Bad Weather Could Dampen Obamas' Holiday

Hawaii vacation to feature ENTIRE first family
HONOLULU (CNN) - Finally, the entire first family will make it to Hawaii for the holidays. Bo, the first family's portugese water dog, has made his debut on the island after complying with the state's stringent animal quarantine rules. FDOTUS - the First Dog of the United States - arrived on Saturday with First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha, according to Janelle Saneishi of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Bo had to go through a rigorous quarantine ...

Obama, family, entourage expected soon in Kailua
(12-20) 06:57 PST Kailua, Hawaii (AP) -- While President Barack Obama's standing in Washington has dropped a notch or two in the year since he and his family last spent their holiday Vacation in this beach community, the thrill is definitely not gone for many Kailuans about him coming back. "I'm very excited," said Virginia Carnohan, owner of The Cottage gift shop about 2 1/2 miles from the trio of Multimillion Dollar beachfront homes where the Obama family and friends will spend Christmas and...

California rain shatters records, and more is coming
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A storm walloped parts of California with up to 7 inches of rain and spawned minor Flooding, Mudslides and road closures Monday, but forecasters warn the Bad Weather’s real impact may be yet to come. More than 3 additional inches of rain expected across the region by Wednesday will hit already saturated hillsides, increasing the possibility of slides and Flash Floods, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service. The relentless rains that pounded California thr...

Wet Enough, Yet?
For those in the OC who don't think they got enough rain the last few days, not to worry. The big stuff is still coming (from the National Weather Service): ... Flash Flood WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON PST TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN San Diego HAS ISSUED A * Flash Flood WATCH FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHWEST California... INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS... APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS... COACHELLA VALLEY... ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS... Riverside County MOUNTAINS.....

Hard-hit West expected to get more storms
A powerful storm that battered Southern California over the weekend is forecast to bring more rain, wind and snow to the West today and leading up to Christmas. Rainfall that began Saturday morning continued relentlessly throughout the day Sunday. It wasn't expected to let up until sometime today, then resume again Tuesday and Wednesday, says Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service. After a brief break at the end of the week, more rain was likely to arrive Christmas Day, he says. By the time...

Storm batters California with heavy rain, high winds
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rescuers pulled motorists from swamped cars and found hikers trapped by a swollen creek, as Pacific storms dumped more rain Tuesday on saturated California and forecasters warned of a likely intensification before it all ends. Virtually the entire state has been affected by the storms that began Friday, dumping moisture from far Northern California south to San Diego. More than 12 inches of rain have fallen in parts of the Santa Monica Mountains in the south, and 13 feet ...

Evacuations ordered as storm saturates California
Los Angeles – A storm pounding California with record rain forced authorities in the San Joaquin Valley to order 2,000 residents to evacuate the farming community of McFarland due to major Flooding. An estimated 400 to 500 homes were in danger, Kern County Fire Department spokesman Sean Collins said. A sheriff's Helicopter crew was trying to locate the source of the flooding, which possibly was coming from ditches and canals that supply water to farms, Collins said. Two Evacuation center...

Rain to keep pummeling SoCal, sparking flood fears
In this Saturday Dec. 18, 2010, Chris Burden's sculpture "Urban Light,"... Los Angeles (AP) - A storm walloped parts of Southern California with up to seven inches of rain and spawned minor Flooding and Mudslides, but forecasters warn the Bad Weather's real impact may be yet to come. More than three additional inches of rain expected across the region by Wednesday will hit already saturated hillsides, increasing the possibility of mudslides and Flash Floods, said Stuart Seto of the National Wea...

On This One Kudos To Michelle Obama
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Forgive me if my sarcasm is obvious. However, don't rational people have more important things to single out and criticize the FLOTUS for than her efforts to heighten awareness over the dangers of Obesity. Particularly within the young? Sure she has had an occasional Ice Cream, maybe her taste for the sweeter things in life are legendary. So what? At least she is attempting to to do the right thing. Not unlike the Conservatives that have preached fidelity ...

End Game - Thankfully
Well, as you can see, it was a tough first day on our new blogging platform... I should be up to speed pretty soon, and thanks for your patience... Again, PLEASE remember that you can CLICK ON HEADLINES to read the full item if all you're getting is the top few paragraphs! Sen. Chuck Schumer says thousands will die if the 9/11 Healthcare Bill doesn't pass. Red Alert: Sarah Palin is picking a fight with FLOTUS Michelle Obama... over dessert. Gov. Paterson got slapped with a $62K fine for...

Michelle Obama Fills Your Stockings With Coal and Exercise
The Baby Jesus is almost here, which means that soon, Michelle Obama and some unwilling schoolchildren will probably be making plates of whole grain toast and carrots to leave out for Kris Kringle, the only fat man fully endorsed by our FLOTUS. But before Michelle can gather the family around the hearth for bowls of Special K and a slightly modified version of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” she has some shopping of her own to do. What will she get Barry this Christmas? How...

First Dog Bo Quarantined In Hawaii
The people of Hawaii can rest easier now. As the Presidential family begins to arrive for their Christmas Vacation the threat of rabies or some other unwanted disease will likely be averted. First dog, Bo, quarantined under state law, will be thoroughly checked out before being released. Michelle and the kids are in Hawaii, President Obama is waiting back in Washington to see if the Democrats can inflict any more pain on the American people, and poor Bo is quarantined until he’s checked out b...

Obamas shop on as outage hits Hawaii mall
Published: Dec. 21, 2010 at 12:01 PM Aerial view of waves crashing on Waikiki Beach with large section of sand empty due to recent torrential rains hitting the island of Oahu and a jellyfish warning on December 20, 2010. Usually prime Real Estate for sunbathers and beach-goers, recent rains have hampered vacationers. In a few days, U.S. President Barack Obama is expect to arrive to enjoy his holiday with his family in in Kailua, Hawaii. UPI/Cory Lum Honolulu, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- First Lady Michelle...

