After January 20, 2017:
@POTUS → @BarackObama
@VP → @JoeBiden
Learn more: go.wh.gov/DigitalTransit…
—
The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 17, 2017****
Our 2,922+ Days with Prez Obama
“The road ahead will be long,
Our climb will be steep,
We may not get there in one year, or even one term,
But America, I have never been more hopeful
Than I am tonight that we will get there.”… (Prez Barack Obama, 11/4/2008)
Put down the Kleenex. Tilt your head up high. Now shout at the top of your lungs. YES WE DID!!! We Obamacrats, Americans, and world citizens can proudly puff out our chests and say we got us a really fine gem of a president. He not only served us productively during his 8-year tenure, he did so without a whiff of scandal, his diligence razor sharp, his humility and empathy never in doubt, and lit up our dreary moments with that smile and quick wit.
How many of us young and young at heart, and even detractors, can say we’ve ever been so absorbed day in and day out with any President at such a granular level, as we have Prez Barack Hussein Obama? Sure, the technologies of our age simulate such high levels of intimacy with political leaders we may never meet. But the Obamas made us live vicariously in the warm embrace of their hugs.
Beyond policy convergence, we felt their human connection to us to be genuine. Not posturing. And prior to winning the presidency, candidate Obama himself opened the sluice gates to many of us to dive into political engagement through both electronic media and human to human contact in the streets
How many of you got connected politically with complete strangers for the first time by signing up on http://www.barackobama.com and eagerly awaited David Plouffe’s weekly map update? How many of you created “Dashboard” pages on that website to organize people you knew, to volunteer, donate, host house meetings and parties, make calls, register people in the streets, enter registration data, or even quit your jobs to go to “Summer organizing school”?
Be honest, how many of us of a certain age (wink, wink) would have gotten clued in to much of Social media — Twitter, Snapchat, etc. or programs consumed mostly by millennials such as Between Two Ferns with Zack Galifianakis, and You Tube sensations like Ms. Glozell Green, Ingrid “Glamourazzi” Nilsen, Adande “sWoozie” Thorne…., and much of social media lingo, if not for Barack H. Obama?
Besides substantial policy advances, he and First Lady Michelle Obama, made us all indulge in the hip and cool. We dropped the mic and sang soul and karaoke along with them. We ooohed and aaaahed the marshmallow cannon and others at the geeky WH science exhibits. We clutched our virtual passports, got aboard Airforce One on its 400 flights, and trekked all 50 states of America and around the world with them – Dublin, Myanmar, Moneygall, Moscow, Canberra, Strasbourg, Prague, Havana, Dakar, Accra, ……
But why did many of us suspend our cynicism during the Obama presidency? Why did we believe him? The historical track record of politicians has earned that species a well-deserved cynicism. But not Barack Obama. Why? Sure, policy disagreements and all for some, but few besides his virulent opposition and rabid racists doubted his integrity.
We checked our cynicism at the door because he invited us, as thinking people, to embark on the tough journey of making America a “more perfect union” with him, warts and all. He also welcomed us to peer into the depths of his humanity (not like GW Bush looking into Putin’s soul), and many of us felt comfortable, even inspired. He was more than family even if some never physically met him. He never patronized us. He never left us out in the cold. Never.
Some of us ached with anguish when the opposition slammed the political barricades hard in his face at a time when this country teetered on the brink of economic collapse, and we thought “surely, country first, right?” Wrong.
With President Obama, many of us were jolted to the harsh reality that Republicans cared more about raw power than America’s wellbeing. They dragged us through an orgy of vileness on every front imaginable. Worst of all, the electorate rewarded them up and down this country with more power to destroy all the pillars of democracy and human rights that had been fought for with blood and toil. What country is this!
As a naturalized American citizen, whose very first vote in this country was for candidate Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries, I, along with many of you feel a certain sense of co-ownership of the Obama presidential journey. It was us at our very best! We chose well. Eight years, no scandals. NONE! Competence, class, dignity, vision, empathy, real accomplishments.
Barack Obama is the stuff legends are made of. And we were lucky to witness it, and co-write this chapter of America’s story. So yeah, tilt that chin up. Y’all did good.
“Hard things are hard,” is inscribed on a plaque in the Obama White House. Yep, they are. And once achieved they must be safeguarded with hawk eyes, else a Trump wrecking ball overruns us.
But as President Obama said, we’re just getting started. We’re not gonna turn him into a fossil to gaze at on a pedestal in a shrine. As CITIZENS our task, our vigilance shifts to second gear tomorrow. Foot to the pedal. Stay Woke.
