Niamh Farry (5) sampling some of the G8 ice-cream on sale at Lilley’s garage in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh
****
12:0 EST: The First Lady will join Irish youth for a special performance by the Riverdance company at the Gaiety Theatre. Sabina Higgins, wife of President Michael D Higgins, and Fionnuala Kenny, wife of the Taoiseach, will also attend. The First Lady scheduled to deliver brief remarks before the performance
****
Heads up:
Irish channel RTE will have a 30 minute special on the First Lady’s Dublin visit starting at 12:0 EST – here
Hi @TheObamaDiary Yes, it will be available worldwide! We’ll make it available as soon as possible after broadcast @RTEDigital @rte
— RTE Player (@RTEplayer) June 17, 2013
****
What an inspiring morning in #Belfast & wonderful reception for President Obama #ObamainNI @markknoller @USAinNI pic.twitter.com/s4MuySMzjE
— U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) June 17, 2013
****
First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, Sasha and Malia with Dr Patrick Prendergast, President and Provost of Trinity College Dublin, during their visit to view the Book of Kells and archives documenting the Obama’s Irish ancestry
….. viewing the Obama Family Collection, with Fiona Fitzsimons, director of genealogy research service Eneclann
Irish Independent: The US First Lady and her two daughters were given a presentation on their family genealogy and connections to Ireland when they visited Trinity College today.
At Trinity, the Obamas visited the Old Library and were shown the Book of Kells, a ninth-century, elaborately decorated gospel manuscript made by Irish monks.
Mrs Obama, Malia and Sasha were also shown the birth registry of President Obama’s Irish ancestors from around the village of Moneygall and old maps detailing the family’s homestead in Co Offaly.
….. President Obama’s distant Irish cousin Henry Healy – who the US leader jokes is known as Henry VIII because of their family ties – presented Michelle and the girls with gifts during their visit to Trinity.
He said both daughters were delighted to get their certificates of Irish heritage. “Both of them were pretty amazed with the certificates,” Mr Healy said. “Competing with their friends, now they can prove they’re more Irish than them.”
More here
****
I presented Malia & Sasha with a Cert of Irish Heritage earlier! Great reaction from Sasha “I can prove I’m more Irish than my friends now”
— Henry Healy (@henryhealy) June 17, 2013
****
Pres Obama greets Italy PM Enrico Letta and his entourage at the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/PMBnvX09In
— petesouza (@petesouza) June 17, 2013
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Photo of Pres Obama and British PM David Cameron at the G8 today in Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/aZpzxrcIdX
— petesouza (@petesouza) June 17, 2013
****
PM Cameron and President Obama help paint a mural at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School in Northern Ireland
President Obama celebrates completing his work….
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You can see all Ireland 2013 posts here
****
More later!
The Obama Diary 
Hello!
GA TOders, now trying to Catch Up….Wow…..Too Much stuff to read through 😉
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/17/19003964-remember-who-passed-the-warn-act?lite
The right was pretty worked up over the weekend about something called “Wireless Emergency Alerts.” Far-right blogger Jim Hoft, for example, published this item, which in turn was promoted by Drudge, both on his site and his Twitter feed.
Just in case you want more Obama in your life…
AT&T is loading iPhones with emergency alerts from Barack Obama…
That you can’t switch off.
The unnecessary ellipses, by the way, were in the original.
The story, which has also drawn the attention of Alex Jones, among others, refers to this Engadget piece, which says AT&T “has begun rolling out Wireless Emergency Alerts updates for iPhone 4S and 5…. Once installed, AMBER and Emergency alerts are automatically sent to your phone unless you switch them off via Settings. However, should you be tired of Obama, just know that there’s no way to switch off Presidential alerts.”
Now, as you might have guessed, these “presidential alerts” are really just part of a national system to let the public know about natural disasters and related emergencies. It’s not like the administration will start texting you about immigration reform against your will.
And what kind of big-government socialists passed the Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act? Funny story: it was approved in 2006 by a Republican House, Republican Senate, and Republican White House. As Steve M. concluded, “So, yeah, this is more Obama fascism that was actually a Bush-era idea.”
Fucking idiots.
Hey Chips, Layla….yeah, Gold ❗ and the rest of the TODville Villages…….I am going to go backwards……I am probably 4-5 posts in deficit….. 😉
Oh cool! Never saw the girls’ signatures before!
They look similar also looks like their mom’s…..very nice!
