The Obama Diary

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Today: The President has no public events scheduled.

Tuesday: The President will attend meetings at the White House. In the evening, he will depart Washington, DC en route Stockholm, Sweden.

Wednesday: The President will arrive in Stockholm. While there, he will hold a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Prime Minister Reinfeldt. He will then participate in an event honoring Raoul Wallenberg at the Great Synagogue in Stockholm and tour an expo featuring clean energy innovations at the Royal Institute of Technology. In the evening, he will take part in a dinner with Nordic Leaders.

Thursday: The President will hold a bilateral meeting with the King and Queen of Sweden. He will then depart Stockholm en route Saint Petersburg, Russia where he will attend the G-20 Summit.

Friday: Attends the G-20 Summit. Returns to Washington, DC on Friday evening.

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Michael Tomasky: Obama did the right thing, morally and constitutionally

…. Kind of sad that it’s so stunning and refreshing to hear a president acknowledge that he shares constitutional power, but stunning and refreshing it was … It’s a big relinquishing of power, a major constitutional recalibration that will outlast him and the yahoos whose votes he’s going to be seeking, and Obama deserves props for it.

…. let’s do some nose-counting. In the Senate, I presume a resolution will pass … Harry Reid said Saturday he’d try to bring the Senate back early for a vote, meaning it will say yes first, adding to the drama as we turn to the House.

There? Yesterday, I thought the chance the House would pass a war authorization for this president was about 0 percent. Today I’ve revised that up to about 5 percent…..

…. The argument to the Republicans in the House and the American people is simple. He’s fulfilled his constitutional duties. Will Congress fulfill its moral ones, or is their hatred of Obama so great that they will instead choose the side of a monstrous murderer?

Full post here

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FOX/GOP: We can’t stop #Syrian state sponsored terrorism & genocide because Obama would get the credit. #p2

— skeptical brotha (@skepticalbrotha) September 1, 2025

I thought this was about international law against chemical weapons being used but the media is telling me it’s abt “PBO” winning or losing

— Sabrina (@Charmed86) September 1, 2025

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E.J. Dionne: On Syria, Obama had to go to Congress

In seeking congressional authorization for military strikes against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, President Obama is not weakening presidential power and is not looking for an out to avoid a war he doesn’t want. He is doing what is absolutely necessary in a democratic republic. He is rallying consent for a grave step and for what was always going to be a controversial decision.

…. Gaining democratic consent is especially important for an action that has very large long-term implications and clearly divides the country…..

… Reluctantly, I think the president is right to strike against Assad…. I use that word “reluctantly” because, like so many who believe the Iraq war was a terrible mistake, I am wary of military intervention in the Middle East. But because of what Obama said and, more important, why he said it, I think we have to act in Syria.

Full post here

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Like you before Iraq? MT @ggreenwald: @VanJones68 points out our supreme duty: “We need to stand behind president” pic.twitter.com/DMb5caNtEy

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) September 1, 2025

GOP attacks Obama for inaction re Syria. Then attacks him for threatening action. Then attacks him for seeking Cong approval. Oy!

— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) September 1, 2025

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