President Obama meets with Afghan President Ghani in the Oval Office. This marks the first meeting between the two presidents at the White House following the 2014 presidential election, which produced the first democratic transfer of power in Afghanistan’s history
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Boston Globe: US To Slow Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan
President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that the U.S. will slow its military withdrawal from Afghanistan, maintaining 9,800 troops in the country through the end of 2015 instead of cutting the number by about half as originally planned. ‘‘Afghanistan remains a very dangerous place,’’ Obama said in explaining his decision at a press conference after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s first visit to the White House since his election six months ago.
Obama added that the size of the U.S. troop presence for 2016 will be decided later this year. Ghani had asked Obama to slow the withdrawal because Afghan security forces are bracing for a tough spring fighting season and are also contending with Islamic State fighters looking to recruit on their soil. The original plan was to cut the U.S. force to 5,500 by the end of this year. ‘‘This visit is an opportunity to begin a new chapter between our two nations,’’ Obama said after meeting with Ghani in the Oval Office.
More here
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Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice listen during the press conference
Secretary of State John Kerry greets Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah
The Obama Diary 
Home!
And well-fed (as well as well-timed)! Greetings, everyone!
Off to appreciate the post – Thanks!
Congrats VC for being First, for going to work today & for now being home from work 😊
TY, Gx2 😀 Having that extra day off yesterday really made a difference – I almost felt like me today! Of course, for me coming home is always the best part of any day. 😉
Glad to hear you’re feeling like yourself again 🙂
Thanks. 🙂 How are things on your side of the world – any celestial liquids lately? And how was the meeting of the TOD peeps?
Celestial liquids? What chu talking ’bout?
And no, we didn’t get together because you wouldn’t come over
Other than that – all is well in my world.
Oh, I remember what you’re talking about – the get-together, no, we postponed it. (memory getting bad) 😀
soft or hard white stuff…. colourless stuff ….. wet stuff….stuff falling from the skies….
Gurl, we are out of our rainy season until…so nope, none of the above has fallen from the skies. Temps in the 70’s going up to 90 by the weekend
O man, don’t envy you, at all. I am not a friend of excessive heat.
As long as there is an occasional breeze, I’m okay
Congrats Vc on #1 🙂
Good evening Nerdy, Chips & TOD! Thanks Nerdy for these wonderful pics/videos of PBO & his cabinet’s meeting with Afghan President Ghani.
TY, Hf!
TY, NW for the visual delight.
You’re welcome, VC.
You’re welcome, HF.
VC, congrats!!!
NW – thank you for yet another superb “President’s Day” post!!!
Ts, B.
You’re welcome, Bob.
Home and FIRST!! Nice one, VC. ⭐
😀 😀 Timing is everything, especially here in the village!
Thanks a gazillllllllllllllion Nerdy, I didn’t get to see the press conference today so looking forward to catching up. Thank you again Legend!
You’re welcome, Chips.
Had just posted this inspiring story – bottom of previous thread ….
one more explosion of racism on a college campuse…so many have come to the public attention…in the past year….couple this the increase in police killings of unarmed blk folks and the lynching of 2 men in the past two years….is this an attempt to put fear in the hearts of blk folks..
And the Master Race doesn’t know the difference between “where” and “we’re”.
The first commenter has the best response…”To the AA student who was the subject as well as other AA students, stay focused on exceling in school, volunteering in your community and being your very best. Don’t get sidetracked by the stupidity of some. Just stay the course because the big prize and the sweetest revenge is your success.”
Let’s focus on the positive, and let them deal with the fear and knowledge that we WILL succeed.
“The first commenter has the best response…”To the AA student who was the subject as well as other AA students, stay focused on exceling in school, volunteering in your community and being your very best. Don’t get sidetracked by the stupidity of some. Just stay the course because the big prize and the sweetest revenge is your success.”
and that is exactly what I tell my children.
Right on nospin
From the moment we were brought over in ships, the goal was to keep us under their control because of the jealously of our regal bearings, our pride, our finely chiseled men, but time and again, we rise. We refuse to let their fear decide our destiny.
i think…that we can focus on the positive but the danger to us is real
I’m getting a very sick feeling about January 2017. UHG.
