The helicopter carrying President Obama flies over the ancient city of Petra, Jordan, March 23
****
All posts/photos/videos from the Middle East trip here
****
Home!
Chat away!
23
Mar
13
205 Responses to “The Ancient and The New”
Comments are currently closed.
White House.gov
- More than 4.83 Million Records Released
- In Photos: Pope Francis Visits the White House
- West Wing Week: 9/25/15 or, “Our Common Home”
- Third Estimate of Gross Domestic Product for the Second Quarter of 2015
- Follow Along: Official China State Visit
WH Tumblr
- “Our work together—to increase our trade, boost the global...
- “On behalf of the American people, welcome to the United...
- President Obama greeted Pope Francis at the White House this...
- “When it comes to the care of our common home, we are...
- “Climate change is a problem that can no longer be left to a...
The People’s View
- Speaker John Boehner resigns Liberal Librarian
- On Catholicism and the sanctity of life Liberal Librarian
- Open thread - Midweek Ha-has Liberal Librarian
- The End Times Nancy the Artist
- Could a Shutdown Threat “Break the Fever” and Provide an Opening to Stimulus and Recovery? Randy Abraham, Guest Blogger
Smartypants
- Boehner Gets Himself Out of a Jam
- The Republican "Southern Strategy" is Still Alive
- DOJ and HUD Target Redlining
- "Hope Builds on Itself. Success Breeds Success"
- The Pope's Speech to Congress Was Grounded in Morals, Not Politics
A Writing Corner (LL)
- #Pixels: A sign of the Apocalypse?
- Annals in “WTH Were You Thinking??” – Potty Training
- For the young lady and her love of Seamus Heaney
- On compassion
- A Mass for the Dead
Greg Sargent
- Happy Hour Roundup
- Marco Rubio knows how to take on Donald Trump. Jeb Bush doesn’t.
- Was John Boehner a victim of circumstance or an incompetent bumbler?
- Morning Plum: Jeb Bush raises the ghost of Mitt ‘free stuff’ Romney
- Happy Hour Roundup
Steve Benen
- Citations for the September 25, 2025 TRMS
- Millions expected for Pope Francis in Philadelphia
- Surprising stature among pope's congressional protectors
- GOP's hard-right a wild card in replacing John Boehner
- Political world shocked by John Boehner resignation announcement
WH Flickr
|
Howdy, what a surprise!
Congrats Carol.
Thank you LP.
CarolMaeWY - you’re almost the permanent #!. CONGRATULATIONS!!
Only in the evening. I think I know why. News breaking shortly.
Cool
Is anyone watching the Harvard game?
They lost by 20…
Who did Harvard lose too?
Arizona #6 seed
Turn off the lights at 8:30 your time for an hour tonight. :smile:
Dear Chips and ToD, I’ve been away being a grown up and miss being here in real time, but I want to thank you and all your able Assistants for keeping me so well informed on the Middle East trip. You guys rock!
I missed on the last thread. But this sums up some feelings.
Good point, Mr. Yardarm. Maybe more and more of us should go into HIS city and shine an even bigger spotlight on practices he’s letting occur there - in the name of “law and order” … except for white New Yorkers, of course, then never mind the stop and frisk or the law and order parts.
(This is one of the reasons I can never warm up to Bloomberg … just when I think I might, he starts pointing to the “other guy,” and talking out of both sides of his mouth, again.)
More than likely the lips are in the sides of his neck!
Eek! Grotesque he is!
I see that my Senator voted against the Senate Budget, Senator Kay Hagen, she will be hearing from me.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mayor Bloomberg is going to run ads in NC against Senator Hagen because she opposes banning assault weapons.
Oh get this someone is talking about the price tag of VP Biden’s trip, the hotel and all. It might have been when he went to see the Pope. So is it the media or the right wing haters?
The ancient and the new. Hmmmmmm. Puts me in mind of the TOD Village
VC!!!!!!! :-)
:lol: :lol: I’m behaving, GGail.
Gurl !!!!!!! :lol:
Huh, that’d be a first.
My thoughts (summed up in one word) exactly!!!!
