On This Day – Pete Souza: “A quiet moment inside Nelson Mandela’s former prison cell as the President embraced Sasha while the Obama family was listening to Ahmed Kathrada recount his years spent imprisoned here on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, initially in this prison cell. Kathrada was imprisoned at Robben Island for 18 years.” June 30, 2013
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Monday morning.
To all, I hope you have an adventurous and exciting day today. ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank God that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
Morning all and congratulations on first RanMan. I do love your closing statement. We can never forget for one day to treasure every moment of this presidency.
Good morning RanMan!
Congratulations on being #1.
ALL IS WELL!
(Excuse me for shouting, but it is so wonderful to be alive in the midst of the chaos going around us……. I feel safe)
Hi jackieg. It’s jojo, Tally, Betsy, PurpleShoes, me, LL & his Lady T.
They gave us a table in the back away from the other patrons & good thing they did. We are a loud group-all good fun & food!
Redistricting is really important – every state should have this done by an independent body.
It is really quite funny to see the RWNJs – those who think the constitution is the beginning and end of society as we know it – attacking the SCOTUS members because they follow the constitution in their rulings. Also rather sad that they understand very little about the 3 groups of authority and how they operate.
Lovely summary of VP Biden’s statement at Mother Emmanuel Church on Sunday about how he came there to get solace for his own grief as well as to give it. http://linkis.com/nymag.com/daily/inte/87c6K
Good morning all of TODville. I agree with Ranman, every day is a great day with President Barack Obama. We here in Montana are having record breaking heat. The last 3 days have been over 100 and it hasn’t cooled down at night. This is very unusual for us. We never have it this hot in June. But we all know there is no climate change.
Mt, remember I said all last winter that PA was having Montana’s weather? Well, it’s still true. Went out this morning to water my plants and it felt like late March, cool, windy, sweater weather. Usually at this time of year, the weather it hot, humid and almost unbearable. So my theory is that the weather gods confused our two states. Go figure.
I know it’s been hot there but didn’t realize the humidity has been high. My best girl friend is moving back to Southern Cal to be near her mother. She just got back from there, I am having breakfast with her this morning. Hope her new apartment has air conditioning.
I do think all the weather is in places it hasn’t been before. There is no measurable snow left in the mountains. We aren’t totally like CA yet. I am afraid the fires are coming. So glad you are at least having cool weather.
One thing I will say for dry weather. I have humidifiers in all our rooms with fans going. It makes it like swamp coolers. I have a wonderful hammock on our back porch. I spend most of the nigh on that hammock. Much cooler than in the house. Besides I get to watch the stars.
Good Morning TOD Family and Chips. I see our TOD West Coast Convention/Brunch picture has been posted and I read your comment GGail about me walking you all over the parking lot 🙂 🙂 🙂 It was such a pleasure meeting Betsey, LL and Misses T and looking forward to our next get together. Our Tally entertained us so much with all topics she barely ate. It was so much fun I think we scared some patrons away because by 4PM we were the only ones in the restaurant! The workers probably thought the dinning room was full with all our voices in the place. Hoping more SoCal TOD’ers can join us one day (HZ).
Everyone have a great day and hopefully an uneventful but pleasant week for PBO & VPB.
With holiday weekend approaching, gasoline down two cents from week ago, to $2.77 (AAA natl. avg). Month ago: $2.73; year ago: $3.68. (@WestWingReport )
Gas is still high in California because of our high gas taxes and summer grade additives. L.A.’s gas in some areas is still $4. In my area it is down from $3.90’s to $3.53 so it’s going in the right direction.
My fingers and toes are crossed for this one. If he runs, I know PBO and FLOTUS will throw him the full weight of their support and fundraising ability. I would love this see this caring, intelligent, thoughtful man in the White House.
He has been sitting at the table with the master, through thick and thin. Combine that with all his own knowledge and experience of serving our country for decades and his own great humanity, Joe would be a great POTUS.
I saw a similar article referenced on twitter yesterday – I think it was the WSJ – but it was behind a paywall so I didn’t get to read it. Thanks for posting this. His sons and family believe in him so strongly and our POTUS does as well, to be sure.
I know our VP is finding some healing in his faith but it will take time. But I would so love him to enter the race and would do all I could to help him succeed.
The KKK distributed leaflets to residents in the city of Whittier yesterday morning. Said something like “wake up white america” with a phone number for the North Carolina KKK & a local CA branch.
It. Won’t. Work! The residents interviewed said they should go away and get over it.
The KKK belong in the distant past of horse drawn buggies, crinoline skirts and beaver hats. Their offensive notions of white supremacy and their hateful flag should be relegated to the era of sepia toned photography. They don’t belong in this century and they don’t belong in these United States. While we’re putting the confederate flag in a museum, let’s shove the KKK into one of the forgotten dark corners, where they can remain heavily draped in cobwebs and covered in mouse droppings.
