Hiya back VC! All the best for 2016 too. Looking forward to Mar 10. Been having a lot of trouble posting comments so I just give up trying for awhile but I read TOD every day as you know. My coworkers can’t imagine my computer without an image of PBO every shift I work.
Wow Chips, I bet you made this one just for me, then decided to share it with everybody! THANKS-Thanks-and THANKS again! The Obamas and kids do it for me every time!
New Year Greetings, Linda. I am reading this even as you speak even though I generally do not sign up to read articles. Of course, I keep stopping to come back here and read/answer comments. 😀 It’s longer than my mind is up to tonight but I am sticking with it taking breaks in between as you’re only allowed one free item monthly after signing up.
Here’s a little piece:
//
THE LESSON OF LIBYA
In December 2009, Obama journeyed to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The award was premature, to say the least, but he used his acceptance speech to lay down the principles of a foreign policy he hoped to follow—a sophisticated grappling with the tensions between idealism and realism. It was a daring speech for a Peace Prize recipient. “To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism,” he said. “It is a recognition of history, the imperfection of man, and the limits of reason.” Nations must “adhere to standards that govern the use of force,” and a just, lasting peace must be “based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual.” Still, “America cannot act alone,” except on matters of vital national interest, and mere lofty rhetoric about human rights only sustains “a crippling status quo.” Engagement with repressive regimes may lack “the satisfying purity of indignation,” but “no repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an open door.”
Benjamin Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, said, “When people ask me to summarize [Obama’s] foreign policy, I tell them to take a close look at that speech.” Another former top White House official called it “a template to how he approaches problems,” a “framework for how he thinks about U.S. power.” Whether he followed the template—how he grappled in action with the tensions he recognized in theory—would be, by his own standard, the measure of his presidency.
……………………………..//
Hi Linda. I am marginally more awake now than I was when I answered you last night. I don’t know why I’ve been feeling so tired lately (other than going to bed well after 2 am /once even at 4:20am)! I’ll have to see how this weekend unfolds.
What i learned from this article is that the President…makes his own decisions…if his advisers give him answers and they do not suit him…he asks for another option..what i also learned that although…the SOS be it Hillary Clinton or John Kerry….is working on the agenda that the President has promoted…Hillary has tried to grab credit for some of the successes of the President…and although i will say that she had a role to play…it still is the FP of Barack Obama that she was promoting…
the President learned from the events of Libya…that there are unintended consequences…
it is a thoughtful article….enjoyed reading it…
It is indeed OBAMA’s Way….
i remember Tweety made a statement questioning who was in charge of the FP….because of course the President was not adequate…smh @ Tweety….
Continued ‘Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes’, Pf58!
I can’t remember when I actually realized (well before this article) that PBO makes his own decisions, but yes, this article does make that clear. What I do like about the article is that though it made me squirm a time or two, it does IMO make a consistent effort to be fair/analytic. I use the word ‘squirm’ because if *I* am honest I don’t *want* to admit to myself that PBO has made any errors along his 8 year path to date. However, I know such an attitude is not really rational. Yes he has had many, many successes but I suspect he himself would say (actually he has previously) there have been ‘moments/issues’. One of the things I respect about PBO is that he learns from each situation, and his decisions, I think, are fed by his increased and ongoing knowledge. I think this journalist captured Obama’s Way’ in a respectful and ‘balanced’ way, including feedback from some critics and sharing outcomes from PBO’s choice one way or the other.
Decided to peek in before going to sleep and am glad I did. Thank you Chipsticks for this collection of wonderful pictures! My only complaint is that the slide show ended too soon. With each picture, my smile got bigger. I am as fascinated by PBO and MO just as these “small people” seem to be.
Can we slow 2016 down just a little so that we can bask in the greatness of President Obama just a little longer?
OMG! This is perfection! PBO a d his 0-8 crew and MO with her open arms for the world’s children accompanied beautiful words and music from Louis Armstrong. I am overwhelmed. I
Chips, thank you for this lovely work of art to end/begin the year. Our president has the rare ability to fully engage with everyone–from the youngest child to centenarians. He gives each person his total focus because he isn’t blinded by his own self importance and he recognizes every one he meets as a unique individual. Children see immediately that he’s fully relating to them and not just going through the motions as so many adults and most political people do.
Couldn’t have said it better jackieb. Chips & VC with all the pictures to vote on and the finals and with this last set is just breath taking. Thank you Thank you.
So, Hillary was right and DT was wrong. Seems to me this makes a pretty effective ad on the horrific chance that this
narcissist know nothing gets the R nomination.
We know that Trump will deny what we are seeing with our “lying” eyes…and his staunch supporters will only see and hear what he tells them to see and hear.
I share in your hope for a ‘rise in sanity’ and that it will motivate every eligible voter to turnout and overwhelmingly reject that fascist, bigoted kleptocrats that are the modern Republican Party.
This is a problem that existed before foreigners began stealing land and destroying lives of the First Peoples of the North and South continents now called America ….
#Iran MFA spox in reaction to execution of Shiite Cleric: #SaudiArabia will pay a high price. Saudis support terrorists & execute critics.
