Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 8-25-15 Edition

President Obama Returns From Vacation: Rested, Relaxed And Running Into Home Stretch
President Barack Obama’s
two-week summer vacation went just fine. As he had hoped, it was filled with lots of golf, time with family and friends and relaxing on the posh Massachu- setts island of Martha’s Vine- yard. And unlike his previous vacations, criticism was muted. Few of his Republican adver- saries are bothering to take him to task for allegedly goofing off— partly because at this point few doubt that President Obama works hard, most Americans seem to believe that he deserves a break and his Republican predecessor took far more vaca- tion time.
The question was whether of- ficial business, a sudden crisis or political demands in Washing- ton would prevent him from continuing his blissful escape from rigors of the White House.
Last summer, President Obama returned to Washing- ton for two days of meetings at the White House and he deliv- ered three statements to the traveling media from the island. He called for calm amid racial violence in Ferguson, Missouri, after the fatal shooting of an un- armed black adolescent. He ex- pressed outrage at the beheading of American James Foley by Islamic extremists. And he gave public remarks to discuss the elections in Iraq. He also attended a fundraiser for Senate Democrats in nearby Tis- bury, Massachusetts.
In 2011, President Obama left a day early to avoid Hurri- cane Irene, which was creating travel problems along the East Coast. However, this time, the President and his family re- turned to Washington Sunday rested, relaxed and running into home stretch.
Now he stares down an end- of-the-year stretch that prom- ises to cement some of his biggest remaining goals.
The President has talked often of his desire to finish the last two years of his presidency strongly, notching accomplish- ments until his last day in office in January 2017. In reality, the congressional and political cal- endars give him a narrower time frame to act, before the 2016 election encroach on Washing- ton.
His post-vacation schedule has been packed with trips and invited guests to the White House to draw attention to a top-level priority, his fight on climate change – starting with a trip next week to Alaska, where he’ll become the first sitting U. S. President to visit the state’s Arctic region and meet with hunters and fishermen whose livelihoods are threatened by global warming.
Then he’ll welcome both Pope Francis and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington, with climate change likely on the agenda for both meetings. And all along he’ll be battling Congress over government spending and his landmark nuclear deal with Iran.
The Pacific trade agreement is yet to be finalized, as are other legacy-building issues, including a potential plan to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.
The August congressional re- cess that has in past years left this White House on defense heading into the fall instead came and went with little con- troversy, and the President’s aides see a chance to build mo- mentum into the election year. The President himself chal- lenged the Republican-led Con- gress this weekend to “do its part” for the economy and re- solve a number of issues includ- ing a new spending package that must be passed by the end of September.
“Americans expect Congress to help keep our country strong and growing – not threaten to shut down our government,” President Obama said in his weekly address. “When Con- gress gets back, they should pre- vent a shutdown, pass a responsible budget, and prove that this is a country that looks forward – a country that invests in our future and keeps our economy growing for all Ameri- cans.”
The Obamas returned to Washington on Sunday after two weeks on Martha’s Vine- yard. Hours later, he hit the road again to build support for his climate agenda. On Monday in Las Vegas, he touted his ad- ministration’s newly unveiled Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce carbon emissions at U. S. power plants by 32% by 2030 while ramping up production from renewable sources like wind and solar. A week later he will tour the rapidly melting gla- ciers of the Alaskan Arctic.
The prospects for success are less certain when he must rely on congressional cooperation – particularly as he seeks to re- verse steep spending cuts ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline to fund government operations. The White House also plans to push Congress on a new infrastruc- ture package, and try to advance criminal justice reform and cyber security legislation.
The White House feels more confident after the recess about the fate of Obama’s Iran nu- clear agreement. The House and Senate are expected to immedi- ately take up debate over a reso- lution to reject the accord. But despite heavy spending by the accord’s opponents, and the high-profile defection of the Senate Democrats’ leader-in- waiting, Chuck Schumer, the administration sees enough support remaining to ultimately defeat the legislative attempt to halt the deal’s implementation.
President Obama lobbied key members of his party during his vacation, including a four- page letter sent to another New York Democrat, Rep. Jerrold Nadler that helped bring the lawmaker on board.
But Stewart, the Senate spokesman, argued the outcome should hardly be considered a success for the Iran deal.
First family returns to Washington after 2-week vacation. The President has a heavy agenda for the Fall.
President and First Lady Michelle, greet people before boarding Marine One.
President played golf with former president Bill Clinton during his vacation on Martha’s Vineyard.
President and Mrs. Obama and daughter, Malia bicycling on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard.
White House News
PAGE 6 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015