Barack Obama still loves babies....2016 (and final) version
December 30, 2016 11:36 AM Subscribe
“I had my eye on this youngster while President Barack Obama spoke during a reception at the White House celebrating African American History Month. When the President starting greeting audience members along the rope line, I bent down in front of the young man and captured this moment of the President touching his face before he too bent down to greet him. Afterwards, I tracked down his name — Clark Reynolds — and had the President sign a copy for him.”
I love this.
posted by FirstMateKate at 12:25 PM on December 30, 2016 [23 favorites]
I love this.
posted by FirstMateKate at 12:25 PM on December 30, 2016 [23 favorites]
God almighty, I'm gonna miss President Obama.
posted by corvikate at 12:25 PM on December 30, 2016 [67 favorites]
posted by corvikate at 12:25 PM on December 30, 2016 [67 favorites]
Joe Biden with the water gun is the most Joe Biden photo ever.
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 12:26 PM on December 30, 2016 [49 favorites]
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 12:26 PM on December 30, 2016 [49 favorites]
#alwaysmypresident
LBJ was president when I was born. Barack Obama is the only president in my lifetime that I've been truly proud to support. He's not a perfect president, but he is a truly great man.
posted by anastasiav at 12:27 PM on December 30, 2016 [46 favorites]
LBJ was president when I was born. Barack Obama is the only president in my lifetime that I've been truly proud to support. He's not a perfect president, but he is a truly great man.
posted by anastasiav at 12:27 PM on December 30, 2016 [46 favorites]
I was doing really well, and then Obama playing ball with the baby girl on November 8.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:27 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:27 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
omg the picture of diamond joe getting BLASTED IN A WATER GUN FIGHT
posted by joyceanmachine at 12:28 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by joyceanmachine at 12:28 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Biden Beach Boardwalk Bash
Where the hell was my invite?!
posted by btfreek at 12:29 PM on December 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
Where the hell was my invite?!
posted by btfreek at 12:29 PM on December 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
I can't even stand the thought of DJT in this awesome President's place.
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on December 30, 2016 [34 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:34 PM on December 30, 2016 [34 favorites]
I mean, Joe's about to be a free agent. Send him an invitation to your own Biden Beach Boardwalk Bash and he'll probably come. Sell tickets and donate the proceeds to a cancer charity.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:34 PM on December 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:34 PM on December 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
As always, the photos of this president with the children and babies are adorable and wonderful and make me tear up in a happy way.
I simply can't imagine ever having the opportunity to feel that way again over the next four years.
posted by bookmammal at 12:35 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
I simply can't imagine ever having the opportunity to feel that way again over the next four years.
posted by bookmammal at 12:35 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
In the shadow of what's coming next for the White House, these are just heartbreaking.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 12:37 PM on December 30, 2016 [42 favorites]
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 12:37 PM on December 30, 2016 [42 favorites]
Damn, I'm almost in tears here. I haven't always agreed with the president but he and Michelle have shown so much class and genuine humanity during the last eight years that it just breaks my heart to think that he's going to have to give the keys to that short-fingered vulgarian.
posted by octothorpe at 12:42 PM on December 30, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 12:42 PM on December 30, 2016 [20 favorites]
So, so sad to see Obama's last "in office" photos. He and his wife seem such compassionate people.
The photo of Joe Biden with the water guns was amazing, but the photo of the First Lady hugging former President George W. Bush got me the most.
posted by greenhornet at 12:43 PM on December 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
The photo of Joe Biden with the water guns was amazing, but the photo of the First Lady hugging former President George W. Bush got me the most.
posted by greenhornet at 12:43 PM on December 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
Pete Souza has a real knack for capturing (what are surely brief) moments where his subject is Barack Obama and not President Obama. Despite being the most powerful person in the world and having a life that probably isn't very relatable to most people, there are glimpses of normalcy and joy and humor that are very inspiring. Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to be getting any photos in the next four years that evoke those same emotions.
posted by noneuclidean at 12:50 PM on December 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by noneuclidean at 12:50 PM on December 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
The photo of Joe Biden with the water guns was amazing, but the photo of the First Lady hugging former President George W. Bush got me the most.
I agree. He was a terrible president, but clearly not a terrible person.
I have my criticisms of the past eight years, but I will really miss these yearly photo compilations of so much class and compassion. The next few years are not going to offer anything like that.
posted by Dip Flash at 12:51 PM on December 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
I agree. He was a terrible president, but clearly not a terrible person.
I have my criticisms of the past eight years, but I will really miss these yearly photo compilations of so much class and compassion. The next few years are not going to offer anything like that.
posted by Dip Flash at 12:51 PM on December 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
I have a baby who is mixed-race. When she heard we were expecting, a friend who is mixed race gave us a book with pictures of mixed-race kids. Welcome to the club, you know? It can be lonely out there, especially for my friend who grew up when there was less awareness of mixed race kids. She is darker-skinned than most people expect from her ethnic background, and has accordingly been subject to everything from heightened scrutiny for traveling while appearing brown, to people assuming she is the help.
