06
Sep
13

Chat Away

President Obama boards Air Force One at Pulkovo International Airport in Saint Petersburg on September 6

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The President is scheduled to arrive at Andrews at 9:15 PM EDT

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Lots of great photos from this trip, but this one was hard to top:

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And the most beautiful?

@PeteSouza: Fireworks and laser lights frame the Grand Peterhof Palace last night at the G20 Summit in St Petersburg

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Chat away!


196 Responses to “Chat Away”


  1. 1 lamh36
    September 6, 2025 at 8:44 pm

    Happy Birthday Idrissa Akuna “Idris” Elba!

  2. 11 zizi2
    September 6, 2025 at 8:44 pm

    So Condi Rice went through all this racial discrimination as a kid and still joined the Party that took over the Dixiecrats? #Advancing the Dream

  3. 16 99ts
    September 6, 2025 at 8:47 pm

    Ahhhhhhhhh - Ms Chips always starts a new thread when I am writing a comment - I often win last post - so just to be 3rd or 4th or 5th or 27th

    Hi all – completely off topic – the MSM would be disgusted!

    some of you know we have an election in Australia today. One has to find the bright side – not too many to be seen – but because of the voting method for our Senate elections (proportional representative) it can be a financial advantage – and an electoral advantage – for nominations to be part of a group. Consequently we have a collection of interestingly named political parties

    Animal Justice Party
    Hemp party
    Senator online
    Pirate party
    The Greens
    Stop the Greens
    Australian Christians
    Sex Party
    Shooters and Fishers
    No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics
    Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party
    Australian Motoring enthusiast party
    Smokers rights
    Secular Party of Australia
    and another 20 or 30 with slightly saner names

    There are “who knows how many” parties in total running for the senate. Each state elects 6 senators and 4 or 5 of those seats go to the major parties – so the masses of political groups are fighting for 1 seat in each state. I would hope the greens get that seat but there are some RWNJ parties which will probably get a couple of seats. The “wikileaks” party is on the ticket in the state of Victoria – I haven’t checked elsewhere – not in my state.

    • 17 Almablanca (@Vetivera24)
      September 6, 2025 at 8:51 pm

      Somewhere it says that the last shall be first. I still enjoy your comments no matter where they are.

      • 18 99ts
        September 6, 2025 at 8:56 pm

        ty - I need some positive thoughts today - pamela’s daughter well explained it all (on the previous thread) - not any good choices

        • 19 Dudette
          September 6, 2025 at 9:18 pm

          So sorry, 99ts. As a Citizen of the Red & Stupid State of Georgia, I feel your pain.

          • 20 99ts
            September 6, 2025 at 9:27 pm

            ty dudette - another minor positive - the sooner these clowns are elected - the sooner folks will realize that listening to the Murdoch Press was not a good idea.

    • 21 MightyPamela
      September 6, 2025 at 9:08 pm

      Hilarious… I’m sure these options, whether realistic or not, at least provide some level of sanity, perhaps humor! And maybe even give people a feeling of having a choice! I knew you would like her comment!! As a dual national, daughter also voted twice for PBO!!

      • 22 99ts
        September 6, 2025 at 9:15 pm

        Blimey Pamela - the GOP will be after her for some type of fraud - then again when we were in UK we were eligible to vote in their elections - not eligible for permanent residence - but eligible to vote - weird.

    • 23 globalcitizenlinda
      September 6, 2025 at 10:16 pm

      great! how many people and how much money do you need to form a political party?

      by the way, I had an offer to study in Australia but it came late after I had committed - I always wonder how my life could have turned out if I had accepted to study “Down Under” for the 3 years I had been offered

      • 24 99ts
        September 7, 2025 at 12:34 am

        Very little money - you have to pay a $2000 nomination to run for the senate - your party has to get 4% of the primary vote for that to be refunded. If you pass that hurdle you also get government funding for your campaign. I don’t know much about it - but the odd person or two use/s it as a source of income.

        I’m sure you would have enjoyed our country. Our major cities are smaller than the US cities but much of the lifestyle is similar - probably less stressful. Some of the smaller university towns are a delight. I loved my 3 years at university - was a very long time ago. Lived in a college where the Principal was so worried about the morality of female university students - the latter spent much time climbing in and out of windows late at night. Few telephones, no TV, very few cars - but a lifestyle never to be missed.

