President Barack Obama, President Ashraf Ghani, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a NATO Summit session on Afghanistan in Warsaw, Poland
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President Barack Obama talks with Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Barack Obama meet for talks
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President Barack Obama holds a press conference after the NATO Summit at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland
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France’s President Francois Hollande, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, US President Barack Obama, and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel during a meeting as part of a NATO summit
The Obama Diary 
I SWEAR..HIS SHIRT NEVER EVEN GETS WRINKLED..PRESS ON WELL PRESSED PRESIDENT!
WATCHNG PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO..
Congratsssssssssss SUE..
Congrats Sue 🙂
THANK YOU EVERYBODY!…I BRIBED THE GATEKEEPER WTH THE BOWL OF PEANUTS I HAVE OVER HERE!..:)
So happy to see you smiling, Mr. President!
Thanks, NW.
Love his smile! He seems to be enjoying these ‘last’ events lately, getting together with the people he’s walked with on his presidential journey. I know he will appreciate having more time for sleep and recreation and family, but he’s so good at world leadership, and it’s such a rare quality, I can’t help but hope he’ll step into another, wider role. And Pete Souza will follow along. 🙂
Did I read somewhere that Pete was going to sleep for 6 months when President Clinton is inaugurated.
Hi, Susanne. I’d like to believe that (unlike the blind nincompoops in his political sphere in NA) the world leaders he has sat with in discussions/meetings have learned a lot from him. Plus, along with the model of leadership he has practised, he has thrown more light on the fact that *they* themselves are leaders and ought to be encouraged to play their part *in* world leadership. #I ❤ PresObama
DITTO HERE..I CAN’T LET GO OF HIM..SO I’M SELFISH HERE!
Sadly it seems PBO can relax more when he is in the company of world leaders that treat him respectfully than when he is here in the US. How can I tell? Look at the photos. His eyes are smiling as well as his mouth. The look of admiration on the faces of those around him is evident. When he is here the press as well as the GOP and unsatisfied Sanders’ supporters are working towards a gotcha moment constantly.
Exactly !
Well … Ciara just married Russel Wilson of the Seahawks.
Now how’d he get her? That’s my girl🤔😳
David Cameron looks apologetic in most of those pictures. I still cannot believe what the UK has done to itself – the Country that went to war for Poland, that realised in the 1970s it needed Europe to survive in its current form, has decided isolationism is the answer to all its problems. A home goal doesn’t cover it.
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steffi got just flowers for trophy? that’s just mean.
Thank you NW for the excellent NATO Warsaw meetings update!!
A truly glorious moment!!!
Presidents Obama and Poroshenko trolled Vlad big time 🙂
And, having #NadiaSavchenko at the NATO Summit was simply brilliant!!
If Critics Think Death Threats Will Stop Baltimore’s Marilyn Mosby, They Don’t Know Mosby
Tensions remain high as the prosecutor’s office finds itself under siege by threats and taunts from racists.
BY: ERICKA BLOUNT DANOI
The death threats come daily to the office of Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby as the trials of police officers in the death of Freddie Gray continue to go on.
There’s a sameness to the threats, which accuse Mosby of racism, of being crazy, and arguing that she should be “hung” for daring to prosecute six police officers over the death of Gray, who was in their custody when he died.
“YOU are a racist criminal! YOU are a worthless racist [expletive],” read one of the threatening emails.
“You are out of your mind. When the violence starts and they turn their anger on you, maybe the officers will be a little slow to react. You are a cop hater. Marilyn Mosby is nothing but a [expletive] Black Panther [expletive]. She should be hung,” read another.
There have been many more threats to Mosby since the indictment of the six police officers in the death of Gray, including people coming to her house and concocting fake news stories in which her husband is murdered and police officers do nothing.
“The threats have been turned over to the Baltimore Police Department and I have heard the FBI is investigating,” Rochelle Ritchie, Mosby’s spokeswoman tells The Root. “I guess some people wonder if she will be deterred from seeking justice in Baltimore City because of this. My answer to that is no. She will continue to seek justice for all victims.”