You wound me GGail, and after I’ve been trying so hard to project a more mature image. Don’t tell me it isn’t working. :???: ;)
Pleeze, I saw what you posted down below - hahahahahaha!!!!
Well, one has to start somewhere! :roll:
And BTW, don’t think I haven’t noticed a certain someone is trying to tell you you are an angel. I DO think I should drop a note in your ear not to believe everything you hear/see.
He’s trying to lull me in to a false sense of security VC, then BAM! He’ll post something outrageous!
Stop it you two! I’m kinda warming up to the “human” amk.
:lol: GGail, it’s the calm before the storm with that fella!!!!
But…..this responsibility on TOD that you’ve given him has brought about a “change we can believe in”. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! :-)
Hmm………………… we’ll see :???:
I’m with you on this, GGail. (see comment below about differing roles)
Actually, *I* have no fears re said party posting anything outrageous WHILE WEARING HIS CHIPADEE HAT, no matter how you guys/gals goad him. (And I’m looking at you master goader Chips) I see him stoically parrying your thrusts and taunting back, but not really being touched at all by it. HOWEVER, in any other role in the village I’d say all bets are off. So in this particular area, be warned, I have his back! Now the issue of angels and ‘foreign languages’ is fair game, IMO.
VC? Have you been hacked??????? :lol:
/all innocence/ No. Why?
Teeheehee! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Wow Allison, he’s home already?!
GREAT NEWS!!!!! Still has time to have dinner with his family and cuddle on the sofa with all of them!!!!
#FORWARD
THIS!!
Safe and sound!
And we are all relieved. But…..it was an extremely successful trip! Even the NYTimes is saying so.
They always underestimate the president. Of course one quibble…”Why didn’t he do it earlier?” Can’t they figure that out? The timing wasn’t right…..foundations needed to be laid…..his influence and power had to be substantiated by re-election……Bibi had to twist in the wind for a while…..he knows all this. The so-called “great” minds are slow.
Agreed carolyn, after President secured his re-election, it was time for Bibi to bow down to the Master of the Long Game!
In_DEED, Carolyn …. these folk demonstrate profound naivete ….
#TrustBarack … He’s Earned It
Not to mention, Carolyn, that PBO had a few crucial things on his first term agenda, like saving us from another Great Depression and fulfilling his promise about health care while he still had a Democratic Congress. Bibi was among those who thought that the Obama phenomenon would be short-lived and he would have a more pliant US pres to deal with. He (Bibi) needed to be taken down a peg by having his assumptions undermined by the re-election of PBO and his own arrogance shaken by the Israeli election. Of course, all of us and the NYT know this, so they’re just trying to be provocative.
Great comment, Carolyn! What these media pundits forget is the fact that he had to rescue the economy from impending collapse, end the war in Iraq, and prevent Al Qiada and the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan again.
Selective amnesia is what these MSM apparatus do. They are re-writing history again. Our economy, BP Gul oil spill, ACA, the Economy, 2010 elections, the economy, OBL took from Aug 2010-May 2011, debt Ceiling, re-election, before that, the Earthquake in Japan, Arab Spring from Nov of 2010…..present…..Egypt, Libya, Yemen, etc……
The way these MSM report nowadays, it is horrific. Pres Obama since Jan 20, 2009, it has Never been a bed of roses. I suppose, pres Obama has in their eyes made it seem so easy? Therefore, these fools have to find more and more problems and obstacles to assign to this POTUS?
This seems impossible. He left and I think it was 7am Pacific time. Which means he would be home 7pm pacific, 10pm Eastern??????
Super fast, Meta! Someone mentioned earlier the stopover in Germany was canceled, so that speeded them up!
Here he is!
http://cache3.asset-cache.net/gc/164429261-president-barack-obama-disembarks-from-air-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QWRsfRjI5WlWRnFZI8l%2fUxlkWkf1xYiMp%2fGgNRKjYumy%2bxJOfJ4PbyCu7nJMqxmhPA%3d%3d
Chipsticks, I was denied access to the page
Yikes, really GGail?