  4. 25 Almablanca (@Vetivera24)
    September 6, 2025 at 8:54 pm

    The President has a tough road ahead. Saying lots of prayers that people will understand that the decisions he makes come from his head and his heart. That is one of the things that makes him unique and remarkable.

  5. 26 Liberal Librarian
    September 6, 2025 at 8:59 pm

    I just read what is possibly the most awesome name ever: Barkevious Mingo.

  6. 33 prettyfoot58
    September 6, 2025 at 9:01 pm

    is there a stream to see PBO return

  7. 40 desertflower
    September 6, 2025 at 9:03 pm

    Anyone see this? http://www.getcoveredamerica.org/pages/action-weekend

    The Get Covered America campaign is hosting national days of action on September 7th and 8th to get the word out to consumers who need to know that they’ll have access to new health insurance options this fall. Below are several ways our partners can get involved in our Get the Word Out Weekend.

    Events on the ground:

    We have staff on the ground organizing Get the Word Out Weekend events in the following 10 states: AZ, FL, GA, IL, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TX.

    Find and RSVP to attend an event near you. More events will be listed online as the date draws nearer.
    If you or your organization wants to plan your own Get the Word Out Weekend Event, email us at: [email protected]!

    Great site to bookmark…h/t to Blog for AZ

    Been quiet today..introspective, I guess. Spent 2 hours of my day at the DMV waiting…..waiting…..waiting….all for a new photo for my NOT EXPIRED license! Since I had the day off, I thought I should take care of this today, but what a pain. Over and done with now….waiting to see if it rains, or we just get another nasty dust storm. In which case, hubby will have something to do tomorrow. Clean the pool!

    Been thinking about Syria and I may have something to say about it later….Contrary to what some people would have us believe, I see this has a distinctly liberal cause, that’s why i have such a problem with the “liberal” naysayers….and I also have thoughts about the RW….it’s all just ruminating in my head right now…..I agree with LL, though. I think after the President lays this out and speaks plainly and clearly about the atrocities that are going on there, things will change. I wish that everyone in America could see the video of the children and young people that are suffocating to death and have their skin burned off their bodies….the convulsions and the terrified tears….and ignore that.
    LL mentioned other places that atrocities have happened where we either did intervene or were begged to intervene….Darfur, Rwanda, Kosovo, come to mind.

    I have questions about so called ” American Exceptionalism” and would argue that we can not be an exceptional nation if we stand by and do nothing in the face of this. I can’t call America an exceptional nation for many reasons, but those that are so inclined to believe that…well, I think no action on this would leave us out of the running for even entertaining that cozy thought.

    I’ll try and collect my thoughts. I tend to get very introspective in times like these and have to shut out the noise that comes from those with another agenda. They are not honest. They muddy the waters and inject their own toxic waste into a conversation that is desperate for level headed adults. The questions in my head go on and on….All I know for sure, is that we can’t claim the moral high ground, claim to value lives of ALL innocents, whether here or anywhere in the world, if we choose to put blinders on during atrocities like this. Like it or not, we are the most powerful nation on this planet, others look to us in their times of suffering and strife. We can’t pretend to like that high esteem only when it is convenient for us. Sometimes the right thing to do, is the hardest thing. This is hard and complicated….but in order to make the best decision, everyone needs to get real and honest. I just don’t see that happening right now….which makes me wonder if our current politics and players make us inept and ineffectual in a crisis of this magnitude.

    • 41 Bobfr (@Our4thEstate)
      September 6, 2025 at 9:09 pm

      “All I know for sure, is that we can’t claim the moral high ground, claim to value lives of ALL innocents, whether here or anywhere in the world, if we choose to put blinders on during atrocities like this. Like it or not, we are the most powerful nation on this planet, others look to us in their times of suffering and strife.”

      Have no doubt that President Obama concurs fully with you, df. I certainly do.

      #TrustBarack

      • 42 desertflower
        September 6, 2025 at 9:16 pm

        Thank you, Bob. Means a great deal to me that we are on the same page. So much more in my head, but I trust my President, more than any other in my lifetime, to do the right thing….the trouble is, I don’t trust Congress to do the right thing for the right reasons.