I HOPE THE ENERGIZER RESTS PRIOR TO PLUGGING INTO SPAIN….AND NO BULLFIGHTING…THERE’S ENOUGH ‘BULL’ IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!..TAKE A BREAK PBO…………..BBL…TIME TO POP IN THE PIZZA!…<3
From Jennifer Rubin of all people:
Ten mistakes Reince Priebus made
July 8
When the postmortem on the GOP 2016 presidential race is conducted there will be plenty of blame to go around. Candidates ran shoddy races, attacking one another and hanging around far too long. Voters gave way to anger, nihilism and rank prejudice. Elected leaders were reticent to speak up But it was Chairman Reince Priebus who will long be remembered for his series of spectacular errors. To review:
1. Priebus never understood that Trump had neither the means nor the inclination to run as a third candidate. Spend his own money?! Priebus put the entire party at Trump’s mercy by creating a suicide pact (the pledge) with Trump. Like the JCPOA, once the pledge was in place it was vital to keep it there. Priebus then began a dangerous approach in which appeasement, rationalization and out-and-out water-carrying were the rule.
2. Rather than going on bended knee to Trump to extract the pledge, Priebus should have used leverage (free debate time, access to RNC fundraising, rhetorical support and defense from the RNC) to demand Trump cease attacks on fellow Republicans, improve his tone and show some understanding of both policy and political mechanics. If Al Gore had shown up to run in the GOP race would Priebus have sat idly by? And yet that’s essentially what he did when a man who had no particular loyalty to the party moved in for a hostile takeover.
3. Pledges for any candidate were a bad idea. Kevin Williamson wrote recently: “The Republicans who promised to support the nominee no matter who made an error in judgment. That’s forgivable. But now it is time to admit the error, step up, and do the right thing.” Explicitly putting partisan loyalty over conscience, conservative principles and reciprocal loyalty from the candidate was another grave error from Priebus.
The 2nd Amendment Is So White: What the Past 24 Hours Have Taught Me About Black People’s Right to Bear Arms
Black America yet again bears witness to state-sanctioned violence at the hands of trigger-happy rogue cops—one in Louisiana, a state that has open-carry laws, and the other in Minnesota, where the victim had a permit to conceal and carry firearms.
BY: PRESTON MITCHUM
Posted: July 7, 2016
In less than 24 hours, two black men have been killed by police officers even though the Second Amendment indicates that they should have been protected. Black America yet again bears witness to state-sanctioned violence at the hands of trigger-happy rogue cops—one in Louisiana, a state that has open-carry laws, and the other in Minnesota, where the victim had a permit to conceal and carry firearms. The truth, however, is that the Second Amendment (and subsequent open-carry laws) does not apply to black people in America.
This past Monday, America celebrated its 240th birthday. We rejoiced, we attended cookouts and we were hopeful that equality could be within reach. Then, the next day, with the senseless killing of 37-year-old Alton Sterling—a black man who was shot several times while being held on the ground by police outside a Baton Rouge, La., convenience store—we realized yet again that “liberty and justice for all” does not apply to black and brown people.
I watched the killing of Sterling on Wednesday morning. I rarely watch these videos because they are triggering and it immediately becomes traumatizing to see unmovable, bloodied black bodies, but because it was shared so many times, I felt it was for a reason. It wasn’t.
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Despite initial reports that Sterling possessed a gun, the newest video may highlight some inconsistencies. But even before specific details were released, I reminded myself that Louisiana is one of 45 states with open-carry laws (with varying restrictions), meaning that he would have the right to possess a gun in many public places throughout the state. But open-carry laws didn’t apply to Sterling because he is black. This caused me to examine why his possession of a gun, in a state that permits it, would require police backup. It doesn’t.