Love Sasha making it OFFICIAL with “Natasha”!!
I liked the fact that Sasha wrote her given name. I hope we are allowed to continue calling her “Sasha” though.
Well, Natasha has spoken, owning her name as her dad did at Occidental in his 2nd year there. So at 12 years Old, Natasha has asserted and affirmed her Given Name 😉 . Yes, Natasha Go. I had a Math Teacher whose name was Natasha. I like her.
Last pic: PBO look like he is directing an orchestra!
I love my husband and he’s come a long way from his Southside Chicago roots. He’s a decent, working man’s liberal. But those South side racist roots still rear their ugly head. Let’s just say I’m glad he’s out of the house for the rest of the day while I’m working at home. He sees nothing wrong with proving your citizenship at the voting booth. Regardless of the fact you have to prove your citizenship when you APPLY to vote. And what’s wrong with stopping someone and asking to prove their citizenship? And then tell me it’s not racist?!?!? Are they going to stop his Polish, blonde-haired ass and ask for HIS proof of citizenship?!?!
Then, it’s my fault we can’t have a conversation. This is not a ‘conversation’. This is not an argument he’s going to listen to, and I sure as hell have heard all of his arguments.
See you at dinner, honey. There are certain things we cannot discuss.
Freedom of speech is wonderful – right up there with the freedom not to listen.
I see some of that from people I’ve met who come from working class Philly.
{{{{57}}}}
Repost. This is astonishing !
That ass needs to get over himself.
Delusional prick trying to play martyr.
Oh my God. This guy is such a fucking idiot. 🙄 read, Snowpuff, you are not Angelina Jolie as Salt. You are dumbass who will soon be hoisted by your own retardedness…….SMH. 🙄
Ps- sorry for not being PC, but this guy is an ass.
No one would give a shite if this idjit drops dead. Including that gigi blowhard.
EXACTLY!!! 🙄 I think Snowflake is a bit put-off because his treasonous actions aren’t garnering the amount of spy games he was expecting, no manhunts, no CIA agents trailing him, that’s why he keeps sticking his head out every few days. Don’t worry fool. You’ll soon get exactly what you deserve.
I have the silly suspicion that the administration knows exactly what he wandered off with – and either it is much less exciting than he himself seems to think, or they have taken appropriate countermeasures.
go ahead Lisa.. you said perfectly what I, and I imagine many others are thinking.. thank YOU!
The guys a media whore.
absolutely agree.
Murdering him?? I think this young man needs a mental evaluation.
No one want to see Edward “the Traitor” Snowden murder. We rather see his sorry ass tried and convicted and thrown behind bars for life.
Bam!
If anyone were to murder him, it won’t be the US. There are plenty of nations around the world who would be happy to get their hands on him.
My question: How did a twerp like you with a GED and not a college degree get such a cushy job AND high-level security clearance at Booz Allen? Follow up: Who’s paying your expenses while you’re on the lam from taking responsibility for your treason?
I cant stop laughing! This guy is delusional! Please let me have whatever the heck he is smoking! I need a break from reality for just 1 minute! Funny stuff!
Oh, give me a break! What an imbecile!
I posted this comment on previous thread; will repeat here. The way this guy is now playing his game, I don’t think it would be the U.S. that would “take him out,” but I wouldn’t put it past the Brits – and good work if they do, more to them!
I say Karma, Prudence, Fate, perhaps, some poetic justice would visit him before US extradites him back to the mainland?
put his ass in jail
Ever notice how when PM Cameron is with PBO, he seems more human and approachable? In fact, all the world leaders do. I remember watching Sarkozy trying to emulate PBO two years ago at a G20 meeting in Deauville…….Four more years of PBO and this world will be a better place.
True, and I remember Sarkozy too, following PBO into the crowd to shake hands. I think Sarkozy probably wanted a hand wipe after each hand he shook, that’s how uncomfortable he looked.
Cameron definitely seems more human around PBO.
I just finished listening to President Obama’s speech in Belfast… Thank you thank you thank you Chips for posting it. I am so grateful every single day to be living in the age of Obama.. what a wonderful inspiring speech of PEACE.. he continues to be a guiding light for all of us, if we will only just listen and keep stepping forward.
It was an inspiring speech. He always lifts up the youth of whatever nation he visits. I too am grateful to be living in this time.