    • 43 prettyfoot58
      September 6, 2025 at 9:26 pm

      Sometimes the right thing to do, is the hardest thing…..

      ****************

      and it take COURAGE to do…

    • 44 globalcitizenlinda
      September 6, 2025 at 10:23 pm

      Oh, I so agree with all that you say here - are you sure you are not inside my head?

      Seriously, we can’t turn away from atrocities and then claim to support human rights

      • 45 desertflower
        September 6, 2025 at 10:32 pm

        I totally agree. This is a human rights issue. Do we support human rights for all the people on this Earth, or not? Only when it’s convenient or there’s something to be gained? I have no patience for the hypocricy.

    • 46 theo67
      September 6, 2025 at 10:33 pm

      Great insight and some important questions, DF. Doing nothing will say nothing about President Obama - as the media is trying to portray. But doing nothing will say a lot about the country, it’s people and Congress. This nonsense about American exceptionalism has been an empty statement for a while now - especially when spoken out of the mouths of the GOP. Health care, education standards, environmental issues… At least with this one thing, I hope Congress does the right thing. If they don’t want military intervention, then they better come up with alternatives - feasible ones.

  8. September 6, 2025 at 9:03 pm

    • 48 Liberal Librarian
      September 6, 2025 at 9:13 pm

      Question from the peanut gallery: what the FUCK is Wallops Island?!

    • 56 Dudette
      September 6, 2025 at 9:26 pm

      • 57 Liberal Librarian
        September 6, 2025 at 9:28 pm

        They are! It’s just a symptom of our jaded age that we don’t see it that way. But. Still. I WANT WARP DRIVE!!

      • 59 jacquelineoboomer
        September 6, 2025 at 9:34 pm

        I saw a bunch of daytime shuttle launches when I lived in Florida, but only one nighttime launch. When the shuttle lifted into the dark sky, the entire space overhead and around us was filled with light, I think the ground shook a little, and I remember thinking to myself when I saw the glory of it: Oh, there really is a God. That’s how awe-inspiring it was to me!

      • 62 theo67
        September 6, 2025 at 10:36 pm

        I have to agree with Dudette. I’m still astounded by airplane travel and how those things stay up in the air… talk about space launches sends me into raptures of wonder!

    • 63 Dudette
      September 6, 2025 at 9:33 pm

      • September 6, 2025 at 9:35 pm

      • 69 CarolMaeWY
        September 6, 2025 at 9:44 pm

        They need it shown Dudette, it took me forever on my iPad to back you up in a timely manner. . .

        • 70 CarolMaeWY
          September 6, 2025 at 9:55 pm

          In an attempt to answer prevailing questions about our moon, NASA is making final preparations to launch a probe at 11:27 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 6, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Va. The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is a robotic mission, managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., that will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the structure and composition of the thin lunar atmosphere and determine whether dust is being lofted into the lunar sky. A thorough understanding of these characteristics of our nearest celestial neighbor will help researchers understand other bodies in the solar system, such as large asteroids, Mercury, and the moons of outer planets.

        • 72 Dudette
          September 6, 2025 at 10:07 pm

          You’ da bestest CarolMae!!! Thankyeewwwwww! {{{{{ CarolMae }}}}} :-D

  9. 75 vcprezofan2
    September 6, 2025 at 9:05 pm

    /grumbling sotto voice/ I don’t see why Chips can’t ring the bell I gave her more loudly when she’s moving on. Especially when it should be obvious that I’m in the village but hadn’t responded to the first call out. /indecipherable grumbling continues/

    • 76 MightyPamela
      September 6, 2025 at 9:12 pm

      {{{VC}}}

    • 78 99ts
      September 6, 2025 at 9:20 pm

      She catches me as well - I’m usually 5 posts behind - given that our sun is just coming up when the other sun is going down - I’m a great believer in the 2 sun theory of the world.

    • 83 vcprezofan2
      September 6, 2025 at 9:20 pm

      I’m sure some of you will appreciate this machiavellian attempt by Chips to confuse me. When I landed on the front page of this post only the upper grey portion was visible, so naturally I thought the picture or video would appear shortly. I patiently waited, without refreshing or anything because it sometimes take a while. You need to know my son is always telling me I’m too impatient, very often where the computer is concerned so I waited some more. Gawd, this was taking a while, so I refreshed again, flipped over to my twitter interactions, then came back. Still grey! Grrrr! Finally started hitting the scroll button (my alternative to hitting the TV)
      :shock: Chips had tucked PBO’s head way down in the lower right corner!! The grey space was a deliberate attempt by Chips Chica to confuse and delay my entrance into the thread! And she gets kudos for her pics!!!!!!!!

