Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 3 January 2017
Under 3 weeks left: Obama in closing stretch of presidency

JOSH LEDERMAN exploiting GOP divisions
Associated Press about how to replace it. To
WASHINGTON (AP) — His that end, Obama will travel
last vacation behind him, Wednesday to the Capitol
President Barack Obama is to meet with House and
entering the closing stretch Senate Democrats, likely his
of his presidency, an elev- last meeting with his party’s
enth-hour push to tie up lawmakers as president.
loose ends and put finish- His administration is also
ing touches on his legacy working feverishly to finish
before handing the reins up regulations in the pipe-
to President-elect Donald line that Obama hopes can
Trump. be completed in the final
Obama returned to Wash- days, perhaps increasing
ington midday Monday the likelihood his policies
from Hawaii with less than carry over. But the closer it
three weeks left. His final gets to Trump’s inaugura-
days will largely be con- tion, the harder those tasks
sumed by a bid to protect become.
his endangered health Though Obama remains
care law, a major farewell president until Jan. 20, the
speech and the ongo- White House can’t process
ing handover of power to the departure of all its staff-
Trump. ers on a single day. So this
In an email to supporters week Obama aides will
on Monday, Obama said start “offloading,” turning in
his valedictory speech on U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk to board Air Force One, Sun- their Blackberries and shut-
day, Jan. 1, 2017, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, adjacent to Honolulu, Hawaii, en route to
Jan. 10 follows a tradition Washington after their annual family vacation on the island of Oahu. ting down their computers
set in 1796 when the first Associated Press for the last time, leaving a
president, George Wash- former campaign staffers. vowed to pass on the favor flict with Trump. Obama smaller staff on hand for
ington, spoke to the Ameri- Obama is also planning to Trump. But the transition directed the U.S. to defy the final days.
can people for the last time last-minute commutations hasn’t been without inci- tradition by allowing a Obama must also prepare
in office. The speech will and pardons, White House dent. U.N. Security Council reso- to become a private citi-
take place at McCormick officials said, in line with his The two teams have lution criticizing Israel on zen for the first time in two
Place, a giant convention second-term effort to cut clashed over the Trump settlements to pass, then decades. An office of the
center in Obama’s home- sentences for inmates giv- team’s requests for infor- slapped Russia with sweep- former president must be
town of Chicago. en unduly harsh sentences mation Obama aides fear ing penalties over U.S. alle- stood up, and Obama’s
“I’m thinking about them as for drug crimes. Though could be used to eliminate gations of hacking. family will be making ar-
a chance to say thank you prominent offenders like government employees The final days are Obama’s rangements to move into
for this amazing journey, to Edward Snowden and Rod who worked on Obama pri- last chance to define his a rental home in Northwest
celebrate the ways you’ve Blagojevich are also asking orities like climate change presidency before his loses Washington where they
changed this country for for leniency, Obama’s final and minority rights over- the bully pulpit and cedes plan to stay until young-
the better these past eight acts of clemency are ex- seas. Trump’s team, mean- his legacy to historians. For est daughter Sasha finishes
years, and to offer some pected to remain focused while, has been frustrated Obama, helping Ameri- high school.
thoughts on where we all on drug offenders whose by Obama’s attempts to cans understand how his The Obamas have long la-
go from here,” Obama plight Obama tried but box Trump in with parting two terms have reshaped mented how the presiden-
said. failed to address through moves to block ocean drill- American life is even more cy denied them freedom
Obama’s chief speech- criminal justice reform. ing, declare new monu- critical amid concerns that and privacy, with first lady
writer, Cody Keenan, trav- After taking office eight ments and further empty Trump may undo much of Michelle Obama likening
eled with Obama to Ha- years ago, Obama and his out the Guantanamo Bay what he accomplished, in- the White House to “a real-
waii and spent much of the aides were effusive in their prison. cluding the health law. ly nice prison.” But on their
trip working on the speech. praise for how Obama’s While on his annual vaca- As Trump and Republicans last Hawaii vacation, the
The Chicago trip will likely predecessor, George W. tion in Oahu, Obama as- vow to gut the Affordable first family took time out to
be Obama’s last outside Bush, helped his team take serted himself forcefully on Care Act, Democrats are visit Breakout Waikiki, where
Washington as president over the massive federal two foreign policy issues working to devise a strat- visitors are “trapped” in a
and will be include a “fam- bureaucracy. Obama has that put him in direct con- egy to protect the law by room together and must
ily reunion” for Obama’s try, as a team, to escape.q