Chillin' In Hawaii

The Washington Post reports on President-elect Barack Obama and his family spending a relaxing Christmas holiday in Kailua, Hawaii with friends and family. The Obama's are spending 13 days of relaxation at a private compound with 7 foot gates, and of course plenty of secret service protection.

The president-elect who always exudes cool and calm in pressurized environments appears to be prepared to have his sister near him as it's being reported that his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng who is a school teacher and her family may be moving to Washington, D.C. for at least a year.

Nutter Taking Care Of His Own

I guess it doesn't matter that the city that you've been elected to lead has a ridiculously high crime rate, a failing educational system, and a growing homeless problem. Despite the economy being in a recession and your city facing massive budget cuts, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has decided that his staff deserves to make more money than the staff of his predecessor John Street according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Even after budget cuts, Nutter's staffers will make $1.8 million more than Street's staffers.

Nutter states that the city is making an investment in quality people. This issue deserves close scrutiny by the residents of the city, because Nutter is going against conventional wisdom unless he's also putting money into other services.

R.I.P. Eartha Kitt

We lost Eartha Kitt yesterday due to complications from colon cancer yesterday, she was 81. Kitt, who even in her advanced age exuded a sultriness that eluded women many decades her junior. My most recent recollection of Kitt has to be her performance in the Eddie Murphy led movie "Boomerang' in which she played the character Lady Eloise. R.I.P. Ms. Kitt.

Obama Clean

As suspected, President-elect Barack Obama's team released their internal report regarding the Gov. Rod Blagojevich's scandal. The report states that Obama had no contact with "Blago" but that incoming Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel did discuss the vacant Illinois Senate seat and a possible appointment of Valerie Jarrett who took a position as an Obama advisor. Obama did, however, sit down with federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's staff to discuss his knowledge of any contact that his team had with Blagojevich. Thanks to the Chicago Sun-Times for the information.

At this point, this is a non story in relation to the president-elect. It will stay front and center because of the Chicago political cesspool that launched Obama.

Prayers For The Dead Homeless

The homeless in our society are often looked upon as the lowest of the low receiving very little respect in city after city, and town after town. In the Philadelphia, 85 homeless people have died in the last year. Yesterday in Philadelphia homeless advocates and the homeless themselves gathered for a memorial to recognize National Homeless Memorial Day, held in 90 cities across the country as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Unfortunately with the economy tanking we'll probably see the homeless population increase to very scary numbers.

Buff Obama

Everyone knows that our President-elect is into his fitness, now it appears he's being dogged by the paparazzi as he enjoys his Christmas vacation in Hawaii. Barack Obama was captured walking on the beach Sunday, and the New York Post reports that our president-elect's body is getting major attention throughout the world.

While it appears that we're very fortunate to have Barack Obama becoming our president in less than 30 days, I guess most people will simply say that Michelle is a very lucky woman.

Obama's Word Man

Jon Favreau is a 27 year old graduate from Holy Cross, and also President-elect's Barack Obama's head speechwriter. Three months ago, Favreau lived in a group house with six friends in Chicago, now he's just put a down payment on a Dupont Circle condo in Washington, D.C.. Great article from the Washington Post about taking advantage of a tremendous opportunity, and now being in synch with the soon to be most powerful man in the world.

Obama/"Blago" Link Tobe Be Revealed This Week

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Rahm Emanuel/Rod Blagojevich link will be revealed this week. I'm sure that none of the details will be earth shattering once revealed, and as usual any potential dirt on our President-elect Barack Obama will roll off his shoulders.