No worries, here he is:
Thank you m’lady. There’s my President!!!!
Some domestic items from the morning/afternoon………
Hahahaha. Bet he’s mad that he can’t spread gossip.
I’m confident, that honor-bound not to report off-the-record chat with Pres Obama will be broken by this useless @whpresscorps.
He LOVES to mention off-the-record - so the media will all start talking about the President not having an open government - etc etc.
If something if off the record - it should never get mentioned - jeeze louise - does this guy do anything right?
Now he’s tweeting every last GOP talking point.
They always end up wink, wink, some way some how, getting the bulk of that 15mins “;)” ends on Cable or in print.
Now I’m wondering……the Prez is smart and realistic to know that anything he says “off the record” is going to be on the grapevine tomorrow morning……so……what does he feed them? It’s not state secrets, or campaign strategy, or…….they like to feel special, so he strokes them.
Obama’s in the houyusse! Ya betta’ watch yo’ mouth!
I love these photos of our super modern president among the antiquities……He resonates with them but is firmly planted in the 21st century. An old soul with a modern mind.
I truly credit his mother, because I think she was the same way in life.
After viewing the two biography videos Ms. Nena posted on the last thread, I truly credit, his father, his mother, his grandparents,(maternal and paternal) his sister, FLOTUS, her entire family, the people of the South Side of Chi- town who helped shape this remarkable man’s life. His destiny was pre-destined before he was born. He had to find out who he was as he walked through life. Please watch the video. This is a man who was destined to succeed…….he is home in so many ways. He’s home!
I also feel this on a deep level. He was absolutely destined to be a great man.
I’ll have to go and find those videos.
Beautiful! Thanks for reminding us of all that!
I share your take of the POTUS ;)
Yes, I think his mother is so wholly imprinted on him for the good…….
One of the sensible bbc correspondents, Lyse Doucet, on PBO’s I/P visit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21907675
Sensible, indeed, amk. Thank you for sharing the link …
“Even in the toughest of neighbourhoods the strongest of words can make a difference.
Masterful words of an American president, delivered with empathy and eloquence, carried force to charm a sceptical Israeli public. But do they have enough power to push Israelis back to the negotiating table with the Palestinians?
“We need to take a very long breath now,” sighed 27-year-old Avinoam Rozenbaum the day after he sat with some 600 other Israeli students to listen to Barack Obama’s main speech during his three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. “I’m still digesting it,” he told me when he came in to our studio in Jerusalem, still visibly affected by the privilege of sitting in a front row of history.
President Obama’s carefully crafted “story of Israel” wove an arresting narrative of freedom - from the sacred Jewish holiday of Passover, through the establishment of a Jewish state, to the right of Palestinians to also be “a free people in their own land.” Avinoam heard first-hand the president’s call to “the young people of Israel… to write the next chapter in the story of this great nation”.”
Yes We Can
Bob, I have always found her to be level headed and not given to dramatics when reporting from ME. Glad they made her the chief international correspondent.
Thank you, amk!
Thanks AMK for sharing this piece. The U.S. needs “sensible” reporters and news analysts like her.
Pirate Wench, we all understand your pain. DAMN CHUCKIE’S BACK.
Just like that ugly doll, no one could ever get rid of.
Chips - You make my little heart glad.
Ah, it’s just wonderful to see him home Jacqueline after such a brilliant trip. I’ll admit, I was very nervous about security on this trip, as I’m sure lots were, so it was blissful to see him arrive safely at Andrews.
Yes, it’s not something we ever want to speak out loud, but it’s always on our minds. I, too, was having all kinds of thoughts. Hope he stays home for quite a while, so we can all b-r-e-a-t-h-e !!!
Sad to say, but I worry more about his safety with the massive amount of nuts in this country than when he is travelling overseas.
Well, that’s true Dotster, even if it pains to admit it.
Yes, dotster, sadly so true.
There’s definitely that, sad to say. God bless him.
I feel exactly the same way as you do, dotster3.
You know Ms. Chips, I also was so concern about President Obama’s security on this trip, because I do not trust Bibi. When a snake reveals it is a snake, don’t try and make it out to be anything other than a snake.
