Pete Souza: President Obama surveys the landscape just off the tarmac at Lajes Air Base, Azores, during a refueling stop en route from Germany to Peru. My grandparents are from the Azores, a group of nine Portuguese islands, in the Atlantic. Political Director David Simas and Energy Secretary Ernie Moniz also trace their roots to the Azores
It’s the only thing that keeps up my faith in politics right now! So much work to be done. And if anybody knows how to do it, it’s those two. Same with Michelle.
No time to chat, hoping to get back in time for PBO’s townhall in Peru.
Took a quick glance at #ObamaEnPeru Twitter hashtag, and while there may be some not to our liking, it’s worth checking out, IMO.
For instance…
That is why all the girls in town follow you …. #ObamaenPeru #CloseToYou pic.twitter.com/Qwkp9Jskcf
— Patricia Navarro (@_laruedamagica) November 19, 2025
And if you have time, check this out to lift your spirits.
(1/3) “You realize everybody wants to fight & you suddenly get hundreds of messages coming in from volunteers who you’ve worked with before” https://t.co/5mtUQC3bGd
(2/3) “The last seven days imposed a seismic shift in what my life looks like over the next four years.” pic.twitter.com/s16zN8kBS0
— Arapaho415 (@arapaho415) November 19, 2025
(3/3) To those theorizing what #ObamaCoalition will do, they're doing what they've always done, for the good of the country #DangerousTimes pic.twitter.com/AmMGHbObCv
This is different now. He's the incoming head of the government saying free speech "should not happen" and words are harassment. https://t.co/OhL9nIifPz
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) November 19, 2025
This is dangerous: Top gov official condemning free speech as criminal "harassment." This is how other countries silence the public & press https://t.co/OhL9nIzQH7
Most Americans are better off today than when President Obama took office, a recent income analysis shows: https://t.co/aJUkT2O0Vl pic.twitter.com/QTozApdVs6
Aww, look how everyone wants to meet our president and look at the smiles on their faces. All around the world, even in countries that often disagreed with some of the U S policies, people have been drawn to him and to the possibilities that his tenure as president have illustrated. All is not lost; people have to sometimes see what the awful alternative is before they can appreciate what they had. The 2017 presidency is a blip in time and an object lesson. We move back some steps, but the forward motion will still continue as is the nature of most things. Thanks again, JER, for bringing the beauty of PBO’s life, times, and actions to us. You rock!
Good morning TOD! Looking forward to PBO’s day in Peru, and particularly his youth town hall. The last one like this we will hear.
Over coffee this morning, I was thinking about PBO’s return to the US and how different the landscape is in the week since he left. At that time, he still had some hope that the PE would assume some level of reasonableness and begin to understand that he is supposed to govern for all Americans, not just his voters. With his tweets and appointments yesterday, those hopes are gone.
BUT BUT I also concluded that in some ways this makes the fight easier. The smarter move for DT would have been to appoint more reasonable people to these positions and then quietly behind the scenes gone about decimating the US. Instead, he is throwing this in our faces and daring us to challenge him. He is blatantly making money for his businesses, setting up the obvious conflicts of interest, and trying to suppress dissent and the press. This will backfire on him. Will it change anything with his hard core supporters? Of course not. But keep in mind he won by getting those last minute undecideds who broke for him decisively. These folks are not going to like the America he provides to them. And the Clinton lead keeps growing, now just 300,000 votes from the 2 mil difference mark.
So we march on, and hope that our Dems in Congress do their jobs.
So @brett_mcgurk who will be collaborating, a year from now if not sooner, on liberating Americans from #Trumpists?
cc @POTUS @JohnKerry
— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) November 19, 2025
Just think about it … during the entire lifetime of anyone reading this comment, America was always the ‘liberator,’ the ‘coming to the defense of democracy & humanity’ ….. which country would even try to fill that vacuum after 20 Jan 2025 …. ????
Imagine that those are your kids, or grandkids, or the kids down the block, or …..
