8:0 AM EST: The President and First Lady attend the National Prayer Breakfast
04
Feb
16
155 Responses to “The National Prayer Breakfast”
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The People’s View
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The Obama Diary 
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Thursday morning.
To all, I hope that your, effervescent, vivacious, and vibrant personality is on full display today. ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank God that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
Hi Ranman. You’re effervescent, vivacious and vibrant” always makes me laugh–especially when I’m struggling to keep both eyes open.
Hahaha, Jackie, I hope your laughter woke you up a bit more. 😀👍👌
Enjoy your positive messages a lot RanMan. Thank you.
Hiya RanMan! Good to see ya! Congrats on first!
Hey Dudette, It’s always wonderful to see you out-and-about. 😀
{{{ RanMan }}}
Good Morning, RanMan…earliest bird in the village today. 🙂
I share in your thankfulness that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America.
For that, I give a big, “Amen!”.
Morning.
Morning Jackie!
Chips, how is your new little (unnamed) family member? Has Danny settled down a little? It’s got to be a shock to his system to have a rival.
He is NOT happy, Jackie – they were all snarly and barky with each other this morning too, so no improvement on that front. I’m taking the little fella to the vet in the next half hour, PRAYING he’s chipped.
Sorry to hear that, Chips. I’m sure things will settle down in time, so it will come down to whether you want to hang in there or not.
Hey Ms. Chips, I didn’t know you had a new addition to the family. Congratulations. 👍👌 What is his/her name?
What?!?!? What did I miss?!?!?!? A new family member?!?!?
Queen of the World! Lovely to see you! How are the babies this morning? Less snarling?
🙂 Morning Dudette!!! The new baby is still so terrified it would break your heart. He’s eating well though, and pottering around the garden. As I said to Jackie, I’m taking him to the vet soon so hoping we’ll be able to find an owner. Danny’s SERIOUSLY hoping we’ll find an owner!!
Awww! Bless you … all of you!
Morning JG!
Hiya, Dudette. How are things in your neck of the woods today?
Not bad JG! Not bad at all! 😀
Good Thursday, Chipsticks…TOD Family!!!
Goooood Morning SW!
Good Morning, Dudette!!! 🙂
How are you liking this roller coaster weather that currently seems to define our region?
Hate it! But, whatcha gonna do?
Yeah, I know. Easy to catch a cold with the temperature swings.
We find ourselves entertained by the Klown Show that is currently the GOP primaries. I would hate for the Democratic primaries to rise to that level of silliness and drama. But that’s what could happen, not necessarily because of the candidates themselves, but because of over-zealous supporters and campaign workers. In *our* desire to assist, praise, defend, supporters may in essence “hijack” the campaign and move it in a negative direction…a direction not intended by the candidate(s), but one that the candidate may be dragged into — if they aren’t careful — in their effort to appease and gain supporters.
I think that there are enough differences in policy and position between HRC and BS that there is no good reason for personal attacks. If it’s not the candidates themselves, they need to rein in their campaign and those representing them; reminding them what they [the candidate] is about and how they want to run their campaign.
In general, candidates just need to stay away from the negative personal comments. For one thing, I think the voters appreciate a substantive debate/discussion about issues without having to wade through trash. In addition, the trash that is thrown only becomes ammunition against the eventual nominee. Moreover, the supporters become so invested, that they will have a hard time uniting as a party and getting behind the person who is not *their* candidate. And sadly, many with that attitude will decide to take their vote and stay home.
We all have to keep the ultimate objective in mind… the election of a President and Congressional members who will continue in the direction that President Obama has started and move forward. So when we find ourselves slipping into a mode that is detrimental to what we want to achieve, we have to self-regulate and find a more positive way to act or react. No matter how justified we think our thoughts and actions may be, think about the person [PBO] who has inspired us over the past 7+ years; how he — who is probably more justified than most to react negatively – does not respond by tearing down those who attack him, but by positively motivating us who support him.
***Negativity and silliness may entertain, but it does not inspire. ***
True, SW. We will never go wrong if we model our behavior on that of PBO’s. He’s witty, but never mean.
Thus far the debates and town halls have been quite civil and substantive, and informative to those watching. The real vitriol happens in social media, particularly from the Bernie bros. with their misogyny and racism.
