PHOTOS Obama takes a helicopter trip

[Jackeens]

US President Barack Obama walks to Marine One prior to departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, February 5, 2009. Obama is traveling to the House Democrats Issues Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia, his first trip on Marine One and Air Force One.

[demo dutch]

1. First trip ...very cool!

[EraOfResponsibility]

2. Where'd he go I wonder?

[monmouth]

3. I think to Williamsburg to meet with Dems...n/t

[TeamJordan23]

4. I think to VA to meet some Dem leaders. nm

[CakeGrrl]

5. Cool. Makes me glad I watched "On Board Marine One"

Now I know the whole ceremony around bringing the "whitetop" in for an Executive Lift, and how they have to make the precision landing on the South Lawn. :)

[Dappleganger]

13. That was a great show!

Our kids really enjoyed watching that and On Board Air Force One.

[WinkyDink]

6. ANOTHER perk! Where will they END?!

[Sanity Claws]

7. Look at all the birds that want to fly with Obama

in that last photo.

[Diane R]

8. Finally....a REAL President walking to the helicopter. They'd better keep him safe.

[high density]

9. The reason why the marine looks stunned...

On departing from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base, Obama broke from tradition as he boarded Marine One, the presidential helicopter, on the South Lawn. He seemed to stun the marine standing at attention by reaching out to shake his hand. The marine obliged, shaking the president's hand before returning to a steady salute.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jE3FlLtgW6TwpHXAGGdF8Y0VSvdAD965NEH00

[alsame]

10. I love it. He probably asked the marine's name and

thanked him too. My President makes me proud.

[TTUBatfan2008]

11. And this is the kind of thing Andrew Card is criticizing Obama for?

Since when is being nice to other people a bad thing? For fuck's sake, the formalities that surround the Presidency are ridiculous. Obama is a down to earth person and I think it's good that he treats the Marines who salute him like people rather than robots.

[Jennicut]

16. Agreed. Obama is humble and down to earth, a good thing in a President.

[Hope And Change]

12. Love these photo threads.Keep them coming Jackeens.K & R!

[Clio the Leo]

14. And now he's back...

.... we can all ..... Chris Wallace's grandson included ..... go to sleep now. :)

[Cha]

15. Wow, that looks so awesome when

someone real is doing it.

[EffieBlack]

17. I loved that he returned the Marine's salute . . . and then stopped to shake his hand

What a commanding, yet decent and down-to-earth Commander-in-Chief!