President Barack Obama jokingly mimics U.S. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney’s “not impressed” look while greeting members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams in the Oval Office, Nov. 15, 2012. Steve Penny, USA Gymnastics President, and Savannah Vinsant laugh at left. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Washington Post: Just a year after his administration signaled it would help Burma emerge from decades of repressive military rule, President Obama will make history Monday by becoming the first U.S. president to visit the long-isolated Southeast Asian nation.
Obama’s gesture, [is] the centerpiece of a four-day trip to the region that will include stops in Thailand and Cambodia…
During his six hours in Burma, Obama is scheduled to meet separately with President Thein Sein and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose release in 2010 following 15 years under house arrest launched her nation’s opening to the West. She has since become a member of parliament.
….. Obama will meet with Thailand’s prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and in Cambodia he will attend a gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and participate in this year’s East Asia Summit to discuss security issues. The president is also expected to meet privately with several foreign leaders, including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
More here
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President Obama walks to Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base – the President is traveling to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia
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Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 17
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Michael Tomasky: The Nonexistent Case Against Susan Rice Crumbles
Peter King admitted on CNN that David Petraeus, in his Hill briefing, the one John McCain couldn’t be bothered to attend because he was holding a press conference denouncing the administration for withholding information, gave Susan Rice the green light to say what she said on those TV appearances on that fateful day.
…. the agency approved Rice’s talking points. So she wasn’t lying or spinning. So says Peter King, no ideological or partisan doormat on these matters, I think you would agree.
…. Rice maybe should or should not be secretary of state, but she sure shouldn’t be disqualified on the basis of these flimsy and silly allegations, and King’s admission helps clear her plate.
Full post here
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A most excellent White House petition:
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Video of the week?
Thank you JamilaJP! (Forward to 11:30 for Romney’s concession speech)
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Mooooooorning everyone!
The Obama Diary 
GM TODville Community.
Congrats on 1st!
Go Nena!!
Thanks CTG and Duttette. I simply got luck this money. Oh What a Beautiful Morning.
I hope all at TOD are doing Fabulous.
Please forgive me….oops…..I simply got LUCKY this Morning.
Wow….too much coffee?
Moooooooorning Nena!
Beeeeaaauuuuutiful!!!
Thank you so very Much, Chips.
I am In Heaven………Dancing cheek to cheek.
WONDERFUL way to start the day, Chips! Thanks.
Goooood morning!
Good Morning
Good Morning!
Mawnin’!
Mawnin’ gb!!
hey!
HAppy Saturday TODites!!!!
Good morning early birds. Top 10 , yes. Congrats on 1st nena
I just came on to TOD and Low and behold, A Brand New Post?
How did I do? First?
If so, all I want is a picture of the Fiercesome Four and an Assurance that Lady Chipsticks lovely sprained angle is all Better Now. Peace.
Hey Chips, the image above the Trip to Asia video is a big gray block with an x in the upper corner. Something’s wrong with the link.
Thanks Dudette, just reloading it now – I can see it in Safari, but not in Firefox, weird.
Looks good now. My handsome President is waving back at me! Thanks!
Hey Chips, how’s the ankle?
It’s almost completely better Smoothscoth! Thank you! It still looks like a banana, but it’s definitely getting there!
13 comments in 4 minutes… Y’all’s on Fiyah today! WTG Nena! Gone again, but missing everyone! {{{{{Chips}}}}}. {{{{{TOD}}}}}. {{{{{PBO}}}}}
Punching Grover Norquist in the d–k. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha…..best thing next to the “not impressed” picture.
ROFL!!
Morning all. And why is PBO “bowing” to those secret service agents in that photo? I think Grampa McCain and Fox News should investigate this outrage! 😀
Cute photo with MacKayla.
HA! I thought the same thing! MUST be a scandal in there somewhere! Good morning, debz…and all TOD’ers. Happy Saturday! By the way, Chips…if you can get that ratbastard, bitter, senile McCain talking to reporters yesterday after the Petraus hearing yesterday….was a sight to behold. He was sweating and hyperventilating he was so wrong about Susan Rice, he had egg all over his face and had to show his stupidity and ignorance in front of the world…yet again. He couldn’t WAIT to get out of that little gaggle of reporters! I saw it on LOD? RM? ED? I can’t remember….quite a sight to see. He needs to sit down, STFU, and do the people’s business (like THAT would ever happen!)
Hey df, any word on what is happening with all those provisional ballots in AZ?