So yeah, the book has little blurbs from the older kids. The baby looooooooooooooooooves looking at it, particularly the pictures of babies. There's a kid in it who looks a lot like what we're guessing he'll look like as a toddler, and Mr. Machine was flipping through it the other day.
He came on a kid who said that having Obama as his president let him know what mixed-race kids can do.
GODDAMMIT.
posted by joyceanmachine at 12:51 PM on December 30, 2016 [24 favorites]
So yeah, the book has little blurbs from the older kids. The baby looooooooooooooooooves looking at it, particularly the pictures of babies. There's a kid in it who looks a lot like what we're guessing he'll look like as a toddler, and Mr. Machine was flipping through it the other day.
He came on a kid who said that having Obama as his president let him know what mixed-race kids can do.
GODDAMMIT.
posted by joyceanmachine at 12:51 PM on December 30, 2016 [24 favorites]
I've only gotten to July and that picture of Dr. Jill Biden with the mother of triplets just gets me in the guts. What a beautiful photograph!
posted by jillithd at 1:00 PM on December 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 1:00 PM on December 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
I scrolled through these feeling torn between delight and grief.
the photo of the First Lady hugging former President George W. Bush got me the most.
I agree. He was a terrible president, but clearly not a terrible person.
I think Dubya may have genuinely meant to be a good president and to serve his country, but lacks the kind of complex analytical intelligence required to be a good president, or even to fully understand how and why he was failing. It was a particularly tragic and pernicious combination.
posted by orange swan at 1:09 PM on December 30, 2016 [15 favorites]
the photo of the First Lady hugging former President George W. Bush got me the most.
I agree. He was a terrible president, but clearly not a terrible person.
I think Dubya may have genuinely meant to be a good president and to serve his country, but lacks the kind of complex analytical intelligence required to be a good president, or even to fully understand how and why he was failing. It was a particularly tragic and pernicious combination.
posted by orange swan at 1:09 PM on December 30, 2016 [15 favorites]
the contrast between the kind of people who have been excited to meet obama, the people he has chosen to meet, to involve in his administration, and the kind of people we've seen and will be seeing in the company of trump is just so fucking agonizingly stark. like i can't really think too hard about it because i might throw up.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:10 PM on December 30, 2016 [65 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:10 PM on December 30, 2016 [65 favorites]
I can't decide if looking at this pictures is comforting or masochistic, given what's coming on January 20. :(
posted by TwoStride at 1:11 PM on December 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 1:11 PM on December 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ugh, that Nov 9 picture of the morning after the election and the number of team members in the room.
posted by jillithd at 1:12 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 1:12 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh hell, I'm going to miss this man!
posted by Splunge at 1:13 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 1:13 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, I love ALL THE DRESSES in these photos. We already knew how amazing FLOTUS's style was already. But ALL THE DRESSES. That purple lace dress on Nov 10 is so pretty...
posted by jillithd at 1:14 PM on December 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 1:14 PM on December 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
Ugh, that Nov 9 picture of the morning after the election and the number of team members in the room.
Everyone looked so grim. Some of those people had just set foot in the Oval Office for the first time and they're not even getting a thrill out of it.
posted by orange swan at 1:14 PM on December 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Everyone looked so grim. Some of those people had just set foot in the Oval Office for the first time and they're not even getting a thrill out of it.
posted by orange swan at 1:14 PM on December 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
also lol all the interesting background descriptive detail on every photo up til the one with trump; apparently souza graduated from the school of if you don't have anything nice to say then say nothing at all.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:18 PM on December 30, 2016 [41 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:18 PM on December 30, 2016 [41 favorites]
That Dec 16 snowman prank. LOL!
(good thing I pay MeFi by the month and not by the comment!)
posted by jillithd at 1:21 PM on December 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
(good thing I pay MeFi by the month and not by the comment!)
posted by jillithd at 1:21 PM on December 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Amidst all the existential dread, I am genuinely curious how the photographer job is going to play out with the new guy. I'm willing to bet they don't even try for any lighthearted humanizing photos because (a) they will push a narrative that a serious man is doing a serious job and doesn't have time for that nonsense and (b) it would just be too difficult to pull off, anyway.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 1:29 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 1:29 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
You think Trump is going to let a photographer follow him?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:40 PM on December 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:40 PM on December 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
Good point.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 1:48 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 1:48 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Man, that picture of George Clooney and Obama...
posted by ChuraChura at 2:03 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 2:03 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
I think Dubya may have genuinely meant to be a good president and to serve his country, but lacks the kind of complex analytical intelligence required to be a good president, or even to fully understand how and why he was failing. It was a particularly tragic and pernicious combination.