Too bad. I was hoping Chuckie could give us an “up close” and personal account of the lower colon of a camel.
And Todd’s twitter is a travelogue - then talking about the wealth of Kings - then saying how Clinton sorted out the peace process (He got “so close”) And then he loved answering all those questions
NOTHING about his President - NOTHING. I get so mad - and I’m way outside the beltway.
He’s an insufferable lowlife, 99ts - he doesn’t even try to hide his contempt.
“…then saying how Clinton sorted out the peace process (He got “so close”)… ”
And, of course, Clinton did all that while saving the economy from total collapse and dealing with two wars. I am really sick and tired of media people who are using Bill Clinton as an excuse to bash President Obama.
This is the website to enroll in the ACA exchanges for 2014-
http://www.enrollamerica.org/get-enrolled/how-to-enroll
Thank you, sweatheart!!
I know he must be so happy to be with FLOTUS and the girls tonight. XOXO.
Oi, don’t forget Bo! :-)
YES, BO Obama is probably jumping and panting and circling as we speak!!
:lol: Or, he could be out on a date night, you never know with that fella!
Bo is rather suavete.
(I’m just teasin’ ya, meta, but) *sweatheart*? Did ya mean sweetheart? Got a little flustered when you saw the photo? I know that feelin’.
So glad he is home safely on our soil, once again, even though we barely deserve such a fine man as our President!
OMG, yes - SWEETHEART. Geeze.
Sorry, but I couldn’t resist, because one could sense the excitement in the air in SF!
Well, YEAH!!!!
girls, girls. There are men around here.
go raibh maith agat.
Photos AND Irish?!!!!! Amk, YOU are an angel!!! :lol:
Tá fáilte romhat!
Sorry I couldn’t turn her hair green. Most people say I did turn theirs white. I don’t know why.
Actually, you appeared to turn mine yellow. I was going to complain, but you’d probably make it pink next time.
There he is, my rock and my flame. I am so happy to see President Obama is back home. Thank you Chips for posting this photo. Now I can exhale.
Ah, exhale and pour yourself a glass of wine Ladyhawke, you’ve earned it!
I feel you, LH!!
‘There he is, my rock and my flame.’
LadyH, for a moment I thought you were referring to AMK! Had I missed something? Was getting ready to inquire what he had done when I tweaked to your real message. :razz: :razz:
That egg is becoming most useful - why does that pic always appear around brunch time in my world?
:-) I love eggs, 99ts - but that pic almost turns me off them!
That could be advantageous to the diet I never manage to start
Chips, this egg belong on a lot of MSM faces. I don’t think you would have enough eggs to go around, but I will be happy to donate a few dozen. :)
So true COS, we’d need several dozen!!!! I just think Chuckie excelled this time, so I reckoned he deserved the one available egg!
Don’t worry COS. Mr. Yardarm has ordered an ocean liner filled with eggs…we will be needing them in the coming 2-3 years. The eggs will be rotten by year 3, which is perfect.
I can a ship a ton of rotten tomahtos to go with it.
Such an appropriate photo! Hahahahaha!!!!!
The oxymoron of the day.
Spot on Yardarm!
I thought so. I don’t like him very much. :-(
I still haven’t found a plausible explanation as to why this guy, Mark Knoller, is paid so much money (I think some one said that his paid a six figure income) just to report inanities.
Already on twitter there are comments about “why off record” . Knoller is unbelievable - off the record means you don’t mention it - It doesn’t mean you tell everyone you have a secret. Talk about grade school behavior
He is truly a piece of work.
I see Knoller and Ron—applied for job with McCain campaign—Fournier are all in a snit about the off the record chat. The same people always have to find something to crab about, no matter how minute. It’s constant and looks desperate and petty. Never can spare a kind word. Icky, small-minded, jealous humans. Ugh.
But Dotster, these off-the-record chats are unprecedented!!!!
http://www.informationliberation.com/test.php?id=8665
Indeed. What a bitter man.
As amk would say - idjit!
