Text of speech here
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President Obama: “Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue. But this war, like all wars, must end.”
— The White House (@whitehouse) May 23, 2025
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Obama: “There is no justification beyond politics for Congress to prevent us from closing a facility that should never have been opened.”
— The White House (@whitehouse) May 23, 2025
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Obama: “America does not take strikes to punish individuals—we act against terrorists who pose a continuing and imminent threat.”
— The White House (@whitehouse) May 23, 2025
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President Obama: will work w/ Congress to eventually repeal the AUMF. Fantastic news.
— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) May 23, 2025
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Don’t think it’s an exaggeration to suggest that this speech will be seen by history as the rhetorical end of the War on Terror
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) May 23, 2025
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Still want to see the “playbook.” But that was one of the most detailed and thoughtful speeches on national security ever given by a US prez
— David Firestone (@fstonenyt) May 23, 2025
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POTUS: “America, we have faced down dangers far greater than al Qaeda by staying true to the values of our founding.” But enough about GOP.
— john miller (@deaconmill) May 23, 2025
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President Obama listens as Medea Benjamin, an activist from the organization called Code Pink, shouts at him while he speaks at the National Defense University, May 23
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code pink as effective yelling at obama as they were in ending bush’s wars. tea party of the left.
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) May 23, 2025
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Heckler interrupts President to tell him to do what he would already have done if Congress worked. Sort of a metaphor for the moribund left.
— allanbrauer (@allanbrauer) May 23, 2025
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Obama: Close Gitmo.Code Pink: BUT close Gitmo.Obama: Yeah, I said close Gitmo.Code Pink: BUT TEH GITMO.Obama: Seriously?
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) May 23, 2025
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Code Pink, the same privileged hippies who wore “don’t drone me bro” t-shirts to Stand with Rand.
— Jordan Ashby (@JM_Ashby) May 23, 2025
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Protesting Gitmo during a speech in which Obama details how he wants to close Gitmo. #PRICELESS Code Pink. Go protest Congress.
— Liberal Librarian (@Lib_Librarian) May 23, 2025
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Anytime Emoprogs whine that Pres. Obama didn’t close Gitmo, remember their hero Bernie Sanders voted against closure. senate.gov/legislative/LI…
— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) May 23, 2025
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For those annoyed that Obama hasn’t closed Gitmo . . . check out GOP response to today’s speech
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) May 23, 2025
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NOTE: The people who are most against broad executive power seem most likely to think the president can unilaterally close Guantanamo Bay.
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) May 23, 2025
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“WE DEMAND YOU USE THE BULLY PULPIT ON DRONES AND GITMO!””Okay.””YOUR SPEECHES ARE MEANINGLESS!”
— Zandar (@ZandarVTS) May 23, 2025
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.@arimelber Admire a President who treats us as adults and who doesn’t reduce ethical complexities to slogans and jingo.
— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) May 23, 2025
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Every president in American history would have used drones if given the opportunity. Not every one would have grappled with its morality.
— Jeff Fecke (@jkfecke) May 23, 2025
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Hysterical drone critics need some Mylanta right about now. Their caricatures and projections are being shredded.
— Jordan Ashby (@JM_Ashby) May 23, 2025
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@thescottfinley @desertcronenm @sherifffruitfly these people would fall apart & cry if they had to make the choices he’s made
— Arrogant Demon (@ArrogantDemon) May 23, 2025
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The President is speaking as an adult to adults.That puts it over the comprehension level of most Republicans.
— john miller (@deaconmill) May 23, 2025
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#NEWSTAINERS focus on prom pics while #PBO delivers a stunning rebuke to perpetual war & Congress’s unwillingness to close Gitmo. @lawrence
— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) May 23, 2025
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@jonkarl I’m sure you can find a trustworthy source to summarize it for you. ;)
— RefsUnBrendans (@RefsUnBrendans) May 23, 2025
White House.gov
yo
If anyone can end this war on terror it’s him
Congrats vitamin and isonprize for 1st place tie! :)
Great post! Thanks
Is Jon Karl trying to get back in PBO’s good graces, or is he trying to make us forget his unethical behavior?
A “journalist” who would allow doctored emails to be used to attack President Obama shouldn’t be trusted. Period. He must think the public will forget his unethical behavior. We won’t.
Ha, brilliant! A BIG hear, hear!
She is really fast on the fly.
The
of Twitter-land.
Usain Bolt?
p.s. I’ll take that any day anytime.
Back off, he’s mine!