One of the formative moments in my perspective on the presidency was reading up on the time Ulysses S. Grant spent in the White House. It does not matter what other virtues you may possess in other areas of life, its still very easy to be a terrible president if you can't accurately judge who around you can be trusted and who can't, or lack the will to tell them no.
These are amazing photos.
posted by AdamCSnider at 2:17 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
One of the formative moments in my perspective on the presidency was reading up on the time Ulysses S. Grant spent in the White House. It does not matter what other virtues you may possess in other areas of life, its still very easy to be a terrible president if you can't accurately judge who around you can be trusted and who can't, or lack the will to tell them no.
These are amazing photos.
posted by AdamCSnider at 2:17 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Love these.
I'm going to miss the Obamas so much. It's been lovely to have classy, intelligent, empathetic people in the White House.
posted by ceramicblue at 2:17 PM on December 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
I'm going to miss the Obamas so much. It's been lovely to have classy, intelligent, empathetic people in the White House.
posted by ceramicblue at 2:17 PM on December 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
In the Nov 9 photo with the staffers, you can see that one of the few things Obama has on the desk is a little sign that sits facing him which reads "Hard things are hard."
posted by nickmark at 2:19 PM on December 30, 2016 [41 favorites]
posted by nickmark at 2:19 PM on December 30, 2016 [41 favorites]
In the Nov 9 photo with the staffers, you can see that one of the few things Obama has on the desk is a little sign that sits facing him which reads "Hard things are hard."
I actually came into this thread to ask whether anybody could decipher the first word on that plaque. Thanks, nickmark.
posted by penduluum at 2:30 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
I actually came into this thread to ask whether anybody could decipher the first word on that plaque. Thanks, nickmark.
posted by penduluum at 2:30 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Here's the story of that plaque. Half a profound inspirational statement; half the President ribbing a close adviser. Pretty good stuff.
posted by penduluum at 2:33 PM on December 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by penduluum at 2:33 PM on December 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
I think Dubya may have genuinely meant to be a good president and to serve his country, but lacks the kind of complex analytical intelligence required to be a good president, or even to fully understand how and why he was failing. It was a particularly tragic and pernicious combination.
It was tragic, and it was pernicious, but I don't think he gave a rats-ass about anyone in this country except people of his income level. Dog knows he would have been happy to line up the poor, the different, and the dissident, and put them in a leaky boat. Pretty much what Trump will actually be trying to do in the coming four years, plus the wrong skin color and the wrong sex.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:48 PM on December 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
It was tragic, and it was pernicious, but I don't think he gave a rats-ass about anyone in this country except people of his income level. Dog knows he would have been happy to line up the poor, the different, and the dissident, and put them in a leaky boat. Pretty much what Trump will actually be trying to do in the coming four years, plus the wrong skin color and the wrong sex.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:48 PM on December 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Pete Souza is probably the best White House photographer that's ever held the post. He has a way of humanizing his subjects that I've not seen in the work of other WH photogs. I'm glad he'll be leaving when Obama does.
posted by longdaysjourney at 2:50 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by longdaysjourney at 2:50 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
Trump - can't even beat Obama in a last game of pickup basketball - Sad!
please please please take the bait
posted by benzenedream at 3:01 PM on December 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
please please please take the bait
posted by benzenedream at 3:01 PM on December 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Pete Souza might be an expert in the art of the photo op, but nobody could get as many wonderful pictures of Obama with kids if the man didn't have mad skillz with people.
Obama, the country needs you! Please stay in the public eye, so we don't think the nation has totally lost our hero and been completely overtaken by Gothmog and the other orcs.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:01 PM on December 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Obama, the country needs you! Please stay in the public eye, so we don't think the nation has totally lost our hero and been completely overtaken by Gothmog and the other orcs.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:01 PM on December 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I can't imagine the incoming president to ever be this deeply contemplative about anything.
The Obama girls are now tall, beautiful, glamorous young women. They were little girls in 2008. (And they were all so young!)
“‘I love that picture,’ the President said to me when he saw this one hanging on the walls of the West Wing. Truth be told, he says that about every picture that features Malia or Sasha." That is a dad.
You can see that in the picture of him and Superman. He's completely immersed in that moment.
I love how he completely abandons himself when he interacts with kids. You can tell he loves them.
The incoming president, on the other hand, doesn't even know his own son.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:07 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
The Obama girls are now tall, beautiful, glamorous young women. They were little girls in 2008. (And they were all so young!)
“‘I love that picture,’ the President said to me when he saw this one hanging on the walls of the West Wing. Truth be told, he says that about every picture that features Malia or Sasha." That is a dad.
Despite being the most powerful person in the world and having a life that probably isn't very relatable to most people, there are glimpses of normalcy and joy and humor that are very inspiring.
You can see that in the picture of him and Superman. He's completely immersed in that moment.
Pete Souza might be an expert in the art of the photo op, but nobody could get as many wonderful pictures of Obama with kids if the man didn't have mad skillz with people.
I love how he completely abandons himself when he interacts with kids. You can tell he loves them.