If social media is being used as a part of their campaign, the vitriol doesn’t help the candidate(s). For some, this may be their primary visibility of the candidates. I liken it to the receptionist for a business or the person at the counter in a fast food restaurant…these are the faces representing the business/owner and goes a long way in the impression/perception it leaves.
But I also understand that social media is hard to police and is often used as a mask by trolls.
Exactly, Bill R. And their extreme left silliness.
I am unnerved by these tests of extreme purity. Frankly, that’s not just Bernie’s supporters – that comes from the Sanders campaign and Bernie personally. I think he believes this nonsense.
I agree….
many of these things have come from his campaign tweeter account….and from his own mouth….and from his own actions….
Especially the “purity test” b.s. from yesterday – straight from Bernie’s acct. I find it interesting that the so-called “non-politician” decided to make the news cycle about how you label “progressive” instead of what you intend to do, and how. Curious.
Good Morning!
Thanks, AMK. I’m glad the NYT used that beautiful photo of the children. How can anyone look at those sweet, smiling faces and feel bigotry or fear?
Howdy AMK! Love this! ❤️
cooing session over already ????
Come ‘ere you! {{{ amk }}}
[plants a wet one on your cheek] 😘
gary t. gary t.
Fantastic front page!
Do Evangelicals even pretend to espouse *Christian* values? [IMO] The ones who claim to be representative of them do not tend to act in a Christ-like manner.
Sw, not to generalize, but the fervent ones I’ve met seem to be very judgmental and lacking in Christian charity. I honestly don’t know how you can read the New Testament and think you have a right to judge others and impose your rigid ideas on other people.
Exactly!!!
That reminds me. How is the new feller in your life doing?
Love the water bottle beside Rubio. LOL.
toldja.
I think we’re going to see a major Trump ‘eruption’ soon. He’s either going to figure out how to trash his rivals or start another party. I don’t think there’s any way he’s going to slip quietly away.
He is an egomaniac. If he sees that he is not worshiped any more, he will just quit.
I don’t either JackieG. Especially now that he’s seen how influential he can be…specifically with MSM.
Trump is collapsing. Wowzers. What a loser!!
Welp, I’ll just put this down right here…
Yup, it’s always about munny with these pundtwits. Amazing how americans worship their talking heads both on radio and teevee. We injuns don’t give a shite about them.
I stopped watching CNN years ago. Now it’s just a few hours on MSNBC (Maddow, O’Donnell, Harris Perry, Sharpton) for my news fix.
Let’s see how fast and how much the money taints the purity of his progressive label.
I haven’t nor never will read this book. I didn’t know that Mr. Press suggests that the President is to blame for ODS (Obama Derangement Syndrome). Every time, like Rubio today, that the Right suggests President Obama doesn’t work well with others and is devisive I want to take something in my line of sight and throw it against a wall. That lie is one of the worst for me. Maybe because I had many years of verbal and mental abuse from a spouse that blamed me for his treatment of me. I just can’t see this as political. I see it as personal. Abuse is willful. Abuse is sick and destructive. Its all about false feedback to gain control.
ok, 99ts. out with it. what did you do with the feller/gal?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-35489722
Hahaha ROFLOL. amk, are you accusing 99ts of taking the endangered tortoise?! 😂😂😂
I know nuthin’, I know nuthin’.
Lol. Now you’re pulling a Sergeant Schultz from Hogan’s Heroes. 😂😂😂 😂😂😂 😂😂😂
one of my fav shows and John is Banner one of my fav comedians. His innocent facial expressions are hilarious.
One of my fav also. Every now and then I get to watch the show on some obscure channel via RF feed. You’re right about that innocent facial expression. 😀👌👍
Given the speed at which this 10 year old travels – he will get to my place (3000 miles away) in 100 years or so.
But what amazing colors. Could be difficult to hide.
a ha, you knew straight away it was a he. #busted.
Progressives are showing more and more that it does not matter *what* PBO accomplishes. It comes down to the *who* [that it is PBO who is getting things done] and the *how* (or how much). I suspect that even if single-payer had been achieved, it would not have been enough.
Press, Schultz, et al, could not stay relevant if they found no fault with this AA president. Therefore for them, the Progressive movement had to go beyond the gray area of making *progress* to the black and white extremes of “everything we want or it doesn’t count.”
Its abuse to negate others, take everything from them, their hard work and talents, and then act like it was nothing.