Agreed - and wonderful threads today - I’ve been talking to myself a few posts back - but those tweets were a fab summary of PBO
so true. what great work from our inspiration, ms. chips, and the fantastic contributions from the junior blog tyrants.
Hahahaha. Thanks Amk.
Ha!
I’m usually barred from watching Colbert - so this was a good find
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/42025_Video-_Stephen_Colbert_on_Jonathan_Karls_Fake_but_Accurate_Benghazi_Story
As far as I am concern Jonathan Karl and what he thinks of POTUS speech today is meaningless.
Only included tweet because of the fantastic reply.
Okay, when I saw that liar name, I didn’t read anything. It is a good response to that ABC favorite liar journalists.
Didn’t have time to catch up with today’s other news, will do in the morning.
I’m so glad POTUS get to go home and sit at the dinner table and talk to Mala and Sasha about how their day went.
Malia. :)
As always, extremely proud of my President today and every day.
Trying to have his back on multiple issues:
No mission accomplished:
“Our victory against terrorism won’t be measured in a surrender ceremony on a battleship, or a statue being pulled to the ground. Victory will be measured in parents taking their kids to school; immigrants coming to our shores; fans taking in a ballgame; a veteran starting a business; a bustling city street. The quiet determination; that strength of character and bond of fellowship; that refutation of fear – that is both our sword and our shield.”
No endless war:
“Unless we discipline our thinking and our actions, we may be drawn into more wars we don’t need to fight, or continue to grant Presidents unbound powers more suited for traditional armed conflicts between nation states. So I look forward to engaging Congress and the American people in efforts to refine, and ultimately repeal, the [Authorization to Use Military Forces] mandate. And I will not sign laws designed to expand this mandate further. Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue. But this war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises. That’s what our democracy demands.”
That Allan Brauer tweet says it all. I guess yelling at The President instead of Congress is all they have left considering the progressiveness and justice they claimed to want has been embodied in the most progressive President I’ve seen in my lifetime.
She gets her thirteen minutes and eighteen seconds of fame. Then what? Like most code pink productions not much except to grift in order to raise enough money for the next production. It’s a racket.
Just checked my TL. Bunch of emoprogs screaming about DROOOOOOOONES and TEH GITMO. Fun blocking them.
how can they be so stunningly stupid? How is it possible they blame Daddy for not unilaterally closing Gitmo when they would scream “executive overreach” over every other issue. Astonishing
I have other things on my mind right now, so “arguing” with them was definitely not on my agenda.
Sometimes LL, It makes no sense banging your head on a brick wall. I am glad you are using your time for more productive things than trying to convince the “emoprogs,” as you guys call them, to use reason and common sense when attacking President Obama. Most of them will never listen to you anyway. You are better off spending time, writing for, and conversing with, open minded people that may re-examine their thinking after they read your excellent posts and tweets.
Ouch.
That’s the DAMN truth!
You guys were on FIRE today!!!
I saw a picture of that heckler and in that picture she look like she was high on something.
Well England had a “hundred years war” - McCain wants one of those
Actually, England had TWO “Hundred Years’ War”: the one we all know about, and for all intents and purposes another one from the 1700s until Napoleon’s final defeat in 1815.
This has been your history geek lesson for the day.
Oh dear - I only remember learning about one of them - I’ve been reading an incredible “history of England” written c. 1867 - among my father’s books - it covers the monarchs from 1066 to Victoria - and the reality seems to be - it was just one long war. Things don’t seem to be as bloodthirsty today as they were back in the time - but I could be corrected on that as well.
WELL! I missed the whole dang speech. I spent half my day at the VA.. one would have thought his speech would have been on a teevee in there somewhere. No sir, it was not.
Love the tweets… that last one up there is a hoot :) Will definitely end my day on a higher note and seek out this speech. I love my President~
Congrats on 1st ison!!!
Well done, Chips, very well done!!!
It is so important to express your thanks to our President for what he did, as well as, said today regarding counter terrorism and ending the Bush/Cheney/NEOCONSTER legacy of perpetual war.
#TrustBarack
Thank you Bobfr, for representing me in thanking the President for his excellent speech that contained so many excellent ideas and proposals. I also join you in thanking Chips and UT for their excellent coverage of the President’s speech.
PBO was superb today, as he always is. Sadly the corporate media and segments of population have given it short thrift precisely because they don’t do nuance. But I am willing to bet that 50 - 100 years from now this and many of his speeches will be etched in stone, taught to kids just like the Gettysburg Address
I’m willing to give the public SOME credit. I give the corporate media NONE. Despite the GOP/MSM’s repeated attempts to undermine this President, more of the public is beginning to catch on and slowly but surely, people are less influenced by the MSM news cycle of the day. More Americans continue to trust this President and they do listen when he speaks. Look at how MSNBC’s ratings have suffered since they decided to make PBO their #1 target. Maybe I’m being naive here, but I do think that PBO’s greatness will be acknowledged much sooner than 50-100 years from now. :) :)
Most people will start missing PBO on Jan 19th 2017.