I still remember when Rev Al had Meghan McCain on before the election and was asking her something she reluctantly agreed to and when he questioned her with something similar and she replied with something like “I already answered that what do you want from me?” I felt that she was showing shades of her Dad right there and that was very disrespectful to Rev Al. It was tone of voice and attitude mostly. I did see her on since then but mostly see Abby Huntsman playing the Rep side now.
I saw that too…she is too young to be so angry. Abby is much more effective in articulating the “republican” view point and she doesn’t seem to do so much sponning. I like her Abby…Meghan, not so much.
Good morning everyone.
Godspeed to the president and to everyone who is traveling with him.
OMG! I can’t believe someone submitted that petition to the White House. Really people? Funny though!! If they get enough signatures, I wonder what the response would be. LOL!!
I hope you’ve signed it Dudette? 🙂
I believe its been taken down.
It has. I said the other day, that if I had known…I would have GLADLY sighed that petition! That’s the very LEAST he deserves!
Me too. The Buzz feed article has one that asks for Atlanta (and other blue parts of GA) to secede from Georgia if Georgia from the United States. Now that one I would most definitely sign!!
I’m sure the WH took it down because they don’t want to be associated with any petition that advocates violence, regardless of how a lot of people feel about Norquist. 🙂 But Buffzeed also highlights a petition to deport anyone who signed a secession petition. I’m 110% on board with that!
Holy TOD, that pictorial with POTUS and One of the Fiercesome Five…..Is why this president is so relateable. Love it.
Brilliant Work or Art as usual, Chips. Thank you.
PBO looks like a cover model for GQ magazine in that photo of him leaving the portico for Marine 1.
Smokin’ hot!!
Good mornin, everyone.
Glad to see the President looking so spry and satisfied. God bless him and protect him during his trip.
On another note, did anybody read Dana Milbanks’ article on Susan Rice?!? It was vicious, dripping with venom.
One commenter told him how he (Dana) still hadn’t gotten over Hilary’s loss in 2008.
He has always written sarcastic articles about PBO. Never saw him as a supporter, but this article is too much.
Will be tweeting Rev. Al, asking him why he keeps bringing him on.
One thing I would LOVE to know: does Hillary supports Susan Rice for becoming her replacement at State ?
I kept hearing some Dems on the teevee make little snide comments like ‘there aren’t enough Democratic votes to confirm Susan Rice either’, and everyone at the table would nod. Had no clue what that was about, but it seems it is some kind of opposition and long-standing sense of betrayal from the Clinton Dems. It seems to me it is time now to move along.
Since Susan Rice is a “Clinton person” I can’t see her being rejected by Senate dems. The only people who seem to be against her are the same morons who show up on TV. If POTUS chooses Rice to be SOS, there would be no upside to Clinton dems not backing her up, that would not be good for Hillary running for POTUS in 2016. This seems like more “democrats in disarray” nonsense.
Am I remembering correctly that there was some “animosity” going on between Hillary Clinton and Susan Rice when the President was first going to be appointing Susan as UN Ambassador? Maybe because Susan was an Obama supporter during the primary in ’08? Could have been a fictional MSM story at the time – not sure.
Read that the other day Jacqueline – if my memory serves me right (and it usually doesn’t), Susan Rice wasn’t widely loved in the Clinton camp when she supported PBO for 2008, and relatons between her and Hillary weren’t entirely smooth in the early days of the admin. But, of course, that could be more MSM silliness.
Yes, more silliness would be expected. I’ve tried to watch the body language between the two women over the years, but never could pick up anything much. Since Hillary “got over” her defeat in ’08 as far as the President’s concerned, I’m thinking she got along just fine with Susan. Hopefully.
Now to catch up on pics from yesterday, looking forward to pics from Asia if we’re lucky.
Good morning all my terrific, fantastic and awesome TOD’ers where a winning President resides!
Chips, can CTGirl, Wanda and me have a joint consolation prize for all coming in at 9:44 too? Please, pretty please?
Oh, go on then:
Ya know, there is the school of thought that postulates that beauty (strictly physical appeal) has its own power apart from brains, spirituality, etc.
When I look at the Fiercesome Four (snatched from Nena 20409 -THX), their physical beauty is striking. But it is their compassion, intellect and courage that draws you in.
Yes, all of that adds to their physical beauty.
Take Scott Brown for example. His behavior during the campaign and his spinelessness overall makes him look more like a troll than a centerfold.
You are so on target that I can’t stand it! And he gets squatter and more mole-ful everyday.
Chips = Goddess!
TY!
Chips=Star!!!
The cartoon with angry bitter McCain, Condoleezza Rice and Amb Susan Rice is so hilariously out there.