Morning, Bob, Sad that the one thing this world has always been good at is war, hatred, tribal (ethnic) violence and arrogant interference.
We’ve made huge advancements in science and technology, but too much of the global population still thinks and acts as though they were partitioned off into quarreling tribes. A few–most notably our President–have evolved to a point where we see ourselves as part of a global humanity. I wonder how many millennia it will take before people like PBO represent the majority?
Every time I see a photo of John Kerry I wonder if he ever gets to go home. He has wife, daughters and grandchildren that he rarely sees. SOS is one of the hardest jobs in the world.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Howdy! Hello TOD! How is Everyone?
Happy New Year Carolmae & Congrats on First!
I would have a baby just to have PBO hug and kiss her. He’s so wonderful with ‘his demographic’.
Thanks millions Chips and VC for all the lovely photos. What a treat it is to have this treasure chest to open every day.
Hel-lo there AlmaBee, (yvw) it’s been a while! Happy 2016, neighbour!
Hiya back VC! All the best for 2016 too. Looking forward to Mar 10. Been having a lot of trouble posting comments so I just give up trying for awhile but I read TOD every day as you know. My coworkers can’t imagine my computer without an image of PBO every shift I work.
March 10? Full retirement or new computer?
Justin Trudeau is going to the White House for a state dinner. About time.
Do you think Justin would include me if I asked him nicely? I’m bound to have more knowledge of PBO at my fingertips than any of *his* advisers. 😀
Ask. It’s worth a shot. I’ll carry your paperwork on the plane. He writes me every day. Surely that must be worth something. (Wishing)
🙂
Whoa up there! Should I break out the naughty mat?
Naw. Just an old lady’s dream.
Chips & VC, once again, you carried us through the year in Pictures, thank you for the labor of love 💕
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
See ya tomorrow everyone!
❤
You’re welcome, GxG, and it was indeed a labour of love. 🙂
A labor of love, indeed! So welcome and so perfect, you two are the mischievous best of the best!! ❤ 🙂
(or – should that be the best of the mischievous best?) (scholars??)
TY, but the majority of the work was Chips’!
Hi MP, Wishing you a Wonderful 2016!
Thank you so much, VC, for helping to put these years in pictures together. I hope you have a Happy and healthy New Year.
Hi TerriD. TY & YVW. I am hopeful we will all have a terrific 2016!
California is not a red state.
Wow Chips, I bet you made this one just for me, then decided to share it with everybody! THANKS-Thanks-and THANKS again! The Obamas and kids do it for me every time!
Happy New Year and Good nite….Too much grog. 🙂
A WISH TO LIVE FOREVER
I met a fairy who said she would grant me one wish. Immediately I said, “I want to live forever.”
“Sorry,” said the fairy, “I’m not allowed to grant eternal life.”
“OK,” I said, “Then, I want to die after Congress gets its head out of its ass!”
“You crafty bastard,” said the fairy.
I really wanted to read the full article in Foreign Affairs, that a number of people here have referenced/recommended entitled “Obama’s Way”.
I was able to read just the little bit of opening paragraphs when I noticed that to read farther, I would need to register on the site.
I guess registration is not too much to ask in exchange for a free access to someone’s hard work, but ….., I am just cranky about registrations.
Well, as they say, no pain no gain.
hope to get to read the rest of the article … if I can
New Year Greetings, Linda. I am reading this even as you speak even though I generally do not sign up to read articles. Of course, I keep stopping to come back here and read/answer comments. 😀 It’s longer than my mind is up to tonight but I am sticking with it taking breaks in between as you’re only allowed one free item monthly after signing up.
Here’s a little piece:
//
THE LESSON OF LIBYA
In December 2009, Obama journeyed to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The award was premature, to say the least, but he used his acceptance speech to lay down the principles of a foreign policy he hoped to follow—a sophisticated grappling with the tensions between idealism and realism. It was a daring speech for a Peace Prize recipient. “To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism,” he said. “It is a recognition of history, the imperfection of man, and the limits of reason.” Nations must “adhere to standards that govern the use of force,” and a just, lasting peace must be “based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual.” Still, “America cannot act alone,” except on matters of vital national interest, and mere lofty rhetoric about human rights only sustains “a crippling status quo.” Engagement with repressive regimes may lack “the satisfying purity of indignation,” but “no repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an open door.”
Benjamin Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, said, “When people ask me to summarize [Obama’s] foreign policy, I tell them to take a close look at that speech.” Another former top White House official called it “a template to how he approaches problems,” a “framework for how he thinks about U.S. power.” Whether he followed the template—how he grappled in action with the tensions he recognized in theory—would be, by his own standard, the measure of his presidency.
……………………………..//
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2015-12-07/obamas-way
thanks a lot. Happy New Year to you too.
I appreciate your feed back and help very much. I can now get some insight into what the author understands as “Obama’s Way”
Hi Linda. I am marginally more awake now than I was when I answered you last night. I don’t know why I’ve been feeling so tired lately (other than going to bed well after 2 am /once even at 4:20am)! I’ll have to see how this weekend unfolds.