Iraqi civilians face brutal and harsh conditions in makeshift tents near the Tigris River as efforts underway to evict #ISIS in Mosul. pic.twitter.com/s0nPOwVEXI
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) November 17, 2025
It anyone thinks stopping Trump after 20 Jan 2025 is going to be possible (peacefully) than doing everything to stop him before 19 Dec 2016, they are living a fantasy that all of human history repudiates …
Hoy recibiremos en la PUCP a Barack Obama, presidente de los EE.UU. Se reunirá con más de mil jóvenes de América Latina y el Caribe. pic.twitter.com/9oEVBMKQyi
thanks Arapho415 for the for the Wheaton article you shared about the determined effort to form a resistance that has emerged from the ObamaCoalition.
anyone who knows PBO and the people who worked hard to get him into office has an appreciation of the fact that we know nothing about change comes easy.
we also know that PBO gave his all to make this world a better place and so did those on his team.
we also know how competitive PBO is by nature and that he always focuses on the long term.
that is why I kept reassuring the people here that the resistance to the demagogue will be very organic and will come from the people and finally be obvious to those cowardly Dems who think it is time to marginalize PBO and hook our future to a short-term focus on the voters who I call Dem-deserters.
it is going to be hard but there is no better motivation for a fight that then conviction that you are doing it to save yourself and the country from a group of unrepentant demagogues who are focused on hurting “the other” and the vulnerable.
As it ever has. Some naïve people thought that we had overcome as a nation (POC never believed this), but they are woke now. We all have to work every day to do our parts to bend that arc even more toward justice.
Yes yes yes!!!! Thank you for these words GlobalCitizenLinda! And everyone here sharing words pix about actions and intentions and plans to move Forward with and for POTUS and all he is and all he has done. I feel better reading these. Still a daily slog and I am so thankful to have TOD to come to for a drink of cool fresh water from the spring on a hot hard day. POTUS is our President. FLOTUS is dazzling the world on the cover and pages of VOGUE. The First Daughters are being teenagers doing their young people thing with freedom and privacy and goodness. His team is on the job 24/7 and the WORLD is showing us how much they see him, believe him, trust him, and revere him as do SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, but not the ones who get on tv or in the news. Thankful for Pete Souza’s tradition of standing behind POTUS so we see the crowds of people reaching so hard to just TOUCH his HAND (me too, of course they do) but it has been an ongoing reassurance all 8 years, that the press and the chatter can be Boo Hiss Boo and negative about him, but they cannot silence or stop the truth from shining forth. NerdyWonka, how do you do it? Thank you thank you thank you. Chipsticks, sending you love and good wishes and gratitude for this space, this sweet fun sacred nourishing important space. Here we are. On we go.
although the demagogue has been laughing at what he calls failed media, he may in fact be the reason why smart media outlets grow and become profitable.
I am no media expert & have zero training in the law.
But if I was a head of a media empire or a law firm, I would be calling my team in and ordering them to move all mountains to get damning information on him and his team, publicize it and then sue him.
instead of his plans to screw the country and profit off it, he may end up in court, spending the money he steals from us.
in order to thrive & help US, the smartest & bravest investigative reporters & lawyers need to focus their resources on trump & his cronies
— Linda Kyambadde (@globalcitizenln) November 19, 2025
I can almost understand Trump trying to use the Whitehouse as a means to grab all the money he can for his businesses, because that’s what businessmen do, they are always on the come-up. But what I don’t understand is him bringing along the white nationalist and the racist. I miss the good old guys when politicians ONLY tried to rob you. But with Trump bringing in Sessions and Bannon, he’s signaling a different way forward. Even the normal crooks like Paul Ryan and turtle are looking at Trump sideways. But in the end I know men like this will fail, because they always fail. History is replete with stories of the rise and eventual fall of evil men.
THIS Linda! Watching Joy Ann Reid this morning and those pics of his kids, all I could think of was that I hope eventually each and every member of that family is in a JAIL CELL.
I’m more shocked that he actually had $25million to settle with. He could have used that to pay down the vig on the almost one billion that he owes the Russian Oligarchs.