Just saw that one on twitter Bob - you do have to yell at some people - the perfect response
You guys are giving Knoller-head the blues & I love it!!!!
Seriously, he & Chuckie are only exhibiting the pain and frustration that the GOP are feeling about President Obama’s successful ME trip.
They probably chatted about football, golf and being a tourist in the middle east. Knoller will hopefully, never have a conversation with PBO again.
Our incredible President is home. I think the media can’t stand having him out of the country for any time because they may beg him to become
THEIR leader. Real people without malice in the heart know who and what is the real deal. Obama is the real deal. This country (even the ones throwing shade) knows that. So many people who voted for him this second time are definitely glad that they did and so many of the ones who did not quietly wish that they had.
http://www.mydestination.com/users/denea/bbb
I don’t know if Bo is so glad POTUS is back home. You remember POTUS telling us that Bo never sleep on the bed, except “softy here” pointing to Michelle, let’s Bo sleep on the bed sometimes when he is away. So I think part of Bo is happy to see POTUS is back, then part of him might not. Just kidding I think Bo is just as happy as Michelle, Malia and Sasha are to see POTUS back.
And us too, are happy he is home safe and sound. And had such a successful trip.
Is it We too, or us too? Better English, us or we???????
we
we!
Thank you.
us.
Thank you.
:twisted: sense of humour
I’m serious.
Aren’t you always? :grin: ‘us’…are happy? You implying the ‘we’ is understood; poetic license?
me too, us too vs so do I, so do we vs I too, we too.
what do you think ?
Object pronouns vs subject pronouns, yada yada. I’m far too sleepy to give the matter serious thought, so I’ll just say it sounded ‘wrong’.
malingerer.
Dude, did you see how late I stayed up last night and what time I signed on this morning? Not to mention that I awoke three times during the night - I’m truly pooped.
:D. Say gunnite vc.
Bo is just like my sofa stealing pug, jenny. Since I have to play the bad cop with the entire family, including my incorrigible mum, playing good cop, she is a bit ambivalent when it comes to shaking her tiny lil tail when she sees me - to do (since he is the dood who sneaks me the goodies) or not to do (since he is the tyrant who is always trying to get me off my throne).
Have been watching an episode of Dr. Who which has a stand in (face obscured) for President Obama.
Here’s a bit of info about it:
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Barack_Obama
Oh GOOD ONE Chipsticks - BOOM!
Echoing Chips on twitter: Welcome Home, Mr. President.
What a whirlwind tour in such a tension-filled region. And charismatic PBO, elegant and gracious honored this country.
Some thoughts on solutions to gun violence (@JimMacMillan, recommended “must follow” on Twitter, if don’t already do so). Jim is generous and founded GunCrisis.org to seek solutions in Philadelphia and beyond).
Dear Chips & TODers - Ron Conway is a force, no question about it. Would likely save way more lives if as many of you as possible could impress on him that he and his rich pals could actually make a lot more $$$ if they de-geeked on the tech and simply demanded legislation that required mandatory liability insurance on an gun manufacturer (GUNS EXIST TO KILL), seller or ANY person who uses a gun. They can invest in the insurance underwriters, and reap an ROI from an entirely new revenue stream that such legislation would enable in those underwriters who offered coverage.
Let’s see if we can catalyze these folk having substantive discussions about what really matters - holding EVERYONE who makes, sells or uses a gun & ammo, LIABLE.
Thank you!
Yes We Can
Maybe this will do the trick—-help with the gun issue—-if there’s money to be made.
Way more money to be made in selling insurance :)
I came here thinking that it’s less than 3 hrs before our President touches ground, and voila - he has already landed! Glad that he’s home safe and sound :)
Thank You God for allowing our President to arrive back home safe and sound.
As I personally reflect on this trip and all the miraculous sights and kind hearted people who reached out with love and respect for our President, I am reminded of the words of Dr. John Maxwell, “Thinking For Change.” “The right thought, plus the right people, in the right environment, at the right time, for the right reason, always produces the right result.”
This is exactly what happened. This was supposed to happen how it did when it did. Any time sooner, would not have produced the right result.