Powerful storm keeps pounding CA; more rain on way
RAQUEL MARIA DILLON (AP) - Associated Press Los Angeles A powerful storm system with drenching rain, heavy snow and high winds lashed California on Monday, but forecasters warned the worst was yet to come. Even stronger storms were bearing down on the state and threatened to dump another 5 to 10 inches of rain during the next two days. Virtually the entire state was affected by the Bad Weather. Some locations in Southern California had received more than 12 inches of rain, said Meteorologist ...

NZ's Pike River mine may have to be sealed
A New Zealand mine where 29 men remain entombed may have to be sealed as crews continue to make little progress in a bid to stabilise conditions underground. Machines shipped over from Australia to assist in the recovery efforts at the Pike River Coal Mine aren't working as effectively as expected and on Tuesday, Bad Weather compounded the problem, police said. Heavy Rain and high winds hampered attempts to monitor gas levels at the South Island mine where 29 miners - including two Australians -...

For air travelers, holidays are the season for delays
Brace yourselves, holiday air travelers. History suggests you're in for a rocky ride. The three weeks from mid-December through the New Year holiday are the most delay-prone period of the year at airports, according to a USA Today analysis of years of federal data and interviews with airport and airline officials. Christmastime actually isn't the busiest of the year in the air, according to the analysis. The numbers of passengers and flights are substantially below those of the busiest days, whi...

Calif. rain shatters records _ and more is coming
MCFARLAND, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say major Flooding in California’s San Joaquin Valley is forcing Evacuation of 2,000 residents of the farming community of McFarland. The Evacuation was called Monday after days of record-setting rain in California. Kern County fire spokesman Sean Collins estimates between 400 and 500 homes are in danger of Flooding in McFarland. The source of the Flooding is not clear but may be from overflowing irrigation canals that supply water to farms. THIS ...

Storm hits California with heavy rain, high winds
(12-21) 06:36 PST Los Angeles (AP) -- The latest in a series of powerful storm systems is bearing down on California, pelting mountain areas with Heavy Rain, snow and high winds, prompting Evacuations and leaving thousands without power. Virtually the entire state has been affected by the storms that began Friday, dumping moisture from far Northern California south to San Diego. More than 12 inches of rain have fallen in parts of the Santa Monica Mountains in the south, and 13 feet of snow has...

Rain, floods confound Southern California
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Heavy Rains persisted Monday in Southern California, where Kern County officials declared a local emergency. Officials evacuated approximately 2,000 residents from the California town of McFarland, the Los Angeles Times reported. As much as 12 feet of snow piled up at Mammoth Mountain, forecasters said. The National Weather Service issued new rain advisories, including a flood advisory for areas of Orange County and a stream flood advisory for regions in Los Angeles...

Flood warnings issued as heavy rain soaks Clark County
Heavy Rain in Clark County prompted flood warnings and impeded traffic Monday. The Las Vegas office of the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for northeastern Clark County in Southern Nevada, which includes the city of Mesquite and Beaver Dam Wash in Southwest Utah. The Virgin River near Littlefield, Ariz., located about 10 miles north of Mesquite along Interstate 15, is expected to rise above flood stage late Tuesday morning and crest Tuesday night or Wednesday morning at 17.4 fe...

Hikers found, drivers rescued amid Calif. deluge
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four people stranded in a forest overnight by California’s relentless stormy weather have been found, and authorities elsewhere have been rescuing motorists from swamped cars. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown tells KTLA-TV that a Helicopter spotted the missing hikers Tuesday morning and they will have to be airlifted to safety. McKeown says their car was trapped on the far side of a swollen creek in the Cleveland National Forest. In San Bernardino Co...

Holiday travel for Californians rises
The stormy weather might make the going tougher, but it won't keep a greater number of Northern Californians from treating themselves to a holiday trip this year. For the first time since The Economy took a plunge in 2008, the number of travelers is estimated to go up. More than 11.6 million Californians are expected to travel leading up to Christmas and through New Year's - a 3 percent increase from last year, according to AAA's annual holiday travel survey. "What this indicates is a very mea...

Holiday travel for Californians rises
The stormy weather might make the going tougher, but it won't keep a greater number of Northern Californians from treating themselves to a holiday trip this year. For the first time since The Economy took a plunge in 2008, the number of travelers is estimated to go up. More than 11.6 million Californians are expected to travel leading up to Christmas and through New Year's - a 3 percent increase from last year, according to AAA's annual holiday travel survey. "What this indicates is a very mea...

Holiday travel for Californians rises
The stormy weather might make the going tougher, but it won't keep a greater number of Northern Californians from treating themselves to a holiday trip this year. For the first time since The Economy took a plunge in 2008, the number of travelers is estimated to go up. More than 11.6 million Californians are expected to travel leading up to Christmas and through New Year's - a 3 percent increase from last year, according to AAA's annual holiday travel survey. "What this indicates is a very mea...

Key wins in a lame-duck session
Remember when congressional Republicans announced they wouldn't show up to a White House meeting with President Obama right after the November midterms? The snub seemed to suggest Obama's influence was waning in Washington. This Story West Wing Briefing: West Wing Briefing: Key wins in a lame-duck session Steve Israel, new DCCC chairman, ready to go on 'offense' for House Democrats Live video Q&A;, 11 a.m. ET: Chris Cillizza Monday Fix: The GOP top 10 for 2012, Thune's possible warning shot fo...