White House.gov
Hola!
Sorry, fixed.
Can’t wait to get involved! I’m excited.
It’s the only thing that keeps up my faith in politics right now! So much work to be done. And if anybody knows how to do it, it’s those two. Same with Michelle.
Morning, Don! Congratulations on being first to appreciate this post.
Good morning, Don and everyone!
GM TODville.
No time to chat, hoping to get back in time for PBO’s townhall in Peru.
Took a quick glance at #ObamaEnPeru Twitter hashtag, and while there may be some not to our liking, it’s worth checking out, IMO.
For instance…
And if you have time, check this out to lift your spirits.
Link to article:
more…
Quotes from @SarahWheaton’s Politico article:
Beauty Break.
Among the most beautiful beaches in California, I highly recommend Pfeiffer State Park for your bucket list.
Gorgeous! Thanks, meta!
Always my President, always my hero.
Hello Meta,
I really, really, …., really love that hashtag #Forever44.
could you please continue to use it;
could I borrow it sometimes and can others?
if the answer is yes then I have a suggestion that has come to my mind and will share it with the rest of TOD.
Absolutely use it. That’s what hashtags are for!! I know I’m not alone in my sentiments.
Good Morning Everybody.
❤️
Aww, look how everyone wants to meet our president and look at the smiles on their faces. All around the world, even in countries that often disagreed with some of the U S policies, people have been drawn to him and to the possibilities that his tenure as president have illustrated. All is not lost; people have to sometimes see what the awful alternative is before they can appreciate what they had. The 2017 presidency is a blip in time and an object lesson. We move back some steps, but the forward motion will still continue as is the nature of most things. Thanks again, JER, for bringing the beauty of PBO’s life, times, and actions to us. You rock!
Good morning TOD! Looking forward to PBO’s day in Peru, and particularly his youth town hall. The last one like this we will hear.
Over coffee this morning, I was thinking about PBO’s return to the US and how different the landscape is in the week since he left. At that time, he still had some hope that the PE would assume some level of reasonableness and begin to understand that he is supposed to govern for all Americans, not just his voters. With his tweets and appointments yesterday, those hopes are gone.
BUT BUT I also concluded that in some ways this makes the fight easier. The smarter move for DT would have been to appoint more reasonable people to these positions and then quietly behind the scenes gone about decimating the US. Instead, he is throwing this in our faces and daring us to challenge him. He is blatantly making money for his businesses, setting up the obvious conflicts of interest, and trying to suppress dissent and the press. This will backfire on him. Will it change anything with his hard core supporters? Of course not. But keep in mind he won by getting those last minute undecideds who broke for him decisively. These folks are not going to like the America he provides to them. And the Clinton lead keeps growing, now just 300,000 votes from the 2 mil difference mark.
So we march on, and hope that our Dems in Congress do their jobs.
Good day TOD ….
I like this a lot
No joke ….
Just think about it … during the entire lifetime of anyone reading this comment, America was always the ‘liberator,’ the ‘coming to the defense of democracy & humanity’ ….. which country would even try to fill that vacuum after 20 Jan 2025 …. ????
Imagine that those are your kids, or grandkids, or the kids down the block, or …..
It anyone thinks stopping Trump after 20 Jan 2025 is going to be possible (peacefully) than doing everything to stop him before 19 Dec 2016, they are living a fantasy that all of human history repudiates …
They thought they had a ‘democracy’ …..
He’s now restructuring the Turkish ‘constitution’ to ensure he’s the boss until 2029 ….