The incoming president, on the other hand, doesn't even know his own son.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:07 PM on December 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
The Superman pic reminded me of the one with him with Spiderman.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:09 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 3:09 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
He never tired of trying to persuade even the toughest voters.
posted by tonycpsu at 3:41 PM on December 30, 2016
posted by tonycpsu at 3:41 PM on December 30, 2016
Trump - can't even beat Obama in a last game of pickup basketball - Sad!
please please please take the bait
If Trump takes the bait, the effort of trying to keep up with the much younger and fitter Obama will cause him to collapse and die on the court, and then the right wing crazies will forever claim that Obama killed him, so maybe not.
posted by orange swan at 3:50 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
please please please take the bait
If Trump takes the bait, the effort of trying to keep up with the much younger and fitter Obama will cause him to collapse and die on the court, and then the right wing crazies will forever claim that Obama killed him, so maybe not.
posted by orange swan at 3:50 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love how he completely abandons himself when he interacts with kids. You can tell he loves them.
The incoming president, on the other hand, doesn't even know his own son.
Obama has incredible people skills and is always so present in the moment. In every one of all the wonderful shots I have seen of him and children, he is never looking at the camera but is so focused on the children and on enjoying his time with them.
Trump, by contrast, never connects with anyone. The world is a giant mirror for him, and he demands that it tell him what he wants to hear and affirm his grandiose sense of himself.
posted by orange swan at 3:58 PM on December 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
The incoming president, on the other hand, doesn't even know his own son.
Obama has incredible people skills and is always so present in the moment. In every one of all the wonderful shots I have seen of him and children, he is never looking at the camera but is so focused on the children and on enjoying his time with them.
Trump, by contrast, never connects with anyone. The world is a giant mirror for him, and he demands that it tell him what he wants to hear and affirm his grandiose sense of himself.
posted by orange swan at 3:58 PM on December 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
Thanksgiving-- I lost it. The moment of love and gratitude, family and fellowship. I'm secular by all definition & I still wanted to slip into that moment of prayer.
posted by psylosyren at 4:24 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by psylosyren at 4:24 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
I loved all of these, but I also cried all the way through looking at them, because I am going to miss this President so much. The thought of what will be inhabiting the White House after him just nauseates and depresses me.
posted by sarcasticah at 4:36 PM on December 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by sarcasticah at 4:36 PM on December 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
I wish President Obama could have even a fraction of this apparent appreciation and empathy for the hundreds of children that have been killed on his watch and under his command by US drone strikes.
I've made comments like the above before on here and they always get taken down. I guess it's bad taste to point out the unsavory side of the Obama years. But I simply cannot look at this man and believe he's a decent human being at this point.
posted by grounded at 5:15 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've made comments like the above before on here and they always get taken down. I guess it's bad taste to point out the unsavory side of the Obama years. But I simply cannot look at this man and believe he's a decent human being at this point.
posted by grounded at 5:15 PM on December 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
I so enjoyed these photographs. One thing that I got out of them was that the photographers captured President Obama's in-the-moment humanity, whether he was on the floor playing with babies, meeting constituents, meeting in the Situation Room or representing our country on overseas trips.
As others have said, I will so miss this president and his family. We hit the lottery when all of them entered the White House. So much to be proud of. While he has been in office, I could believe that our country was trying to do good for the most part, and these photos showing his humanity and decency show how he guided himself.
Thank you, bluesky43; I bookmarked the site for in the future when I want to remember these years.
posted by Silverstone at 5:19 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
As others have said, I will so miss this president and his family. We hit the lottery when all of them entered the White House. So much to be proud of. While he has been in office, I could believe that our country was trying to do good for the most part, and these photos showing his humanity and decency show how he guided himself.
Thank you, bluesky43; I bookmarked the site for in the future when I want to remember these years.
posted by Silverstone at 5:19 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
Yeah c'mon don't let the rise of Trump lead to the normalization of Bush, or of Reagan. They're all of the same ilk, just different points on the spectrum.
posted by Apocryphon at 5:58 PM on December 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Apocryphon at 5:58 PM on December 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
The thing that Souza gets about Obama is how he's got this dignified gravity, but there seems to be an awesome playfulness that bubbles up, sometimes just beneath the surface of the dignity. Trump, on the other hand, seems to default to a somewhat puzzled, somewhat petulant blankness, occasionally broken by a staggeringly smug smile. (But, per Senator Franken, he doesn't laugh. Ever.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:15 PM on December 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:15 PM on December 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Bush was a bad president, even criminal, but he was neither bigot nor racist. He fought for the Museum of African Heritage, and Condi Rice and he were true friends. It would have been very easy to intern Arab-Amricans or Muslims after 9/11, but he stood against those impulses. I dont forgive his transgressions, but I credit where he acted with decency.
posted by haiku warrior at 6:16 PM on December 30, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by haiku warrior at 6:16 PM on December 30, 2016 [27 favorites]
Here's the story of that plaque. Half a profound inspirational statement; half the President ribbing a close adviser. Pretty good stuff.
