.

    (ps. I find myself irked that Biden’s new task force is on “working” families. Maybe Barack will finally be working hard enough to realize how bothersome that term is when it is only applied to the lower middle class)

    MayBee (fd43fa)

  42. Dmac, you have met a TSA with wit?

    Patricia, the tongue was firmly in cheek on that one, so the context obviously didn’t come through in this format.

    Dmac (e30284)

  43. 39 do we have a little atty-tood? You could exchange being cold for other negatives, like living in Bobby Wexler’s district with a plethora of old NY ex-pat moonbats who drive like mutant cretins. And it will only reach 80 here on Xmas. And property values are in the toilet- down 67% in my development in past couple of years. Maybe one upside of frigid places is not coping with disaffected illegal El Salvadoran gangbanger cucaracha yoots?
    But seriously, would not Hawaiian weather get boring? My ex lived in Waikiki for years before opting to move to Burlington, Vt. I do wonder about the chip on native Hawaiian shoulders and the bullshit caving to their demands.

    For sure I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t have a crappy getaway place in Az. or Fla., just to escape the winter cold. My dream is a cabin in the mountains in summer.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  44. President Bush is YOUR President too, twatwaffle.

    Sorry, but he’s your scumbag. All yours.

    The fact is, he is relaxing in 80 degree weather in the most pristine vacation spot in the nation while us poor folk are freezing our asses off and struggling to pay heating bills

    What do you call a liberal? A wingnut who just discovered the life is so, so, terribly unfair. Ha ha ha ha! Nutcase!

    I do wonder about the chip on native Hawaiian shoulders and the bullshit caving to their demands.

    Okay, a serious story here. Two of us were on Maui some years back for a Horrible Leftist winter vacation. It’s what elists do, right? Anyway, we decided to drive to the Ritz Carlton for drinks and to see how the other 1% lives.

    We walk around the joint first, and we agree that it’s very nice but that it has this odd pall about it. “I can’t put my finger on it, but this place feels like death,” my companion says. It really made an impression on both of us. The Ritz Carlton on Maui gives the impression of being the fanciest mortuary you’ll ever see.

    We stuck around for one drink, but left early because the place seemed creepy. And neither one of us is a suggestible sort. I laugh at psychics, UFOlogists, Nostradamus, and Nancy Reagan’s astrologer. I am a Horrible Leftist rationalist to the Nth degree.

    Anyway, a couple days later I’m talking to someone about the creepy Ritz. They said, “Oh yeah, there are a whole lot of people here who won’t set foot on the property.” It seems that when they built it, they disturbed a native burial ground. The natives complained, and the builders made some changes but didn’t pay the appropriate respects to the dead.

    I still don’t believe in any of that psychic shit, but I’ll never set foot on the grounds of the Maui Ritz again — yeah, yeah, I know how much I won’t be missed — and I’d probably advise whoever builds there to be careful if any of the natives should happen to warn them about digging in a particular spot.

    Horrible Leftist (d9762f)

  45. There is an awful lot of “cut and paste” to this character. It uses “Ha ha ha ha! Nutcase!” repeatedly, and then says that anything else is creepy?

    But again, this troll is just about being offensive and picking fights. Probably looks like Wally Cox. Gotta feel tough and righteous, you know!

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  46. And as for the “horrible developers building on sacred land” here is the actual story:

    http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/nagpramokapuhonokahua.html

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  47. We walk around the joint first, and we agree that it’s very nice but that it has this odd pall about it. “I can’t put my finger on it, but this place feels like death,” my companion says. It really made an impression on both of us. The Ritz Carlton on Maui gives the impression of being the fanciest mortuary you’ll ever see.

    Oh, please, what drama.
    I’ve stayed there several times. It has the best beach shack hamburgers and margaritas you’ll find anywhere. It’s beautiful with lush green lawns, and I would recommend it to anyone.

    MayBee (fd43fa)

  48. Maybee, me too. Hawai’i is full of legends of kapu and interesting tales. I think that this guy was reading Dan Simmons again.

    The meme here is “nasty insensitive developers”

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  49. “…Probably looks like Wally Cox…”
    Comment by Eric Blair — 12/23/2008 @ 9:44 am

    Looks like “Mr. Peepers”, but imagines himself as “Strelnikov”.
    …and yes, it’s a different actor…but we’re working with imagery here, aren’t we?

    Another Drew (031c0f)

  50. Okay, a serious story here.

    I thought this statement was funnier than the supposed joke above it.

    Mossberg500 (9fd170)

  51. HL is just so angry and nonconstructive that I really do think he is working out some personal issues.

    Or is a fifteen year old.

    But either way, the fake tough guy business just shrieks “Wally Cox” in real life.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  52. I’ve stayed there several times. It has the best beach shack hamburgers and margaritas you’ll find anywhere. It’s beautiful with lush green lawns, and I would recommend it to anyone.

    I agree, the place is attractive in a manicured resort kind of way. And no one forced us to go over there, so it’s not as if I object to manicured resorts or to Ritz Carltons. I just wouldn’t hang out at that particular Ritz. The place is haunted, and I don’t believe in haunted houses.

    Horrible Leftist (d9762f)

  53. p.s.: Nutcases!

    Horrible Leftist (d9762f)

  54. P.P.S. Wally Cox could kick your butt in a barfight!

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  55. HL is going into moderation for now.

    Comments that make valid points without insults will emerge. Comments that are designed merely to insult will not emerge.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  56. It may take a while to get to them, though. I am on vacation.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  57. Have a great vacation Patterico!

    Happy Holidays!

    Can I say that?

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  58. Dear Patterico: I hope you have a good vacation. Sorry if the schoolyard business (and I am partially guilty, too) is tiresome.

