by Criquet
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Whenever I see, hear or read about President Obama I am reminded of the comment made by the First Lady (which I am not quoting exactly) which, in essence, seemed to posit that the Presidency does not make you but rather it reveals who you are.
The following ten instances/events reveal exactly who President Obama is, I think, and so, here are my 10 most memorable things/events of 2014:
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1. Between Two Ferns appearance
This is such a clear example of PBO’s willingness to innovate , explore all the available options and not be bound by others view of propriety and tradition if it prevents him from pursuing progress.
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2. Shaking off Pres Putin with sanctions and diplomacy
….. embodied in the iconic photo taken at the G20 in Australia.
This shows his ability to out-strategise the rest in a chillingly intellectual manner.
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3. Support, investment and confidence in youth
…. the now annual Science Fair at the WH, the My Brother’s Keeper Foundation and the initiatives implemented with Native American Youth.
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4. Working for all citizens and willing to do what’s right
…. the return of Sergeant Bergdahl and other persons held in North Korea and most recently Cuba.
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5. Speech made in support of candidate for Governor Tom Wolfe
….. which laid out all the policies which were implemented, worked and was a blueprint for the Democrats, if they had had the sense to use it. This showed PBO as both a policy and political giant.
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6. What an amazing clutch player PBO is
….. He did what great champions do – bring their best game when it matters most and it did with the GOP sweeping the mid-terms. They have been put on notice that they have to re-calibrate and deal with an engaged President who won’t roll over and limp to the finish line.
After losing the midterms – climate change deal, immigration executive order, nomination of Loretta Lynch and change in relationship with Cuba. Shows he is the big boss, he runs the road – yeah he continues to be just like Lord Nelson delivering the Waterloo result to those who who keep predicting his own.
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7. Colbert Appearance
…. shows not only his important ability to take a hard look at himself but to be aware of the need for self examination and critique. His counter-punching skills were also visible as he used the superb comedic performance and interview to get his message out.
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8. The all women press conference
….. a huge drop the mic moment and ultimate exposure of the views of a whole lot of the male members of the WHPC.
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9 The Economy
9. His and his team’s smarts and tenacity that produced the 18,000 DOW, 5% GDP and all round great economic news in December 2014 BEFORE the crazy caucus takes up residence has rendered the GOP speechless – what a feat!
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10 At last, vacation time
PBO able to go on vacation on time with his family, enjoy a most deserved break and recharge for the new year.
The Obama Diary 
a christmas miracle! 🙂
Aloha Susanne. Congrats!
mahalo nui!
i’m loving these year-end memorable moments posts. our president just keeps on being amazing!
Me too! Chips and her BT’s always have these added value events that make this blog so unique.
Congrat Susanne 🙂
Criquet, thank you. You’ve captured more than a little evidence that First Lady Obama understands exactly what the Presidency reveals, rather than ‘makes,’ of the person who occupies the position. Thank you!
mahalo bobfr!
what makes this true for president obama is that he’s authentic and consistent. he is not wasting energy hiding his perspective, his history, or his agenda. best ever.
Thank you Susanne and YES!!!!!
🙂 Yes it is Susanne!!!!
Criquet, these are wonderful memories, beautifully compiled – thank you SO much for taking the trouble to put them together, huuuugely appreciated!
happy christmas miss chips!
And the very same to you Splendid Susanne!!!! 🙂
ooooooh! i like, charming chipsticks!
Congrats susanne on First. Pretty swift ride in from Hawaii 🙂
surf’s up, so fast rides 🙂
🙂
Evening all. Indeed the best of PBO has been revealed by his presidency.
Fast feet, you and Susanne!
Hey vc. How are you?
Alive.
And
well.
I see where you are packing to head out of town any day now. Have a wonderful time!
I plan to. That pic of PBO in Hawaii got my heart pumped up.
🙂 🙂
aloha vc and vetivera! and thanks criquet for the great memories here.
Thanks criquet for yet another excellent selection of memorable moments. The all-female reporters’ presser was a thing of historic, and social beauty! 🙂
aloha hopefruit!
yes, the ‘naughty and nice’ intro was pretty funny too. in case they wanted to frame it as pbo focusing on female voters. no, guys, it’s that you’re jerks. 🙂
loved all the choices. on point.
