Obama swimsuit photos have arrived, as have the bodysurfing pics - don't be afraid. It will be OK.

[Pirate Smile]

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama body surfs at Sandy Beach. Sen. Obama is in Hawaii for a vacation with his family

Obama bodysurfs at Sandy Beach
Allison Schaefers
[email protected]

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama bodysurfed at Sandy Beach today, a place he frequented as a teen-ager growing up in Honolulu.

Associated Press photos of the outing show the presidential candidate shaking hands with bodyboarders and catching a few waves.

Before going to Sandy's, Obama went to Hanauma Bay with family and friends.



Obama left his Kailua rental at 7:54 a.m. today with his daughters, in their last full day of a week-long vacation. The motorcade, which included five cars and two police vehicles, arrived at Hanauma Bay at 8:29 a.m. just in time to greet the rain.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann greeted the party.

Obama, who wore his favorite White Sox cap, a grey T-shirt and black shorts on the excursion, carried a large Macy's shopping bag filled with beach gear.


PHOTOS BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Obama throws a lei into the ocean from the south Oahu point where he scattered his mother's ashes.





-snip-


PHOTOS BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Obama, center, shakes hands with people as he body surfs at Sandy Beach during vacation in Honolulu.





http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/14/news/story15.html

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. No harm there! (That frst one is like a Winslow Homer watercolor.)

[Robb]

107. That is a great shot

Kudos to the photographer.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Yow!!

Get IT Barack!!!

Lookin good!

[gristy]

3. Wow

I wanna go Hawaii

[David Zephyr]

4. That's my president.

Great pics! Thanks!

[gblady]

55. here's another....

[gblady]

70. more....

[Glimmer of Hope]

93. Those are really cool. He is something else.

[Top Cat]

5. Cool...........

[enough]

6. A human being immersed in reality on a real planet.

Is it possible that someone like this can find his way in the reality-phobic realm that is the power-structure of this world?

Thanks for these photos.

[JackBeck]

7. We'll miss him by one week.

:(

We leave for Kailua next Thursday. My husband just remarked that it's a good thing Obama left today. Otherwise, he would be spending our first trip to Hawaii following me around as I stalked Obama!

[RedLetterRev]

78. Couldn't MUCH blame you

he IS seriously fine. My husbear and I have a long, long-standing agreement. Look as much as you like. Men are gonna look anyway, that's what we do. But when you quit looking, I'll figure you've found. Then's when you better sleep with one eye open :D

[Writer]

8. Duuuuuude.

:P

[Coexist]

9. how ya' gonna' swiftboat that??

[JackBeck]

11. I'm sure there can be a way to frame this

As an insult to McCain and his five and half years as a POW.

:eyes:

[Danascot]

63. Leno who made a crack the other night

about the fact that Barack was going on vacation to a foreign country like Hawaii instead of an American destination.

[ieoeja]

69. I'm pretty certain that was said to make fun of Cokie Roberts.

Cokie really *did* say that. Comedians are smarter than Washington journalists.

Weird, but true.

[EV_Ares]

96. I watch Letterman so missed that. eom.

[Phx_Dem]

34. ROLF!!! Seriously ROLF!!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[me b zola]

43. The McCain campaign will release photos

...of McCain yelling at kids (threatening to nuke 'em!) to get off of his lawn. Those pics will be accompanied by a "country first" talking point. "You can't defend the fatherland if you don't have a willingness to "teach those kids a lesson".

[Fleshdancer]

10. I hope McCain doesn't feel the need to compete with this....

The last thing I need to see is John shirtless. :scared:

[beac]

13. Thanks alot.

Now I'm gonna have nightmares of droopy, shrivelly man-boobs that keep saying "My friends" as they chase me in a golf cart.

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[DesertFlower]

14. OMG.

you put a terrible picture in my mind.

[tridim]

16. I went to google looking for a pic to photoshop and found this..

McCain At The Beach



Saved me about 30 minutes of work. :)

[Pirate Smile]

17. LOL

[populistdriven]

24. my reaction -

[polmaven]

39. Aaahahahahahahaha!

That is absolutely PRICELESS! Thank you!!!!!

[Lebam in LA]

27. OMG - That is hysterical

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Faygo Kid]

30. Oh geez. Thank God it wasn't a frontal shot.

At 30, I have pics of me and my abs and chest looking good. Flat abs, glistening glutes. Proportioned, as it were.

At 57 next month - not so much. But still a charmer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. OMG! You look just like Yul Bryner!!

[Phx_Dem]

37. ROLF. Is that McCain? n/t

[tridim]

38. Some people say it's McCain.

;)

[Pirate Smile]

40. I got an e-mail that says it is McCain and I read it on the Internetsssss.

It must be true.

[tridim]

41. It's Corsi approved! TM

[Pirate Smile]

42. If you post it yourself on the Internet then you can site yourself in the footnotes as a source.

It is the Corsi way.

[donco6]

54. MY EYES MY EYES!

LOL!