Long lines of young people for Town Hall event.
thanks a lot JER.
any chance of this in a tweet so we can share?
thanks a lot for your help and quick response
thanks Arapho415 for the for the Wheaton article you shared about the determined effort to form a resistance that has emerged from the ObamaCoalition.
anyone who knows PBO and the people who worked hard to get him into office has an appreciation of the fact that we know nothing about change comes easy.
we also know that PBO gave his all to make this world a better place and so did those on his team.
we also know how competitive PBO is by nature and that he always focuses on the long term.
that is why I kept reassuring the people here that the resistance to the demagogue will be very organic and will come from the people and finally be obvious to those cowardly Dems who think it is time to marginalize PBO and hook our future to a short-term focus on the voters who I call Dem-deserters.
it is going to be hard but there is no better motivation for a fight that then conviction that you are doing it to save yourself and the country from a group of unrepentant demagogues who are focused on hurting “the other” and the vulnerable.
the struggle continues
As it ever has. Some naïve people thought that we had overcome as a nation (POC never believed this), but they are woke now. We all have to work every day to do our parts to bend that arc even more toward justice.
yes, we all do.
I am one those who have the privilege to hold an American passport as an escape from tyranny back home.
so as a citizen by choice, I take my responsibility to preserve this democracy very, very, …, very seriously.
Yes yes yes!!!! Thank you for these words GlobalCitizenLinda! And everyone here sharing words pix about actions and intentions and plans to move Forward with and for POTUS and all he is and all he has done. I feel better reading these. Still a daily slog and I am so thankful to have TOD to come to for a drink of cool fresh water from the spring on a hot hard day. POTUS is our President. FLOTUS is dazzling the world on the cover and pages of VOGUE. The First Daughters are being teenagers doing their young people thing with freedom and privacy and goodness. His team is on the job 24/7 and the WORLD is showing us how much they see him, believe him, trust him, and revere him as do SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, but not the ones who get on tv or in the news. Thankful for Pete Souza’s tradition of standing behind POTUS so we see the crowds of people reaching so hard to just TOUCH his HAND (me too, of course they do) but it has been an ongoing reassurance all 8 years, that the press and the chatter can be Boo Hiss Boo and negative about him, but they cannot silence or stop the truth from shining forth. NerdyWonka, how do you do it? Thank you thank you thank you. Chipsticks, sending you love and good wishes and gratitude for this space, this sweet fun sacred nourishing important space. Here we are. On we go.
back to work …..
although the demagogue has been laughing at what he calls failed media, he may in fact be the reason why smart media outlets grow and become profitable.
I am no media expert & have zero training in the law.
But if I was a head of a media empire or a law firm, I would be calling my team in and ordering them to move all mountains to get damning information on him and his team, publicize it and then sue him.
instead of his plans to screw the country and profit off it, he may end up in court, spending the money he steals from us.
I can almost understand Trump trying to use the Whitehouse as a means to grab all the money he can for his businesses, because that’s what businessmen do, they are always on the come-up. But what I don’t understand is him bringing along the white nationalist and the racist. I miss the good old guys when politicians ONLY tried to rob you. But with Trump bringing in Sessions and Bannon, he’s signaling a different way forward. Even the normal crooks like Paul Ryan and turtle are looking at Trump sideways. But in the end I know men like this will fail, because they always fail. History is replete with stories of the rise and eventual fall of evil men.
like I said a few days ago, my mother always reminds our family that “pride comes before a fall”.
I just hope that when him and his cronies fall, they land below some jail
THIS Linda! Watching Joy Ann Reid this morning and those pics of his kids, all I could think of was that I hope eventually each and every member of that family is in a JAIL CELL.
yesterday, the temperature was 70F in my hood;
today, it is snowing steadily … it has come very early.
I hate snow & the cold. I am in deep personal trouble.
May the gods of weather bestow their mercy upon you, globalcitizenlinda.
thanks a lot for the good wishes..
I will stay put for now and keep praying for better weather
I’m more shocked that he actually had $25million to settle with. He could have used that to pay down the vig on the almost one billion that he owes the Russian Oligarchs.
They probably paid it for him, since they can’t have their puppet in prison. This rabbit hole feels very deep to me.
No bottom in sight I’m afraid.
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2016/11/19/president-obama-holds-a-ylai-town-hall/
Cspan1 is scheduled to broadcast PBO’s town hall (2:20 est) for those like me who are dvr-ing all I can of PBO’s final appearances:-)