P.S. Our gratitude knows no bounds for Chips and NerdyWonka, who captained this incredible electronic corner of bliss and sanity for our journey with the Obama Family, in a sea of venom. Thank you thank you, thank you.
And kudos to all you fellow travelers on this site. You made this Obama story possible. You made it fierce. Let’s ALL #staywoke.
****
My forever President. What a time. What lessons you taught. Thank you, @BarackObama. Your work will endure in ways… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
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Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 19, 2017What a woman. My forever First Lady. Thank you, @MichelleObama. You represent the best of us and the best in us. xo https://t.co/cLgegYiKRr
—
Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 19, 2017****
One last day. To salute the President. To respect the President. To work with him. The time will come again. But fo… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
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Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 19, 2017One last time for history's sake:
My President is black. https://t.co/X0EmJW3Fof
—
Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) January 19, 2017
The Obama Diary 
Good Morning TOD!
And looky there!! Good morning, Don!
Morning, Don! Morning everyone! Great day to fight for justice and bend the arc:)
Good morning Don, Nerdy, all of TOD. FYI: Info on President Obama’s post-presidency staff http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/eric-schultz-obama-senior-adviser-233856
NERDY!! Love you, homes!!
**sniffles** **tears** Love you, POTUS!!
The old one deleted and the new bookmark added. Girl, you are on the case!
WE WILL NOT SKIP A BEAT!!!!
Thanks so much for this meta! Done!
Morning Must Read. h/t BJ
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2017/01/01/the-new-year-and-the-bend-of-the-arc/
The arc is not a natural feature of the universe. It does not magically appear; it is not ordained; it is not inevitable. It exists because people of moral character seek justice, not only for themselves but for every person. Nor is the arc smooth. It’s rough and jagged, punctuated in areas by great strides, halting collapses, terrible reverses and forcible wrenching actions. There are those, always, who work to widen the arc, to make that bend toward justice as flat as they can make it, out of fear or greed or hate. They stretch out the arc when they can. If people of moral character forget the arc is not ordained, or become complacent to a vision of a smooth, frictionless bend toward justice, the work to flatten the arc becomes that much easier.
Right now, today, here in 2017, there are those working very industriously to flatten out the arc. They have lately seen little penalty for their hate, or their dissembling, or their disdain or greed; they have contempt for justice other than a cynical appreciation of its features when and only when it is to their advantage; they don’t care for anyone or anything outside the close horizon of their own interests. They have won a moment; they have won a day. They will try to win more than that, now, however they can, flattening the arc with hate and fear and greed.
On this day, in this year, in our time: Help to bend the arc back.
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
Zizi,
thank you for such a wonderful piece.
I’m on my Facebook page watching Fusion Live with BLM and other groups Protesting and blocking the entrance of the Inauguration. Its going to be a long day!
GM meta, please post the new twitter handle for PBO, VP, etc. so we can be sure to follow the right Leaders. Thanks 😘
Please do!!!
Here you go:
Thank you ❤️
You’re most welcome!!
Thank you for all the reminders…thank you so much
I’m thankful for Chipsticks and NW. 💕
A million thanks to Nerdy, kudos to Zizi, and congratulations to Don.
The Ladies.
https://margaretandhelen.com/2017/01/17/trump-has-skin-thinner-than-his-wife-and-an-ego-bigger-than-my-ass/
This is so beautiful: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2ltrv1UUAAggpG.jpg
That is wonderful!
Why are all these commentators on t.v. acting as though Trump isn’t a monster?
I just told a coworker that he is ignorant when it comes to history and that he needs to read more books about history, its going to be a long day.
Pace yourself, friend. Smile and know that you are on the right side of history. It’ll be ok…we all got this. Together.
Beautiful way to open TOD this morning. Thanks zizi. Stay Woke peoples!
❤
Fuck you David Axelrod, I prefer not to know what the First Lady’s you-know-what looks like.
Don, you should stop watching t.v. Go online and play chess or scrabble or watch your favorite movie or video. Remain Calm 😎
I would but I don’t want miss seeing a second of Barack and Michelle.
Don’t worry. Meta will share the moments with us 😊
I feel you.
But I just CANNOT stand the sight of that grotesque monster. Just cannot, especially with my PBO and MO.
I’ll have to rely on others’ descriptions and maybe be able to look at photos tomorrow……..UGH.
Then, I’ll see them as soon as you do, for certain 😎
Hahahahhaaa. OMG, what a day.
Indeed. We just have to hug one another a little tighter today.
Corrections😖 TOO MANY T COUN😱 Hope you got the gist, anyway.