As I pray for peace in the Middle East tonight, I will pray for peace in the hearts for all of us who really want it.
Thank you, Mr. President for a job well done.
Well said LDS - thank you!
Thank you GGail. Sometimes you have to allow the words to flow from the heart when there is so much love and gratitude pinned up inside. You just have to share the love. I so enjoy our President’s speeches when he tells a story that includes everyone.
That is what makes him so unique. His diversity has a place for all of us.
Most excellent, LDS. Thank you!!
#TrustBarack … as we at TOD all do …
Mr. Bobfr, You are most welcome! All that you do here?
I am learning from you how to tweet……#TrustBarack…..Damn Skippy!
Love your tweets!
Thank you friend :)
Amen.
Which one you like? 1. FLOTUS, I’m home. 2. Baby, I’m back. 3. Wow! Michelle, what is that you are wearing? What this old thing. 4. Hi Malia, Hi Sasha, I love you, I missed you. How was your day? Time for bed. Good night. Go to bed. 5. Not tonight FLOTUS, I’m tired. I’m just having alittle laughter here. Forgive me okay.
Anniebella! :shock:
:lol:
All kidding aside, I am so glad this trip was a success. A big success. That speech was great. I can just imagine the GOP and the press with it’s anti-Obama crap. Headline -Obama Israel trip a flop. Obama throws Israel under the bus. But they can’t say that, POTUS was our President, one we can be proud of.
POTUS is our President, and hear me right wing haters, we are proud he is our President.
Also bringing over from last thread:
Yardarm, I don’t trust HuffPo. Ariana is maniacal for page views, and the rest of the bunch are emoprog ProfLeft in the @Maddow mold. Mayor Bloomberg is putting his money where his mouth is. Heads up to those who live in targeted states:
And this from Los Angeles local news:
Freeway will be closed for 8 hours.
Geez! The world has gone stark raving mad!
Someone’s mom will not be happy about him descending the stairs without holding onto the rail :)
Thanks Chips!
She saw him arriving in Jordan, Bob - she was NOT happy!
I can just imagine!!!
Bobfr, I am a proud member of the “why isn’t he holding on to the handrails” club. And please don’t get me started with the photo of PBO in the helicopter over the ancient city of Petra, Jordon. I practically had heart failure when I read the comment that he was inside that thing that looked like a fly. I’m exhausted.
Dear LH — if I could hug you, I would. Not to worry, he’s an agile dude with lots of folk taking very good care of him, but I fully respect and understand your concern. Take care, friend.
Ladyhawke, I don’t like him running down those steps like that either.
He has to be careful.
Thank you.
CNN just started their evening update with the clip of pres Obama getting off the plane at the Andrew AF Base.
So who decides which one of those two copters PBO rides in?
Magnificent face.
Meta, really love this version of the photo @b_sherrer:
Just stunning, stunning, stunning. WOW.
Hope Pres. Obama gets to rest and spend time with his family tomorrow.
Mark Knoller will be snooping around trying to see if he can catch the President playing golf and tweet endlessly about it.
Chat away:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/03/23/iconic/
With all the craziness going on in the NCAA basketball, I wonder how POTUS is doing with his bracket. That Florida team defeating George town, was a shock beyond shock.
Number one seed Gonzaga just lost. I don’t think POTUS chose them to make the final four.
I give thanks to God with everything I have for the blessings of delivering our President home safely.
We all have gathered around this beautiful community dear Creator to find glimps of his beautiful work during this glorious and humble trip to bring words of peace, encouragement, and hope to a world of good people looking for a life that should be full of living for all mankind.
He walked with leaders; dined with leaders; spoke with young children filled with hope; and paid respect to those who have been laid to rest; he gave smiles to many; extended his hands to many; yet he kept his poise and elegant presence with humbleness of the highest kind; so we give thanks for his safe journey back to his loving family and all of us who love him dearly.
Thank you for his return.
Thank you for this trip.
Thank you for his fierce leadership.
Thank you for our Chips and TOD Family who share the goodness in his space. We are so blessed.HZ