The country is about to go over a fiscal cliff, but President Obama is checked out for the holidays.
With negotiations to avert the fiscal cliff in shambles, Obama arrived in Hawaii early yesterday morning for a brief Christmas vacation.
The first family is vacationing at a resort on the island of Oahu, and the president plans to return to Washington on Wednesday.
Other than an appearance at the late Sen. Daniel Inouye’s memorial service today, Obama’s staying out of public view until after Christmas.
Obama, unable to bend Republicans to his will on taxes and spending, has urged his congressional opponents to use the holiday break to cool off — “drink some eggnog, eat some Christmas cookies” — before returning to negotiations to avert automatic tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect Jan. 1.