What a powerful article. It is unbelievable that people are really that stupid. But when you think they all listen to Fox News and they don’t teach all this history in school you understand. I agree “12 Years a slave” should be required in all schools.
Very powerful indeed. They tried to take away our dignity and is still doing it to this day. They sent a Black man to arrest Bree Newsome; they sent a Black man to re-hoist the flag. That is to tell us that they we have to do what they say; we are still slaves and they are the masters. A white supervisor of another white cop was not available? Especially a day after the funeral of the State Senator and when two of the murdered people were being buried on that same day?
Since the VPOTUS serves if something happens to the sitting President, that would constitute a third term and would not be allowed. So, no, a two-term president can’t run as VP. Plus I think PBO has a lot of other things to do in his post presidential years.
We’re all having a very hard time letting go. Thankfully, POTUS and FLOTUS are still very young and and energetic, still fully committed to public service. So there are ways for us to stay involved and continue to work for change.
Good morning all. I would love to see Joe Biden run. He is the only candidate I would volunteer for in this upcoming election. That is short-sighted of me given the stakes of the alternative Republican regime.
Loved seeing the West Coast group picture. We need to do more of these gatherings.
We’ve always followed the US – too small to do anything else – but since the euro came into being – we follow that too – have still not got back to where the market was in 2007 – if anyone goes down – so do we.
If the ‘markets’ are gonna freak-out over teeny-tine greece, they are just dumb. Though our reserve bank govnor ( a smartass in the real sense) has warned world might be heading towards 1919 (?) recession.
“Greece should never have been allowed into the European Union. Like many of its neighbours, it has never adhered to the rules governing member’s debt levels.
But when compared with the size of its economy, Greece’s initial debt was somewhere west of Pluto.
For years, it managed to hide its real debt courtesy of a complex financial instrument organised by Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs. That ruse came unstuck when the Global Financial Crisis hit and left the country and the single currency bloc exposed. ”
Continues that Greece would have done much better outside of the Euro
Good morning TOD! Of all the articles I’ve seen about the incredible eulogy last Friday, this one is the most insightful. Surprise, surprise, it is buried in the “Style” section of WP.
Michael Skolnick is reporting that the FBI has opened an investigation into what is now 7 Church arsons. Or as they might be correctly called 7 acts of terrorism based on racial hate.
The Obama Diary 
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Monday morning.
To all, I hope you have an adventurous and exciting day today. ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank God that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
Mooooooooorning RanMan!!!
GM Ranman & congrats on your FURST. GM Chips & TOD family. Another busy day. Painting bi-fold doors 3 sets, 😦
Morning all and congratulations on first RanMan. I do love your closing statement. We can never forget for one day to treasure every moment of this presidency.
Good morning RanMan!
Congratulations on being #1.
ALL IS WELL!
(Excuse me for shouting, but it is so wonderful to be alive in the midst of the chaos going around us……. I feel safe)
I came across this lovely tweet and pic of TODers in Cali.
Can you identify our TOD friends, VC. I know which is Tally, LL and his missus. Who are the others?
Hi jackieg. It’s jojo, Tally, Betsy, PurpleShoes, me, LL & his Lady T.
They gave us a table in the back away from the other patrons & good thing they did. We are a loud group-all good fun & food!
Thank you, GGail. You are all one handsome group!
Thanks jackieg, all are fantastic people. We clicked right off!
Yes we did!! It was a blast. Thanks again for including me 😀
fiiiiinally. I had you pegged right from the start. also. too. cuban and missus, tally and betsy. 5/7. 😎
Hahaha!
It’s so great to “meet” you all!
Hey, Chicago TOD, we should do this!
Oh it is so nice to have faces to the names ~ what a lovely, happy group 🙂 🙂
Ah, thanks a million RanMan, I’d missed the tweet – what a gorgeous photo, our lovely lovely westie TODers!!!!
Fabulous looking lot – seem to be having a great celebration
Loving the “TOD Westie” pic! 🙂
Awesome!
Ah look, we made it to the Early Bird post. Thanks RanMan 😊 We had a great time and gooooood food!
Awesome ladies (you too LL & Misses LL). What a great get together. Anyone in Minnesota?
Thanks Roberta. We’re going to make it a monthly occurrence.
Great Bunch….loving the smiles all around!!!!!
next up…EAST Coast gathering…smilin
That would be great! I could easily get into Center City in Philly by taking PATCO.
Let’s Do it…:-)
I get back from SF on the 5th. Anytime after that is good.
I’m going to meet Meta later today for lunch.
BEAUTIFUL INDEED!…..XOXOXOXOXO!
Did. anyone else see the hit job morning joe tried do on President Obama this morning regarding Gay marriage. It was truly disgusting.
