Compassion

My heart goes out to the victims and their families in London. No act of terror can shake the strength and resilience of our British ally.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 23, 2017

A Parliamentary Burn

💙THIS is absolutely the most awesome letter I have ever read! pic.twitter.com/dmNvtghaee

— 💙Rapunzel™💙 woke AF (@co_rapunzel4) June 27, 2016

The President’s Day In Canada And The First Lady’s Day In Spain

President Enrique Pena Nieto, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and President Barack Obama arrive for the North American Leaders Summit and Leaders Summit at the National Gallery of Canada

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President Enrique Pena Nieto and President Barack Obama speak during a bilateral meeting

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President Enrique Pena Nieto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and President Barack Obama pose for a group photo

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President Enrique Pena Nieto, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and President Barack Obama hold a trilateral press conference

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President Barack Obama is welcomed to Parliament Hill

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U.S. President @BarackObama arrives at Parliament Hill in Ottawa; shakes hands with children waiting outside https://t.co/UwKx5FdNQw

— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) June 29, 2016

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President Barack Obama signs a guest book at Parliament Hill

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President Barack Obama addresses Parliament in the House of Commons Chamber on Parliament Hill

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They are shouting "four more years!" pic.twitter.com/Geg2NXWYfF

— Roberta Rampton (@robertarampton) June 29, 2016

‘Four more years!’: MPs chant they want @BarackObama to serve another term as president https://t.co/E8Y7FUm1MA

— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) June 29, 2016

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People watch as a motorcade with President Barack Obama drives to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport after the North American Leaders Summit

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First Lady Michelle Obama, First Daughters Malia and Sasha Obama, and Grandma Marian Robinson arrive in Madrid, Spain

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Video Here

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Namaste President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama

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President Obama is honored to be back in #India to celebrate Republic Day and to begin a new chapter in the US-India partnership. Jai Hind!

— Obama NSC- Archived (@NSC44) January 25, 2015

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President Barack Obama inspects a guard of honor during his welcoming ceremony

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Wing commander Puja Thakur of the Indian Air Force leads the guard of honor

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First Post: Wing Commander Puja Thakur Leads Guard Of Honour for Obama, Scores A Win For Modi Govt

US President Barack Obama’s visit to India for the Republic Day parade is on the path of turning out to be a gigantic public relations success for the Narendra Modi government. Just two days after the Prime Minister launched the government’s ambitious ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign, the country witnessed the first guard of honour in the country’s history led by a woman officer. Wing commander Puja Thakur of the Indian Air Force led the guard of honour in the Raj Bhavan in what is being hailed as a inspiring move by the Modi government.

NDTV reported: “President Obama was given a 21-gun salute at the forecourt of the majestic presidential palace, after which Wing Commander Thakur walked him for the inspection of the Guard of Honour. She is the first woman officer to lead a tri-services Guard of Honour.” Thakur told NDTV that while she was proud of the fact that she was allowed to lead the guard of honour, she really hoped that the incident inspired more women to join the armed forces in the country.

More here

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President Barack Obama pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

President Barack Obama folds his hands in a traditional Indian greeting gesture, as Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laugh during a ceremonial reception at the Indian presidential Palace in New Delhi

afternoon all

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😆 Thanks nintendowii10!

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Pew: A new Pew poll confirms a trend that’s been surfacing for a few weeks – with the constant changes in the GOP presidential primary race, President Obama has seen an uptick in a few key metrics, maintaining a slim lead against former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and a larger one against other possible challengers.

Pew’s numbers shows that the President’s approval rating, which has been consistently underwater during a difficult summer in Washington, is now even at 46 percent. It also shows that his favorability rating, a point of particular strength for him, continues to be positive. 52 percent of those Americans polled holds him in a positive light, versus 45 percent who see him unfavorably.

More here

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Steve Benen: President Obama told business leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that U.S. policymakers have been “a little bit lazy” when it comes to attracting businesses to American soil. Republicans have taken this line and said the president called Americans “lazy.” They’re lying.

It’s been pleasantly surprised by the number of news outlets who’ve been willing to tell the public the truth…. And then there’s Politico, which ran a 1,300 word piece that emphasized Republicans’ use of the out-of-context quote, while downplaying the relevant detail: Republicans are misleading the public.