Thank you to the author of this pace. It said everything that needed to be said about this monumental period in history. President OBAMA and his most excellent wife, Michele, brought joy and beauty to our lives, dignity to our country, and an unforgettable lesson in how to thrive with quiet power in the face of unbelievable and ugly obstruction.
I don’t see how they did what they did. Maybe, it was all the prayers, I don’t know.
I just know that I am gtreatful to have witnessed and participated in one of the finest and successful periods in America’s history.
I will always appreciate TOD, Chips, Nerdy, and all the other members of this wonderful family. It has been a daily joy to read the comments, to share our feelings during periods of pain and times of joy. I have loved reading the often hilarious interactions between TOD members.
This blog is a wonderful place to come to. It has really kept me going during these past eight years. So,
Yes I will lift my head up high and smile, because I was a part of making this glorious moments in history possible. I will always cherish the time spent at TOD.
And, by the way, I think we will need TOD more than ever, now that we face the frightening certainty of a TRUMP presidency.
So, if there any thoughts to shut this place down, I have request: “DON’T!”
Eve, go back and read last night TOD thread. It will answer your question and make you happy. It lifted our spirits 😊
Oh my😌Thanks. I will.
One last time….
Richard Nixon swore on 2 Bibles and ended up leaving the WH in disgrace.
Be Awake People
A Start Trek the Next Generation marathon on BBCA is running on the TV in my study.
My mother called to dish on some of the goings on and at first could not believe that I had kept to my word to boycott this thing. I will tune in on some online source to see the final farewell at Andrews at 1:10. It will be his first speech as Citizen Obama.
Poor PBO will have only one golf day, Saturday. All of the other days until near the end of the week have cold, rain and gray skies.
On my way to work in all this rain. ☔️☔️
PBO’s last tweets:
OMG
Valerie Jarrett will become:
@ValerieJarrett
This gave me an OMG moment too. Didn’t know this was done. Damn.
Good morning TODVille.
The Resistance starts right here with well informed people.
Thanks you so so much, Nerdy Wonka, for keeping TOD going strong as we forge ahead, and thank you to all TODers for your support, love for our FLOTUS, POTUS and their colleagues, and outrage over what is happening to our country. It means so much to be able to gather here and find solace and motivation as we work to keep the faith! Forever my president, indeed!
I’m watching how careful and deliberate he is. Every detail matters to him.
Thank you for being here this morning. How encouraging to read the posts and see pictures of our beloved ones.
JER, you are always on the case with the swiftness and thank you so much for not including a photo that contains those people.
I think I might be allergic to Orange. Avoiding it when possible.
LOL!!! JER<3
Mom called again to tell me the Obamas were on the portico waiting for those people and MO, did her usual brush off of PBO and he kissed her cheek. I tuned it to see what MO was wearing, a deep red A-line dress, pumps, hair pulled back in a curly chignon, then changed the channel when those people pulled up.
Thank you. I appreciate your lovely description. I’m remembering now the photo as PBO’s about to go out and announce his candidacy in February 2007 and she’s doing that thing she does. So endearing.
CEB, maybe it’s me but I have a feeling Trump is the last person Michelle Obama wants to meet. I feel the same.
Can’t stand the thought of that monster touching her.
I know. I will never forget that speech she gave in N.H. about the disrespect of women by Trump.
She and Barack will do their job, like they have done these pass eight years. Thank you Obamas. Love you two.
President Obama said that he believed that we will be okay. But he also qualified it. He said, “We have to FIGHT FOR IT; we have to WORK FOR IT and NOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.”
I want to share this important video, but I cannot figure out bowl. I do not tWeet or do Facebook, and I cannot find it on the aj+ website. Can anyone help me please?
I don’t tweet either, cd4biden, but if you right click on the time stamp and select “copy link address” you should be able to paste the address for the tweet which includes the video.
I can imagine the family on the plane as it takes off for Palm Springs, singing, dancing, and hugging each other. Freedom! I am so happy for them. They can go on dates without a cavalcade, stay up late, shop, host dinner parties with people they actually like, body surf, never wear a suit with that flag pin and so much more.
After they rest up, I hope that he will be able to take her on the trip that she wanted where they re-live their honeymoon journey along the California coast.
