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Today:
All times Eastern
1:0: The President attends a forum on Inclusive Economic Growth and Development (Audio only at White House live)
3:0: Departs San Jose, Costa Rica en route Washington, DC
7:20: Arrives Joint Base Andrews
7:35: Arrives the White House
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Live coverage from Costa Rica:
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Tomorrow:
9:45: President Obama departs the White House
11:15: Arrives Columbus, Ohio
12:35: Delivers the commencement speech at The Ohio State University
3:25: Arrives the White House
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The week ahead:
Monday: The President will have meetings at the White House
Tuesday: Welcomes President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea to the White House
Wednesday: Meetings at the White House
Thursday: Travels to Austin, Texas for events on the economy and to see UT. Returns to the White House in the evening
Friday: Meetings at the White House
Saturday: The President and the Vice President will honor the 2013 National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) TOP COPS award winners at the White House
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President Barack Obama and President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica participate in a cultural event with Costa Rican youth at Casa Amarilla, San Jose, Costa Rica, May 3, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama at his joint press conference with Costa Rica’s President Laura Chincilla in San Jose, May 3
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A Cinco de Mayo pic or two, even though it’s only the 4th 😕
2009:
President Obama and the First Lady take the elevator to the private residence after a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the White House, May 4, 2009 (Photo by Samantha Appleton)
2010:
May 5, 2010: “After doing a series of posed photos, the President started joking around with the First Lady in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House before a Cinco de Mayo event.” (Photo by Pete Souza)
2011:
2012:
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The Obama Diary 
Hello.
Hi Africa! Nice to see you smiling up there. 😆 The system did not recognize me as I’ve been missing a lot lately, so I had to show identification….again. 🙄
🙂 🙂 🙂
Congrats Africa!! You rule!
Hiya Judith!! 🙂
Congrats africa and VC for 1st place tie 🙂 🙂
Morning Hf and TY. I never even noticed it was a ‘tie’ – so busy giggling that for a bit of time I actually couldn’t remember my name to sign in 😆 😆
Heh! Does WordPress force you to sign in every time you make a comment, or is it only for the first time you post after being away (meaning that TOD browser is closed) for a while?
For me it’s the latter. 🙂
The latter for me too, Hf. But it’s somewhat lowering when I rush in expecting a warm welcome and the system puts a hand on my chest in all seriousness and asks ‘Who are you? Identify yourself please.’ 😦
Yes it is 🙂
Congrats, africa!
Hey JB!! Thank you!!
Hellooooo Africa, VC and Judith!!
🙂 🙂
Hi 😆
It was somewhat funny to be asked to identify myself to post, because I too couldn’t remember who I was. It took quite a few seconds to remember my name and password and which went first.
Congrats Judith on 1st place tie with africa & vc 🙂
good for you Judith! Let us know how it went in your part of the world
Happy Saturday and PBO return to the White House today!
B E A U T I F U L –Mrs. Obama!!
africa…I agree, FLOTUS is indeed beautiful. And I love her sense of humor.
She is. Love her.
Same here africa, as a african american woman you don’t know how much pride it gives me to see FLOTUS as our First Lady.
Wow…a Threepeat 😉
Africa
VC
Judith Fadig
😎 Congratulations.
Goodness gracious, I am in good company all around! Well done Judith, Africa and Nena + Hopef for noticing. I still haven’t checked out the post itself yet, so ….
Good to be here!! 🙂
Thanks Chips…..Quite a Ray of Sunshine and Fabulously Looking FLOTUS and POTUS…..and then a few others 😉
Beautiful, beautiful photos. Our First Lady is absolutely luminous and our president is just simply the finest. Love how you stuck in “to see UT” in the Austin visit. Did he but know, that would be a “must” stop for him.
The Last Photo is Delicious. POTUS and Kids……..Heavenly…….I say.
Thanks so much for this post, Chips! Totally uplifting to the spirits!