…. What matters, according to the cynical Politico article, is the way in which the GOP is exploiting an opportunity, not whether that exploitation is accurate, fair, or advancing the public debate. That’s just not how quality political journalism is supposed to work…..

Full article here

Alec MacGillis (TNR): …. As a news reporter, one has a choice. One can do what NBC’s Mark Murray, Time’s Michael Scherer, or the New York Times’ Richard Oppel all did yesterday and today, which is to declare Republicans’ exploitation of Obama’s line as blatantly out of context and unfair.

Or one can do what Politico did, which is to write a full story headlined “Obama’s ‘lazy’ remark catches fire,” which reports, in a tone of barely suppressed glee, that Republicans have been handed a gift….

…. let’s be clear: this sort of story is why people hate Washington, and why they can’t stand us political reporters. The story is a purveyor of the worst sort of lazy – yes, lazy – cynicism.

Full article here

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Mediaite: Earlier today, we brought you the hard-to-believe story that Texas Gov. Rick Perry sent a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, challenging her to a debate on Monday. Pelosi’s response quickly underscored the problem with Perry’s challenge when she tweeted her response: “Re: Gov. Perry–Monday I’ll be in Portland. Later visiting labs in CA. That’s 2. I can’t remember the 3rd thing.”

More here

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it’s oz time

President Obama is pictured with Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Australian Major-General Peter Cosgrove after Obama laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra

…. with John Hogg, President of the Australian Senate

….. addressing the Australian Parliament in Canberra

…. visiting Campbell High School in Canberra

… with U.S. Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich before a tree dedication ceremony at the U.S. embassy compound in Canberra

President Obama waves from the steps of Air Force One upon his departure from Canberra

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😎 NT News

** All Australia posts here **

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I hate to ruin this post with a photo of Rusty, but bjw2 (thank you!) saw this at the brilliant Democrats for Progress – Rusty Bawls Through Congressional Award Ceremony:

Oh. Good. Grief.

london, the speech

(In case you missed it posted below)

Transcript of speech here

london, wednesday

Text of address

President Obama and British PM David Cameron wave to the media outside 10 Downing St prior to their meeting

All times US Eastern

4:50 AM (9:50 AM UK time) President Obama holds a bilateral meeting with PM Cameron

5:05 AM (10:05 UK) President Obama holds a bilateral meeting with Deputy PM Nick Clegg

5:35 AM (10:35 UK) President Obama holds an expanded bilateral meeting with PM Cameron

6:30 AM (11:30 UK) President Obama and PM Cameron attend an event hosted by Mrs. Cameron and Michelle Obama to honor military families, U.S. and U.K. service members and veterans

7:35 AM (12:35 UK) President Obama and PM Cameron hold a joint press conference

10:30 AM (3:30 UK) President Obama delivers remarks to the U.K. Parliament

11:55 AM (4:55 UK) President Obama holds an U.S. Embassy meet and greet

3:30 PM (8:30 UK) President Obama and Michelle Obama hold a dinner in honor of the Queen at the residence of the American ambassador in London

Live here

…with British Deputy PM Nick Clegg

The morning after, President Obama seemed a little confused as to why the British national anthem started playing before he was done speaking at a state dinner. Obama was overheard admitting to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg that things didn’t go exactly as he had hoped at Buckingham Palace.

“I thought that it was like out of the movies, where …” Obama began, as Clegg suggested, “There’s a crescendo?”

“… a soundtrack that kind of comes in,” Obama continued, smiling.

“With your voiceover?” Clegg asked, laughing in front of a pool of reporters.

Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron serve food at a barbecue for British and American service members and veterans at Downing Street

President Obama arrives for a news conference to be held with PM David Cameron at Lancaster House in London

Live here

Tom Hanks with his wife Rita Wilson arrive to hear US President Obama’s address in Westminster Hall

President Obama, escorted by John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Helen Hayman, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, walks into Westminster Hall to address members of both Houses of Parliament

address

President Barack Obama addresses the Indian Parliament in New Delhi on November 8

Full text of address