Correct.
I started missing him the moment he was sworn in for a second term. Me want three.
You are absolutely right, AMK!
President Obama is just an exceptional leader. I watched that speech today and man did he knock it out of the ball park he basically gave the emprogs the middle finger and had a conversation with the intelligent persons like us on TOD not the whiners and talking heads
The only thing that would have made it even better was if he lined the emoprogs up in the front row for their smackdown, like he did with Paul Ryan.
I LOVE that term — “emoprogs”, it describes exactly what these wanna be poseurs are, for sure. They must be terribly unsatisfied in their lives.
sheesh.. didn’t even realize you’d posted the speech too Chips.. thank you so much :)
You are most welcome Sherijr! Just added link for text of speech:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/23/remarks-president-national-defense-university
ohhh how lovely, thank you !
It’s not a scandal! Wish they’d get it right. It’s a scandal that any T’Baggers got a tax exemption given that their only purpose is political.
Slightly off topic - but the Chips timescale has just moved to the Southern hemisphere
Just got a text from the mother of my grandbabe saying they’ll be here - 12 ish - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
LOL! :-D :-D :-D
:lol: The ish-ness is catching 99ts, hope the visit is wonderful!!
I’m sure it will be - I should probably plan afternoon tea, rather than lunch - easy to forget the tardy when grandbabes are involve
There needs to be a war on ish-ness - I shall work on it :)
:D :D
Perfect. New Jersey residents will really appreciate the President’s visit, to check on how they are doing.
(My thought, only, separate from the President’s choice to always do the right thing by visiting areas hard hit by natural disasters: That hand-holding by our President on Tuesday will keep Christie in his place for another six months, and no doubt he’ll praise the President for his interest one more time, which will drive the rethugs crazy. Ha - love it.)
Wonder if there is a new trim Christie to be seen?
Eek. Dunno. But last time I spotted him, he was wearing a mint-green shirt, and I’d like to keep that image out of my head a little longer, thank you very much. :)
LOL
My dear Chips Chica, thank you so much for putting together such a smorgasbord of tweeters re PBO’s speech today. I would definitely not have been able to access all these while in my catch-up mode. Much appreciated.
There truly are moments when you outdo yourself! ;) ;)Thanks
Ah, thank you VC! I missed half of today’s events, so the sane folk here and on Twitter are always an enoooooormous help at a time like that!
X10 - the best reporter on the internet
Want to thank UT, yet again, for all her summary tweets of PBO’s major speech - for so many of us who are multi-multi-tasking :) to be able quickly to get bits of summary when we can’t listen, it’s a real treat. Twitter is a powerful tool when used by talented folk like UT and other TODers!!!
#TrustBarack He Earns It, EVERYDAY
European Tour chief executive George O’Grady has apologised for using the racially insensitive word “coloured” in an interview defending Sergio Garcia.
O’Grady described many of Garcia’s friends as being “coloured athletes”.
His remarks came as he tried to mitigate the Spaniard’s “fried chicken” comment about Tiger Woods.
A remorseful O’Grady said: “I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports, for which I unreservedly apologise.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22636894
Certain whites can’t handle that the ‘coloreds’ are at the helm of sports, politics and entertainment, can they ?
The guy who really pissed me off over this was McIlroy, described it all as making a “mountain out of molehill. Young Rory is fast becoming my least loved sports person.
Hadn’t seen that from young Rory. Hopefully he’ll grow wiser.
I think he’s growing less wise by the day, LL, finding him increasingly hard to take. He set off a shit-storm over whether he’d represent Ireland or Britain at the next Olympics, without giving a moment’s thought to how sensitive an issue it is. His head is up his arse.
Interesting that his girlfriend -Caroline Wozniakci thought it was “funny’ to stuff her chest and behind and mimic Serena Williams on Court.
She said it was a “joke”.
Karma has come back to bite her though because everyone is beating her soundly.
She was the weakest No. 1 player ever on the women’s tour. Those of us who follow the sport were aghast that she basically racked up points just for showing up.
Well between her, Jelena Jankovich and Dinara Safina for sure.
Oh man, I forgot about Safina. Which pretty much most other people have as well.
