When I think of night time, the music of Claude Debussy always springs to mind. His is the perfect music for a springtime evening. So, a bit of relaxation after a momentous day.
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Preludes – Livre II
Claire de Lune
Archive for March 15th, 2014
The Obamas were introduced to Bo (who was born in Texas in 2008 and originally called ‘New Hope’) five years ago today, and the rest was history. Here’s to many more Bo years!
Continue reading ‘Bo Obama: Five Years Of Love, Joy, Fun, And Happiness’
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Mar
14
De Tocqueville’s prophecy
From de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America:
There are now two great nations in the world which, starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. Both have grown in obscurity, and while the world’s attention was occupied elsewhere, they have suddenly taken their place among the leading nations, making the world take note of their birth and of their greatness almost at the same instant. All other peoples seem to have nearly reached their natural limits and to need nothing but to preserve them; but these two are growing…. The American fights against natural obstacles; the Russian is at grips with men. The former combats the wilderness and barbarism; the latter, civilization with all its arms. America’s conquests are made with the plowshare, Russia’s with the sword. To attain their aims, the former relies on personal interest and gives free scope to the unguided strength and common sense of individuals. The latter in a sense concentrates the whole power of society in one man. One has freedom as the principal means of action; the other has servitude. Their point of departure is different and their paths diverse; nevertheless, each seems called by some secret desire of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world.
While the particular paths both the US and Russia forged from the mid-19th century until now don’t neatly fit de Tocqueville’s parameters—the US has not necessarily been shy in using military force—it’s as good a starting point for discussion as any.
Any cursory examination of the histories of both nations easily leads to the conclusion that both the US and Russia have had a sense of mission. That of the US is to spread democracy and self-determination across the globe. (Again, I’m speaking of self-conception, not reality on the ground.) Russia’s mission has been to see itself as defender of the Slavic peoples, and of Slavic Christianity; essentially, as the inheritor of Rome and Constantinople. It is a mission wrapped in mysticism and destiny. Even its 70 year sojourn under Communism was imbued with this mission, this time to make the world one large soviet. But at heart, Russia has seen itself as a natural great power, perhaps the greatest.
The idea that a thousand years of Russian culture would be eradicated by the fall of the Soviet empire was, at best, a fool’s dream. And I admit, I participated in it. I looked at summits between Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin with relief and pride: two great enemies becoming partners, ushering the world into a new age free of great power conflicts.
And, truthfully, Russia was no longer a great power. Yes, it still had nuclear weapons; but the entire society was caving in on itself, of no threat to the West, dependent, in fact, on Western largesse. Bit by bit it became entrenched in the global economy, enmeshed in webs of finance and trade which are difficult to break.
15
Mar
14
Ukraine crisis in tweets
Today in Ukraine.
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Ukraine now says it repelled Russian military effort to enter area near Crimea washingtonpost.com/world/europe/t…
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David Beard (@dabeard) March 15, 2014U.S. resolution in UN Security Council condemning Crimea referendum got 13 of 15 votes. Russia vetoed it, and China abstained. #Ukraine
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Paul Waldie (@pwaldieGLOBE) March 15, 2014Map: Where Russian troops are massing near Ukraine nyti.ms/1gkfyDc
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(@grasswire) March 15, 2014UPDATED:
TURMOIL IN UKRAINE
A Drift Toward Cold War That Some in Russia Welcome nytimes.com/2014/03/16/wor…
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Andrew Ginsburg (@GinsburgJobs) March 15, 201415
Mar
14
Rise and Shine: The Week at TOD
Photo of the Week? (Pete Souza)
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Video of the Week Century
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Monday
Early Bird Chat * Rise and Shine * Hallo Am Danny * President Obama Hosts NCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Champions * Ukraine Crisis In Tweets
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Tuesday
Early Bird Chat * Rise and Shine * President Obama Wins Tuesday * #GetCoveredNow * President Obama Goes Shopping At The Gap * ObamaCare: Giving 8.6M People Peace Of Mind * Tweet of the Day
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Wednesday
Early Bird Chat * Rise and Shine * Comedian-in-Chief – Chat Away * The President and First Lady’s Day * Why “Between Two Ferns” Is No Laughing Matter * Chat On
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Thursday
Early Bird Chat * Rise and Shine * Chat Away * The President Delivers Remarks On Modernizing Overtime Protections * President Obama Modernizes Overtime Protections * Irony Just Guffawed * Peace Of Mind
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Friday
Early Bird Chat * Rise and Shine * #GetCovered: You Never Know When You Might Take A Hit * Wherein @TheTweetOfGod spreads the Gospel of Biebs * President O’bama & the First Lady Host a St Patrick’s Day Reception *
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Um, another pic of Rusty Boehner at the St Patrick’s Day luncheon today. I’m still saying nuttin’. pic.twitter.com/hrQ6d42AjO
— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) March 14, 2014
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Saturday
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On This Day:
The Obamas meet Bo for the first time on his initial visit to the White House, March 15, 2009. Bo came back to live at the White House in April (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama reflects during an economic meeting with advisors in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 15, 2009. He is seated between Senior Advisor David Axelrod, left, and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama listens during a meeting with Members of Congress aboard Air Force One during a flight from Cleveland, Ohio, to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 15, 2010 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama welcomes Make-A-Wish child Kennedy Alexander to the Oval Office, March 15, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama holds a meeting on Libya in the Situation Room of the White House, March 15, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama talks with Sgt. Jonny J. Jones, USMC, during the Combatant Commanders Dinner in the Blue Room of the White House, March 15, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama meets with, from left: John Prendergast, activist and Enough Project co-founder; Ambassador Princeton N. Lyman, the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan; and George Clooney, in the Oval Office, March 15, 2012 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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President Obama throws a football with Chief of Staff Denis McDonough on the Colonnade of the White House, March 15, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)
President Obama talks with Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer in the Oval Office, March 15, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)
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MoooOOOooorning!
15
Mar
14
Early Bird Chat
On This Day: President Obama runs down the East Colonnade with family dog, Bo, on the dog’s initial visit to the White House, March 15, 2009. Bo came back to live at the White House in April (Photo by Pete Souza)
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MoooOOOoooOOOrning Early Birds …. Happy Saturday!
The Obama Diary 
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