I’m sorry I have been away for so long. I spent the last three days working 16 hours/day helping with a school district accreditation review. I had no time to even think about the last few days of this glorious presidency. As I was driving home last night, pretty exhausted, it suddenly hit me with a lot of force how SAFE I had felt these past eight years. I had never really thought of it in that way before. I remember the day after the first inauguration driving to school, listening to the news, and hearing the news reader talk about President Obama – it had become a reality. After eight years of being in the sure hands of a man like President Obama, I had taken ‘safe’ for granted. And now that safety is gone. In other presidential transitions I have been joyous or angry or depressed or worried but never unsafe in the way I do now. Thank you, Nerdy and all other commenters and contributors, for this beautiful post today-the tears are already flowing. I’m going to my dear,Democratic friend’s house to spin. We are going to have the TV on to a station that is not broadcasting the sinauguration. I read that is better than keeping the TV off. The more people watching other stuff, the poorer his number will look. The fewer people watch, the better his numbers will look, proportionately. In fact, I am going to leave the TV on at my house even though I’m not home. My cats can watch Burn Notice on ION TV all day.
Hi Mary! {{{hugs}}}
You’re right, we felt SAFE with PBO & his Administration in Office.
Enjoy your day today 🙂
First Let me say, Hello Obama Diary Family. How are you all doing. Know you all, this country, the world are in my prayers. So are the man and woman who for the last eight years have represented this country with class and dignity, who despite the racism, the disrespect, they had to deal with, they have held their head high and did their job. Michelle and Obama you made me proud, I THANK YOU and I will miss you. Thank You.
I am meeting friends here today. Then out to lunch for a celebration of and toast to President and First Lady Obama.
Have a good time, Meta.
Enjoy meta!
meta, Thanks for that.
Please get some rest, enjoy your time together, and come back.
thanksssssssssss…
Thanks meta.
You are simply the best!
Wonderful idea
Brilliant Zizi!
On this solemn day, I thank all of you for sharing your lives with me at TOD. I’m a better citizen because of all of you.
Most special thanks to our BTs for their tireless efforts to keep the lights on here.
Wishing you love, one and all.
Obama/Biden Forever
Ugh!
GM TOD…Let me repeat my heartfelt THANKS to NERDY for keeping TOD open.
Also Thank You to META for all the info re updating twitter and other accounts.
I had let my twitter account go dormant but now I have revived it since that is one of the main
ways we will stay in touch with our beloved PBO and Michelle. I am already following a lot of TOD since 2012
but would like to follow more now so I am @HOPE44FWD. Thank you all and love you all.
You know, all of us will need to step back to really process the last 8 years. We have been on the case, moving with PBO from situation to situation daily. We have been reacting and acting in the moment without time to really soak up the meaning of this historic time. OMG, we had a Black, African-American president of the United States for two successful terms! He was elected in an electoral and popular landslide against white males. By all non-prejudiced standards, he was wildly successful and there were no scandals and criminal investigations throughout these 8 years. He had a Black, African-American wife who was a Princeton and a Harvard graduate who had highly paid professional careers. She was also beautiful, stylish, engaging and strong enough to be exactly who she is (and was shaped like a real woman with curves and arms that everyone wanted). This couple had kind, beautiful kids who exhibited the type of confidence and affection that dearly loved children show. OMG, this Black, African-American First Family left the White house with high approvals in the top 4. We lived through all of this; how blessed we have been and how grateful I am to have lived it with all of you.
One of my projects is to record my memories of this time with the aid of Pete’s photos and hopefully archived pages of TOD.
Question:will there be an archived file of TOD that we can download and/or access on line by year and date?
obama.org
barackobama.com
Done!
I did it early so I wouldn’t forget.
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Friday morning. TGIF>> Congrats Don, on being first this morning.
Nerdy, thanks so much for helping Ms. Chips and for the sacrifices you’re making for us TOD’ers. 💫🙏👌👊❤
To all, I hope you have a no-holds-barred, undeniably, positively, jolly-good-time today. ❤ ❤ ❤
I am thankful to God that I lived to witness one of the greatest President of The United States of America in President Barack Hussein Obama. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
Running behind, ranman, but wanted to say thank you for this comment. Since the election I have wondered what you would write. This is perfect! 😀👏👍
“That vision has never secured permanent dominance, but neither has it ever lost its relevance. The vision Obama articulated fell to defeat months after he delivered that speech, only to triumph four years later. But it was true when he said it, remains true today, and is likely to triumph over the long haul — the only viable path to a greater America is to continually forge a more open and inclusive one.”
Michelle looks like she wants no parts of this foolishness, LOL.
Same.
I am with Michelle 100%. I don’t plan to watch a second of Trump-Putin event.
Thank you AG Lynch!
Orange had the audacity to kiss FLOTUS on both cheeks.
OMG! How did she keep from throwing up?!
I have so much respect and admiration for SOS John Kerry
Thank so much, Zizi!