Mostly because, in my case, it was a little sad for me to hear Melissa Harris-Perry pick up on the meme today that President Obama was acting downtrodden at this week’s press pity party, after he was so upbeat at the WHCD. What? I only listened to part of that segment, so I’m not sure if she righted the wrong. But all I could think was “Did you not see him on his trip to Mexico and Costa Rica? Did you not see his spirited remarks? Are you ‘like the others’ who pick apart each and every day of his Presidency, as though it stands alone?” I will put this out of my head, and hope she got it right eventually, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Maybe music is the answer! Off to listen!
MHP contracted the “cable news celebrity” disease once she got her own show.
Co-sign.
Hiya J, sad to say, I can’t watch MHP any more. Honest, it’s not that I can’t handle criticism of PBO – well, no, I can’t! – I just think she’s been a real disappointment the last year or two, way too quick to pick up on memes without actually analysing them to see if there’s any truth to them. I reckon she just feels pressured to prove her ‘neutrality’ by looking for anything to criticize, and I have no interest in listening to people like that.
I agree with you JOB. MHP was so desperate for her MSNBC contract to be renewed and appears to have sold out to corporate interests. Instead of addressing the utterly ridiculous questions put forth by the WHPC, she chooses instead to waste precious time “psychoanalyzing” the President – something she clearly isn’t qualified to do.
ANYONE who’s ever held a real job knows that there are days, weeks, months, etc when you’re going to BE tired, not particularly upbeat, somber, serious, less cheerful, etc. To make a “story” out of that when there are much bigger and more important issues to discuss, suggests that these pundiots are not really interested in addressing this country’s real problems, only in pushing gossipy crap that will keep them on Cable TV and line their pockets.
And I will add further that I have NEVER seen MHP or any of her pundiot colleagues analyze John Boehner (House Speaker and 3rd in line for President), who has demonstrated some serious and OBVIOUS psychological problems on MANY occasions – e.g., crying inappropriately, slurring his words in a drunken stupor, etc. But nitpicking every eye-blink by PBO is somehow justifies their self-promotion as “political analysts” – even when they are wrong, which is MOST of the time?!?!?
How does this go Hopefruit? Take the log out of your eye before you take the splitter out of someone else’s?
I watched her a couple of times after she got her own show but was expecting it not to be good as prior to her own show she was often a guest on Maddow’s show as you know. On Maddow’s show she was a bit full of herself; constantly referencing professorship and brainiac, blah blah blah. If you have to constantly remind someone of your intelligence there’s something wrong not to mention it’s tedious for the listener.
Well, I see the “spirited discussion” was here, after I logged off for a bit!
Each and every thing you all mentioned has been rolling through my mind about MHP, since her debut. On the advice of a friend, whose judgment I respect, way back, I gave her a second look. From that point until today, I was still impressed enough with her to continue watching. Why? Because her show is just about the only place where you can watch a panel that is composed of smart minds from all over the country, from different disciplines, matching the topic du jour, each with their own perspective. And she lets them speak. Most are not the usual beltway crowd who live in the bubble. She invites in a diverse group, many of whom (who am I kidding? most of whom) we won’t be seeing anywhere but on her show, and I have found myself really “listening intently” to what many have to say. To learn something.
So, despite agreeing with what’s been said here today, and – today in particular – being a bit dispirited about it (as in: Who can you trust?), I will continue to give MHP a third look, tomorrow. Found myself so disgusted with the media this past week that I was watching a muted CNN and – eek – part of the Jodi Arias trial, just to get away from some of the stuff that sticks to the bottom of your shoes when ya go walkabout. Wish me luck, tomorrow! Wish us all luck. Better yet, wish MHP luck, because, otherwise, soon, I’ll be that “one less viewer” she’s been “dreading.” Ha!
POTUS adjusting his earpiece……Wow….that Photo looks so Hmm? GQ…..that is it. Yeah, GQ style.
What’s GQ?
It’s a men’s magazine Anniebella
Chipsticks maybe I should have let you know I was only kidding. I’ve heard of GQ before, I might even have that issue with POTUS on it. I try to get the magazines with FLOTUS and POTUS on the cover, unless it is something negative. I search and found my April issue of Vogue with FLOTUS on the cover. It wasn’t easy either.
But I found it. 🙂
Gentlemen Quarterly…… 😆 I already ready that You know 😉 Thanks Chips.