Just followed him, pf58. He has very few Twitter followers. Perhaps TOD can help!
can’t hurt
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Much discussion about advocating change thru love….what about advocating change thru Justice….i don’t need them to love us ….Just treat us in a JUST way…
How should I respond to a system that has so little disregard for me? How should I respond to a system that has systematically killed my brothers and my sisters in the middle of the night and in broad daylight, off camera and on camera? And after all of this you want me to feel a certain way, to tell you the truth I’m struggling to be compassionate, I’m struggling to extend empathy. I cannot get the video of Philando Castile out of my mind. This man was shot like one would shoot a rabid dog as he sat in his car with his girlfriend and her adolescent daughter. Keep in mind the adolescent daughter was sitting in the back seat and this officer still unloaded his gun disregarding her safety. You want me to swallow his death or murder, and you want me to swallow the death or murder of Alton Sterling. Keep in mind you already had me swallow the death or murder of Sandra Bland. How many more deaths or murders of my black brothers and sisters do you intend for me to swallow before I refuse to swallow anymore? White men my age don’t have to swallow what black men and black women my age have to swallow, they never had to, never.
Feelin you, Don. I’m not very forgiving when there’s no remorse and repentance offered up !
I have no answer for you Don…all i can say is that it took resilience for the Selma Marchers to show up the day after they beaten and jailed…yet they did….for 3 days they did…til President Johnson sent Federal Troops to protect them…i believe that NOTHING would have stopped the Selma Marchers…except Death….
at crossroads like this…i keep in the mind the courage and strength of our people….and the knowledge that we will ever march on …because we must….not because we forgive our oppressors but because we yearn to be FREE
I know Don. I have never watched the Castile video. Only read the transcripts.
People just don’t understand.
Why do I feel like Cameron was starting to croon, “Regrets … I’ve had a few … too few to mention.”
King Felipe VI of Spain (R) Receives US President Barack Obama (L) at the Torrejon Airport on July 09, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.
POTUS meeting someone taller then him.
POTUS have arrived in Spain.
President Barack Obama arrived in Spain late Saturday
ty JER
No breezy wind for POTUS, like it welcome FLOTUS, Malia, Sasha and Grandma Robinson.
pretty calm winds…..when does Malia go to Spain…bella
prettyfoot58, I am not sure. I was thinking she might be with POTUS.
me tooo…but it would have been reported
Hillary Clinton Speech at AME Church Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (July 8, 2016)
I watched this Live on face book, and I was really impressed with her delivery. She got several standing ovations.
Amazing. She’s getting better and better. Thanks for posting this.
I wanted to share something my son wrote that happened the day after the Minnesota shooting. It has to do with what Hillary said about listening:
“Today on the train I listened to a black man, a stranger, shout furiously at what was two black women sitting near him, but also the world, “TWO. TWO IN A ROW.”
My first reaction was to tense up, both because of his anger, and because of my bias.
As I kept listening, these three people grieved, proposed action, and, as the conversation continued, and they felt me listening, and started to involve me, talk to me, explain their thinking. And I listened, I tried to stay 100% focused on them. I had nothing to say but to encourage them to keep speaking.
At a certain stop, the women left, and waved goodbye. I kept talking to the man, and listening, as he talked about his business, the prejudice he sees and feels daily, the hopes for society he had, now shaken, and when our stop came up, we both got separated as we got out by a group of other subway-goers.
He waited for me as I milled through the crowd, he shook my hand, a little calmer. I say, weakly, “thank you, please keep talking.” He, as he gathered himself to go to his next client, crossing the turnstile, says “yeah, thanks for listening.”
I am not happy my first reaction was to shut down. I am glad my second reaction was to stay open. Now, more than ever, we need to open back up.” (Mark)
This is beautiful and a real start. Thank you for sharing and giving us all hope, Betsy!
❤
Excellent story. We all need to listen and be listened to, to experience the validation of our experience, not necessarily our opinions, but our experience.
Great reading that. Thanks for sharing.
thank you for posting this
Listening is key….
The ugly underbelly of murkkka is being seen world over including us.
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/photos-protests-erupt-in-nyc-to-decry-police-brutality/20160709.htm
http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/pained-serena-williams-speaks-out-on-dallas-shooting-wimbledon-final/20160709.htm
My local news did not say one word about the two young men who were shot by cops, however, the Dallas story is still top news.
If PBO is not able to visit the families of the young men, then I hope he calls them
{{Gail}} I wish I could take some of your pain.