Dr. Condoleezza Rice is not a short woman. But for sure, Dr. Susan Rice is shorter than Condoleeza Rice. However, Had I been the cartoonist, that wickedly crude, cruel and fatuous….McCain would have been drawn to look even smaller, shorter and with much witchery rubbery face.
Good morning, everyone! All is well in TODville!
Can’t stop grinning at I Am Not Impressed photo!!!! Just so so so cool.
If only we’d known. The Republicans never had a chance.
Looks like he could be Conan O’Brien’s brother.
HAW!! You’re right!!
Truth dat, dudette. Thought the same thing when I first saw him.
Harper Reed’s twitter timeline was hilarious during the election. He’s freaking funny and his Facebook pictures are nuts! I love it. He’s my kind of nerd. 😀
Yes, he’s a very weird pleasure! I love following that whole team. They’re just genius.
What his twitter handle?
@Harper.
Good morning TOD. Ilove the pic of PBO imitating the teen Olympics star because that’s exactly what they do. LOL
Morning Chips, morning everyone. Chips, hope your ankle is feeling better.
Boy, what can I say, I am still on cloud nine. My euphoric state following PBO’s win is here to stay, it seems.
Every time I think about how the Mitt campaign and GOP thought that after not explaining anything to the American people, and with his mediocre ground game, he was supposed to win the election Big, I have a guffaw moment.
I am particularly amused by their drop jaw surprise. Fox news and lots of people, including Chuck Todd with his daily drum beat about Dem enthusiasm gap fooled Mitt and them big time.
I’m with YOU, africa. I still can’t believe it…even though the seeds of the GOP destruction were sown in clear view, by PBO and the GOP.
Payback is a ….
I am with you in loving the expression & egg all over some peoples’ faces.
Rev Al, LO, and Bashir and Ed can barely contain their glee.
Was pleased to see Rev Al at the WH too, has always been loyal.
I regret that TOADIE is going to Asia too.
Has Chuck Toad mentioned how he was wrong about that “enthusiasm” gap on the Dem side? Dems standing in lines up to 8-9 hours to vote. How about all those repugs walking through glass to vote?
How could poor Chuck be so wrong!!! Maybe he should have spent less time trying to audition as press secretary for Mittens, and more time doing his job.
I think there should be a program for…umhh, “special” media people. I would concentrate on helping them recognize reality when confronted by it and give them a clue on how to appropriately react. Chuck Toad and Puke Russert could be the first.
Good morning, all. Great article in Salon.com from yesterday.
“Mr. President, it is time to admit – that you are a Jedi”
Mr. President:
With your last-ever campaign behind you, and faced with the task of rallying an American community that has nearly had the unity beaten out of it by a politics that has often forgotten its purpose, I believe that now is the time for you to reveal your truth. For it can be a healing truth, and we are ready to hear it.
It is time to admit that you are a Jedi.
How else to explain your ability to cause adversaries to crumble in confusion, losing their direction and chasing imaginary sights and sounds? Jedi mind tricks. How else to explain the uncanny precision with which your campaign was able to target voters and model outcomes? Organizing? “Math”? Rather, a deep knowledge of the Force. And I hardly need mention the on-air meltdown of the Sith Lord Karl Rove, or the Twitter implosion of his apprentice Donald Trump.
http://www.salon.com/2012/11/16/dear_mr_president_please_admit_it_youre_a_jedi
Love that!
I was told by a Jedi Knight a long time ago that Obi Wan Kenobi means Obama won Mitt Romney.
An ewok should know!! 🙂
Hollah!!
:-), chuckling out loud.
LOL! 😀 😀 😀
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Lol
Glorious! Thanks for bringing that here, squarepeg!
I must say this is the first time I’m nervous about him visiting another country. Burma and Cambodia? I hope the security is air tight. I kind of wish he would have saved this trip for the new year but 2nd term I have a feeling he’s going to be on lighting speed wasting not a second.
Good Morning TOD. Chips and JamilaJP thank you so much for that “Video of the Week”. The ending with the Fired Up vid playing gave me chills.
Me too…..feels like heaven right here on earth!
God is so awesome! Thank you God for hearing ALL of our prayers even those who do not know or do it often. He knows your hearts. Thank you TOD family. It is up to us to help this man change the world. He is on a mission. We have only just begun.
May the force be with you…..the Force is with Us!
Keep watching and fervently praying.
Just experienced this all over again—-could never believe when others said how fast the election was called—–excruciating for me as it seemed real slow getting off the ground—–and then bam! bam! bam!——extremely satisfying result.
