U.S. President Barack Obama (R) waves to the media while walking with German President Joachim Gauck at Bellevue Palace on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.
U.S. President Barack Obama (C) and German President Joachim Gauck greet schoolchildren from a local German-American school at Bellevue Palace on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) signs the official guest book as German President Joachim Gauck looks on at Bellevue Palace on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) chats with German President Joachim Gauck after Obama signed the official guest book at Bellevue Palace on June 19, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.
********
The Obama Diary 
Good Morning and thank you UT
Here – have a comment 🙂
As usual, if you have any video, pictures, article links that will help enhance the German trip coverage, leave it in the comments. Thanks.
UT, just DM’ed ya!
Berlin Speech: Obama to Make Plea for Nuclear Disarmament
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/us-president-obama-to-address-nuclear-disarmament-in-berlin-speech-a-906581.html
Speculation has been rife in Berlin regarding the possible contents of US President Barack Obama’s speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday. Media reports indicate he will be making a renewed push for nuclear disarmament.
There are some tough acts to follow when it comes to giving speeches in Berlin. John F. Kennedy’s legendary “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, delivered half a century ago, still remains without equal. But Ronald Reagan’s 1987 address in front of the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate, in which he invited Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” has likewise been treated kindly by the history books.
That US President Barack Obama will attempt to follow in their footsteps on Wednesday during his state visit to Berlin seems a fool’s errand. But according to the New York Times, Obama hopes to deliver a powerful message of his own — and plans to make a major push for further nuclear disarmament.
I don’t understand this ech bin ein obsession even after five decades. Tear down that wall was uugghhh.
Jack Kennedy was cool, and his brothers were too. Reagan, not so much!
JFK also fought in WWII. He was Young with a beautiful wife and children. He was also strong in helping Europe in containing the Cold War……his Speech on Nuclear restrainment/containment was well appreciated.
Additionally, neither JFK or Reagan spoke before a unified Germany.
AND, it’s the first speech by a 21st century American President. Four presidents have spoken there previously: JFK, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush I.
GM TODers……wow, all of this has gone on this AM?
Lovely and our National media in the year of pres Obama has once again, changed the way they have always covered the 43rd POTUS’ who came before the 44th……..The Obama Media Double, Triple, Quadruple Goalpost……..moved again.
88% approval in Germany- Merkel says wait Photo op! Uh huh, uh huh.
We get Meeka wondering why he doesn’t explain stuff???
It’s the American Media stupid!
88%! wow. i’m ignoring the American press today 😀
I do my best to ignore them everyday.
Morning! It’s really early here, But I’m up….airport drop this morning
Well, see ya then. And we will be monitoring your country any sign of Al Qaeda we will use air support to knock them out.
Karzai is an idiot!
karzai is a corrupt clown who couldn’t even control kabul.
True!
Kazai is truly nuts. He is off his meds again.
Karzai is a Republican I heard.
A right wing-nut.
Good morning, TOD. Question: I will be in my car (Sirrus/XM) at 9:00. Any idea what channel I may be able to hear our President? Thanks.
115 is cnn
I know, but my concern is will they carry it? Will anyone on XM carry it?????? No t:ell? 😦
104 is POTUS channel!
I am am sure the POTUS channel will. I think it is 124
Bet you’re right, mt. Thanks!
POTUS channel is 124 I think.
Sorry I hate typing on my droid. I always mess up. Travel safe.
Good morning everyone! UT you are amazing! Thanks for being the earlybird! The WHPC hasn’t gotten any smarter.
Now see ? CNN just said that the Germans have a chilly reception for the President, bc of the NSA thingy!
Unbelievable!
wonder how they’ll explain away the cheering crowd at the Brandenburg Gate?
LOL! They’ll say that Obama bused-in (in this case, flew in) supporters from NY and CA….
Like Mitt Romney did at the NAACP event he did, I think it was most of the events he did.
Easy, the crowd was Not as large. There has to be a negative dig. It never fails.
Actually it’s not unbelievable. CNN is still looking for the “dark-skinned male” so they will say anything….
To hell with TeaNN, I mean CNN.
Chuck Todd dutifully reported the same thing on Today.
See? They all have talking points! Who provides all the same talking points for the WHPC?
Not the WH that’s for sure!
THIS IS SO PERFECT. SO SPOT ON! It’s a morning MUST READ. I have a crush on Bob Cesca:)
http://thedailybanter.com/2013/06/the-nsa-story-has-exacerbated-a-growing-schism-on-the-left/
It’s interesting how the loudest critics of the Obama “cult of personality” will thoughtlessly climb aboard the Greenwald outrage zeppelin every time. Not surprising considering how this is Greenwald’s tactic any time someone, be it Kurt Eichenwald, Joy Reid, Rick Perlstein or Charles Johnson, questions the highly visible gaps in his story or his understanding of how the NSA functions — gaps that could indicate an implosion waiting to happen.
Contributing to the implosion is, as a movement, the blind endorsement of the view that the United States should disassemble most if not all of its surveillance operations, and whatever remains of it after the cull ought to be conducted in the light of day. Based on what we’ve been reading, and to paraphrase a notorious line, it appears as if the goal is to shrink the U.S. intelligence community small enough to drown it in the bathtub.