Wonderfull job, Criquet. You’ve captured exactly how our president “reveals” himself in all his greatness from one achievement to another. It’s truly a privilege to be alive during his presidency.
Thank you for sharing, Criquet! I like-y your choices. 😀 One of the thrills of this community activity is that you get both reinforcement of certain really, really special memories, as well as ‘new’ ones here and there from different individuals. This is so much better than just having a network doing a single perspective ‘year in review’!
We rock in TODvillage! 🙂 🙂
[Is ‘rock’ still positive or is it now hopelessly outdated?]
‘Rock’ still ROCKS oh ‘Quiet One,’ and I agree with your assessment of the value of enabling multiple perspectives on the memorable actions of our President Obama to be shared with all TOD visitors.
Yo, bro! 😀
😀
What Bobfr said
“The woman who was effectively our guide was a deputy foreign minister named Amina. At one point, we apologize we weren’t able to bring better gifts and help to the Rojavans, who were suffering so under the embargo. And she said: “In the end, that isn’t very important. We have the one thing no one can ever give you. We have our freedom. You don’t. We only wish there was some way we could give that to you.””
http://kurdishquestion.com/kurdistan/west-kurdistan/david-graeber-no-this-is-a-genuine-revolution/525-david-graeber-no-this-is-a-genuine-revolution.html
“Capitalists have made a mighty effort these past 30 or 40 years to convince people that current economic arrangements – not even capitalism, but the peculiar, financialized, semi-feudal form of capitalism we happen to have today- is the only possible economic system. They’ve put for more effort into that than they have into actually creating a viable global capitalist system. As a result the system is breaking down all around us at just the moment everyone has lost the ability to imagine anything else. Well, I think it’s pretty obvious that in 50 years, capitalism in any form we’d recognise, and probably in any form at all, will be gone. Something else will have replaced it. That something might not be better. It might be even worse. It seems to me for that very reason it’s our responsibility, as intellectuals, or just as thoughtful human beings, to try to at least think about what something better might look like. And if there are people actually trying to create that better thing, it’s our responsibility to help them out.”
ibid.
I have no doubt that many of us, along with President Obama, AG Holder, Ambassadors Rice & Power, SoS Kerry, Pope Francis, … will continue to do everything we can, every day, to shape an equitable future for each person.
Yes We Can
Criquet, Gooooooal ! I like your memorable moments and the thought process behind them! Thank you 🙂
and the gift appears to be a vacuum cleaner. start running now, buddy. 🙂
😀 😀 😀
frankly, i’m a little nervous about the dog’s intentions, too.
😀
What a nice hubby! 🙂
What a gift to re-view the year through your Memorable Moments, Criquet! This was a feast and a heart-lifting experience for me. You shine the spotlight on what the Presidency has revealed in this extraordinary person. I loved seeing his faithful action in bringing home Sgt. Bergdahl, ignoring completely the braying “gotcha!” fearmongering chorus while doing what is right, keeping our promises as a nation. And ending with his devotion to family and making time for what matters. Thank you, Criquet.
One tweet to two repulsive, currently trending hashtags …
#AmericaInFiveWords
#FeministNewYearResolutions
How dare a white mayor imply that black kids have to be careful around the police?
What would give black kids THAT idea?
And the NYPD contingent of thugs is proving his point.
I’m TOTALLY disgusted with the NYPD … again.
So much fine reading! Daughter and friend coming by shortly for a last quick visit before they head back to LA. See you all tomorrow, I’ll be at work part of the day. Big hugs all around. Night night. ❤ 🐻 🙂
Night, MP. (Travel safely, Denea.)
Criquet, thanks for your excellent selections. The President’s last press conference was magnificent.
Criquet – This is just lovely. Thanks so very much. Haven’t been here “all day,” as usual, so I’m glad to see THIS as I attempt to catch up!
#TruthAndReconciliation
#TribunalTimeUSA
#USARejectsInequity
#BlackLivesMatter
#EqualPayForEqualWork
#TrustBarack
Good night TOD ….
While awaiting moderation …..
Good post, Criquet!
Goodness, Sasha is nearly as tall as the President.
Morning!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/28/photo-of-the-year-september-october-2/