🙂 Barack Obama = Peace Monger
So Sniwden just said reason he do this was because this Prrsident did not close Gitmo.
But he’s not mad at Republicabs, just the Prrsident?
Meanwhile , the left will eat this up!
He’s not as stupid as we thought, has questions from Greenwald been prepared for him?
How do you know Snowden is the person answering the questions? Might be GG or anyone else?
Very possible.
Dub Pool @dubpool 33m
RT @allanbrauer Irony alert: @Guardian moderators are censoring the comments to the #AskSnowden chat.
Retweeted by Jeff Gauvin
Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More
ROTFLMAO! Actually, he’s even stupider than we thought. He just outed to everyone that his REAL problem is with PBO as President of the United States. Never thought he’d resort to that lame, tired “Gitmo” excuse.
BEN RHODES EXPLAINS WHY PRESIDENT OBAMA’S VISIT TO AFRICA IS SO IMPORTANT. (June 14, 2013)
Press Briefing by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, and Senior Director for International Economic Issues Caroline Atkinson
———————————————————————————————–
Q And there’s one that you both may want to weigh in. There’s been a lot of reporting about the President’s trip to Africa — the trip after the G8. The context should be that President Clinton spent a lot of money on a trip to Africa; President Bush took, I believe, two trips to Africa, spent a lot of money as well. But in these budget times, after the sequester, after White House tours being canceled, a lot of attention on the fact that the President may spend up to $100 million in taxpayer money on a trip to Africa. Can you justify that expense?
MR. RHODES: Well, I’d say a couple things, and Josh may want to say something, too. We, frankly, should have — well, let me step back. We have not traveled to Africa in the same way that we’ve traveled to other regions of the world. We have traveled significantly in Asia. We’ve taken several trips to Latin America. We’ve taken several trips to Europe. We’ve taken several trips — or will take multiple trips to Russia by the time this year is done. And Africa is a critically important region of the world. We have huge interests there.
You’ve got some of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. You’ve got a massively growing youth population. You’ve got key security and counterterrorism issues that we work on with African countries. We have democratic institutions that are consolidating in places like Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. We have some of our biggest development efforts on issues like global health, combatting HIV/AIDS, things that have broad bipartisan support that have been focused on Africa.
So for the United States to say we’re a world leader except in this continent doesn’t make any sense. And just as we put a premium on developing our ties in emerging regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America, we need to be present in Africa.
And I can tell you that there are other countries that are quite present in Africa. You’ve seen significant investments in Africa from China, Brazil, Turkey, and the U.S. would be ceding its leadership position in the world if the President of the United States was not deeply engaged in Africa. And that’s what he’s going to do. And this is a deeply substantive trip and one that has been highly anticipated on the continent. And frankly, there’s been great disappointment that the President hasn’t traveled to Africa until this point, other than a brief stop in Ghana.
And so Senegal, you have a country that is an emerging democracy; that is a partner with us in situations like Mali; that we want to invest in issues like food security and the development of civil society.
In South Africa, a leading country on the continent, partners with us on just about every issue from Sudan to Congo to Zimbabwe, to the provision of our global health assistance, and also the iconic democracy of the continent, as we’ve all been reminded in recent days with Nelson Mandela.
Tanzania, similarly, has been a key partner in East Africa. Every major development issue we have — on food security, global health, democracy promotion — Tanzania has been a solid partner.
And so the President is not going to retreat from an entire continent. In terms of the cost, we don’t determine the cost of the President’s security, just as President Bush didn’t and President Clinton didn’t. The Secret Service is going to do what they think is necessary to protect the President. That’s going to come with its own costs. But we don’t sit here and say we want to spend X amount of money on a trip.
But we do know that from a foreign policy perspective, in some respects people believe this trip is overdue and, frankly, it will be a great bang for our buck for being in Africa, because when you travel to regions like Africa that don’t get a lot of presidential attention, you tend to have very longstanding and long-running impact from the visit.
————————————————————————-
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/14/press-briefing-principal-deputy-press-secretary-josh-earnest-deputy-nati
The Youtube 1:18 mins plus 6-14-13 Ben Rhodes, Caroline Atkins(sp) and Josh Earnest
Thank you Nena, What a team? Josh ‘The Voice’ Earnest is another one of my favorites. Love him.
http://www.politicususa.com/2013/06/17/press-biased-reporting-fueled-anti-obama-vendetta.html
My lunchtime moment of shallow:
Watching my President walk into the G8 Summit with UK’s Cameron and all I can think is: “Dayum My President is phoine! Look at that walk. He freakin’ runs that joint.”