Good Thursday morning everyone!
http://www.cbs5az.com/story/31136157/johnson-johnson-viacyte-testing-possible-diabetes-cure?autostart=true
Johnson & Johnson, continuing its long quest for a Type 1 diabetes cure, is joining forces with biotech company ViaCyte to speed development of the first stem cell treatment that could fix the life-threatening hormonal disorder.
They’ve already begun testing it in a small number of diabetic patients. If it works as well in patients as it has in animals, it would amount to a cure, ending the need for frequent insulin injections and blood sugar testing.
ViaCyte and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen BetaLogics group said Thursday they’ve agreed to combine their knowledge and hundreds of patents on their research under ViaCyte, a longtime J&J partner focused on regenerative medicine.
The therapy involves inducing embryonic stem cells in a lab dish to turn into insulin-producing cells, then putting them inside a small capsule that is implanted under the skin. The capsule protects the cells from the immune system, which otherwise would attack them as invaders – a roadblock that has stymied other research projects.
Researchers at universities and other drug companies also are working toward a diabetes cure, using various strategies. But according to ViaCyte and others, this treatment is the first tested in patients.
If the project succeeds, the product could be available in several years for Type 1 diabetes patients and down the road could also treat insulin-using Type 2 diabetics.
My good morning comment is in WP purgatory….HELP!
She is wise and brave way beyond her years.
Good morning TOD!
Congrats RanMan 🙂
A little something to brighten the day …
trevor on ted, the dick.
GM TODville.
Well THAT was weird.
Rep from Alabama completely skipped over introducing PBO.
*Awkward*
I noticed that as well. WTF???
weird or intentional?
Have POTUS spoke yet?
The one from Alabama is a Republican who “claim” to be a christian.
Are is he a Progressive?
No, waiting for POTUS to speak.
Those nasty things called …. FACTS …..
So Russia has once again shown that its commitments, its word, its honor mean nothing.
Don’t know if this has been posted already…
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/03/the-gop-s-crump-cancer.html?via=desktop&source=twitter
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are two faces of the same phenomenon—the rise of conservative populism with a mean streak—empowered by the GOP’s purge of the center-right.
THEY BUILT THAT!
These Crump voters see incivility and inexperience as political assets. Their candidates are proudly dividers rather than uniters, channeling white populist anger at undocumented immigrants and Muslims as well as President Obama. Amid the emotional blurring of church and state, social-issue litmus tests have moved so far right that libertarians need not apply. The Crump coalition constitutes a majority of the Republican field right now. And they can’t win a general election.
The rise of Cruz and Trump are symptoms of a larger problem in the GOP, a problem of their own making. Because the Republican Party systematically purged its center-right, it doesn’t have the ballast to withstand Wingnuts anymore.
ABSOLUTELY A MUST READ>>>Send it to your friends and family that need a tutorial on the facts..
Yeah, df… posted this tweet last night…thought the illustration was a true depiction.
Thanks, swbluega! Didn’t see that you posted this again…did below, too. Think readers will think this is a must read? 🙂 🙂
🙂 It may at least raise the curiosity.
One would hope:)
seth meyers
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/seth-meyers-slams-trumps-demand-for-new-election-no-one-wants-to-go-back-to-fcking-iowa/
GREAT READ. Can’t say it enough. Pass it on
I just hope the lazy left will move their collective asses come nov.
Santorum can’t name any of Rubio’s Senate accomplishments
Rick Santorum had one job to do in his appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Thursday. He failed.
The former Pennsylvania senator, who dropped his presidential bid Wednesday, told co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski he was supporting Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign because the Florida senator is someone “who can work together with people.” But Santorum struggled to name one accomplishment Rubio has had in the Senate.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/rick-santorum-marco-rubio-senate-record-218723#ixzz3zCvEiwNw
AMK, I doubt Rubio could name any of his accomplishments. He’s got a lot of talking points, but they all add up to nothing.
ted crud, water boy – they are on a tax payer paid free ride and tax payers are still dumb.
Hallelujah! This is a big step forward for Afghanistan.
Hannah Godefah (she’s the young lady at the far left in the photo)
22 January 2016
“It is a pretty incredible experience to speak in front of a room full of very powerful people – and that is exactly what I did Thursday night, 21 January, at the Schatzalp Hotel in Davos.