Meanwhile, we’re evidently supposed to be the only industrialized nation that doesn’t spy on other nations — a practice that’s existed since nations were invented. I’m not interested in being a part of a movement that seeks to cripple America’s basic ability to function diplomatically on the international stage. I suppose I’m just an Obamabot automaton for questioning a stunted worldview that demands we only surveil nations that have declared war against us. I’m not interested in attaching myself to a movement whose collective judgment is lightyears beyond the zero barrier between reality and puerility.
If I’m understanding this correctly, we’re not supposed to use drones, we’re not supposed to engage in surveillance of any kind (other than in war) and we’re certainly not supposed to have boots on the ground (military, CIA or otherwise). So how the hell are we supposed to learn anything about friends or foes? Ask them nicely? There’s a creepy Project Mayhem nihilism at work here and it could blow up in the faces of anyone standing too close.
The thing is , the Libertarian Press and some dumbass democrats in Congress are backing him up.
The point is, that they are losing their collect shit and engaging in the group think that they assailed the right for…now THEY are the ones doing the same thing! Looney left. They have no more grasp on reality than the other nutbags!
Thank yooooooooooooooou UT-a-roo!!
Good morning Ms. Chips, Ms. UT and the TOD family. I hope everyone has a splendid day today. Thank God the President Obama is still the President of United States of America. That was a very informative news conference with PBO and Chancellor Merkel.
The American NewsStainers did not embarrass themselves nor the USA. Thank God that Chuck Todd was not called on.
Chuckie won’t like that he wasn’t call upon.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/19/19038694-the-immigration-price-tag-the-right-didnt-want-to-see
The report estimates that in the first decade after the immigration bill is carried out, the net effect of adding millions of additional taxpayers would decrease the federal budget deficit by $197 billion. Over the next decade, the report found, the deficit reduction would be even greater — an estimated $700 billion, from 2024 to 2033.
The full report from the CBO is online here (pdf).
This is incredibly important, and puts conservatives in an exceedingly awkward position. According to the CBO’s non-partisan analysis, the comprehensive immigration reform plan pending on Capitol Hill would be one of the biggest deficit-reduction bills in decades, reducing the deficit by nearly $200 billion in the next decade, and nearly $900 billion over the next 20 years.
In an amusing twist, the CBO does not ordinarily score bill bills beyond the first 10-year window, but in this case, the agency made an exception — because Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a fierce opponent of reform, asked it to, assuming it would help bolster his case. Oops.
This is simply devastating for Republican opponents of reform. Indeed, one of the pillars of the right’s argument has suddenly been shattered.
Some British reporter, Anabel Roberts, or somebody, gave the most thinly disguised anti-Obama report on the trip. She mostly made catty comments about Michelle’s bangs growing out, with close up photos and then zoomed in on what she and girls were wearing and then the coup de grace—-the whole point—–saying that tongues are wagging about the cost of the Obama family trip—–the costs of staying in 5 star hotels and extra security for all of them and aren’t you taxpayers mad about all this? Unbelievable segment—–you have to wonder if the reporter got a bonus for contributing another anti-Obama report.
on the Today Show
Live Now – President Obama arrives at Bradenburg Gate: http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml
You’re amazing…thank you:)
Morning everyone! Thanks for all the ‘shine’ I see strolling down, Utal! It’s a real good feeling knowing that TOD reporters are on the job at all times! Thank yous to everyone involved!
“Born in the USA” playing as he arrives!
I have so many links open I can’t figure out which one has an artist playing music and cheering in the background.
Okay, I think it’s CBS.
Here ya go VC!
http://www.ustream.tv/cbsnews
/Oh sure, confuse me further./
Why, thank you Ms Chips! I’m on the edge of my seat, already anticipating a mah-ve,lous speech. How are you doing? Dressed, fed, tuned in? Mille fois merci for this lovely, focused gathering place! {{CC & the gang}}
Good Lord
MSNBC is showing Mika yapping about something in a bed…..
Looks like a BEAUTIFUL day in Berlin!
Berlin, Germany – Clear 90°F | °C – Precipitation: 0% – Humidity: 43%
ok.. a little toasty:)
White House Live: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
June 19, 2013 9:00 AM EDT
President Obama Makes a Speech
Berlin, Germany
New post. Rise and Shine!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/06/19/rise-and-shine-531/
Will the American press black out the President?
Stay tuned! Same bat channel, same bat time!
Looking at the pictures and reading the captions, I’m thinking TOD has done a lot to increase my knowledge of foreign leaders. Why, I’m definitely able to identify more of the world’s PMs etc. that ever before in my life. Not to mention I’m more aware now that some countries have more than one ‘leader’, not that I spend any time figuring out the differences. I mean, why do you need a chancellor and a president yada yada.
One of the many things I truly love and appreciate about President Obama is the fact that he ALWAYS, always, always makes us proud when he represents our country overseas. When I saw this post pop up in my email, I couldn’t help remembering the cringing dread I used to feel when President W Bush was visiting another country — what would he do this time to embarrass the American people and damage our reputation around the world?? President Obama is always so respectful and so engaging. I could not be prouder to have him portray the best of the United States to the rest of the world.