Great find. Here is the text if anyone needs a transcript:
One of the messages I've been trying to deliver ... as my presidency comes to a close is just reminding people, stuff is always hard. In fact, I have a plaque on my desk that says "hard things are hard." (Laughter.) This was advice that was given to me by one of my senior advisors when we were in the middle of some big fight. He said, you know, here's the thing, Mr. President, hard things are hard. I said, that is profound. You're right. (Laughter.)
But sometimes we get disappointed in this age of instant gratification when we don't feel as if everything is solved. Well, we're here on this Earth just a blink of an eye, each of us. We take the world that's been given to us and we try to make it just a little bit better, and then somebody else picks it up and they do their part. And there are people who are trying to impede progress. But the good news is, is that the general trajectory of humanity is that the folks who have been trying to make progress have outnumbered those who haven't. And over time, things just get a little bit better and it adds up.
But it's hard. And when President Kennedy said we’d go to the moon, he said we chose to do it because it’s hard. No point in doing easy stuff. Nearly 50 years ago today, a man first walked on the moon. That was hard. And JFK once said that, “The conquest of poverty is as difficult, if not more difficult, than the conquest of outer space.” So we can't get discouraged. We can get frustrated sometimes. We may -- at least if you're in the Oval Office -- occasionally utter a curse word or two. (Laughter.) But we've got to stick with it. Because it's going to take years to reach our goals. Whenever the task seems too great, I'm reminded -- and I'm sure you are too -- of all the people that I've met these past eight years, the odds they've faced that pale in comparison to the challenges that we face, the promise they hold.
Full text. From July 20, 2016. His absence in the White House will be keenly felt, but I look forward to the great things he will accomplish next.
posted by Emily's Fist at 6:16 PM on December 30, 2016 [15 favorites]
Great find. Here is the text if anyone needs a transcript:
One of the messages I've been trying to deliver ... as my presidency comes to a close is just reminding people, stuff is always hard. In fact, I have a plaque on my desk that says "hard things are hard." (Laughter.) This was advice that was given to me by one of my senior advisors when we were in the middle of some big fight. He said, you know, here's the thing, Mr. President, hard things are hard. I said, that is profound. You're right. (Laughter.)
But sometimes we get disappointed in this age of instant gratification when we don't feel as if everything is solved. Well, we're here on this Earth just a blink of an eye, each of us. We take the world that's been given to us and we try to make it just a little bit better, and then somebody else picks it up and they do their part. And there are people who are trying to impede progress. But the good news is, is that the general trajectory of humanity is that the folks who have been trying to make progress have outnumbered those who haven't. And over time, things just get a little bit better and it adds up.
But it's hard. And when President Kennedy said we’d go to the moon, he said we chose to do it because it’s hard. No point in doing easy stuff. Nearly 50 years ago today, a man first walked on the moon. That was hard. And JFK once said that, “The conquest of poverty is as difficult, if not more difficult, than the conquest of outer space.” So we can't get discouraged. We can get frustrated sometimes. We may -- at least if you're in the Oval Office -- occasionally utter a curse word or two. (Laughter.) But we've got to stick with it. Because it's going to take years to reach our goals. Whenever the task seems too great, I'm reminded -- and I'm sure you are too -- of all the people that I've met these past eight years, the odds they've faced that pale in comparison to the challenges that we face, the promise they hold.
Full text. From July 20, 2016. His absence in the White House will be keenly felt, but I look forward to the great things he will accomplish next.
posted by Emily's Fist at 6:16 PM on December 30, 2016 [15 favorites]
Oh, and my favorite photos: meeting Prince George and Marine One silhouetted by Half Dome at sunset.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:24 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:24 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Going from Obama to Trump is like replacing George Clooney with Carrot Top. I mean, what the fuck America.
posted by fungible at 7:20 PM on December 30, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by fungible at 7:20 PM on December 30, 2016 [18 favorites]
If I make a video of me crying when I realize he won't be president any more, will you guys make it go viral so he'll hug me PLEEEEZ
posted by janey47 at 7:22 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by janey47 at 7:22 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…
posted by blue_beetle at 7:43 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 7:43 PM on December 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
a decent human being
Your judgment of who qualifies is piss in the wind, but President Obama cares more about your opinion than I do, so who's to say? Maybe that makes him more decent and more human than both of us combined.
Anyway good luck with Trump.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 8:22 PM on December 30, 2016
Your judgment of who qualifies is piss in the wind, but President Obama cares more about your opinion than I do, so who's to say? Maybe that makes him more decent and more human than both of us combined.
Anyway good luck with Trump.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 8:22 PM on December 30, 2016
The two term limit is epic horseshit I tell you what.
Dear Pagan Gods, don't change it now!!! Just the idea of Trump doing more than a single term...