[Danascot]

64. Good God!

Tell me what you searched for so I make sure never to do it. Seriously, I'm going to keep that pic handy as an appetite suppressant.

[demokatgurrl]

66. If you could find a Coppertone ad, the old one

with the dog pulling down the kid's pants in the back.... that would really improve this one.
:eyes:

[Voice for Peace]

95. here's one to play with

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

97. That ain't McCain. It's Cheney!!

And he looks like he dropped a load in his shorts too. :puke:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

104. are those diapers!!!!

[annabanana]

12. Lookin' good, Barak!

I'm glad he's getting some family time.

[tridim]

15. Body surfing is safe.

I think only sports that require external equipment are considered "Elite" by the media and the GOP.

[bklyncowgirl]

25. Only external equipment that is not powered by large amounts of fossil fuels are "elitist"

Hummer not elitist
Hiking Boots--elitist

cigarette boat--not elitist
windsurfer--elitist

[Kaylee]

45. You're forgetting about the big elitist ocean he's swimming in...

He should be in a river or a creek to get his non-elitist creds. </sarcasm>

[CoffeeCat]

105. LOL!!!

OMG! :rofl: ....tears...streaming...down...my...face!

I called me husband over to read what you wrote and he started laughing too!

Too funny! That big, elitist ocean!

If Obama knows anything about PR, next week he'll be body surfing in a New Jersey scum swamp!

[FrenchieCat]

18. Where's the video?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[Pirate Smile]

22. Look at the sorry-assed photo CNN has up.

[stlsaxman]

99. oy, vey!

lame lame lame lame LAME!

[dancingme]

19. Great but .. where is the Secret Service?

I hope they were close.

[tridim]

20. One word...

Scuba!

[RollWithIt]

28. The short answer to that would be.... EVERYWHERE....

I would be willing to be there were at least 20 to the left of the photo, and another 3-4 out in the ocean on jetski's past the wavebreak.

[DevonRex]

21. I say the election should be decided by swimsuit contest!!!!!

Okay, we'd all be blind after seeing McCain without a shirt, but still... We'd win the GE!

[Kaleko]

52. Seconded.

I'm so there. Even willing to risk being haunted forever by the sight of a semi-nude McCain.

[populistdriven]

23. ROFL "don't be afraid. It will be OK." K&R! nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. very cool

[highplainsdem]

29. K & R! Great photos -- thanks for posting them!

[goodgd_yall]

31. Ooo, Sandy Beach

I think that's supposed to be the best for body surfing but sometimes scary---really rough surf at times. My favorite beach for bodysurfing is Waimanalo, a little more tame.

[mike6640]

56. Our vacations overlapped

We happened to be staying in a Waimanalo beach house last week. We got over to Sandy's and Kailua town several times. Ate at the same Island Snow two days before he did.

As a fellow Kailua boy and Punahou Alum (84), Go Obama!

M

[2Design]

100. which island is that on? I have never been to hawaii and want to go

for my graduation - what is the slow season and best time to go for good weather and prices and what is the best way to do this?

[Phx_Dem]

32. Well, I just don't know what to say.

First, throwing the lei where he threw his mothers ashes . . . . :cry::cry::cry::cry:

Second, the body surfing picture . . . is so seriously hot my computer is smoking.

Note to my husband, if he's reading: I'm just admiring our next President. What is so wrong with that?! Just be happy it isn't John McCain (or Dick Cheney . . . ewwwww).

[DU GrovelBot]

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[lonestarnot]

35. Nice!

[Phx_Dem]

36. Bless you Pirate.

[AtomicKitten]

46. Wow. He looks great. Relaxed. I'll bet that makes the Rs nervous.

[Arkana]

47. Yeah, I don't know there's anything elitist about getting a mouthful of sand

or seawater from bodysurfing gone wrong.

[musicblind]

48. Obama looks awesome!

I hope these pics get some positive play on the news.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

49. He does look awesome. I can't imagine what McCain would look like on the beach

[musicblind]

68. Ew. *shudders*

lol

[CoffeeCat]

74. Like...

...an albino raisin wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and Dockers clam diggers.

Blechy!

[CoffeeCat]

76. May I state this loudly...

...while speaking in a Ted-Kennedyesque voice...

"I do hereby propose...from this day forward...that Barack Obama spend the remainder of the
campaign season...traveling all around the country in his swimming trunks. That is all."

[Pirate Smile]

79. I hear it in Teddy's voice.

LOL

[SpookyCat]

101. "And may I say that to him I would do

this, that and the other thing..."



(I know, that was Jack)

[RedLetterRev]

77. And I wouldn't WANT to

some thing are just too awful to contemplate before... well, before anything, for that matter.

[1Hippiechick]

102. Actually, there's a pix of McCain on the beach in post # 16! Hurry! LOL n/t

[otohara]

50. Hanging With The Locals In The Ocean

that's so cool - what a man!