This awesome story does not end!!
San Jose. early as 6 am, Carlos Arredondo , called in the United States as the “hero” of Boston, arrived at Real Intercontinental hotel, to try and meet with U.S. President Barack Obama. “We came to try their luck, we know that there are many security measures, but we’re trying,” said Arredondo. He clarified that there is nothing ready and just hoping for a space to see the president. Arredondo said he wants to talk with Obama to greet yet ask for help to a federal building in the U.S., you put the name of his son Alexander, who died in 2004 in the war in Iraq.
http://www.nacion.com/2013-05-04/ElPais/Carlos-Arredondo-llego-a-hotel-donde-se-hospeda-Barack-Obama-para-saludarlo.aspx
OMG Chips…..please delete pic! Had no clue it would be this big! Sorry everyone.
No worries LP, I’ll resize it – don’t delete, that mucks up the thread!!
Whewww….TY. I remember you said deleting messed up threads, so I put out a S.O.S. for you!
You can also resize the picture yourself when you write the img code. Quite handy.
Ya, my mistake is I had copied the thumbnail and expanded one. I had sized to default 640×480, but something went haywire!
I do not know how this gentleman manages to get up every day and face whatever lies ahead – he and his family have been through too much!!
I wonder if someone who has his contact information can advise him to (a) write directly to PBO via the White House (b) go through FLOTUS’ joining forces (c) work with the contact that are in change of the organization Iraq Veterans.
hey may be you can send Ms Valerie Jarrett a tweet with a link to this story
someone needs to give him a chance to have an audience with POTUS – he seems he wants to be heard and make sure that the sacrifices his son made on our behalf have been publicly recognized
I hope somebody in the President’s staff realizes he is at the hotel, and arranges an impromptu meeting there or at the airport. What a small world!
sent in my tweet to the White House, Valerie and FLOTUS and I hope one of these will catch someone’s eye
2 sons. When he was told that his 1st son had been killed in the early 2000s. He nearly killed himself. It made national news for he went out and set himself and or his van on fire. Then his second son later joined and after his service, he had brain trauma and ended up taking his own life. A truly sad story. It is remarkable how he is trying to help other and also to find someway to honor his two sons who served for our nation. I had no idea that he is now in Costa Rica? Or did I get that wrong?
Thank you Chips for your coverage of the President’s trip as well as the eye candy photos!! Listening to the “news” no one would even know our President was out of the country. I can always count on you for great info about his trips 😀
My pleasure Debz, although for some reason this trip has been the hardest so far to get videos/photos for, not a huge amount showing up. But you’re so right, you’d never think from the MSM that PBO was even away.
You aren’t kidding about a lack of video and photos I could not even find video of him speaking to the students in Mexico. Very strange.
And the videos have been very slow to appear on the WH YouTube channel too, this one didn’t show up for hours!
Thank you!
Okay, since AMK isn’t here to make too big a mess, can we party now?
Let’s do it! But you’re cleaning up after, right?
No problem here. I know there won’t be any cheesy puff crumbs, because you will have licked them off the floor already.
Whatcha saying there Mister, that I’m a little overly keen on my Cheesy Puffs?????
Thanks for the shout out Chiparoo and HELL YES, POTUS is coming to Austin (for like the fourth or fifth time) aka the BEST city on the freaking planet.
Do you like Austin, UT? 😆
Welllllll, you know, just a little bit. It’s not like it’s the FREAKING BEST CITY IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE.
It’s so beautifully diverse, hip, musically conscious, environmentally conscious, charity and volunteer conscious. It’s beautiful, it’s a liberal oasis, it has the best university in the world — Gooooooo UT Austin….Hook ‘Em!, it’s so technologically ahead of other cities, it promotes green jobs, the healthcare field is amazing, the job prospects are rich and varied. I could go on and on and on.
Simply put, AUSTIN IS THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD.
Hold on there, missy!!
It’s turning ugly!!! 😆
Apparently Rick Perry didn’t build that!
My daughter just graduated with her MA in French last night. We were talking about her future plans. She wants to find a job for a year working at a community college or as an instructor or adjunct and then go for her doctorate (wants to teach French at a college level) and UT Austin. She says it has a top notch French program.
