it’s souza time!

President Barack Obama plays with Leo Chaudhary, son of White House Videographer Arun Chaudhary, right, and Chaudhary’s wife, Laura Moser, prior to a Seder with friends and staff in the State Dining Room of the White House, April 18, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden wait in the Green Room of the White House before the East Room event to launch the First Lady’s and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces national initiative to support and honor America’s service members and their families, April 12, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama meets with Goldman Environmental Prize winners in the Oval Office, April 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

First Lady Michelle Obama lifts a baby while greeting the crowd at the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 25, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

President Barack Obama shakes hands with a young girl after arriving at Miami International Airport in Miami, Fla., April 29, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

First Lady Michelle Obama laughs while visiting with Brianna Mast, wife of Wounded Warrior Sgt. Brian Mast, and their son Magnus, in the Green Room of the White House, prior to the Joining Forces initiative event in support of military families, April 12, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Lots more new Pete Souza photos here

move!

‘the nevertrending story’

Warning: this video features Jon Stewart and a newt!

The quality of the video isn’t great – you can see it at The Daily Show site (here) but it’s only viewable in the US.

Thank you UT and Dorothy 😉

“we need a big hurray and lots of applause (of course)”

Justin Elliott (Salon): If the release of President Obama’s birth certificate last month was the denouement of the birther saga, the release of Terrence Lakin from prison will be its bizarre coda. Lakin is the veteran Army doctor who refused orders to redeploy to Afghanistan because he believed Obama was born abroad, not a legitimate president, and therefore that military orders were invalid.

Last December, Lakin … was dismissed from the Army and sentenced to six months in prison … In what promises to be one of the stranger political spectacles of the year, a homecoming event is planned Saturday at the Southwest Airlines baggage claim area of Baltimore Washington International Airport. The website set up to support Lakin … suggests:

All we ask you to do is bring a home-made poster that says, “Welcome Home Terry.” or “Thank You Terry” or any appropriate messages about the issue. Bring a small US flag if you have one. We will text the coordinators when we deplane so you can all get ready to greet Terry as he descends on the escalator to baggage claim. We need a big hurray and lots of applause (of course). He may say a few words…

Unlike the folks over at WorldNetDaily, who have been enriched by years of pumping up birtherism, Lakin’s commitment to the conspiracy both torpedoed his career and put his family in financial peril. His website notes: “Please consider making a special gift at this critical time. We have been able to provide for the family’s monthly expenses, but contributions have dropped off since the release of the proposed birth document by the Obama administration.”

Can anyone imagine a more tragic story emerging from the birther carnival?

Full article here

‘newt gingrich’s pinocchio-laden debut’

Greg Sargent (Washington Post): Newt Gingrich can’t stop spewing falsehoods, but he’s Very Serious: My pick for read of the morning is Post fact checker Glenn Kessler’s funny and absolutely brutal debunking of, well, pretty much everything Newt said in launching his bid for president. The man lies non-stop, but hey, he’s Serious and has Big Ideas, so who cares?

The Fact Checker (Washington Post): Newton Leroy “Newt” Gingrich is back! The former House speaker threw his hat in the presidential ring Wednesday with an appearance on Fox’s “Sean Hannity Show.”

…There were so many gems in Gingrich’s appearance that we will pick out the choice comments that cry out for fact-checking. We reached out to two of his spokesmen with questions and requests for documentation, but did not get a response….

Read the article here

run christie, run!

SurveyUSA: By 5:1, NJ Voters Say Governor Christie Should Not Run for President in 2012 …. he has a Minus 18 job approval today as speculation continues about whether Christie should run for President. 38% of NJ adults approve of the job Christie is doing, 56% disapprove.

* Obama carried NJ in 2008 by 15 points. Obama’s approval rating in NJ today is Plus 14 (54% approve, 40% disapprove).

* Voters split evenly on whether Christie would be better president than George W. Bush.

Christie has cut state spending on education. In those Jersey homes where a school teacher lives:

* Christie’s job approval is Minus 30 (33% approve, 63% disapprove).
* 6:1 say Christie should not run for president.
* 5:2 say Christie would be a worse president than Obama.

In union households:

* Christie’s job approval is Minus 36 (31% approve, 67% disapprove).
* Obama’s job approval is Plus 15 (55% approve, 40% disapprove).
* 8:1 say Christie should not run for president.

* Among Independents, Obama’s job approval is Plus 7, Christie’s is Minus 11.

* Among Moderates, Obama’s job approval is Plus 28, Christie is Minus 23.

* Among lower-income voters, Christie is Minus 32. Among upper income voters Christie is Minus 5.

Full article here

Thank you Proud 😉

west wing week: on the border (may 13, 2011)

There are all kinds of problems with this video today – if you can’t see it above try here