I saw it…..he is truly pathetic….but also, not relevant. It appeared he was not getting the reactions he wanted so he had to keep it up.
I glad he didn’t. I should know better then to even turn to the show in the morning.
He’s been doing it for 6 years and the result has been his ratings disappearing under water.
I don’t watch Morning Joke, what was the hit job he was trying to do on POTUS?
Good Morning……Wow …last week was just amazing……
Ok… Today is the final day of decisions out of the SC, The three remaining are .
Supreme Court to rule in lethal injection, redistricting and mercury emission cases Monday.
Fingers crossed they continue to do the right thing .
Redistricting is really important – every state should have this done by an independent body.
It is really quite funny to see the RWNJs – those who think the constitution is the beginning and end of society as we know it – attacking the SCOTUS members because they follow the constitution in their rulings. Also rather sad that they understand very little about the 3 groups of authority and how they operate.
Lovely summary of VP Biden’s statement at Mother Emmanuel Church on Sunday about how he came there to get solace for his own grief as well as to give it.
http://linkis.com/nymag.com/daily/inte/87c6K
Good Morning Everybody.
bt, you have been warned.
Good morning TOD.
@POTUS is at 2.96 followers. 3 million will be soon.
G’morning Chips & TOD! Happy Monday everyone, and congrats RanMan on #1 🙂
Good morning all of TODville. I agree with Ranman, every day is a great day with President Barack Obama. We here in Montana are having record breaking heat. The last 3 days have been over 100 and it hasn’t cooled down at night. This is very unusual for us. We never have it this hot in June. But we all know there is no climate change.
Mt, remember I said all last winter that PA was having Montana’s weather? Well, it’s still true. Went out this morning to water my plants and it felt like late March, cool, windy, sweater weather. Usually at this time of year, the weather it hot, humid and almost unbearable. So my theory is that the weather gods confused our two states. Go figure.
And out here in SoCal, we have high temps with high humidity. Feels like I’m in Georgia, ugh!
I know it’s been hot there but didn’t realize the humidity has been high. My best girl friend is moving back to Southern Cal to be near her mother. She just got back from there, I am having breakfast with her this morning. Hope her new apartment has air conditioning.
I do think all the weather is in places it hasn’t been before. There is no measurable snow left in the mountains. We aren’t totally like CA yet. I am afraid the fires are coming. So glad you are at least having cool weather.
One thing I will say for dry weather. I have humidifiers in all our rooms with fans going. It makes it like swamp coolers. I have a wonderful hammock on our back porch. I spend most of the nigh on that hammock. Much cooler than in the house. Besides I get to watch the stars.
Our winter is mild and we are having rain in June – almost never happens – but our PM says there is no climate change
Is there anyplace that is have “normal” weather. It has been hot in Alaska, too. No reporting of that.
Too much reporting – the governments would have to “do something” – sigh
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks & TOD family.
Good Morning TOD Family and Chips. I see our TOD West Coast Convention/Brunch picture has been posted and I read your comment GGail about me walking you all over the parking lot 🙂 🙂 🙂 It was such a pleasure meeting Betsey, LL and Misses T and looking forward to our next get together. Our Tally entertained us so much with all topics she barely ate. It was so much fun I think we scared some patrons away because by 4PM we were the only ones in the restaurant! The workers probably thought the dinning room was full with all our voices in the place. Hoping more SoCal TOD’ers can join us one day (HZ).
Everyone have a great day and hopefully an uneventful but pleasant week for PBO & VPB.
P.S. Prayers to J’OB’s son this morning that surgery goes well and a speedy recovery.
Good morning TOD folks! Wishing everyone a lovely day. Touching photo of PBO and Sasha.
Pope Francis has requested to chew coca leaves during his forthcoming visit to Bolivia, according to Bolivian Culture Minister Marko Machicao.
Coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine, has been used in the Andes for thousands of years to combat altitude sickness and as a mild stimulant.
Mr Machicao said the government offered the Pope coca tea and the pontiff had “specifically requested” to chew coca.
The Vatican has not yet commented. The Pope travels to Bolivia on 8 July.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33312962
Ok, it is clear at this stage that he is clearly trolling the rw’ers. He should make the congress visit totally stoned.
With holiday weekend approaching, gasoline down two cents from week ago, to $2.77 (AAA natl. avg). Month ago: $2.73; year ago: $3.68. (@WestWingReport )
Gas is still high in California because of our high gas taxes and summer grade additives. L.A.’s gas in some areas is still $4. In my area it is down from $3.90’s to $3.53 so it’s going in the right direction.
yessss.
My fingers and toes are crossed for this one. If he runs, I know PBO and FLOTUS will throw him the full weight of their support and fundraising ability. I would love this see this caring, intelligent, thoughtful man in the White House.
He has been sitting at the table with the master, through thick and thin. Combine that with all his own knowledge and experience of serving our country for decades and his own great humanity, Joe would be a great POTUS.