And tomorrow: Man Spew v. Chelsea.
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuude…..it’s going to be mother-bloody crazy!
Especially since at the moment QPR is proving itself quite useless as usual and Arsenal is winning.
In fairness to QPR, they held out for 20 seconds.
Lord, an MLS team could probably beat them.
(I will now hide in case Tally is reading.)
Speaking of Tally, did you see the odes to Robbie Keane at Dirty Tackle? eg
There once was a man who wore Green,
Who could score like ne’er before seen.
From a wee Wolves pup,
to two MLS Cups,
Stand Up: There’s One Robbie Keane!
😆
HI-LARIOUS!
A big game it is too, Chelsea could cut that 20 point deficit /runs
Hey, I just want that third spot!
Third? Huh? Never heard of it. Is that a position in the Premier League?
Hah! Just wait till Jose returns! Mancunians will be tearing down the statue of that ruddy nosed git!
Alex is not amused, LL:
And, ahem: Man U finished 3rd two years in a row, 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.
Those were the rebuilding years, LL, don’t count.
Says the person whose team was knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea and whom Man City kicked around like a deflated soccer ball.
Another season, another Premier League trophy
Still doesn’t take away from the fact we knocked you out of the FA Cup.
Also, you’re bragging with one cup? Pleeeeease….that’s chump change to Chelsea.
The FA Cup is to the Premier League what Kim Kardashian is to Michelle Obama. /runs really fast
That’s what teams who get knocked out by Chelsea say after they’ve finished crying to their mummies.
No, you’re mistaking the FA Cup for the League Cup. Really, why does England have TWO cup competitions?
No, no – there was a time the FA Cup was a big deal, but not any more. Which is why Wigan are in this year’s final, and Stoke, Cardiff, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Ham and Millwall have all reached finals since 2000. The, cough, important clubs, like United, don’t take it seriously any more, which is why they usually field weakened teams – the Premier League and Champions League are all that matter any more. Sad, to be honest – I loved the FA Cup in my youth!
The League Cup always was and still is a pointless distraction.
Are you denigrating a competition that has Wigan in the final? Fie on you, madam!
But, yes, staying in the Prem and making it to the CL—and all the cash that both achievements bring—are the big goals now.
Excuses, excuses. You’re only saying that because Man U got knocked out. If Man U had gotten knocked out of the Premier League, it’d be the same ol’ story again.
For an Arsenal fan, you make me jealous. But congrats on winning your 20th title!
Morning Obots!
My night owl post is ready to go, and tonight it’s a tribute to the exemplary George Harrison.
You’re annoyingly well prepared LL, you have to give me lessons some day!
ATTN: LL this may peak your interest http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/celebrating_jazz_diplomacy You could do a whole post on this! http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/international-jazz-day-2013/
Ooooo, thanks! Will have to take a gander later.
Great! May we celebrate with brownies? I’m making my own in celebration to thank my Mother and Father. On a Sunday morning years ago, my Dad was listening to the birds singing outside of the maternity waiting room waiting to hear if the second child his wife would deliver would be a boy or girl. He already had a four year old boy. Only one other girl had been born to his sisters and brothers. Lucky him, he got his baby girl. Mother was forty-two! She remembers nothing. In those days they gave her either of all things. So thank you Mom and Dad for the life you gave me. Celebrate Cuatro de Mayo! The President is coming home tonight.
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks and TOD family.
I’ve completed my Jury Duty service!!!!!
Thanks for the coverage of POTUS’ trip Chipsticks. With the wild fire news coverage here, there’s no room for any other news (I’m giving the MSM an “out” for their non coverage 🙂
Giving a shout-out to LP for his great coverage on the President’s Staff – so very interesting – Thank You!
One of the people I am personally very thankful to for agreeing to stay on for PBO’s second term is AG Eric Holder.
Why?
(1) Because he is very good friend of PBO who also happens to be very familiar with the law and also with Washington politics. Because of his friendship with PBO, he is able to stick to the law while also advising PBO on how to maneuver in the political sewer so that those hoping for POTUS’ impeachment do not get their chance.