Two at most, please Baal.
Of course, he thinks he's been elected dictator till the day he dies.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:43 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Dear Pagan Gods, don't change it now!!! Just the idea of Trump doing more than a single term...
Two at most, please Baal.
Of course, he thinks he's been elected dictator till the day he dies.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:43 PM on December 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm still mystified as to how polarized this country is about Obama. I mean the Camelot of JFK is considered to be the height of America's idealism, glamour, and dignity and he only held office for 3 years with countless scandals aired out in the decades since. Regardless of your political affiliation, this man has acted with grace, dignity, and class that few Americans in our history have displayed. Despite an epically obstructive congress, the fake news, social media, 24 hour cable, this has been a near flawless scandal-free eight years for the presidency. Talk about a black person needing to perform twice as well to be considered half as good -- the American people didn't even give him that. Racism is a motherfucking fucked up thing.
He seems to be a genuinely joyful, grateful person and as much as the country needs him, I think he has given enough and I believe he is going to really truly enjoy "just" being a dad and a husband and he's earned it.
For me, just the idea of Barack Obama is enough to keep me in there fighting for what's right.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:57 PM on December 30, 2016 [43 favorites]
He seems to be a genuinely joyful, grateful person and as much as the country needs him, I think he has given enough and I believe he is going to really truly enjoy "just" being a dad and a husband and he's earned it.
For me, just the idea of Barack Obama is enough to keep me in there fighting for what's right.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:57 PM on December 30, 2016 [43 favorites]
also, as another parent of mixed race kids, I cannot say it emphatically enough how important it has been for my sons to grow up with this man as their role model. When our school had a "dress up for the job you want to have when you're grown up day", my son chose to be President. I think he looks great.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 10:08 PM on December 30, 2016 [41 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 10:08 PM on December 30, 2016 [41 favorites]
Oh gosh, Slarty, your kid does look great. I'd vote for him.
“‘I love that picture,’ the President said to me when he saw this one hanging on the walls of the West Wing. Truth be told, he says that about every picture that features Malia or Sasha."
This made me tear up because it is exactly the sort of thing my dad says about pictures that contain me or my sister. "I love that picture!!!" "Dad, that is a picture of us eating Cheerios in our pajamas." "I know! It's great!" Nothing like the love of a good dad.
I find it really hard to think of anything that could humanize our president-elect like that. I can't imagine him taking pride in a photo of his kid like that.
posted by chainsofreedom at 5:36 AM on December 31, 2016 [12 favorites]
“‘I love that picture,’ the President said to me when he saw this one hanging on the walls of the West Wing. Truth be told, he says that about every picture that features Malia or Sasha."
This made me tear up because it is exactly the sort of thing my dad says about pictures that contain me or my sister. "I love that picture!!!" "Dad, that is a picture of us eating Cheerios in our pajamas." "I know! It's great!" Nothing like the love of a good dad.
I find it really hard to think of anything that could humanize our president-elect like that. I can't imagine him taking pride in a photo of his kid like that.
posted by chainsofreedom at 5:36 AM on December 31, 2016 [12 favorites]
I'll miss him so much.
I never knew that Putin was so short. In that pic, the President towers over him.
posted by james33 at 5:53 AM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
I never knew that Putin was so short. In that pic, the President towers over him.
posted by james33 at 5:53 AM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
I try to avoid cheerleading for politicians - with maybe one exception, when they're getting flak from every corner and nobody's pointing out the good they're doing. That's unfair and I dislike it.
But with less than a month left with Obama as President, it might be time for a few remarks.
First (and most topical): there's a very powerful image of Obama with a young black kid. Obama is bending down and the kid is feeling the texture of his hair, so he can feel it's the same texture as his own. The import is tremendous: "you too can hold this office one day, and your hair and skin colour are the same as mine." I think this represents one of the most important things about his presidency: he's been a scandal-free, extremely competent, two-term president as a black man. If you think that's a cakewalk you're an idiot. The history and present reality of structural racism and oppression of blacks in the US are plain as day, and you fail to see that only by wilful ignorance. It's obvious to me and I'm close enough to being a conservative. Racism is not a partisan issue: it's just wrong. I think Obama has set the standard and tone for what it means to be a black political leader in the United States, and he's done that really well.
Second, Obama's made mistakes. He's a human being. I'd point mainly at Syria - but that's all I'd say. I've never sat in his seat, and to criticise from a distance is a big failure of empathy, and that seems inappropriate for a president who's fought so much for empathy and against discrimination.