Waiter, I’ll have the pretty one with an extra side of swag, please! 😀 😀 😀
🙂
This is why it’s nice to watch this stuff live – because you see all those moments that aren’t captured in the canned videos. I wish I could have seen the swagger…
The kids are so cute trying to look so solemn in the 2nd pic.
The teacher obviously dolled herself up for the visit. I can tell you from the experience of someone who taught for 30 years that teachers, especially those who teach the younger students, do not wear shoes and outfits like this one on a daily basis. However, if I had been in her shoes (-), I would have done the same if PBO was coming to visit.
Director of U.S. immigration agency resigns http://reut.rs/1alst8t
Interesting!
Heads up for that Irish TV special on Michelle’s trip to Dublin
http://www.rte.ie/live/
Chips, that’s a weird link. It’s a choice between nest watching or about house.
It’s up next UT
CBS seems to be streaming as well
Beautiful coverage of this trip Chips and UT! Excellent – I am loving it!
Um, got this DM on Twitter from a Dublin hotel:
Good afternoon, we would like to extend an invitation to afternoon tea in the Penthouse to the First Lady, Sasha, Malia and your team on behalf of the management team here at the ****. In case you would like to take some time out. Enjoy your day. Regards, ****
😕 They must think I’m the Chief of Staff 😆
Hahahaha. Lookachu. Famous!
Hey Chiparoo. There’s video here for FLOTUS and the First Daughters in Dublin.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/michelle-receives-family-genealogy-at-trinity-29350685.html
So great to see the warm reception everywhere they go! Interesting tidbit from the article below the video:
“Mrs Obama is the subject of a new book being published tomorrow which links her ancestry to Protestant Irish immigrants who were plantation and slave owners in the southern states of the US in the 1800s.”
Anybody know anything about this book? I MUST HAVE IT!
Ask LL.
Just say Yes, for pete’s sake! 🙂 ( oh, and YOU are the Chief of Staff!) 😆
😆 Weirdest DM ever Pamela!!!
Are Cheesy Puffs on the menu? If so, I say GO FOR IT.
😆 😆 I’m on my way!!!
Undoubtedly! But what a CLASSIC! With a name like The Obama Diary, your site must be considered beyond OFFICIAL, and after all, your video is on display in the Ancestral Home in Moneygall, right? Of course you and your Team (all of us) are invited to TEA! many of us are hoping you will accept!!? 😆
Don’t be a shyster.
What a lovely thing to happen! 😀
I always think of you as Chief of Staff anyway. Tina Tchen may be nice and have all these swanky credentials, but she doesn’t come close to having your style and sheer magnetism… and she most certainly ain’t got 19.5 million hits!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
😆 Dudette, can you imagine if I was Chief of Staff? The President and VP’s morning briefings would be around 10:0ish, and they’d never be on time for anything!!!!!
Yes, but what time would tea be served?? 😉
That’s hilarious.
The “Gitmo” talking point was a dead giveaway that his agenda was strictly political – another willing participant in the PL/Libertarian/Tea Party anti-Obama agenda.
He’s full of himself. Some of the astrologers predicted he would re-surface around now or on his birthday which is 6/21. His lame ass won’t recognize itself when this is all over. I hope it’s soon, eff’er.
You have ruined my day. Just to know I share a birthday with this creep makes me want to alter my birth certificate.
I have a fresh burt cert from kenya. Velly, velly authentic and in long form too.
😆 😆
whoa japa21 – you’re not the only one, my eldest was born June 21st also.
Oh, dear, I am heartily sorry, Japa. Had I known, I surely would have spared you; however, I suppose it would have come out eventually. I presume you are at least a bit older, therefore the solar date would be the ONLY part that is shared. Your wisdom and Soul alignment would be beyond this farthead’s grasp. If it’s any consolation, I have a very dear friend here who is also the 21st, she is artistic, well-educated, a massage therapist and with a certificate in working with the elderly. Peace?