What i learned from this article is that the President…makes his own decisions…if his advisers give him answers and they do not suit him…he asks for another option..what i also learned that although…the SOS be it Hillary Clinton or John Kerry….is working on the agenda that the President has promoted…Hillary has tried to grab credit for some of the successes of the President…and although i will say that she had a role to play…it still is the FP of Barack Obama that she was promoting…
the President learned from the events of Libya…that there are unintended consequences…
it is a thoughtful article….enjoyed reading it…
It is indeed OBAMA’s Way….
i remember Tweety made a statement questioning who was in charge of the FP….because of course the President was not adequate…smh @ Tweety….
thanks a lot for your summary and insights
Continued ‘Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes’, Pf58!
I can’t remember when I actually realized (well before this article) that PBO makes his own decisions, but yes, this article does make that clear. What I do like about the article is that though it made me squirm a time or two, it does IMO make a consistent effort to be fair/analytic. I use the word ‘squirm’ because if *I* am honest I don’t *want* to admit to myself that PBO has made any errors along his 8 year path to date. However, I know such an attitude is not really rational. Yes he has had many, many successes but I suspect he himself would say (actually he has previously) there have been ‘moments/issues’. One of the things I respect about PBO is that he learns from each situation, and his decisions, I think, are fed by his increased and ongoing knowledge. I think this journalist captured Obama’s Way’ in a respectful and ‘balanced’ way, including feedback from some critics and sharing outcomes from PBO’s choice one way or the other.
i so agree with yu VC….
and
Happy New Year….((huggs))
{{{Pf58}}}
Same here. Didn’t register. 😔
I know that I am going to watch this video a number of times …. already done more than once;
thanks a lot Ms. Chips for this and so much more.
thanks a lot for all those helping out on making TOD a rich, diverse, nourishing, challenging, informative and commemorative daily experience
Decided to peek in before going to sleep and am glad I did. Thank you Chipsticks for this collection of wonderful pictures! My only complaint is that the slide show ended too soon. With each picture, my smile got bigger. I am as fascinated by PBO and MO just as these “small people” seem to be.
Can we slow 2016 down just a little so that we can bask in the greatness of President Obama just a little longer?
Thank you Chips, beautiful! I love watching the President interact with children.
OMG! This is perfection! PBO a d his 0-8 crew and MO with her open arms for the world’s children accompanied beautiful words and music from Louis Armstrong. I am overwhelmed. I
Typing on a Kindle Fire tablet is challenging.
Chips, thank you for this lovely work of art to end/begin the year. Our president has the rare ability to fully engage with everyone–from the youngest child to centenarians. He gives each person his total focus because he isn’t blinded by his own self importance and he recognizes every one he meets as a unique individual. Children see immediately that he’s fully relating to them and not just going through the motions as so many adults and most political people do.
Goood Morning…
you say it so right JackieG
Couldn’t have said it better jackieb. Chips & VC with all the pictures to vote on and the finals and with this last set is just breath taking. Thank you Thank you.
Good morning TOD!!
Congrats on 1st Carol and Happy New Year!!
So, Hillary was right and DT was wrong. Seems to me this makes a pretty effective ad on the horrific chance that this
narcissist know nothing gets the R nomination.
Yes, Madame Secretary was correct and this should serve as a simple lesson for her. See tweet to that effect 🙂
Hope you are enjoying your weekend, JackieG!
Good Morning, Bobfr!!!
We know that Trump will deny what we are seeing with our “lying” eyes…and his staunch supporters will only see and hear what he tells them to see and hear.
Praying for a rise in sanity in this new year.
Good day swbluega!!
I share in your hope for a ‘rise in sanity’ and that it will motivate every eligible voter to turnout and overwhelmingly reject that fascist, bigoted kleptocrats that are the modern Republican Party.
This is a problem that existed before foreigners began stealing land and destroying lives of the First Peoples of the North and South continents now called America ….
So far, “Westerners,” especially the US, UK & France, have only made it worse …. over many centuries.
Morning, Bob, Sad that the one thing this world has always been good at is war, hatred, tribal (ethnic) violence and arrogant interference.
We’ve made huge advancements in science and technology, but too much of the global population still thinks and acts as though they were partitioned off into quarreling tribes. A few–most notably our President–have evolved to a point where we see ourselves as part of a global humanity. I wonder how many millennia it will take before people like PBO represent the majority?
I think President Obama does represent the vast majority of the nearly 7 billion human inhabitants of planet earth, JackieG.
The problem with many of those supporters in the US is that they sat on their butts in 2010 and 2014, tragically. They better never not vote, again.
#Hope4ALL
Yes We Must
Thank you Secretary Kerry
Every time I see a photo of John Kerry I wonder if he ever gets to go home. He has wife, daughters and grandchildren that he rarely sees. SOS is one of the hardest jobs in the world.
Wonder if John Kerry might be nominated for the Nobel Peace prize? Is it a one time honor?
DAESH is not a wise employment option …..
Wishing you all a fun weekend!!
Thank you, Chips, for the “Photo of the Year” contest!!
bbl …
Morning!
http://theobamadiary.com/2016/01/02/early-bird-chat-623/
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
Have to work today, but it’s all good 🙂