If it ends up being Hillary then…..well….umm…..uuuh….. RWNJ heads will explode so I’ll like that. Better than nuthin’….
OH! Still WAaaAAaaAAY better than any of the refuggg alternatives. (I’m replying to myself a lot, huh?)
Don’t count out our guy Joe. He could do the durn thing. i’d love to see it!
Tell me what you mean by that.
They all have such a relaxed, happy look and they look comfortable with each other. What an INCREDIBLE difference that Aghani election made. Ridding Afghanistan of Karzai and electing men who genuinely want to heal their country and have good relationships with their allies. It’s wonderful to see.
Yes, TME, it is wonderful to see
I was thinking the same positive thoughts about President Ghani. He found so many commonalities with PBO…..his profession, anthropologist, like PBO’s mom, his alma mater, Columbia, like PBO……wow. Also, very impressed that he laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier; indeed showing respect for what we did for his country. I have great confidence in this new relationship, and great hope for the future.
Can I just say that I’m one tired librarian right now?
Thanks NW for this wrap up
….historically low mortgage rates and rock solid job growth has raised expectations among many economists of home sales continuing to improve with the weather….
Please pray for my 24 yr old daughter who has had lots of “jobs” but nothing that she can really earn enough money from. She eventually wants to get her teaching credential and become an elementary school teacher, but right now while she’s doing courses, she needs to earn enough money to pay her rent, etc. She really needs prayer for the right job and I’m feeling very discouraged for her.
Betsy, I feel for you. I’ve been where you are now with my own daughter. She really prepared for nothing in college, she was NOT going to teach! (both her parents were college professors) She tried so many dead end jobs, and finally, yes, she got a teaching job. We have what is called alternative certification here in Oklahoma, which enabled her to get a job at a charter school (where they are nor particular about certification for hiring) and then work toward her certification while teaching. She just had to take some subject curriculum tests and stay a year, and she was certified. She’s not teaching now, but she still has her certification and can again if she chooses. Hang in there! I’ll be praying for her, as I did for my own daughter.
Thank you for understanding Carolyn. My D got a Bfa in Musical Theater which will actually help her in the classroom, but it took 2 years after graduation for her to realize she does want to teach. Anyway, I need and she needs all the prayers we can get, so thanks again.
Betsy, I’m so sorry your daughter is struggling. Continuing her studies is paramount to improving her financial situation and maybe looking for a temp agency where her skills will be better utilized and thus better salaries. She will be added to my prayers.
She’s trying temp agencies, even extra work on movie and tv shows, she does radio calls which pay well, but are not regular. Thanks for your prayers.
I used to score standardized tests for Educational Testing Service at a physical site in a city about an hour from me and also scored online at home. A person had to have an undergraduate degree, train and pass tests to score. She can do a google search for and see if there are more opportunities. Pay varies depending on what a person scores, but mine was usually around $10 hour or a little more. It’s cyclical. There is work when students take standardized tests, but it’s a good resource to have when a person is looking for a job or wants to make some extra money for any reason. ETS has all kinds of tests. Online a person self-trains and must pass tests to score each day.
I don’t have the stats, but a huge percentage of jobs come from networking with friends, family, co-workers. I believe if the two of you just keep putting your desires out there, opportunities will come to her.
https://www.ets.org/scoring_opportunities/
Constructed-response scoring professionals are part-time employees who are Readers for the College Board’s Advanced Placement® (AP®) Program or other testing programs, and/or Raters associated with ETS’s TOEIC®, TOEFL®, Praxis® and GRE® programs. Work schedules are varied and cyclical throughout the year, depending on the number of test takers and test administrations.
I also did substitute teaching even though I didn’t have a teaching degree or certificate. Again, very part-time, but it brings in money when needed.
Are you on Twitter? If so, you could send me a private message and we could find a better way to communicate if you want more info.