It happened at the official launch of the Global Goals Campaign for Girls and Women. I was there to represent UNICEF – in my role as a National Ambassador to Ethiopia.
The guest list was a little intimidating. It varied from actors and music stars to leaders of media companies and international CEOs. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, and philanthropist Bill Gates opened the dinner at the reception.
And then there was me. An 18-year-old college student, humanitarian, and advocate for education. Interacting with leaders in their respective fields was definitely a change in day to day activities. I saw many strong advocates for women and girls empowerment from Emma Watson to Kevin Spacey to US Secretary of State John Kerry. It was a very engaging and calm environment, and I observed in awe how many guests came ready to listen and act on what they had heard in conversations that evening. I was also happy to note several individuals eager to stand in solidarity with girls for the global goals.”
Bob, what a series of heartening posts these are about the empowerment of women and the growing international push for the education of girls. Some areas of the world are literally emerging from the dark ages on women’s issues and it gives me hope for the future. I’m continually astounded by the bravery of women–young and old–in areas of the world where their voices haven’t been valued. These women are pioneers with stunning levels of determination and fearlessness. How I wish more young western women could learn their stories and understand how hard fought their privileges and freedoms are.
“I’m continually astounded by the bravery of women–young and old–in areas of the world where their voices haven’t been valued. These women are pioneers with stunning levels of determination and fearlessness.”
Yes they are!
“How I wish more young western women could learn their stories and understand how hard fought their privileges and freedoms are.”
Well, JackieG, the primary reason I post these stories about women – from the YPG who are crushing #DAESH every day, to Yezidi Nadia & Nadia Savchenko to … – is to indicate that spreading their stories is a duty all of us have and we now have the means to do that, widely.
Thank you!
thank you so much bob ,…for your info
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
When you want it badly enough ….
Every student who grumbles about having to hurry to the school bus in the morning should be required to read this.
Another morning MUST READ
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-belong.html
I’ll never forget my reaction when I heard the first two lines of a poem by David Whyte titled Self Portrait.
It doesn’t interest me if there is one God or many gods.
I want to know if you belong or feel abandoned.
My head snapped and I wanted to hear more. As someone who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian family and felt abandoned, he captured the essence of my struggle with those two lines. That’s when I knew that what I was looking for was a sense that I belonged. Many people find that in their religious faith. But if it means a sole focus on getting the dogma right, it leaves us on our own.
I suspect that whether or not we’ve named that search for belonging, we’ve all felt it. That’s because, as the saying goes, “no (wo)man is an island.” As humans, we need a connection to others…a place to call home.
I got a feeling that right leaning independents are voting for Bernie in New Hampshire.
And I wonder if they are being put up to IT by old Rush Limbaugh
Is nh open primary?
Who are those two kooks at the prayer breakfast, they could be ok but I am looking at them at work with the sound off and they look like they should be at the looney bin
They are the one’s that, a couple of years ago, produced “The Bible” where the devil looked like PBO…
I’m trying to figure out WTF they are supposed to be talking about…
PBO WELCOMES EVERYONE AND HE DOESN’T HOLD A GRUDGE…SOMEDAY AND SOON ROMA DOWNEY WILL LEARN WHAT THE REAL JESUS CHRIST LOOKS LIKE…NOT THE ONE SHE PRESENTED ON TELEVISION!
The prayer breakfast is run by ” The Family “… remember them ? They all lived at that C Street location in DC. They moved elsewhere after they were exposed. Rachel covered them and what went on there after John Ensign got caught cheating on his wife and trying to pay her off.
I don’t know why all of you are rooting against trump? We should be rooting for him, much like republicans are rooting for sanders.
Rubio is a big problem… He could garnish the Hispanic community even though he doesn’t support them. It’s strange.
The Latino’s here in Georgia despise Rubio.
Only some of the Cuban-Americans support him. However, I do agree that he can be “cleaned up” to make the GOP fans vote for their “team”.
Could be an excellent read but the fact that Corny touched it is a real turnoff ….
Yup, I was all set to put it on my list until I saw Cornbread’s name…
its a pity…he was not always like this….
OMG, this is terrifying! SO glad that she’s alright.
http://crooksandliars.com/2016/02/melissa-harris-perry-narrowly-escapes
Sadly, they built this, too.