Third, Obama is only 55. He probably has another career left in him. I hope he richly enjoys "just" being a husband and a dad for a while, and also his t-shirt shack on the beach if that's what works. But I wouldn't give you betting odds that he's done leaving his mark on the world. I offer four areas I think he's (almost ridiculously) well positioned to make a contribution. Young black folk. There ain't no glass ceiling left for black Americans. Obama's not only seen the mountaintop, he's snowboarded down the other side and is shredding in the promised land. As such he's in an amazing position to enable other black Americans to reach the potential they wouldn't have otherwise. Next, the word that comes to mind is "cowboy." During his presidency he's demonstrated on a number of occasions a tendency to go "fuck it, this is too important, let's do something unconventional." I'd love to see him apply that approach to solving issues globally. Third, and related to the previous point, is climate change. Probably one of the key issues this century will be humans coming to grips with living on a planet with finite resources. Obama's already done great stuff here - I'd like to see what's next. Also I don't think I can recall a president who's been both so real and so human. Young people (not necessarily black) appreciate that more than they express. I think there's lots of people who need to be called up to something greater than what they were aiming for, and Obama (despite previously being a professor) clearly gives no fucks about the ivory tower. His ability to connect with youth generally is outstanding, even among presidents.
posted by iffthen at 6:11 AM on December 31, 2016 [25 favorites]
But with less than a month left with Obama as President, it might be time for a few remarks.
First (and most topical): there's a very powerful image of Obama with a young black kid. Obama is bending down and the kid is feeling the texture of his hair, so he can feel it's the same texture as his own. The import is tremendous: "you too can hold this office one day, and your hair and skin colour are the same as mine." I think this represents one of the most important things about his presidency: he's been a scandal-free, extremely competent, two-term president as a black man. If you think that's a cakewalk you're an idiot. The history and present reality of structural racism and oppression of blacks in the US are plain as day, and you fail to see that only by wilful ignorance. It's obvious to me and I'm close enough to being a conservative. Racism is not a partisan issue: it's just wrong. I think Obama has set the standard and tone for what it means to be a black political leader in the United States, and he's done that really well.
Second, Obama's made mistakes. He's a human being. I'd point mainly at Syria - but that's all I'd say. I've never sat in his seat, and to criticise from a distance is a big failure of empathy, and that seems inappropriate for a president who's fought so much for empathy and against discrimination.
Third, Obama is only 55. He probably has another career left in him. I hope he richly enjoys "just" being a husband and a dad for a while, and also his t-shirt shack on the beach if that's what works. But I wouldn't give you betting odds that he's done leaving his mark on the world. I offer four areas I think he's (almost ridiculously) well positioned to make a contribution. Young black folk. There ain't no glass ceiling left for black Americans. Obama's not only seen the mountaintop, he's snowboarded down the other side and is shredding in the promised land. As such he's in an amazing position to enable other black Americans to reach the potential they wouldn't have otherwise. Next, the word that comes to mind is "cowboy." During his presidency he's demonstrated on a number of occasions a tendency to go "fuck it, this is too important, let's do something unconventional." I'd love to see him apply that approach to solving issues globally. Third, and related to the previous point, is climate change. Probably one of the key issues this century will be humans coming to grips with living on a planet with finite resources. Obama's already done great stuff here - I'd like to see what's next. Also I don't think I can recall a president who's been both so real and so human. Young people (not necessarily black) appreciate that more than they express. I think there's lots of people who need to be called up to something greater than what they were aiming for, and Obama (despite previously being a professor) clearly gives no fucks about the ivory tower. His ability to connect with youth generally is outstanding, even among presidents.
posted by iffthen at 6:11 AM on December 31, 2016 [25 favorites]
Obama has incredible people skills and is always so present in the moment. In every one of all the wonderful shots I have seen of him and children, he is never looking at the camera but is so focused on the children and on enjoying his time with them.
Gosh, this is so true. I had the great pleasure of meeting President Obama a few years back when I tagged along with my father, a journalist who was interviewing him. During our brief conversation, he gave me his full attention and was so warm and friendly. Such a blindingly brilliant smile! I'm going to miss this man but have no doubt he will go on to achieve more great things in his post-Presidental career.
posted by saturngirl at 7:43 AM on December 31, 2016 [6 favorites]
Gosh, this is so true. I had the great pleasure of meeting President Obama a few years back when I tagged along with my father, a journalist who was interviewing him. During our brief conversation, he gave me his full attention and was so warm and friendly. Such a blindingly brilliant smile! I'm going to miss this man but have no doubt he will go on to achieve more great things in his post-Presidental career.
posted by saturngirl at 7:43 AM on December 31, 2016 [6 favorites]
It's really depressing, because Obama is clearly the best president in my lifetime. Carter is a close second, but he was hamstrung more than Obama is. Nixon? Reagan? Clinton, maybe? Bush? No.
Wow, the American presidency has been an utter shitshow for decades. Also, I am old.
posted by Sphinx at 9:28 AM on December 31, 2016 [4 favorites]
Wow, the American presidency has been an utter shitshow for decades. Also, I am old.
posted by Sphinx at 9:28 AM on December 31, 2016 [4 favorites]
Not to take away from Obama but being the best president in my fifty-two year lifetime is a pretty easy bar to jump over.
posted by octothorpe at 10:01 AM on December 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 10:01 AM on December 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm still mystified as to how polarized this country is about Obama. I mean the Camelot of JFK is considered to be the height of America's idealism, glamour, and dignity and he only held office for 3 years with countless scandals aired out in the decades since.