How sweet that was! I will never forget that moment! After 9 excruciating days of being on the cruise ship crawling with “severely rightwing nutjobs”, I decided to watch MSNBC in the comfort of my room; limited access to internet. And then, the announcement!!! Crying and weeping! Thanks again Jackie O for being on the other end of the phone!
Barb, I really felt for you while you were out there. JackieO would post updates on your travel. I had the opposite experience in September; my ship was full of Obots — I even met TOD’r WandaNVA4Obama. And in 2008, I went on a cruise the week after the election — that turned out to be the “Obama Victory Cruise;” only met one couple, Mort and Rhoada, who didn’t vote for Obama. In Jan 2009, I went on a cruise the week after the Inauguration, it was the “Inauguration After Party!”
How lovely! The one saving grace was day after election, i could have cared less; I smiled at everyone!
Barb, keep smiling for FOUR MORE YEARS, baby!!!!!
Thanks for posting this dotster. I was downtown at the Fairmont and while POTUS and family and friends were just 37 floors above me I was a mental and emotional wreck in the bar on the first floor while these states were being called as all of Romney’s red states were never too early or too close so it seemed lopsided all night even though in reality it was the opposite. It was so noisy that you couldn’t hear the sound so it’s great to finally catch up knowing that the end of it was the BEST NEWS EVER.
THANKS for this one, dotster!! I only had CNN on election night (and TOD of course!), so missed out on Rachel.
Hello Everyone, watched this again and it may even be sweeter the second time around.
If you haven’t read this article about the behind the scenes look at Pres. Obama’s 2012 tech team; then, what the heck is wrong with you. This is one of the best articles I’ve read about the tech team, how they made history, and how the campaign, election, and outcome wasn’t just a job to them; it was deeply personal.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/11/when-the-nerds-go-marching-in/265325/?single_page=true
Agreed, they were do far ahead, it was never really a match.
Yeah folks. This is a thing of beaut. Excellent, excellent read.
I test software for a living. There are so many lessons here about hiring talent, about the value of testing, about cultivating teams, about understanding your mission, about leadership. I’m sharing this with everyone in my professional circle. It should be studied & recalled in lesson learned sessions for decades to come.
Thanks UT. A beautiful “Tech Ballet In Motion.” Excellent!!!! Our President and his team are the BEST! HZ
Dudette, does that include the “You’re hired. Don’t F#$%$ it up” advice? 😆 😆
Absolutely!! We don’t play! 😀
Wow, great read.
I savored every word of this. It was brilliantly written and a great example of real journalism. Democrats have the best toys…it’s as simple as that.
dems have the best toys, because we have the best people! and that because we have the fantastically best ever leader! rule of positive attraction.
Good Morning everyone. God’s speed to PBO as he embarks on his journey for peace. Amazing how many people around this world love him.
And we love all of you for loving him!
Ironic, after all Mitten’s pandering, this is what he gets:
https://twitter.com/NJedwina/status/269826713851150337
And Queen Anne is likely attempting recovery in some secret, posh resort/Spa ICU somewhere? How can one recover after the incomprehensible injustice of THE CHOSEN PEOPLE being ilegitimately USURPED by common riff-raff that don’t understand……………..well ANYTHING!!!
Yes, so now Boobby Jindal and Marco Rube are the new face of the GOP? Like people are going to fall for that?
Barack Obama was never short of confidence, but the election really elevated him to a different place. He looks completely free and oozes confidence. Beautiful man.
I was going to post the same thing! These are *great* pictures, and I love the way he looks so (extra) happy and confident! Woot!
What is with that olympic teen? She is with the President of the USA. She needs to act more grown up and get some manners quick. Tell her to stop acting like a spoiled five year old. That is shameful.
Can’t you see that the President is also doing the same thing? It’s a meme. During the olympics, McKayla Maroney coined that look during one of the gymnastics event and the media made it into a meme called “McKayla’s Not Impressed” It’s supposed to be funny and Pres. Obama gets that.
You need to Google “McKayla’s Not Impressed” and learn the backstory.
That look is exactly the look chosen for the unending photos my 18-y/o granddaughter and all of her friends take of themselves and each other to share with their friends on FB or elsewhere! So, I thought of my darlin’ granddaughter when I saw her look (and the President’s mimic of it) and smiled big time!
Good to know. I thought it was real!! My bad.
Hi Cindy, I’m sure it was a staged photo just for fun!
How’s the ankle, love?
All’s good BWD, thank you! And I’m very proud of myself, haven’t damaged any other bit of me for, oh, about three days!
Be careful, dear, you don’t want to end up as a responsible, grown up person!!!