Thanks so much for your information! Yes, my handle is @bbkenn92
Oh wow this is weird! My sister just told me she applied for this and got a response. She’s in the process of getting her paperwork together (you have to provide proof of degree, get the 1099 notarized(?), stuff like that). Job is supposed to run April to June, you do 20 hrs a week scoring. It sounds rather interesting and best of all she will be working from home. She expecting now so that will work out for when the baby comes.
Sounds like a good opportunity.
this is painful 😦
Teaching is a tough job and I’ve always stood by teachers because they seem to have one of the most difficult times in an age where they aren’t valued like they should. I to am in school and am getting a degree in architectural design. Looking into getting into work study.
Good luck in your studies Jeff. I think architectural design is a cool field. I imagine you will make your mark on the world.
That’s fabulous, Jeff!
_/I\_
Testing…
OK – here’s something tangentially related to PBO – does anyone remember this? I was just reading my newspapers from the last day or two and here’s an article about how the married duo “The Weepies” has settled here in Iowa City. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/03/18/weepies-iowa-city-band/24976503/
I’ve never heard of them – but the article says “the song “Can’t Go Back Now” was featured in two campaign ads for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.” I just listened to it on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JscAwVu2QI) and 1) I like it, but 2) I don’t remember it! Does anybody here remember it or know this duo?
A new day, a new beginning for Afghanistan
Lots of updates, via RTs, in the sidebar ….
bbl ….
Identify the clowns.
answer keys.
Well done, amk!
Good morning 🙂
Morning Bob. 🙂
There is not one, not one, that one can get behind in that clown car. All are corrupt, crazy clowns.
Yep. Just what their kleptocrat masters want.
GM amk. And it’s already begun. The story behind Cruz selection of time to hold his announcement was the school’s convocation where it’s mandatory for everyone at the school to attend or risk being fined $10.00. This angered R.Paul, so he made sure some of the kids wore his T-shirts at the Cruz event.
Hahahahaha!
liberty univ? mandatory?
cognitive dissonance just hanged itself.
Christian/Lynchburg, VA – nuff said
yup.
The guy in the middle of Santorum and Nikki H. of SC is unrecognizable to me……could that be Graham from SC? If so, the Toonish face is indeed off.
Donna Dem, is this a different pool for tickets????
Alll-rrriiight, I *think* I’m all caught up now! /whispering…Now, Ms Nerdy, please don’t give us too, too much to do tonight to offset this state of achievement that I am enjoying. Thanks. 😉 /
Push back from President Carter – awesome!
Hey Everybody!
Hey Dudette 🙂
Roberto!!! Lovely to see you! Hope you are well this fine evening! 🙂
TY Dudette! Hope the same for you!
Thank you Dear! At least for today, I’m right as rain. 🙂
🙂
Spandan is always on point.
Excellent piece by Spandan.
Spandan is one of the most astute analysts writing today and his perspectives are always spot on. At the press conference today, our President did a masterful job of presenting the US position on a two state solution, while subtly marginalizing Netanyahu as “someone I have a working relationship with” and I could almost hear him say, just like I do with the Republicans in Congress. Meanwhile, he’s standing next to a world leader that he obviously admires, respects and enjoys working with. I could have sworn President Ghani was silently chuckling.
And throughout this presidency, POTUS’ opponents can always, always be counted on to overreach. All he has to do is…nothing. Nothing, that is, but counterpunch after they overstep and do or say something in their haste to try to deny, or obstruct, or embarrass him.
Hey, Ms D-ette!
Note my pinpoint accuracy in commenting back to you on this … uh … below. Ha!
Hiya Gurlffriend! You recovered from all the celebratin’?
I was supposed to be celebratin’?
Be right back!
LOL! All the burfday partying already a faint memory?
I think VC may have put something in my lemonade. Just sayin’.
Oh, it was *you* who took that glass! 😀
Ha! Yes. It. Was.
Hey, Dudette!
Hey there job! ^5!
What’s shakin’? 🙂
I’m woefully behind on all the happenings. Much catching up to do. Anything extra good happen today? 😀
newzies won the semifinal against proteas.