Sad thing is, GGAIL is some think he ought to visit any family who has had this awful occurrence. If this were true, he’d be out nearly every week in a different city/county as these things are ongoing. Folks just don’t understand the duties he must carry.
John Prescott, who was deputy prime minister when Britain went to war with Iraq in 2003, says the invasion by UK and US forces was “illegal”.
Writing in the Sunday Mirror, he said he would live with the “catastrophic decision” for the rest of his life.
Lord Prescott said he now agreed “with great sadness and anger” with former UN secretary general Kofi Annan that the war was illegal.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36756878
14 years too short, asshole.
That hindsight is a kicker !!
AMENNNNN
I’m sure Bush and Cheney and Rice and Rumsfeld will come out and admit it, any year now. Not.
All but Cheney would admit it on their death bed. Just like the people who continued the Vietnam war saying it was “winnable” were lying all those years most admitted they were not trying to win the war it was all about the Military Industrial Complex padding their pockets.
I remember it well. Eisenhower warned us all – he knew!
Hi Jackie! Yes he did.
Hi! Which I think is why his granddaughter went on to support Barack Obama for the Presidency, if memory serves.
Lindsay, Maya, Bekka and Mone…my favorites. Thank you ladies.
Here is a quick glimpse of Serena Williams’s professional era records, facts that make her a great champion:
– By winning a 22nd grand slam title, the American drew level with Steffi Graf at the top the standings
– At 34, she is the oldest woman to win a major
– She’s won nine grand slam titles since turning 30. Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova won three majors each after turning 30.
– She has the longest winning span between majors — 16 years 10 months between 1999 US Open and 2016 Wimbledon. (Chris Evert, Navratilova and Graf had 12-year spans)
– Tops the prize money list with more than $80 million. Maria Sharapova is next on the list with $36.8 million.
These figures prove beyond doubt that the World No 1 is one of the greatest ever players of the modern era to grace the tennis courts world over.
http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/tell-us-is-serena-williams-the-greatest-tennis-player-of-all-time-wimbledon/20160709.htm
16 years at the top level. case closed.
Yeah – but – she’s making the rest of us women look bad! Ha. Congratulations to her for earning it, 100 percent!
Thanks for posting this
is anyone trying to register all the people who are participating in the marches against police brutality and for equality and justice for all?
at the end of the day, permanent change will come when we vote out all those who promote gun violence and ignore that all people should be equal under the law regardless of who they are and their station in life.
so much hangs on the line in this election
This is the D challenger to Paul Ryan for anyone who wants to help out. AND he is a vet!
Website: http://www.SolenForCongress.com Donation link: http://www.SolenForCongress.com/donate
A special thank you to NW for bringing us these beautiful photos tonight. I see our President was busy sprinkling that Obama dust over all the other leaders. None of ’em can take their eyes off of him. 🙂
It seems clear in the pictures how much the other world leaders rely on Pres Obama to carry the initiative in these meeting and to exercise his leadership.
So true, Bill. It’s a joy to watch.
Whoa – just spotted Deray was arrested.
I wonder if it will ever stop in our lifetime jacqueline
i know how you feel 99…but i think of the women who struggled for the right to vote….the workers who struggled for workers’ rights…the men and women who struggled fro gay rights…the men and women of the early civil rights movement…they all might have felt as you do…but they PRESSED ON!!…because they had to
and so too will we PRESS on…because to not fight is to die…and we choose to live and be free…no matter how long it takes…
Blessings to you pf – I know you will all carry on – our children and grandchildren will write what was done.
GM TOD…..
the struggle continues…
Good morning pf58 …
GM Bob
Dang!! Sorry for the duplicate!!!
not a problem
I know … it’s horrific.
Another day, another assault on those seeking justice and peace ….
Take care everyone …. {{{{{Chips}}}}}
Not one to listen to polls…but this is an interesting tidbit
Legacy of the NRA and gun lobby…and their handmaidens in the senate…the electorate that continues to enable them
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2016/07/10/early-bird-chat-788/
HRC’s spokesperson
Goood Morning MsChipssss…
bless you and your family…