I didn’t think what Woziakci did was funny at all.
Not many people did at all. Probably just her and Rory.
George O’Grady’s use of the out-dated and offensive phrase was condemned by anti-racist campaigners as “lazy”, “ignorant” and “old-fashioned”.
And after Garcia’s full apology for his fried chicken joke about Tiger Woods, the European Tour’s chief executive issued speedily issued one of his own.
But the furore continues to overshadow the BMW PGA at Wentworth – and highlights the outdated attitudes in the sport in the year the Open returns to all-male Muirfield.
O’Grady spoke live to Sky Sports in a bid to draw a line under the controversy caused by Garcia at an awards dinner on Tuesday night.
But instead the bumbling blazer poured fuel on the fire when he said: “Most of Sergio’s friends happen to be coloured athletes in the US, he is absolutely abject in his apology and we accepted it.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/tour-chief-george-ogradys-sergio-1907166
Garcia’s non apology spoke of his “friends on the tour” - English and Australian - something about Tiger Woods that he just doesn’t get along with! Ban him for 10 matches - that might help him work out why he said what he said.
Without tiger, golf would still be watched only on sundays by retired seniors. And the prize money these racist punks would have been tenth of what it today.
And this is borne out by the prize money on the European Tour, which is nothing like that on the PGA.
Garcia is just a sore loser, he is always blaming someone or something
1. The wind
2. The fans
3. The course
4. The birds
5. Tiger Woods
And never his lackluster game he should be honored that his name is even being mentioned in the same sentence as Tiger Woods
What the heck is WRONG with people???? Just yesterday I was driving along, — had a twerpy little dude pull up next to me, honk to get my attention, and flipped me off — for no reason…although it probably had something to do with my “2012” car magnet. Of course being the “brave man” he was, he zoomed away as I sat there in stunned silence. I wonder if it made him feel better about himself.
In fact, I’ve had quite a few people give me a hard time on the road…I’ve been cut off when trying to merge, I had one woman who went NUTS when I dared to get in front of her on an exit ramp, another redneck kid in his big bad Tonka truck gave me a hard time, then when we got stuck at the light together — couldn’t get away fast enough.
These people are chicken shits…they act all tough and angry, but it’s easy to get away when one is in a car.
I’m just a little white girl, driving my convertible with the pink license plates, I can only imagine what it’s like when one has to live with this ignorance everyday…I only have to deal with it every so often when I’m in my car.
Her crazy pals.
Happy Birthday to my Play-Husband, Maxwell!
Really, “a rebranding of Bush”?! Did he listen to the speech, or did he have his DROOOOOOOOOOOONES headphones on?
he’s the primo raving emoprog. These idiots think Life is a tv movie, where we can “just say no” to dealing with national security threats and World Peace ensues before the commercial.
Scahill does what the rest of the TV puppets do, LL, he sees and hears what he wants to see/hear. The president’s speech today was heads and shoulders above any national security/foreign policy speech GWB ever delivered. GWB sounded like a ventriloquist’s dummy whenever he gave a speech, and many times I wondered if he really knew/understood the things he was talking about.
Ok, preparing a nighty owly chatty thingy.
You’re the cheesy puffs of librarians, thank you kind sir!
Thanks Chipsticks. I can catch up on the President`s speech & enjoy tweets frm japa, amk & Bobfr - GREAT!
Hellooooooo GGAil!!!!
A very good west coasf evening/night to youuuuuu!
Chips, love the way you set up the thread with the photos and tweets.
Ah, thank you COS! I was trying to catch up myself on the reaction because I missed most of it, so I thought this was a good way to do it. Will have more reaction in the morning from those rare specimens: non-shilling writers/reporters with brains.
Will POTUS be giving a commencement speech tomorrow at the Navy Academy? If so what time.
I read 9am somewhere, but I could be wrong. Check whitehouse.gov for tomorrow’s schedule. :)
I don’t think we’ve seen POTUS carrying a briefcase since he’s been in the White House. Looks good!
POTUS is slowly, steadily and systematically, Using Words, Deeds and is Quietly singing his detractors to Sleep……… ;)
They can’t touch him. They can’t match him. So they whine, they get really dreadful and mean.
I will Sing You to Sleep……Andy Kim, a Lebanese Canadian.
This is soooooooooooo true. The progress is slow but steady. It hurts me everyday to hear my President unfairly criticized. But, I know he will triumph in the end.
There is so little attention paid to PBO’s management of the government. What his administration is doing under the MSM radar is nothing short of amazing. It is something that is taken for granted by most people. Our government is more complex than it has ever been, and social media has put more pressure on this President than any other in history.