    • 88 Dudette
      September 6, 2025 at 9:29 pm

      No sympathy for ya, Bud! Just get in line with the rest of us peons!

  10. 90 JER
    September 6, 2025 at 9:12 pm

    Nice photo of FLOTUS with children during a “Let’s Move! Active Schools” event in Washington, September 6:

  11. 102 Jovie
    September 6, 2025 at 9:18 pm

    • September 6, 2025 at 9:19 pm

  12. 104 Jovie
    September 6, 2025 at 9:21 pm

    https://twitter.com/mike_jovie131/status/376152699722817536

    If its that hard to explain to people that the President is not George Bush, then I don’t know what to say anymore?
    It’s devolved to comparing him to George Bush? George Bush???

  13. 116 Jovie
    September 6, 2025 at 9:30 pm

    https://twitter.com/mike_jovie131/status/376154495946088448

    IMO the President is getting slammed bc he has very little support in the beltway. Face it, congress doesn’t like the President, for whatever reason they just don’t.
    My proof is, the last 4.8 years in office, always taking an opportunity to slam him on tv, very little support.
    The debt ceiling battle will be worse, and people will be even more disgusted in the federal government.
    What a mess!

    • 117 99ts
      September 6, 2025 at 9:35 pm

      The press is doing the slamming - go take a look at David Corn’s twitter feed - he asked the question & 90% agreed with the President

    • 118 theo67
      September 6, 2025 at 11:11 pm

      Jovie - who really loses if Congress decides to continue their habit of doing nothing? Is it really the President who has a finite number of days left in office before he goes on to bigger and better things? Or is it the country that refuses to see an international crisis as anything other than a political battle between the President and a do-less-than-nothing Congress, ruled by bigots and bloviators? You have to start looking at the bigger picture here. If the United States decides it can’t lead when 400 children and 1000 adults are gassed in their beds by a ruthless dictator who has already slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his own people - then what will that say about the United States as “leader of the free world” and “the world’s only superpower”? What will it say about the country that presumably will continue to exist after President Obama leaves office?

      President Obama has nothing to lose here. He’s the only one standing up and trying to get justice for those who are now dead. He’s the only one coming up with a plan. As the President said, “his credibility is not on the line”.

  14. 119 Bobfr (@Our4thEstate)
    September 6, 2025 at 9:36 pm

    My letter to President Obama

    6 Sept 2025

    Dear Mr President,

    On 29 August 2013, I wrote you a letter than began:

    “You likely are way ahead of me on this, but the situation in Syria seems to present a watershed moment for educating the American people and all of humanity in a profound way. Imagine if we had had Twitter & Youtube on Dec. 8, 1941 and could have begun exposing the mass gassings at Chelmno - the onset of The Holocaust.”

    I then requested that you ask the American people:

    “What would they have done on 9 Dec 2025 had they known of the mass gassing of the Jews? What do they demand being done, now, to protect other Syrians from being gassed by their government?”

    You have now demonstrated to all humanity your values in confronting Assad’s use of sarin to kill his fellow citizens. You have also forced Congress to abide its Constitutional responsibility and take ownership of how America will hold Assad accountable for breaking nearly a century of international law regarding the use of chemical weapons.

    Every American must confront their fundamental responsibility to hold any genocidal tyrant accountable. There’s no legitimate denial of The Holocaust just as there’s no legitimate denial of what Assad’s regime did on 21 August 2025 (and, on a smaller scale several times earlier this year).

    Given your penchant to teach I have no doubt that Tuesday, prime time, will be when you cogently challenge Americans and all humanity with the historical facts and assign to each of us the task of confronting our shared responsibility in ablating Assad’s ability to use chemical weapons. Humanity cannot afford to fail the test. Americans must score in the 99th percentile.

    Thank you,
    Bob

    #TrustBarack

    Yes We Can

  15. 123 Claire
    September 6, 2025 at 9:37 pm

    I’ve been so busy working working working! I am exhausted. Then I see that CNN has hired zimmerman’s lawyer O’Mara as a legal analyst. Is this right or am I living in the bizarro world?