There are plenty of websites listing what people find objectionable about him. I expect you won't agree with them, but they're no more mysterious than the lists we will see about Trump.
As to JFK - Camelot was a PR stunt created after he died. Truth be told, he wasn't much into musicals. Moreover, at the time of his death, he was widely loathed - the whole reason he was in Texas was to boost some his sagging poll numbers. Hard to say how he would be viewed had he survived. (The scandals were known at the time, at least, to anyone who knew anything about Washington, or Hyannis.)
I did cringe at picture one. Get your feet off the table!
posted by IndigoJones at 11:02 AM on December 31, 2016
There are plenty of websites listing what people find objectionable about him. I expect you won't agree with them, but they're no more mysterious than the lists we will see about Trump.
As to JFK - Camelot was a PR stunt created after he died. Truth be told, he wasn't much into musicals. Moreover, at the time of his death, he was widely loathed - the whole reason he was in Texas was to boost some his sagging poll numbers. Hard to say how he would be viewed had he survived. (The scandals were known at the time, at least, to anyone who knew anything about Washington, or Hyannis.)
I did cringe at picture one. Get your feet off the table!
posted by IndigoJones at 11:02 AM on December 31, 2016
Sagging from 80% down to 60% is a huge drop, but a president having an 80% approval rating at any time ever is unprecedented.
So that phrasing is, well, it's about as honest as any of those links.
posted by Zalzidrax at 12:00 PM on December 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
So that phrasing is, well, it's about as honest as any of those links.
posted by Zalzidrax at 12:00 PM on December 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
I would like to complement the President on how he has stepped up his denim game in the final year of his presidency.
posted by srboisvert at 1:03 PM on December 31, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 1:03 PM on December 31, 2016 [4 favorites]
"The Vice President chases children and members of the press with a super soaker" made me LOL for real.
posted by Harald74 at 10:31 PM on December 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Harald74 at 10:31 PM on December 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
If I were to burgle the White House, I'd make off with the Resolute Desk. That thing is awesome.
posted by Harald74 at 10:33 PM on December 31, 2016
posted by Harald74 at 10:33 PM on December 31, 2016
I'm trying to gather my thoughts regarding the Bush 2 and Obama personalities and presidencies, but I'm having a bit of trouble. One thing that has struck me is that Bush is probably a better person than we usually give him credit for, given the horrible outcomes of his presidency. But it wasn't easy to see at the time. And in the same vein, Obama's obvious great personality tend to cloud our judgement regarding the not-so-great record about the war on terror, extrajudicial drone killings etc.
I just think it's close to impossible to sit in high office without being tainted by it somehow. Not to give anyone a free pass or anything, though, but I find it a bit complicated to think clearly about the matter.
posted by Harald74 at 10:43 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just think it's close to impossible to sit in high office without being tainted by it somehow. Not to give anyone a free pass or anything, though, but I find it a bit complicated to think clearly about the matter.
posted by Harald74 at 10:43 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've thought this every time it's shown in an Oval Office photo: wtf is up with that fugly coffee table? It looks like it's covered in that bad '70s vinyl sheet flooring we had in our kitchen when I was a kid.
Also, yeah, I cried through the whole thing.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 6:02 PM on January 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, yeah, I cried through the whole thing.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 6:02 PM on January 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is there a print version of this that is available or may become available? This would be a wonderful gift to self!
posted by theobserver at 11:09 PM on January 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by theobserver at 11:09 PM on January 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've thought this every time it's shown in an Oval Office photo: wtf is up with that fugly coffee table?
I did the Mefi post when the Obama White House unveiled his Oval Office design- didn't care for it then, and it never grew on me. I wish you could see the mockup taz did (pic now 404) where the walls were striped blue.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:08 AM on January 2, 2017
I did the Mefi post when the Obama White House unveiled his Oval Office design- didn't care for it then, and it never grew on me. I wish you could see the mockup taz did (pic now 404) where the walls were striped blue.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:08 AM on January 2, 2017
... the Mefi post when the Obama White House unveiled his Oval Office design ...
Thanks! That was an interesting FPP. So, the NYT article you linked to said the coffee table was walnut and mica, which ... interesting. I guess it must look much better in person. I like mica.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 11:25 AM on January 2, 2017
Thanks! That was an interesting FPP. So, the NYT article you linked to said the coffee table was walnut and mica, which ... interesting. I guess it must look much better in person. I like mica.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 11:25 AM on January 2, 2017
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I imagine this scene as a Mrs Doyle-esque "Go on go on go on".
The one dancing with the staffer who's getting married is adorable.
posted by threetwentytwo at 12:17 PM on December 30, 2016 [5 favorites]