    On the topic, it was nice that some posters here recognized that Obama wasn’t picking the vacation home location out of some Marie Antoinette impulse. He did spend a lot of years in Hawai’i.

    I still don’t much care for the guy, but on this subject I’ll bet he made the Secret Service happy.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  59. The final straw came when HL left a comment on a thread regarding a letter I received demanding a retraction for allegedly defamatory statements. HL enjoys saying things just to provoke people; I’m not going to allow him to falsely suggest I have defamed people as part of his shtick. The comment was deleted.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  60. Drudge has a poll up pitting Obama’s shirtless look vs. Putin’s. So far the KGB meister is whipping Obamafuehrer almost 2:1. What was the term on Seinfeld episode for what O! needs?

    Also a shot of his better half. Would not want to wake up next to her- not into junk in da trunk nor harridan attitude. Will the media be as tough on the O’s as they are on the Palins? Shirley you jest.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  61. The sad part is that the character is going to be shrilling that he was banned. Sigh.

    On the other hand, he was looking for that result, and stated so originally.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  62. Comment by Eric Blair — 12/23/2008 @ 10:53 am
    But, the question remains, what will we eventually do with his alter-ego,
    who does appear just for the sake of the argument?

    Another Drew (031c0f)

  63. I am on vacation.

    Comment by Patterico — 12/23/2008 @ 10:40 am
    Say hello to Obama, will you?

    love2008 (1b037c)

  64. Say hello to Obama, will you?

    Ain’t gonna happen… Obama doesn’t speak to little people. Gets him into all kinds of trouble. (See: Joe the Plumber.)

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  65. Sayeth Joe –

    “The guy is entitled to some peace and quiet, and most importantly, safety for his family. I have my disagreements with Barack Obama on a lot of things, but this is definitely not one of them.”

    Well said Joe. Simple, to the point. Lots and lots and lots to get on Obama for, and more coming for sure when he takes over. But give the dude his vacation. I realize that we’d be seeing non-stop coverage about tone-deafness and heartlessness on every network not named FOX if it was John McCain vacationing in this way.

    But the idiocy stupidity and assorted liberal grotesqueries of the scumbags in the press dont mean its OK to bag on Obama here. Dude is nominally FROM Hawaii anyway, and he played at a Muni!

    Who was the last POTUS to play a muni?? Andy Jackson probably.

    I didnt vote for Obama, campaigned hard against him, and I dont support him except as far as I need to support the office of the Presidency as a loyal American.

    But theres naught to get all worked up about, unless we find out that Blago’s campaign if picking up the tab.

    mike d (b28b9d)

  66. Everyone vacations. That’s not the problem. This turd’s problem is he wants you to work for him. He enjoys a $9 million beach hut, which at some point someone had to work for and buy.

    This narcissistic playa will manage things just like he did with the Annenberg Challenge. Huge amounts of money that just slip away… to places… to friends. Lovie’s paycheck will get torn to shreds. So those man tits on the beach better make you happy, girl. That’s your election day payoff right there.

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  67. Obama doesn’t speak to little people
    Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 12/23/2008 @ 11:29 am

    Patterico may be a lot of things. But small he ain’t. Neither was Joe the rock star.

    love2008 (1b037c)

  68. love2008 — 11:52 am

    You don’t get it. You never will.

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  69. Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 12/23/2008 @ 11:46 am
    I laugh at your ignorance. You really have no clue at all. Who told you Love2008 is female or male?

    love2008 (1b037c)

  70. Men and women worship false idols. It’s certainly the case now in our celebrity-fueled vacuum. You could be anything. Olbermann gets a woody from the same things as Arianna (and you). One people, one world.

    Vermont Neighbor (ceab4f)

  71. The place is haunted, and I don’t believe in haunted houses.

    Really? That says a lot more than you meant for it to say, I think.

    Pablo (99243e)

  72. Comment by Vermont Neighbor — 12/23/2008 @ 12:04 pm
    Merry Christmas, VN. May the best of this season be yours and all yours. It’s been a pleasure.

    love2008 (1b037c)

  73. Bag the Ritz on Maui for the Four Seasons. Routinely one of the top 10 resorts in the world. Even the cheap rooms are pretty amazing.

    WLS (26b1e5)

  74. Yes, the Four Seasons is *the* hotel on Maui. The beach is only ok, though.

    MayBee (b04cd2)

  75. No worries, Pablo. The troll will be back shortly, under yet another name. Sigh.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  76. Have a great vacation, Patterico, and Merry Christmas!

    Patricia (ee5c9d)

  77. “Who told you Love2008 is female or male?”

    Lovey – Are you saying that you’re like the character Pat on old Saturday Night Live?

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  78. Everyone just knock it off & “do your patriotic duty” and pay those soon to be increased taxes. The Ozombies wanted change….

    McBane (7cfd24)

  79. Are you saying that you’re like the character Pat on old Saturday Night Live?

    Comment by daleyrocks — 12/23/2008 @ 7:23 pm
    We know how that ended, don’t we Daley?

    love2008 (1b037c)

  80. Hey, maybe the Leftards can answer this: Where is Obama getting the money to lease the 200+ passenger Jetliner and this vacation home? Remember how O cried poor mouth and struggling to keep fruit on the table for his children?

    PCD (7fe637)

  81. $9 million is still $9 million; just because you don’t get alot of house for the money in Hawaii doesn’t not make it a home for millionaires. Sort of cancels out the hopey changey nonsense about being one of the people. Plus, if it is safe for him to play on an open golf course, why does he have to work out in a “secure” environment at the Marine base.

    Federale (8859fe)

  82. “We know how that ended, don’t we Daley?”

    Lovey – I have no idea what you are talking about, as usual.

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)


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