I saw a similar article referenced on twitter yesterday – I think it was the WSJ – but it was behind a paywall so I didn’t get to read it. Thanks for posting this. His sons and family believe in him so strongly and our POTUS does as well, to be sure.
I know our VP is finding some healing in his faith but it will take time. But I would so love him to enter the race and would do all I could to help him succeed.
Me too meta, me too. All I can do from WY is make calls to CO but make we did for Pres. Obama. ☺️
The KKK distributed leaflets to residents in the city of Whittier yesterday morning. Said something like “wake up white america” with a phone number for the North Carolina KKK & a local CA branch.
It. Won’t. Work! The residents interviewed said they should go away and get over it.
The KKK belong in the distant past of horse drawn buggies, crinoline skirts and beaver hats. Their offensive notions of white supremacy and their hateful flag should be relegated to the era of sepia toned photography. They don’t belong in this century and they don’t belong in these United States. While we’re putting the confederate flag in a museum, let’s shove the KKK into one of the forgotten dark corners, where they can remain heavily draped in cobwebs and covered in mouse droppings.
Glad to hear Whittier is pushing back. It is a conservative town. Hope the KKK is on it’s last breath.
And then I read this: http://www.vox.com/2015/6/29/8847385/what-i-learned-from-leading-tours-about-slavery-at-a-plantation
“12 Years a slave” should be required viewing in school.
What a powerful article. It is unbelievable that people are really that stupid. But when you think they all listen to Fox News and they don’t teach all this history in school you understand. I agree “12 Years a slave” should be required in all schools.
Very powerful indeed. They tried to take away our dignity and is still doing it to this day. They sent a Black man to arrest Bree Newsome; they sent a Black man to re-hoist the flag. That is to tell us that they we have to do what they say; we are still slaves and they are the masters. A white supervisor of another white cop was not available? Especially a day after the funeral of the State Senator and when two of the murdered people were being buried on that same day?
These people (KKK) are really stupid…..Whittier is predominately Hispanic.
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
question. can potus run for vpotus? any constitutional bar on that?
Since the VPOTUS serves if something happens to the sitting President, that would constitute a third term and would not be allowed. So, no, a two-term president can’t run as VP. Plus I think PBO has a lot of other things to do in his post presidential years.
bummer.
We’re all having a very hard time letting go. Thankfully, POTUS and FLOTUS are still very young and and energetic, still fully committed to public service. So there are ways for us to stay involved and continue to work for change.
Thisssss…
it would truly be unbearable to lose contact with the President after he leaves office….
Good morning all. I would love to see Joe Biden run. He is the only candidate I would volunteer for in this upcoming election. That is short-sighted of me given the stakes of the alternative Republican regime.
Loved seeing the West Coast group picture. We need to do more of these gatherings.
Dow down 160. Fasten your seat belts.
Yep, I heard last night Japan, UK, and all the world stock markets are being affected by Greece…..
Yep – our markets went down 2% today – world economy
actually – closer to 3%
typical knee-jerks.
We’ve always followed the US – too small to do anything else – but since the euro came into being – we follow that too – have still not got back to where the market was in 2007 – if anyone goes down – so do we.
If the ‘markets’ are gonna freak-out over teeny-tine greece, they are just dumb. Though our reserve bank govnor ( a smartass in the real sense) has warned world might be heading towards 1919 (?) recession.
There are always cycles – 1929/2008 were rather deeper than most others. Quite a good description of Greece here
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-29/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-greek-debt-crisis/6581818
“Greece should never have been allowed into the European Union. Like many of its neighbours, it has never adhered to the rules governing member’s debt levels.
But when compared with the size of its economy, Greece’s initial debt was somewhere west of Pluto.
For years, it managed to hide its real debt courtesy of a complex financial instrument organised by Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs. That ruse came unstuck when the Global Financial Crisis hit and left the country and the single currency bloc exposed. ”
Continues that Greece would have done much better outside of the Euro
so they got taken in my wall street thugs? and none of them did time anywhere in the world? what else is new?
And the rebuilt their financial empires while us ordinary folks went close to bankrupt – nothing new.
Good morning TOD! Of all the articles I’ve seen about the incredible eulogy last Friday, this one is the most insightful. Surprise, surprise, it is buried in the “Style” section of WP.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/06/26/why-obamas-singing-of-amazing-grace-is-so-powerful/?tid=pm_lifestyle_pop_b
Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Jacquelineoboomer, thinking of you and your son. Let us know.
There goes affirmative action…..
2 steps forward….1 step backwards
Love these guys.
Michael Skolnick is reporting that the FBI has opened an investigation into what is now 7 Church arsons. Or as they might be correctly called 7 acts of terrorism based on racial hate.
Morning!
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/06/29/rise-and-shine-1059/