Our sources say at 2:45 PM they will leave Andrews on Special Air Mission 29,000, the plane that will take them to Palm Springs. It’s the same plane that Obama used as president, but it won’t be called Air Force One.
well how does he get back? I mean, is this his plane now, do all previous presidents have planes?
The plane is called Air Force One only when the president is aboard. This plane will be going back to Andrews after they are dropped off.
I meant how will he get back from CA to DC? I’ve never thought about whether previous president fly commercial, do they?
thanks CEB, meta answered too 🙂
Once they arrive in Palm Springs, that is the end of their government transportation. They will find their own way back.
thank you meta, never dawned on me how they get around after being POTUS.
I’ll come pick them up and drive them wherever they want to go!!
LOLz!! I think they’ll find their way somehow!!
Hillary is dressed in her suffragette white from head to toe. She is smiling and looking good. I hope someone yells out “Hillary, Hillary.” Mom also said that tea took much longer than the time scheduled and that DT presented PBO with a the iconic blue Tiffany Box that contained the traditional gift. PBO just handed it off to an aide as they went in to tea. DT has to show off. I know that this is one gift that the Obamas will not buy back from the office that receives such to keep.
She had to take several deep breaths and did you notice how Bill reached for her hand and gave it a supportive squeeze? Hillary is an iron lady (and her hair is laid!). She and Michelle have the type of stoicism that I is beyond me.
Thank you President Obama and thank you Michelle. There never will be another like you no matter how hard they try. My heart is heavy and I feel like I can’t breathe but like you told us this week “we are going to be ok”. Thank you Sir and welcome to California, my home state.
Thanks JER
This is what I am waiting for, then I will lace up by boots to begin a more active life as a citizen.
Me too CEB, this is the only reason I’m watching.
Destroying public property is not helpful. Obviously they learned nothing about how to engage to get things done.
oh dear…. The Mall is empty.
the ACLU has filed a suit through the Freedom of Information act to get the Deplorable Ones financial information from the OGE, but even they do not have it. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
welp what have I learned today? I tuned in for 3 minutes, so you wouldn’t have to.. and I will not do it again:
according to Fox- there are less people there today than 2009 and maybe less than the 800,000 of 2012- BUT that’s because the “weather” kept people away. HA, BS.
There are a few black folks at this ‘event’. And a few brown people too. Why? Why is anyone there, really?
Also via another news station: “he” will not only be “just” the President, but he will be “THE Commander In Chief”. Yes said loudly and proudly.. and then how he’ll COMMAND all our many troops. eww.
Done with that nonsense, never to return to “news” tv again. I literally have stayed away for 8 yrs and I will not be going back.. especially since I know they will be whitewashing this presidency with every stroke.
A million plus people froze their asses off in 2009; this weather excuse for the poor attendance is all bullshit.
I stopped watching the so-called news soon after PBO was elected. I saw less than 2 minutes of this travesty today and that was to see Michelle and Hillary.
I wish I could be a fly on the wall when this no-nothing meets with the Joint Chiefs. The blustering know nothing fool will probably almost wet his pants.
Yep I remember how cold it was that day.. although I wasn’t there. Nope, they’re already making excuses for Trump’s day.. and I’ve no doubt it’ll continue. Like you I stopped watching tv news in 08, but tuned in for his Inaugurations. And I do not miss it one bit. I hope he frequently gets a comeuppance from the joint chiefs – we’ll see how brave they are.
If I was twenty years younger I would be right out there protesting too.
how different the police mood 8 years ago..police in riot gear..with nightsticks/tasers ready to employ!
i meant that today the police are in full war on the people regalia
Good morning everyone. We are watching Blue Hawaii on our movie channel. I’ll watch video of the President leaving. I just can’t watch anything with Trump near.
I will be spending my noon 2hours with children at our local school as I sub for lunch duty. Love being around these kids.
And I bet the children love having you there Marilyn. ❤
Empty streets and empty bleachers for an empty, soul-less man.
That fucker looks miserable already LOL.
LOL!
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2017/01/20/the-world-today/
While this was from yesterday, I’m sharing it because I like the Seuss message. [And yes I’ve now unfollowed @vj44]
That is my motto as well.
{{{CEB}}}
DT kissed Michelle on the cheek again on the way to the podium. gave a thumps up when he was announced.
Mom keeps calling to update me because we usually watch all things Obama together, but I just cannot watch this man take the oath. The little I did watch showed DT doing deep breathing and looking uncomfortable. PBO is looking in charge and comfortable in his skin. I turned it off and went back to Star Trek.