Stake Your Place

When I saw Oprah interview Michelle Obama, Oprah asked how Michelle got over feeling intimidated sitting at big tables filled with smart, powerful men and Michelle said, “You realize pretty quickly that a lot of them aren’t that smart.” I think about that quote every single day.

— Heidi Stevens (@HeidiStevens13) October 16, 2019

Rise and Shine

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Today:

10:0: The President departs the White House

11:05: Arrives Virginia Beach, VA

11:50: Delivers remarks at a campaign event at Farm Bureau Live, Virginia Beach

1:0: Departs Virginia Beach

2:10: Arrives the White House

First Lady Michelle Obama visits Chicago on Thursday to headline two fund-raisers and to debut on Steve Harvey’s new television show. Mrs Obama has funders at Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo’s Studio and at the home of business executive and Democratic donor Fred Eychaner.

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Steve Benen – more here

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play-time

open for questions

right off the bat

First Lady Michelle Obama plays table tennis with members of the band Big Time Rush in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House while taping a message for NIckelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play, Saturday, Sept. 24. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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Methinks it’s time for a POTUS v FLOTUS ping-pong head-to-head:

London, May 2011

reflecting

President Barack Obama talks with members of his staff in the Oval Office following a meeting with the Congressional Leadership, July 7, 2011. Pictured with the President, from left, are: Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Rob Nabors, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs; Bruce Reed, Chief of Staff to the Vice President; National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling; Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director of the National Economic Council; Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew; Senior Advisor David Plouffe; and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

I much prefer Bobfr’s caption:

“Gentlemen, yes I know, they’re dumber than rocks but they are Americans, too, so as we vaporize their deficit bulls*^t with Section 4 of the 14th Amendment and display for the American people just how lame, cruel and mind bogglingly dumb their little brinksmanship stunt is, be generous of spirit as we drape their Republican coffin with Old Glory, and bury their stain on 6 Nov 2012. Thank you and have a good day.”

😆

pete souza, genius (say hello in the comments to the father of the lovely irish girl)

** See comment #6 **

President Obama greets a little girl following his remarks during the Irish celebration at College Green in Dublin, Ireland, May 23

President Obama greets Hugh Hills, 85, in front of his home in Joplin, Mo., May 29. Hills hid in a closet during the tornado, which destroyed the second floor and half the first floor of his house

President Obama consoles a woman at the Joplin Community Memorial Service at Missouri Southern University, May 29.

President Obama and British PM David Cameron play table tennis with students at Globe Academy in London, May 24

President Barack Obama walks around the grounds of Buckingham Palace in London, England, May 24

President Barack Obama talks with pub-goers as First Lady Michelle Obama draws a pint at Ollie Hayes pub in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23

Please don’t let Bo ever see this photo: David Cameron introduces President Obama to Larry the cat at 10 Downing Street in London, May 25

First Lady Michelle Obama greets soccer star David Beckham at a dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II at Winfield House in London, May 25

Lots of new White House photos released today – see here

dinner is (almost) served

First Lady Michelle Obama talks to a group of girls at a dinner preview for an official state dinner for German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House, June 7

a good sport

NASCAR:

Gymnastics:

Cycling:

Quarterbacking:

Prize Fighting:

Pretend-golf:

Mind-reading:

Cow-taming:

Fencing:

Juggling:

Dancercise:

Aerobics:

International Ping Pong:

Trans-Atlantic paddling:

Sailing:

Orienteering:

Rodeo:

Stone-flinging:

Karate Chopping:

Long Distance Running:

Chess:

Ice-skating:

Hurdling:

Wave-riding:

High-Jumping:

Backwards Tennis:

Cricket:

Really Big Fish Catching:

Saber-swinging:

Soccer ball juggling:

Tiny ball-whacking:

Pocket Battleships:

Batting:

Ball-potting:

Weight-lifting:

Left-leaning (a popular sport in Communist Europe):

Snow-ploughing:

Hurling:

That ‘don’t-blink’ game:

Thumb-Wrestling (thank you gobrooklyn for the reminder about this great sport):

General Wrestling:

Fly-swatting:

bat man!

President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron play table tennis with students of the Globe Academy school in London on May 24