Yes, it is. Unfortunately, this is happening not only to the high profile, it’s also happening to ordinary, everyday people; believe I mentioned the two encounters I had in December…
omg…jazziz2! I had no idea about your experiences! Good grief…so, so sorry that you went through this.
From the article
..This is terrifying, and whether he was there to kill her, maim her, or simply terrify her is beside the point. The fact that someone felt free enough to bring himself that close to her is the direct product of the white nationalism which pervades this 2016 primary race in the GOP
******************
this is deep….
I see Paul Ryan is there. Never seen John Boehner there.
The President is speaking now.
POTUS speaking now @ the Prayer Breakfast.
Who introduced him?
The headlines shocked Sara Masry: Hard-line protesters had stormed Saudi diplomatic compounds in Iran. The alert came to her cellphone during a brief stay in the Saudi city of Jeddah while visiting family and friends. Masry, 25, wasn’t just another rightly distressed Saudi citizen; she had spent the past 18 months studying toward a master’s degree in Iranian studies at the University of Tehran.
Saudi-Iranian relations were already tense, but Masry sensed that things were about to escalate. “I was upset and disappointed; I felt this development was going to set everything back between the [two] nations. At the same time, I knew a section of Iranians weren’t representative of all Iranians. It’s just another thing that is allowing this stereotype of Iran to blossom. It destroys any potential for rational discussion or common ground,” Masry told Al-Monitor.
This is exactly the premise of her popular blog, A Saudi in Iran. Masry has written extensively about her various encounters with Iranians as a means to break Arab stereotypes of the country. “As the political scene got more and more tense over the past few years, I felt there’s just one narrative of Iran — and it’s mainly a political one. There’s no disconnect between political and human aspects … politics is one thing, but from my [Iranian] friends — the people I know — other things I see on social media is not how Iran is,” she said.
Masry said this view is mutual. In her telling, many Iranians see Saudi Arabia solely as a puritanical Wahhabist state. Confronting these mirroring stereotypes was what compelled her to move to Iran in the first place. “I felt going there would be the ultimate thing, to see it in person and actually live there and at the same time [see] how people react to me as a Saudi. Obviously there’s this whole thing between Saudi Arabia and Iran — or Arabs and Iranians. I felt like this is something that should be put to the test. I was really happy with the results that I got.” She added, “It’s very important that we tap into our common ground and stop viewing each as the ‘other.’””
any of the media minions dare ask that question?
Maybe they are not that crazy they received a standing ovation including from the President, looked rather crazy without the sound
I’M WATCHING…THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PERFECT….I LOVE MY PRESIDENT!
BEAUTIFUL BUT LOST CONNECTION WHEN ANDREA BOCELLI WAS SINGING….SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER MR. PRESIDENT..YOU ARE SO LOVED! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEND THIS TO MY FB…..:)
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks & TOD family.
This is a powerful speech by PBO, I’ll have to listen to it again when I get to work.
Thanks Chips for posting it.
Still watching with sound off, the President is schooling someone with no f..ks to give, that’s what it looks like without the sound
Oooo..just from his expression and mannerisms the President has taken someone to the woodshed and it aint pretty.. please Chips can you post so that I can listen when I get home..one(s) in the woodshed need prayers at this breakfast
This was a strong and wonderful presentation by the president………I felt tearful through it all. People who hate him must never listen to him.
President Obama again lays the balm of his spiritual leadership on our nation. Has any President since Lincoln been called upon to do this so often. I know no one has done it so well.
AND FRANKLY…NEVER AGAIN…THEY BROKE THE MOLD! HONOR,INTEGRITY AND GRACE ARE HARD TO COME BY THESE DAYS!…BBL………….:)
That’s our POTUS. Bless him. Bless his family. We love them, we thank them.
Anyone who truly listens to our president on the subject of faith can’t help but become a better person. In his very being, he reflects all the deepest values of the world’s greatest religions–love for each other as equal children of God, respect for our differences, responsibility for all of our children and a commitment to faithful stewardship of our planet. For seven years, blind haters have closed their eyes to this man’s goodness and faith and they’ve blocked their ears so they wouldn’t have to admit how deeply spiritual he is. In doing so, they’ve hurt themselves and not this glorious man who is our President.
Absolutely stunning speech, one of his very best. Definitely a MUST SEE. I’m speechless.
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2016/02/04/today-20/