(2) Because he has already gone through a time when DOJ had to challenge the extreme rightwingers, AG is able to see through their crap and challenge them accordingly. For instance, he has already warned KS’ Brownback that the law against gun control is unconstitutional.
Eric Holder to Sam Brownback: New Kansas gun law is unconstitutional
•By: Associated Press By: Associated Press
•By: JOHN HANNA
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has told Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback that a new state law attempting to block federal regulation of some guns is unconstitutional and that the federal government is willing to go to court over the issue.
The U.S. attorney’s office for Kansas on Thursday released a copy of a letter from Holder to Brownback. The letter is dated April 26, the day after Kansas’ law took effect.
http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/state/kansas/eric-holder-to-sam-brownback-new-kansas-law-is-unconstitutional#ixzz2SLP8NNrc
You know, AZ does this crap, too. They know full well that they passed an unconstitutional bill (SB 1070 ring a bell?) yet they persist with this waste of time BS. The Feds sue them, win, and the taxpayers of the state end up paying for this!! It should have NEVER HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE! Thanks for NOTHING RWNJ Gov’s! Small govt my dying ass………….fiscally conservative, my other dying ass!
Mornin’ y’all! Left a greeting on R&S but it never posted.. Am off crutches and allowed no splint while walking around the house. PT starts on Wed. I was thrilled to hear of Africa’s hubby doing so well, and congrats Africa, without telly you will find a wonderful new brain growing. Will have a data refill at midnight, so will be around more tomorrow! Hugs to everyone! Love the concept of us being the ‘juice’: we are like a new dimension of the electromagnetic energy field: we surround and support Change, and with our new format of no emissions and our motors run so silently, they have no idea we are coming! There is no stopping our synthetic group Mind and Heart! All aboard! Have a wonderful day, breathe! {{{{Chipsticks}}}} {{{{PBO}}}} {{{{VC}}}} {{{{TOD}}}}
The thing is, I could see that being true.
I know.
So, last Storytime, someone left a little stuffed crab in the meeting room. It is now taped to the reference computer monitor. Because that’s how we roll here.
Wait, there is a stuffed crab taped to the reference computer monitor?
May I ask …… why?
Because we’re librarians, and ergo strange?
Ah, okay – that explains it.
“Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?”
HAH!
LOvelyplains, I wanted to post this on the R & S thread but got distracted. I really appreciate your taking the time to present in detail the dynamic individuals who make up PBO’s cabinet and WH team. Many of these hardworking public servants get little or no face time/recognition in the outside press (unless the MSM can find a “scandal” or “controversy” involving them). Thanks and I look forward to more on your wonderful series! 🙂 🙂
+ 1,000,000,000,000,000! Love the series too Hopefruit, thank you LP!
Hopefruit & Chips……Thank you so much. It means a lot to me that the effort put forth, in trying to compile a thread worthy of this incredible blog, is enjoyed by the TOD family. The purpose of these *profiles* threads have been perfectly captured by your appreciation. If you cross your fingers, I may have something cooked up for next weekend? Thank you again…..
🙂 🙂 My fingers are crossed for next weekend – no pressure though!! 🙂 🙂
Is this Ted Nugent’s angry lil’ grand-nephew… Poor kid! 😦
The MSM has no interest in PBO’s accomplishment. We must spread the word. I prefer to shove it in their faces.
Absolutely brilliant, Africa! Thank you for fighting back against the unethical MSM.
great toons:) http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2013/05/04/cartoons-of-the-day-nra-convention-2013/
http://raniakhalek.com/2013/05/02/prosecutor-behind-kiera-wilmot-arrest-filed-no-charges-for-white-teen-who-killed-little-brother/
Oh my…this could be Klan’s meeting and we would not know the difference…
He looks like a dam racists idiot.
| Live | AF1 Prepares for President Obama’s departure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zuHX-JWlsic
When Sully gets it right, he gets it. He also quotes SmartyPants. Very nice piece
But, but, but Ben Ghazi & teh dronez
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/04/a-president-abroad-2009-2013-updated/