  16. 129 JER
    September 6, 2025 at 9:37 pm

    Live Now - Looks like AF1 landing: http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml

  17. 137 Melanie
    September 6, 2025 at 9:37 pm

    Looks like PBO is landing now.

  18. 138 prettyfoot58
    September 6, 2025 at 9:46 pm

    • 139 jacquelineoboomer
      September 6, 2025 at 9:56 pm

      That was beautiful, seeing that on #AdvancingTheDream tonight! This has been a wonderful show, and it totally beats out in its spirit some other shows of the same genre, from the past (I’m looking at you, Tavis).

      • 140 prettyfoot58
        September 6, 2025 at 10:01 pm

        why do you think that he had Condi Rice on this program

        • 141 jacquelineoboomer
          September 6, 2025 at 10:15 pm

          I watched the second half of the show first, and now I’m watching the first half - when apparently she was on? - since MSNBC is showing a replay.

          Without seeing it or hearing their discussion, I would think Rev. Al, a very astute fellow, wants to perhaps force people like Condi Rice out from their hiding places, on the issue of civil rights and “advancing the dream” … he has also said, many times, he doesn’t care which side of the political spectrum one is on, everybody should be involved. I guess that means even Condi Rice, whom I have very little respect for, after the Bush years. Did he perhaps get her talking about what she could do, to help continue to “advance the dream” for oh so many people in our country?

  19. 142 magapie
    September 6, 2025 at 9:49 pm

    When I see the President and putin together I think man and child. But I don’t mean to insult Russians in general.

  20. 145 jacquelineoboomer
    September 6, 2025 at 9:53 pm

    You know you’re an Obamabot when you actually blow a kiss to the President of the United States of America when you see him disembarking AF1 at Andrews on your computer monitor.

    Welcome home, Mr. President. Thanks for representing us, so ably and well, abroad.

  21. 168 desertflower
    September 6, 2025 at 9:53 pm

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57601752/report-iran-message-orders-iraqi-militias-to-retaliate-if-u.s-strikes-syria/

  22. 169 globalcitizenlinda
    September 6, 2025 at 9:58 pm

    a huge welcome home to the best POTUS ever!!!

  23. 173 globalcitizenlinda
    September 6, 2025 at 10:07 pm

    I missed this video of grassroots action in NC. I do not know if someone already drew attention to it. seems it happened yesterday.

    great to see workers sanding up for their rights.

    Walmart Workers Flash Mob | Raleigh, NC

  24. 175 Dudette
    September 6, 2025 at 10:12 pm

  25. September 6, 2025 at 10:17 pm

    New post in 12-ish minutes

  26. 178 Dudette
    September 6, 2025 at 10:21 pm

  27. 182 Jovie
    September 6, 2025 at 10:26 pm

    They’re gassing people in Syria, they’re taking away Minority and Women’s rights here, Russia hates The Gay community, and Cantor is holding country hostage for 16.7 trillion in cuts.

    Have I missed anything?

  28. 187 prettyfoot58
    September 6, 2025 at 10:26 pm

    The deal, subject to shareholder approval, would be the largest Chinese acquisition of a US company

    • 188 anniebella
      September 6, 2025 at 10:29 pm

      There isn’t an American company who can’t buy Smithfield Farms?

      • 189 carolyn
        September 6, 2025 at 10:53 pm

        It seems that most American companies don’t want to actually MAKE anything. They just want to move money around and give their CEOs large bonuses. That sounds bitter, I know, but that sale is just plain disgusting for so many reasons.

    • 191 desertflower
      September 6, 2025 at 10:36 pm

      I won’t be buying THAT meat! I could very well go back to being a vegetarian again….meat’s not all that to me. Every now and then, I do crave prime rib. I won’t lie.

  29. 192 Jovie
    September 6, 2025 at 10:37 pm

    Chips put this link in next post? :)

  30. 193 Dudette
    September 6, 2025 at 10:40 pm

    UGH! I wanna puke!!!

  31. 194 desertflower
    September 6, 2025 at 10:40 pm

    I want to dance….Off to make a cocktail:) The smartest man in the room is in charge, and I’m thankful.


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