The fawning. The idol-worship. The flowing and drippy descriptions of perfectly wonderful children, grown women jumping on childish trends, the perfection and grace of her god-like hero, even a comparison of their obviously-ideal physiques. It literally made me want to puke.

Marine, get over it, will ya? He's our prez, probably for the next eight years.

Stuff your anger in a closet, and wish the best - for him and our country.

Ignore the haters, Kathleen. Thanks for posting about your experience. I love our First Family and can't get enough of them.

"How are we going to run this thing?" That surprised you? Do you not recognize natural "class" and self confidence when you are confronted with it?

This is the ultimate confident and classy person who has no need to be defensive, insecure or posture to make himself look like he is the boss.

Obama is not quality, he has class!

MarineLtCol, then why do you read this stuff? You either enjoy being sickened by your morning read, or you read these things thinking that there will be a different result. Either way is lunacy.

I am not a fan of fluff pieces like this. I already know that Obama and Family are gracious. I already know that I would rather have drinks or go to a July 4th BBQ with Obama and Family than anyone else. Tell me what he's going to do about the economy. Tell me my job is safe. Tell me that jobs are returning to the country.

Marineltcol - I think you have more health problems than an upset stomach.

Excuse me while I throw up. Im tired of the multitude of adjectives used when describing anything Obama. How about this. I flew on Air Force one with the Obamas. They were polite. Then end.

Interesting to read the two commenters here who didn't appreciate Kathleen's as-usual wonderful writing.

MarineLt... I know how you feel about the fawning, the idol worship. It's pretty much how I felt watching President Bush land on that "Mission Accomplished" aircraft carrier, strutting across the deck in a flight suit while the media adored him.

I must say I certainly appreciate the calm, confident, truly "presidential" President Obama to his predecessor and his dress-up acts.

Thank you Kathleen, for this warm and witty and delightful piece!

Loved the article. I live to see the Obama's getting on Marine 1, off Marine 1, on to Air Force 1 and off Air Force 1. I hope they travel every weekend. I nee to get a life!

The Obama family is a welcome relief to the dour, stuffy, and completely predictable previous flyers on Air Force One.
And as to the MarineMachoFreak, you can't even imagine how much puking went on in this country during the 8 years of lying, incompetent, and apathetic fiasco called the Bush administration.
So, go ahead and puke, and shut up.

It amazes me how much we taxpayers spend to get drivle like this!

Do you realize it takes in excess of 200 people, that's 200 salaries to prepare Air Force One for any domestic flight, and well over 1,200 for any foriegn flight?

Yes this plane and actually there are two identical planes are posh, loaded to the gills with high tech equipment, mean fanfares to relish in, but what was actually accomplished during this flight with the elite few media who were invited?

Where is the guts to this story?

Yes the Obama family jumped on-board Marine One to fly to the airport to get on Air Force One, no big deal happens all the time.

Did you or any of your media companions ask anything about economics, the stimulus package, veterans affairs, Banking and Auto Maker bail outs, Iraq, Afghanistan, our troops?

Or why Obama's promise to post all information, bills to be signed etc. on the White House website hasn't been done?

I also think that the prejudging of Obama is way too premature at this point, he's served less than 30-days, how can anyone in their right mind think he's so great at this point?

Same old drivle as with all former NEW presidents!

I want to know where he's going with our new trillion dollar deficit, how he intends to cure the problem, where are all these new jobs coming from, why he won't return all foreign workers to their own country and protect American Jobs.

I want to know if he really intends on yet another Amnesty program and what it will hold.

I'm a military bratt, and former Navy, and frankly I don't give a damn about a simple mundane flight on Air Force One unless it has some serious MEAT to the story!

I know the thousands of dollars it costs to put together a domestic flight and the even more hundreds of thousands it costs to put together an over seas flight.

Of course President Obama and his family will be cordial, they surely can't afford bad press!

I wonder how much carbon footprint our president and Congress leave.

Mr. Obama flew to Florida and Indiana to campaign for his stimulus bill. Then to Chicago; then to Denver - what happen to the video conference and web conference that everyone suggested for the CEOs instead of jets and trips.

Why does he have to go to Denver to sign the bill? If it's such a major milestone why not in Washington DC as it should be?

I thouhgt that there're no double standards or is there?

I loved your quote about the "little buddha inside Omama", it's really weird but when I see him I feel calmer and more hopeful and more reassured. I am also inspired to get up everyday and be more positive and energized to get my work done...when I am feeling a bit down and not motivated, I think about what he has accomplished and I am reenergized. Its really amazing...he's got something magical working. In all of my 56 yrs, I have NEVER felt this inspired by anyone..when he visited Chicago this weekend and there was not a lot of press about him, I missed seeing him. He is the presence we need in these turbulent times. Sometimes I think maybe its a lot of pressure and burden to put on this young man, but somehow I know he can handle it!!!

kc... we live in a big, beautiful country. To me, it is refreshing to see our President leave the cozy confines of the Washington Beltway to visit and hear from Americans who don't happen to be media columnists or political operatives.

kc and JD: President Bush often took his message directly to the American people... who you as upset about it then? Remember after the 2004 election, when he flew all over the country, selling Social Security reform? Or, for example, when he was campaigning for reelection, he spent a year traversing the nation aboard Air Force One, for purely political purposes, all at the taxpayers' expense. It goes with the territory. The President, the most powerful head of state in the world, needs to be protected from enemies, foreign and domestic. What, do you think he should fly commercial, in coach?

Air Force One is a damned big aircraft, and flying a few journalists on it seems to be a good use of its space. During the campaign, I do know that journalists had to pay, through their news organizations, for their transportation aboard campaign aircraft in order to cover McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden; same was true for the primaries. Out of curiosity, I would be interested to know if this also holds true for travel aboard Air Force One. But, since the plane is flying anyway, what difference does it make to the taxpayer if journalists are aboard?