Obama and family arrive in Hawaii for Christmas holiday

KANEOHE, Hawaii -- President Obama began the holiday weekend as far removed as one could be from the stalled “fiscal cliff” talks in Washington: on a golf course in his native Hawaii.

The first family arrived here just after midnight Saturday for their traditional Christmas trip to the island of Oahu, one that for the president is his bit of R & R after a grueling election year, though one that is likely to be briefer than usual given the Dec. 31 deadline to avert automatic tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect.

After the failure of House Speaker John A. Boehner’s “Plan B,” the president Friday called for all involved to use the coming holiday as a time to “cool off,” drink eggnog and enjoy time with family.

“Call me a hopeless optimist, but I actually still think we can get it done,” he said, before leaving the White House.

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In his weekly address, Boehner said the Republican-led House had already done its part to avert the fiscal cliff, pointing to legislation that did pass Thursday to substitute what he called “responsible spending cuts” for deeper reductions that were part of the sequester to be triggered without a deal.

“Unfortunately, the president and Senate Democrats have vowed to reject and veto all of our proposals while failing to offer a responsible solution of their own,” he said. “The president’s solution of raising tax rates would still leave red ink as far as the eye can see. And it would hurt jobs, at a time when far too many of our citizens are struggling to find them.”

Boehner, too, offered a hint of optimism, however, saying: “Hope springs eternal, and I know we have it in us to come together and do the right thing.”

Congress is in recess until Thursday. Obama is likely to have returned from Hawaii by then.

Until then, the president and his family will seek to compress some of their traditional island jaunts for shave ice in the time he has this week. On Sunday, the president and first lady will also attend a memorial service for the late Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, which will also be attended by a delegation of his former Senate colleagues.

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