Chat Away

President Barack Obama (hand, at right) greets members of the U.S. Coast Guard after making a statement at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office, Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. Photo by Pete Souza

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus hold a roundtable discussion with business owners and officials at the United States Coast Guard district office in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. Photo by Pete Souza

President Barack Obama has a beer with patrons at the Pump Haus Pub and Grill in Waterloo, Iowa, Aug. 14, 2012. Photo by Pete Souza

Sandusky, Ohio

Children listen to President Obama in Sandusky, Ohio, July 5

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Orlando Pace, former NFL offensive tackle, introduces President Obama

Sandusky, Ohio, July 5

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President Obama enjoys a beer with Jennifer Klanac (L) and Suzanne Woods (R) at Ziggy’s Pub in Amherst, Ohio

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From yesterday:

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet guests on the South Lawn of the White House (Pete Souza)

o’bama! henry! ollie! (say hello to henry & stephen neill in the comments)

President Barack Obama visits the Dubliner, an Irish pub in Washington, D.C., with his Irish cousin, Henry Healy, center, and Ollie Hayes, a pub owner in Moneygall, Ireland, on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 (Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama celebrates St. Patrick’s Day at the Dubliner Irish pub in Washington, March 17

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night everyone

Too many blissful moments to choose from today, but go on then …. I’ll pick these three minutes … just listen to the crowd from 0:18 and watch the President and First Lady’s reaction:

And these five photos….

1 Because the President visiting Ireland meant so, so much to Dan Rooney – just look at his face at Dublin airport this morning, and the way he’s holding the President’s hands:

2 Because the sight of President Obama with a hurley in his hands just cracked me up …. especially when he threatened to use it against Congress:

3 Because the Obamas’ visit to Moneygall gave the village’s people a day they will never, ever forget:

4 Because this photo just showed how fun and utterly lovely the first couple are:

5 Because, for me, this photo is iconic. The sight of President Obama pointing towards the skies, in the general direction of the Irish flag, will hardly make Ireland’s economic disaster go away …. but his speech today made more than a few Irish folk believe that Ireland can come back again: Is Féidir Linn … Yes We Can.

Can I have a sixth? Please? Thanks!

Because they said President Obama couldn’t possibly attract as big a crowd in Dublin as Bill Clinton did 15 years ago.

He did 😉

Thank you for your company on a beautiful day – I won’t be able to post as frequently tomorrow, but I’ll do my best 😉

the perfect pint!

President Barack Obama watches as First Lady Michelle Obama draws a pint at Ollie Hayes Pub in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

all set

‘all the president’s men descend on moneygall’

Irish Independent: … The US president’s men and women descended on Moneygall, Co Offaly, yesterday to begin preparations for his visit to his ancestral hometown in May …Mr Obama is expected to fly into Dublin on Monday, May 23, spend the day in the country, stay overnight in Dublin and depart for London on Tuesday, May 24. His visit will come just three days after Queen Elizabeth completes her historic four-day trip here…

Mr Obama’s advance security team was in Dublin yesterday to visit Aras an Uachtarain, Farmleigh House and the US Ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park, and Government Buildings in the city centre. But it was in Moneygall – where locals are well under way with their own advance planning for the visit – that team Obama made its presence felt.

As people hosed down walls and scrubbed the town’s face, two garda outriders led a blacked-out coach and van into Moneygall. Out stepped a group comprised of staff from the US Embassy, the White House, the US State Department and agents from the Secret Service. They were accompanied by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs as they checked out locations the US president is expected to visit.

“They just wanted to look around, have a chat and ask a few questions,” said local publican Ollie Hayes, who had his pub – and the toilets therein – photographed by the POTUS appointed potty inspectors. “…they had a few refreshments,” he said, and added he hoped Mr Obama would have a pint. “I do hope he comes in here, it would be brilliant.”

..Mr Obama’s distant relative, Henry Healy, said the town was already getting a tourism lift as the buzz surrounding the visit increased. “It’s been crazy but it is exciting times for the village. It’s all positive around here. We are forgetting about the IMF and the bailout. There is unbelievable community spirit for the whole thing, everybody is out cleaning and the painters are coming. The village is really coming together to make sure that Moneygall portrays a perfect picture of Ireland when the president gets here.”

Article here

barack & bracknell

BBC: Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will visit the UK on their first official state visit in May. US presidents who have met the Queen have mostly stayed in London, but where else in the UK might the Obamas travel?

The Obamas’ planned visit to the UK in May is their second trip to the country, but the first as official guests of the British Royal Family.

Since the turn of the 20th Century, 11 American presidents have made the trip across the Atlantic. Most have stayed in London, visiting Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and other sights on the diplomatic tourist trail.

….President Obama might consider a trip to Bracknell where his half sister Auma used to live and, it is thought, his step mother Kezia still does. A short train ride from London, the commuter town might not be an obvious choice for a world leader, but Mr Obama has already made a trip to the area. Before he became president he attended his former brother-in-law’s stag do in nearby Wokingham…..