President Obama's interview with Matt Lauer from NBC's Today Show (Video)

Health Care Law:



Tea Party and the Political Divide:



Afghanistan:



Faith and Family:



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The Obamas talk marriage for the NY Times Magazine

A preview for Sunday.

Another Washington dusk, another motorcade, another intimate evening played out in public view. On Oct. 3, just a day after their failed Olympics bid in Copenhagen, Barack and Michelle Obama slipped into a Georgetown restaurant for one of their now-familiar date nights: this time, to toast their 17th wedding anniversary. As with their previous outings, even the dark photographs taken by passers-by and posted on the Web looked glamorous: the president tieless, in a suit; the first lady in a backless sheath.

The Obama date-night tradition stretches back to the days when the president spent half his time in Springfield, Ill., reuniting at week’s close with his wife, who kept a regular Friday manicure and hair appointment for the occasion. But five days before he ventured out for his anniversary dinner, the president lamented what has happened to his nights out with his wife.

“I would say the one time during our stay here in the White House so far that has. . . .” He paused so long in choosing his words that Michelle Obama, sitting alongside him, prompted him. “Has what?”

“Annoyed me,” the president answered.

“Don’t say it!” the first lady mock-warned. “Uh-oh.”

“Was when I took Michelle to New York and people made it into a political issue,” he continued, recalling the evening last spring when they flew to New York for dinner and a show, eliciting Republican gibes for spending federal money on their own entertainment. read more here....

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Official Obama Family Picture

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pose in the White House's Green Room with their children, Sasha, left, and Malia.

Official White House Photo by Annie Leibovitz.

High resolution, here.

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Another cool Obama Girls pic with Bo (picture)

Bo, as my dogs, love that tummy rub. The girls are waiting on their dad to come off Marine One. (9/15/09) Go Malia and Sasha!!

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It's over now!!! The Obamas vaca.... (Video)

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Martha's Vineyard is bracing for the Obamas (Video)

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First Family going to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park

This is coupled with President Obama's town hall meeting in Montana, next week.

The First Family is taking a vacation before their vacation.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday the president, First Lady Michelle and the kids are heading west on Aug. 14 for a long weekend to visit Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National parks. Just days later, the First Family travels to Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts.

Mrs. Obama and her daughters have already made two overseas trips this summer. Gibbs talked about the westward swing - intended to highlight the national parks - at his briefing, where he offered up Obama's week ahead.

On Sunday the president flies to Guadalajara, Mexico, to attend the North American Leaders summit. Tuesday, Obama touches down in Portsmouth, N.H.- an area where he spent a lot of time in advance of the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary in 2008 - for a town hall on health care reform. Obama hosts a reception Aug.12 for his new Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor.

On Friday, Aug. 14, the First Family will visit the Bozeman, Mont., area. On Aug. 15 they will travel to Yellowstone, Wyo., and Grand Junction, Colo. They will then travel to the Grand Canyon and Phoenix, Ariz., on Aug. 16, and return to Washington, D.C., on Monday, Aug. 17. The First Family's visit to the national parks occurs during a free weekend for our national parks.

Obama has been to the parks before, Gibbs said. "I know he's been to Yellowstone, because he tells a story of coming to visit his grandparents that I believe includes both stops at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, coming from Hawaii." read more here....

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The Obama Family Vacation Diggs on Martha's Vineyard

Blue Heron Farm: Obamas To Reportedly Rent Vineyard Vacation Home From Republicans

Here is the info on the Obama Family Vacation Diggs:

President Barack Obama and the First Family will rent the bucolic Blue Heron Farm off South Road in Chilmark for their vacation during the last week of August.

The 28.5-acre property some five hundred yards down Cobb’s Hill Road, spans the Chilmark and West Tisbury town line and overlooks Town Cove, the westernmost finger of the Tisbury Great Pond.

While the mechanics of renting the property were still ongoing at press time, the Gazette has learned that a rental agreement for the farm will comprise three leases, one to be held by the Obamas, another by the Secret Service and a third by a White House entourage.

The amount of the rental has not been disclosed, but up-Island properties similar to Blue Heron Farm rent for between $35,000 to $50,000 per week.

It is understood that the Obamas have treated the transaction as a standard Vineyard summer rental, from payment terms right down to questions about bringing the family dog. read more here...

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First Grandmother speaks about life in the White House (Video)

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In case you missed it: Obamas vacationing on Martha's Vineyard

This is nothing new.

The Obama's vacationed there several times, more recently in 2007. It was 2007 that Caroline Kennedy's children had their mother take them to meet, then Senator Barack Obama who was running for the Democratic Nomination.