I can’t wait for full enforcement of Obamacare-a term I have come to love, which will cement his historical claim to greatness.—when people will recognize the change, and make the lies harder to believe, even for those who want desperately for them to be true.
https://twitter.com/ColbertReport/status/337729759914115072
Did Francis actually say that? Holy carp, the Catholic RWNJ won’t be happy.
Yup, he did.
The very antidote for ratzi, the nazi.
Oh man, am I going to rediscover my Catholic faith because of this man?
If they let him live. :)
As soon as I saw Rachel ask Scahill if what PBO was saying about Awa-Laka(sp) was true, I turned the channel. I don’t recall Scahill being a member of PBO’s Nat’l security team and privy to all of the security briefings.
I did not watch Maddow tonight, I need a break from her so I am happily taking that break.
Anyone post this MUST READ yet?? :) http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/05/the-end-of-obamascare-affordable-care.html
Back on the beat after literally shivering in my boots today. What’d I miss?
Just kidding, I caught most of PBO’s speech and the pink lady. Isn’t a pink lady an alcoholic drink? If so, that may explain all the drunken behavior during the speech.
Then i heard something about PBO’s prom pics, but have no idea where to see them. I’d really like to take a look-see at them. I know my own prom pic would have folks ROTFLTAO!!! Wild Afro and platform shoes anyone?
Amazing how this fell off the internetz.
Because it’s been a while, tonight’s menu.
Very simple dinner of heirloom tomatoes, fresh buratta, topped with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Nice and fresh!
Simultaneously and unambiguously condemning the very opening of GITMO, launching an unnecessary war, making it clear how stringent the use of drones actually is, and calling for the end of AUMF - telling the MIC perpetual war is not an American value crushes both EMOPROGS & NEOCONSTERS.
The scope and far-reaching implications of what President Obama stated today - and began doing with the various Executive Actions he’s taken in the past couple of days - are historical on the scale of Stunning.
#TrustBarack
Sorry, Chips, not sure why I managed to post the White House video of the historic speech, twice!!
For sure, it’s a speech every American should listen to at least twice!!!
#FORWARD FOCUSED
There is nothing quite like good shawarma. Num num.
I love shawarma. It’s becoming a big hit in India too.
Programming note: Night Owl chat will drop soonish.
Watch with the ish…ish - I am starting a minor skirmish against ish time
Well, actually I’m waiting for the comment count to hit a certain threshold. Thus the “ish”.
I don’t read the SMH very often - being Sydney has not been “my town” for many years - but this was linked on a comment to Pierce.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/what-on-earth-is-abbott-thinking-20130518-2jt4r.html#ixzz2UAGmcScB
Shows our right wing is as stupid as yours - sadly likely to be elected to power this year
For anyone reading
Abbott is the current Opposition leader (PM if his party wins the election)
What we think of the NRA is well noted
Alan Jones is our Rush Limbaugh
We seem to be a fairly non-religious crowd down under
Andrew Johns is an ex footballer turned commentator who opened his mouth and rather regrets it
It’s like the right wing has some sort of hypnotic power to convince people to vote against their best interests - globally. I hope your prediction doesn’t come true.
Last 2 admins were Labor Party - like most they have been damaged by the recession & promises to “balance the budget” (for no good reason). They have been taken in by austerity & are damaging those who can least afford it.
Except that the opposition leader has little to recommend him it would be an easy win for the right - but I think they will still win - sad but true.
New post: http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/23/night-owl-chat-wax-audio-mashups/
I LOVE Joy Reid. Competent, measured, intelligent.
Me too. I got my wish. I was hoping Lawrence would have Joy Reid on the show tonight. I am always interested in what she has to say about anything. She did not disappoint tonight. Love her.
I think FLOTUS can tell you that in picture 3,4,5, POTUS is really piss.
That’s our President Ladies and Gentleman…I have not experienced a President like him in my lifetime and I may never again….not in this profound way. No President has ever spoken so eloquently about the realities of war. And I have never, ever seen a heckler treated with more grace and respect than what I just witnessed….going off script to speak from his heart and weaving her and her protest into the end of the speech was incredible. I see big things in the next three years with his legacy destined to be truly great and far reaching.
As usual I am always late to the party. I just wanted to come here to thank Chips and UT for their excellent coverage of this historic day. I know President Obama, if he knew of their work, would be very proud of them because they are able to put aside their football rivalries to work together for the common good. Today, Chips and UT were incredible in assembling news and facts that support my view that President Obama is one of the greatest U.S. Presidents in my life time.