Howdy amk! Kiwis win eh! Yay! 🙂
Actually, I don’t even know who proteas is. so I guess that makes me Team NZ by default. 😀
😀 . Everyone is a kiwi…. until we shred them in the final. Then everyone is an indian…. everyone better be.
Roger that Captain! 😉
😉
You want us to jump on Your bandwagon – hmmmmm
#btpowers. Ha.
… I mean aside from the always outstanding “Presidenting” of one Barack Hussein Obama II and the first awesome “VPing” by our Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. of course. 🙂
Not first awesome… Fully awesome.
Dang I need to just go ahead and get the big phone. So what if I’ll look like even more of a dork; at least I’ll
be to type and see the durn screen. 🙂
Hey Dudette you can borrow my glasses 🙂
Aw you’re so sweet. Thank you lovely! But I’d better go snag my own specs. Alas, even that won’t fix my poor keyboarding/editing. I yam what I yam… pretty pitiful in that department. [ Know thyself ] 🙂
indeed.
Sources: Obama daughter visits Wesleyan University
MIDDLETOWN, CT (WFSB) –
A member of the Obama family is on the college tour circuit, and made a stop in Connecticut.
Sources said Malia Obama visited Wesleyan University in Middletown on Tuesday.
The university did not make any comments.
The 16-year-old also reportedly visited Princeton University on Monday and is scheduled to visit Brown University in Rhode Island soon.
Read more: http://www.wfsb.com/story/28605382/sources-obama-daughter-visits-wesleyan-university#ixzz3VMNgYf5C
college going time already?
good luck, obama. you gonna need tons of it.
She’ll apply next year and be accepted by the following March. Then the bills will start rolling in.
I think we’re likely to both agree, meta, that Ms Malia Obama is going to get more than one ‘early acceptance’ letter 🙂
She will be accepted everywhere and it fall to where she feels most comfortable with a program that will challenge her extensive gifts.
No doubt!!!
Yep
exams, grades, boyz …. bills can get in the line.
For PBO, I’d put ‘boyz’ way out in front of that line!!!!!! 🙂
I thought that too but her parents being the meanies that they are, that’s the line-up we will see. 🙂
I agree – they’re ogres that way… 😉
Ah, lovely school. Know a couple of folks who went there. What a great time in her life. She’ll do well wherever she goes, of this I’m certain.
Tough to do with only 140 characters, but I tried ….
#TrustBarack …. or, at least have enough of a sense of self-preservation not to cross him …. bbl ….
You are the King of Tweetage, Bob! My hat’s off to you!
You are way too kind, dear Dudette!!!
I have discovered a new game (well new to me) called “Trivia Crack”. They’re not kidding! I’ve been obsessed since downloading it a couple days ago. Pretty sure I’ll need an intervention soon.
Working tomorrow, so I’m wisely saying ‘Night-night!’ for now.
!!!!!!!!
I just got here. #coward
#well-timed 😀
smh – #usingnounwhenadjectiveispreferable
#missionaccomplished
#douevenknowhatyourmissionis
#justasithought Good Night
Sleep tight!,
Don’t let Hopef
Spoil your fun with #151;
Ted Cruz’ bite!
Except for the hashtag in the above – you can pretend everything else is on the far right. [That’s where it was directed! Humpff!]
Good NIGHT! I’m outta here!
secret missions shall remain secret.
hf? I will deal with her later.
#andifuhave2keepreaccomplishingisitworthit
#niiightttt 😀
nite vc, i’m following right behind you
Sweet dreams, GxG, and a good day tomorrow!
Me, three. ❤ This year, March has been one of the longest months of my life… {{{{{ TOD }}}}}
Look at you being all responsible. Well alrighty then! Good night to ya, Miss Thing! 😀
😉 😉 🙂 🙂
Welp, uh… She’s right.
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/03/24/a-tweet-or-two-269/
Alright where’s lamh? Got a present for youuuuuu! 🙂
I’m not lamh, but I’ll take it. What a lovely way to end the evening. Great bedtime treat. Thanks.