Blackout hits Oahu, vacationing Obama

I thought two things when I heard about this earlier- first, that I was sure that wherever the PE was staying had back up generators (but it still made me nervous) and then I wondered when the last time we had heard anything like this about Hawaii? As Oliver says, "It’s quite possible that for the next 4-8 years we’re going to hear more about Hawaii than we did about Crawford, Texas. And that’s going to be a pretty cool thing." Yep.

OAHU, Hawaii — A thunder storm left most of the Hawaiian island of Oahu without power Saturday night. The blackout left about 800,000 residents and tourists — among them vacationing President-elect Barack Obama and his family — in the dark.

The blackout began when a lightning strike at 6:05 p.m. local time overloaded the system, knocking out several generators. The Obamas were then at their vacation home, having returned from the excursion the press had dubbed 'Waikiki-gate.' That house lost power at 8:08 p.m., and by 8:35 p.m., all 11 of the island's generators were out.

While the transition has yet to issue any statement about the blackout, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann told reporters that he had contacted Obama at 9:30 p.m., and that the president-elect said everything was fine and he was going to bed to sleep through the outage. By that point, the Obamas had power supplied by a portable generator.

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The President-Elect's Message on World AIDS Day

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I, Barack Hussein Obama...

By GottaLaff

We hear at TPC have not shied away from mentioning Barack Obama's middle name. In fact, the second he was declared the winner on November 4th, I proudly posted it in full. Many of us even made a point of adding it to our Comment identities (as in Gotta Hussein Laff) during the primaries.

In an L.A. Times editorial today, they agree that Obama should embrace his Husseinitude:

When George W. Bush was sworn in for his second term in 2005, he began his oath of office with the words: "I, George Walker Bush." [...]

No controversy surrounded Bush's inclusion of his middle name in the oath. The same might not be true of a decision by Barack Obama to take his oath as "Barack Hussein Obama" -- which is precisely why he should do so. [...]

Obama is a Christian, but Hussein, his middle name, is a common Muslim name. To capitalize on anti-Muslim sentiment, detractors took to calling him "Barack Hussein Obama." [...]

Stripped of such evil intent, the "Hussein" in Obama's full name shouldn't be taboo. Nor should the idea of an openly Muslim citizen deciding to seek the presidency.

As Colin Powell said,

"Is there something wrong with a 7-year-old Muslim American kid believing he or she could be president?"

No, there isn't.

Most Muslim Americans believe in and are pursuing the American dream, and as Powell also noted, they are sometimes dying for it.

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a survey. Guess what it concluded?

"Muslim Americans reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries." [...]

American[s] with an Islamic faith -- or an Islamic name -- [are] not a second-class citizen[s]. When the new president takes the oath, he should say, loudly and proudly: "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

That did it: Tears. And pride.

Obama calls Indian prime minister

I'm getting kinda sick of the "only one President at a time" thing. Bush seems to be more than ready to go, couldn't someone just ask him nicely?

(CNN) — President-elect Barack Obama spoke with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late Friday night, the president-elect's transition team said.

Obama called Singh to express condolences for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks there. He also made clear there is only one U.S. president at a time, the transition team said.

Cartoon by Jim Morin of my old hometown paper.

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Obama Polls Well For Transition So Far

Um, g-d knows I like the guy, but there hasn't been that much transitioning yet.

President-elect Obama's honeymoon is underway: 67% in a new ABC News poll approve of his work on the transition so far.

"Approval of Obama's handling of the transition is slightly better than Bill Clinton's 62% in mid-November 1992. Clinton improved from there, to 72% in mid-December and 81% just before his inauguration in mid-January 1993."

"George W. Bush's grade late in his transition also was high, albeit not as high as Clinton's -- 72% in mid-January 2001."

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Cool Brother In Chief

Seems we weren't the only ones who liked this photo of the President Elect. On the newstands January '09. h/t Greg.

VIDEO: Obamas Describe Moment Of Victory

By GottaLaff

Suh-weet:

(CBS) President-elect Barack Obama and First Lady-elect Michelle Obama describe the moment on election night when the reality of his victory hit home in their first post-election interview.

The interview was conducted Friday in Chicago by 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft and it will be broadcast on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Obama, McCain to meet

Name him head of Veterans Affairs and let Napolitano name a replacement. Heh.

(CNN) — Barack Obama and John McCain will meet in Chicago next week, the Obama-Biden transition team announced Friday.

"On Monday, President-elect Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will meet in Chicago at transition headquarters,” said transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.

(snip)

The two men spoke by phone Election Night, but have not met in person since the Al Smith dinner in New York on October 16.

**Got the video in the intertube mail, and it fits perfectly!! Via our friends at Parody and Son. The Three Stooges pic killed me.

First Photo of Obama in Oval Office

Looks comfy. Via and Bob.

Barack and Michelle Obama: A night out on the town

Oh my. h/t Oliver.

President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, spent three hours at Spiaggia restaurant on Saturday night, their first dinner out together since the election victory.

The four-star destination seems to be among their favorite spots for special occasions. That's where they spent their anniversary on Oct. 3 and Michelle Obama's birthday earlier this year.