[Phx_Dem]

51. CNN has video!!!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/08/14/vo.obama.on.the.beach.cnn

Check out all the people staring at him.

[Withywindle]

53. I'm staring too.

Bet this thread will be up past 2000 views by morning. :D

[gblady]

59. the view number....

is going up at a rapid rate alright...
increased over 100 in last few minutes...
my several clicks included!

[blogslut]

57. That second photo is amazing

I wouldn't be surprised if it makes the cover of a magazine like maybe Sports Illustrated.

[TheDonkey]

58. he'd definitely been working out!

good for him :D and us

[JI7]

60. he actually isn't as skinny as you would think

when he is clothed.

he looks great.

[gblady]

61. what surprises me....

is that to me he looks much bulkier (if that's a word) in his swim trunks...
than he looks with his clothes on...

In his business suits, he often looks so skinny...
in his trunks...not so much!

[symbolman]

62. I live here, unfortunatly on a different Island..

He may be throwing a Lei in to respect his mother, but it is also something you do when you want to Come Back ... Now THAT would be a Western Whitehouse I could get behind, not some bullshit, desolate Disneyland Pig Farm :)

I'm from Illinois myself and in Hawaii too, makes me feel all that closer to the man..

Check out my Flash made to support him, "Tragical History Tour McCain: Environ - Mental" based on The Yellow Submarine..

http://wwwtakebackthemedia.com/pepperobama1.html

[Vinca]

65. Oh . . . my . . .

a president you don't mind seeing half naked. Yippee!!!!:woohoo:

[Pirate Smile]

67. Here is AP video - it is different and longer then the CNN video.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/barack_obamas_bodysurfing_vide.html

Barack Obama's body-surfing video

by Mark Silva and updated.

In the realm of seaside politics and runaway metaphors, the junior senator from Illinois would seem to be catching a certain wave.

-snip-
There is no doubt that this body-surfing image will serve the returning-to-campaigning senator better than that memorable footage of Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic nominee for president, wind-surfing.

Obama returns to Chicago today, and tomorrow he will join his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, on a minister's stage for an event that CNN will broadcast live.

The Rev. Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life, will interview McCain and Obama on Saturday at Warren's 20,000-member Saddleback mega-church in southern California. He promises no "gotcha questions.''

Campaign surf's up.

[slackmaster]

71. He'd do a WHOLE lot better with some swim fins

:D

He is in pretty good shape.

[iamthebandfanman]

72. i wish i was that healthy

and im only 25. lol

[Brigid]

84. Then get busy!

Unless you have health problems, you don't have to just wish. I had bypass surgery last winter, and I'm back up to walking at least four miles every day. We can't all have Obama's athletic build, but we can still get in shape. :)

[iamthebandfanman]

90. oh, i do things

i just dont seem to show any weight loss. guess im not doing the right excercises... but what can i say, i hate situps.
lol

i like to go hiking and do probably once or twice a week , 2-4 miles each time. i like getting out and enjoying nature.

[Maven]

73. I have to say

he looks pretty fuckin cool. B-)

[flamingdem]

75. Obama 08 for a swimmingly superior Body Politic n/t

[Skidmore]

80. I like that he took time to remember the remarkable woman who

brought him into the world.

[Norrin Radd]

81. Looking cool, and fit.

John and Cindy on vacation:

[Cronus Protagonist]

82. Thank you Jesus!!

No effette wind-surfing pictures, no condom suits and no grinning tank shots so far! GoBama!!

[Bucky]

83. Tomorrow's Washington Times headline: "Obama participates in exotic pagan ceremony"

[flamingdem]

85. Good one! "Obama Member of Big Kahuna Sect" n/t

[RandomKoolzip]

86. Well, Obama's "Dude" factor just went through the roof. Jeff Spicoli for president!

[Bill McBlueState]

87. I'm jealous

As an astronomer, I find myself in Hawaii from time to time. Really wishing I could be there now!

[FatDave]

88. I'm just as jealous of you being an astronomer.

I can't even afford a damn telescope.

[rniel]

89. Huge relief

No windsurfing this time!!!

[anonymous171]

91. Looks like he's lost some weight.

[grytpype]

92. He's too fit, popular, and successful to be president!!!!!!!!!!!!

Americans will only vote for pear-shaped losers like themselves!!!!1

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

94. Sandy Beach = The Broken Neck Capital of the World

- not an easy place to Body Surf. I've tumbled there many times, once losing my suit - which sucked.

Hanging out w/ South Shore locals, riding a wave that breaks hard and fast right on the sand, this guy is no slouch. Great pics...THX!!!!!

[Botany]

98. That is my President!

What a guy.

[ms liberty]

103. The man is constitutionally incapable of taking a bad picture, isn't he? Too late to Rec!...n/t

[Botany]

106. kick

and when will the media show these pix?

[many a good man]

108. Disagree. I think it will make voters question Obama's judgment.

He left Hawaii to live in the frozen Arctic tundra of Chicago??? Is he crazy!?!




:sarcasm: