Madiba

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The rock quarry where Madiba was forced into hard labor for many years

Entrance to the cell where Madiba was confined

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Madiba’s prisoner ledger

Rise and Shine: The Week in Images (And a Word or Two)

@petesouza: President Obama inside a Ford truck following his speech in KC

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Today:

5:0 EDT: President Obama delivers remarks at a memorial for victims of the Navy Yard shooting; First Lady Michelle Obama also attends

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Monday * Tuesday * Wednesday * Thursday * Friday * Saturday

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Monday

@PeteSouza: Lisa Monaco briefs Pres Obama on the shootings today at the Wash Navy Yard

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When will it be enough? – by Liberal Librarian

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President Obama receives an update on the Washington Navy Yard shootings investigation from FBI Director James Comey, left, and Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. in the Oval Office (Pete Souza)

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Tuesday

by Jacqueline OBoomer

There sits a building, painted white
It glimmers in the bright sunlight
Built by strong, dark hands, without a choice
Built to house a leader, so we’d all have a voice

There sits a building, painted white
It shimmers in the soft twilight
Shadowing strong, dark hands taking their rest
Ghosts of our democracy, who gave it their best

There sits a building, painted white
It dims its lights, overnight
Built by slaves, who also served inside
Where none thought they should ever reside

There sits a building, painted white
We tip our hats to it, day and night
Built by slaves, who’d hang their heads to pray
A man with strong, dark hands would live there someday

There sits a building, painted white
I dare to say it is still quite the sight
For a still young country, yet to fully repent
But now shining light on why their knees were bent

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Today POTUS called Pauline Beck to tell her the home care rule has been finalized—in 07’ he took a walk in her shoes http://t.co/Jq0tuYSXiX

— Valerie Jarrett (@vj44) September 17, 2013

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Wednesday

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Inside the Oval Office: President Obama meets with the @BGCA_Clubs 2013 Youth of the Year finalists —> pic.twitter.com/yw4EqDrCj0

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 18, 2013

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More adventures in our failed media experiment: Part 1,382 – by Liberal Librarian

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War and peace in a democracy

Cross-posted at The People’s View

Even if you were stuffing yourself full of the first weekend of college football, by now you know that President Barack Obama conducted one of the most important Rose Garden addresses in the history of the modern Presidency.

Taking the baton from his Secretary of State John Kerry, he again laid out, in forceful, passionate language, the situation as it was in Syria. He explained that the intelligence community had concluded with great certainty that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the chemical attacks in contested areas of Damascus the week before. He passionately argued that American values and national interest dictated that Assad’s regime be punished militarily for the use of those chemical weapons against civilians. He stated that the military had assets in place and was ready to go at any time.

And then he did something no modern president had done. Even though he believed he had the authority to act, he knew that this was a divisive issue, and that the people’s representatives had to join in the decision. He called for Congress to debate and vote on a resolution granting him specific authority to militarily strike Assad for violating international treaties banning the use of chemical weaponry, some of the oldest weapons conventions in international law. He had heard the rumblings from Congress saying that he had to seek approval before any strike, and agreed.

But why did he agree? This is where he pivots beyond what all the pundits and talking heads expected. Just before declaring that he would seek Congressional approval, he reiterated that he believed that he had the authority to conduct the attacks with or without Congressional approval. But such an action, in a region of the world where such action could quickly spiral out of control, needed more than just Barack Obama’s say-so as Commander in Chief. Syria is not Libya. In the Libyan crisis, the President had a UN resolution with which to work. As a signatory to the UN charter, all member nations had a duty to enforce Security Council resolutions. That was all the authorization he needed.

Let Freedom Ring: The Day in Images

President Obama talks with Yolanda Renee King, 5, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., her mother Arndrea Waters, and Martin Luther King III

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The complete ceremony, forward to 30 minutes for the start:

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President Obama’s speech:

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Excerpt:

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With Trayvon Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, and Mark Barden, father of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim Daniel Barden, Peter Yarrow, left, and Paul Stookey, right, of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary

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Rev. Joseph Lowery

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Stunning: Pres. Obama, the First Lady & former Presidents Clinton & Carter walk past statue of Lincoln (@PeteSouza) pic.twitter.com/W1gER8VtFV

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) August 29, 2013

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Enthusiasm Gap:

President Obama at the University of Buffalo today (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Magnolia’s Deli and Cafe in Rochester, New York

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Next up:

5:55 ET: President Obama delivers remarks at Henninger High School, Syracuse

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More pics later, chat on!

The week in review…

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“Good morning. My name is Hannah Nelson, I’m sixteen years old, and I’m from Belfast,” was how the student chosen as the warm up speaker for Michelle Obama introduced herself to 2,000 invited guests at the Waterfront Hall.

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The Week in Review

President Obama at a Father’s Day luncheon to celebrate the importance of strong families and mentorship, June 14

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Monday:

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Tally: AHMAHGAHD VERIZON HAZ MAH INFOS OH NOOOES!!

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@VP: VP ceremonially swears in @ErnestMoniz as Sec. of @ENERGY in the Roosevelt Room of the @whitehouse

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Jacquelineoboomer: Confessions of an Obama-supportin’ Original Baby Boomer

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Edward Snowden fills in the Guardian’s Greenwald Survey:

Dad-in-Chief

Week in Toons…

The Week in Review

President Obama delivers opening remarks to the White House Mental Health Conference, June 3

….. embraced by Janelle Montano, of Active Minds:

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Bradley Cooper introduces VP Biden to close the White House summit on Mental Health

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President Obama announces his nomination of three candidates for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. June 4

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