No fear BWD, I promise! 😆
I thought it was real. That comes from all my years teaching teenagers. Sorry.
I hope this is snark.
I thought it was real. Ooops!
Okay, Myanmar, PBO’s ears are big, but DAMN, not THAT big!! 😆 😆 LOLOLOL 😆 😆
That IS one ginormous right ear!!! 😆
It’s almost Vulcan shaped though!!
You can be a Jedi Vulcan. Very rare, but then again so is Obama.
THIS! http://twitpic.com/bdshek
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeping!!!!!!! 😆
So funny.
Hilarious.
Perfection.
Ugh. I don’t want PBO going anywhere right now, especially on a longass trip on a plane (wonderful as AF1 may be). He’s precious cargo and I feel like he should be extra careful in these next four years. If I could, I’d bubble wrap him and keep him safe in the WH. not that I’m fear mongering, but, I need him to be extra, extra careful and safe and this whole Burma, Asian trip thing’s got me feeling uneasy. On a lighter note, something tells me PBO got some good cocoa butter last night. 😉 it would explain the extra spring in his step, and the extra sex in his appeal.
Then you would consign him to never do the part of his job that he loves the most. Getting out from the DC bubble, meeting people, building relationships. This is where he SHINES! This is part of what makes him great! He’s well-protected, he’s doing what we sent him there to do – not just read briefings, sign stuff and make speeches from the East Room. He can’t be President of the United States and be afraid to go out of the WH. He’s the Leader of the Free World, as such he needs to personally interact with people of the world on our behalf from time to time. I appreciate having yet another opportunity to beam with pride at how exceptionally well he represents this country to our international partners, in profound & stark contrast to the insulting incompetence demonstrated by the MittMonster last summer.
Morning my beautiful Lisa. We are going to be praying him up a lot. Do not be afraid. I do understand because I want to see him continue to do the wonderful things that are in his second term. So I want to respect everyone’s thoughts and concerns, but we will put our “human circle of prayers and meditations asking for total protection for him. Also ask for alertness, precision, and total care of his SS Detail Team. We will be fine. Keep good high level thoughts for him. Okay. Try not to worry too much. I love you my sweet and special Lisa. I do not want you worrying as well. We will get through this together.
Now, about that cocoa butter. I really think that you are so right. Had to be. That sharp spring in his steps and that huge million dollar smile spells: COCOA BUTTER!!!!. I love it. Smooth and lovely.
Now we better stop cause Chips will pull out the naughty mats, but she will understand. She probably is already on one as well. I am guilty and I will take my mat right now. Love my dear TOD family here so much. You All give me so much joy and love. (((((((((((( Thank you beautiful TOD Family))))))))))))HZ
Hey HZ! I hope you’re doing we’ll. it’s been a while but I’m so glad to “see” you.
Ps- sign me up for the prayer circle. 😉
Some really neat Obama things from Tumblr:
http://muttlikeme.tumblr.com/post/35912208408
http://muttlikeme.tumblr.com/post/35912189934/samandriel-plane-ticket-this-is-actually-a
aloha squarepeg
those are both great pix! thanks for posting.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/11/17/the-week-ahead-6/
Good morning Todville & Chips
Love that President Obama is well liked in Mynamur
I also love the Cagle picture of that ole bitter clown McCain. McGezzer is suffering from memory lost. How come Eric the “Kantor”didn’t report what he knew?
ROFL talk about misinformation. We’re not crazy, the GOP/ Tea bangers care nothing about those 4 deaths.
The GOP/ Tea bangers are looking like Keystone Cops
PS. Loved Joy Reid on Up with Chris Hayes. Those firebaggers could learn a lot from her; if they would just listen.
Anderson Cooper Gets Heated With GOP Rep. Over Benghazi: ‘What You’re Saying Is Factually Not Correct’
<iframe src="http://videos.med
Russert still getting justifiably burned by Pelosi. Wonder what Luke’s mother, Vanity Fair writer, Maureen Orth felt about what her son said.
https://twitter.com/NJedwina/status/269880284542025728
Hi, Chips… And all.
New blogger here, and just getting the hang of it.
I’ve just put a new post on my blog, http://www.partyandsoul.wordpress.com. It’s “Democracy or Fear: Pick One…”
Now that we’ve “won”, what’s next? There will be plenty. The other half (or slightly less than half) won’t be disappearing right this minute. Think we’ve got to make a choice. And be wary. They’re not going to quietly into that good night, for sure.
Inviting all to check it out.
And thanks for all your great, and constant, stuff, Chips. Wouldn’t be a complete day without TOD!
Gato