“1. Edward Snowden: DOB: June 21, 1983, Elizabeth City, NC. I am currently using an estimated 9.00am birthtime as that gives him an 11th house stellium and places his Scorpio Moon in the 4th house square Venus ruling the Taurus MC. There are other factors which draw me to this approximate birth time, but these are too lengthy for this forum. As events unfold, I may be able to rectify the birth time more precisely. I am of the opinion that he will surface before June 26th, likely around his birthday. This is because transiting Jupiter and the transiting Sun will conjoin his natal Sun and oppose his natal Neptune. At the very least, he will make some major public commentaries over the course of the next week.” ~ Alan Oken, Bali
Mornin’.
LOL! Way to go JOB!! 😀
Good morning/afternoon to you! Loving this Ireland trip coverage from Chips!
AWWWWWW!! Photos, please!!
Wow. Word Press just changed aesthetically.
I’m so relieved it’s not just my computer, huuuuuuge changes!!!
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/beautiful-makeover/
Ah, thank you LP!!!! I thought my eyes needed testing!!
YW, no “Blue dots” you’re seeing straight………
Michelle looks beautiful as Always.
Looks like Joy Reid is hosting Alex Wagner’s show today.
Great point. They would have stopped the Boston Marathon bombers.
FLOTUS is taking the podium! 🙂
Wow, what a roar rang out for her!!!
Oh my heavens, she is a spectacular human being!!
Yes, indeed she is. We are so lucky she’s ours!
Where are you watching?—-struck out on your link—-can’t find it there.
That link was iffy Dotster, but they’ll have the video up on the site later. I recorded the speeches, but my connection is so miserably slow today they probably won’t upload to YouTube until 2023 😕
My crappy wi-fi connection keeps buffering, ugh.
Great reception for our FLOTUS.
Barack is a lucky man! She is something special!!!
What the HELL Is wrong with people?!
Sheesh. Maybe he should start a WH petition that they only use squirt flowers at the Camp David pool! Talk about misdirected focus! Wow!
Isn’t that the picture from Camp David? That picture has been floating around for a long, long time. Was he under a rock??
Must have been. Also must be very bored.
Is this guy joking, the only picture I remember is the one Sasha was in the pool and POTUS was running around the pool with a water gun, if that’s the picture, might I ask what’s the big deal?
I’d like to know myself. Actually it doesn’t even matter what he finds offensive. There are SOOOOO many other issues going on right now, why chose THIS to focus on? Even if it’s just for a second, why THIS pic/issue?
I finally got FLOTUS at Gaiety, I heard her speak and someone from the audience yell out we love you Michelle.
Stephen Neill says photos of FLOTUS meeting the children of Moneygall will be posted on the White House website!!
Yay!
That was fun.
He is sooooooo awesome. He really gets down to their level. He’s totally into talking to them.
Wow what an arrogant, aloof President who hates white people! Looking at this pic by TOD, it’s obvious that Glen Beck, Chris Matthews, and Maureen Dawd were all right! This pic. proves, beyond any shadow of doubt, that President Obama is so arrogant that he can’t even relate to children . Just witness the difference between him and the British PM! The President is making the children cry by his insensitivity and just plain arrogance. (snark)
Wow, what an amazing day and it’s only noon!
Loved that song in the 1990s…early 😉 Thanks.
WTF???!!!!!!
If Greenwald thought this live #AskSnowden Q&A would be positive for Snowden, then he really is a big fool. Snowden has been digging the hole further and further.
First he said he leaked NSA secrets because Pres. Obama didn’t live up to his campaign promises. Then he said the real reason for leaking secrets was because Pres. Obama didn’t close Gitmo. He seems to think all spying is illegitimate and doesn’t understand that a majority of countries “spy” on each other. Why else would someone so “anti-spying” work for national security agency?
He thinks the U.S. Govt. is out to murder him. Helloooooo….nut job alert.
He also said more people die in bath tub accidents than from terrorism.
Someone is definitely higher than a kite. I can see the DOJ thinking: “Please Proceed, Mr. Snowden.”
Gee, I followed both elections pretty closely. I don’t remember PBO saying he would eliminate all intelligence gathering, do you? Who the eff does Snowden think PBO is – Ralph Nader, whose campaign in 2000 was to ‘get rid of the corporations’. ?
I’m sick to DEATH of this b.s. on Gitmo. Then out Congress that continually votes against closing Gitmo, you MORON.
The RWNJ logic applied to national security as it’s applied to gun safety. By all means, let’s do nothing until terrorists – free from any and all restraint – get a dirty bomb. You MORON.
Chat away!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/06/17/chat-away-177/
Sasha’s signature is the best!