night everyone

President Obama returns to the White House after touring Joplin, Missouri to see the damage caused by the recent tornados and visiting with families affected by the tornados.

Irish Times

President Obama greets Hugh Hills, 85, in front of his home in Joplin. Hills hid in a closet during the tornado, which destroyed the second floor and half the first floor of his house. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

See you tomorrow.

hey, more irish memories

The original (and much better quality) video is on the RTE website – here. It’s from a documentary about the visits of the Queen and the President and First Lady to Ireland (the part about the President starts at around 19 minutes on the website video)

There’s more coverage of the visit here – Thank you Terick

joplin

Text of address here

President Obama greets Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and his wife Georganne after arriving in Joplin

Residents of Joplin hold flags as President Barack Obama’s motorcade passes

President Barack Obama meets with volunteers as he views damage from the tornado that devastated Joplin

President Barack Obama speaks at a memorial service at Missouri Southern State University for the victims of the tornado that devastated Joplin

sunday

All Times Eastern

10:40 AM President Obama departs the White House

1:25 PM Arrives in Joplin, Missouri

1:50 PM Visits with those in the community effected by last week’s tornadoes

3:0 PM Delivers brief remarks at a memorial service held by local clergy and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon

4:30 PM Departs Missouri

7:0 PM Arrives at the White House

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President Obama leaves the White House for a visit to tornado devastated Joplin

Kansas City Star: When President Barack Obama arrives in Joplin today, he will find a quintessential small American city splintered and stunned. People who have witnessed both say the destruction of neighborhoods in the path of last Sunday’s tornado is akin to the aftermath of a nuclear weapon.

But the president will also find a city picking itself up, caring for its citizens, comforting its bereaved and planning for a future that looks much different than it did one week ago.

A massive outpouring of public and private support has sustained Joplin. And as the president arrives in town, it is worth considering the role of government at multiple levels in responding to the crisis.

A pernicious story line, recited on talk radio, in state legislatures and in some quarters of Washington, says that government can’t do anything right. Government is the problem, Ronald Reagan famously said. And a vast political and business alliance works furiously to make his declaration a self-fulfilling prophecy by underfunding vital programs and disparaging public employees.

But when disaster strikes, we expect government to work. We need it to work. Last week, it did…..

Read the full article here

Thank you Loriah

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Morning everyone. I won’t have a chance to post again until later today, so see you all then. I’ve also fallen way behind with replies to emails and comments, but I hope to catch up today too – sorry for the delay! Have a great day 😉

an american abroad