It’s official: The sandbox for the stars is once again becoming a presidential playground.

President Obama and his family are planning to vacation on Martha’s Vineyard next month, the White House confirmed yesterday without releasing details.

The visit, which will occur during the last week of August, has been rumored for months, and the Secret Service has already booked reservations at several hotels. It is unclear where the family of four will stay, but one option could be Oak Bluffs, the historical center of the island’s black community.

Source

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The Obamas in Ghana (Pictures)

More Obamas in Ghana Pictures


President Obama with First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha arrive in Ghana

President Barack Obama arrived in Ghana Friday on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa.

He landed soon after 9 p.m. local time and met a group of dignitaries, led by President John Atta Mills. An ethnic African group danced and banged drums for Obama's arrival.

After traveling to Russia and then Italy for a meeting of major industrial powers, Obama is making Ghana, on Africa's west coast, the last stop of his overseas trip.

Obama will make a speech to lawmakers there and tour an oceanfront fort once used to ship slaves to the Americas. read more here....

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Obama Family Night in Moscow

Everyone should be used to this by now, even world leaders.

After passing on dinner with the French president to go on a date in the City of Light with his wife last month, President Obama took leave of his Russian hosts on Tuesday night to seclude himself in his Moscow hotel with his wife, Michelle, and their daughters.

The first family enjoyed a relaxed evening at the O2 Lounge, the super-chic, super-pricey rooftop club at the new Ritz-Carlton, although no doubt the Secret Service first cleared the place of most if not all of the swaggering tycoons and leggy models who flock to such Moscow venues.

They could not ask for a more scenic vista. The glass-enclosed O2 offers a panoramic view of Moscow, including Red Square and the Kremlin, all the more striking as the lingering summer sun sets after 10 p.m. The club is “a place to see and be seen,” as its Web site says — that is, unless you are a visiting president who after a day and a half of blinis, beluga and bilats (the diplo term for “bilateral meetings”) just wants to hang out with the clan.

The decision to brush off the Russians on one of his two nights here miffed some in the Moscow government who did not understand why he would not devote the scarce time to his hosts. Mr. Obama had dinner with President Dmitri A. Medvedev on Monday and lunch with him on Tuesday. But with the second dinner slot unavailable, he ended up having breakfast Tuesday with Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, a known night owl not given to American-style early morning business meals.

The Obamas, though, wanted some downtime before getting back on Air Force One to head to Italy for three days of meetings at the Group of 8 summit meeting and, from there, to Ghana for a one-day visit. read more here.....

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Round Two: Obama Family in Moscow, Russia (Pictures)

The Obamas and The Medvedevs










The Obama Family in Russia, Day One

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The Obama Family in Moscow, Russia (Pictures)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R), his wife Svetlana (2nd R), U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and first lady Michelle Obama pose for a picture at the presidential residence Gorki outside Moscow.










Obama Family in Russia, Day Two

Obama Girls in J. Crew

To Russia With Love from East Wing Rules

Michelle Obama tours Kremlin with daughters

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Obama Family Arrives in Moscow, Russia (Video)

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Kremlin, Vatican & Ants Ahead for Obamas

Maureen over at East Wing Rules lays it out for what is ahead in Moscow for the Obamas...

Like their personal shadows, the White House and all its security gear, protocol and communication equipment travels with the first family wherever they go. Onsite secret service along with the one chosen as food taster and an advance team travel with the president and family members. Hotels are secured from above and below and embassies in the destination nations go on high alert. Historically, the president is most often alone on these missions. On momentous occasions and commemorative events, the First Lady and the First Family travels along. Former First Daughters Barbara & Jenna Bush expressed deep regret that they did not travel with the president often until his last year in office.


The Kremlin from the air that the First Family will see when arriving in Moscow and if, the Obama family stays at the Ritz a great view of Moscow's Red Square.

Malia & Sasha Obama are not of an age where they are free to chart their own course or itinerary and the East Wing is putting final prep on their schedules. The littlest Obamas, minus puppy Bo, will be on for another international frenzy as they touchdown with their parents on Air Force One and alight first in the Russian capital of Moscow, on to Italy and the ravages of the earthquake zone and to Africa for a final stop in Ghana. A week that will be historic for the adults as well as the children as they next week as youngsters have not traveled with a president on official business in the 21st century for an extended period. It will be viscerally different after viewing their first fireworks display at the White House on Malia's and the nation's birthday. Even the First Grandma is along for the ride on this official trip. read more here....

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White House 4th of July Pictures

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