Destination Havana: Obama, Michelle and their girls take off on historic trip that will make him the

[Judi Lynn]

Destination Havana: Obama, Michelle and their girls take off on historic trip that will make him the first President to visit Cuba in 90 YEARS
By Francesca Chambers In Havana, Cuba, For Dailymail.com and Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:38 EST, 20 March 2016 | Updated: 14:59 EST, 20 March 2016





The first family is headed to Cuba for a historic trip the White House says will 'deepen' America's relationship with the communist government.

President Obama arrived at Andrews Air Fore base with wife Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia and the First Lady's mother, Marian Robinson, to board Air Force One and officially begin their trip.

As they left protesters marching against Cuba's human rights record were arrested in Havana.

Obama will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit the communist country in nearly 90 years when they touch down in Havana on Sunday afternoon for a three-day visit that precedes two days of travel in Argentina.

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3501651/Destination-Havana-Obama-Michelle-girls-historic-trip-make-President-visit-Cuba-90-YEARS.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141384411

[Judi Lynn]

1. President Obama welcomed in Cuba on historic visit

March 20, 2016, 4:20 PM

President Obama welcomed in Cuba on historic visit

President Obama arrived in Cuba early Sunday evening, signaling a historic shift in U.S.-Cuba relations as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the island nation in nearly nine decades.

After touching down in Havana, the president's two-day trip to Cuba will include a packed schedule, with plans to have official meetings with President Raul Castro and to appear at a White House summit with business entrepreneurs.

But Mr. Obama will also have time to celebrate the diversity of culture on the island just 90 miles off American shores. His more leisurely planned activities include a tour of Old Havana and the Havana Cathedral and an appearance at a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cuba's national team.

The president departed from the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by his wife and two daughters. In a bipartisan show of support, a bevy of about 40 U.S. House and Senate members also joined him. Several business leaders are also expected to make the trip to Havana in the coming days to take part in the White House's entrepreneurship conference.

More:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-obama-welcomed-in-cuba-on-historic-visit/

[Judi Lynn]

2. Obama lands in Havana for historic three-day visit

Obama lands in Havana for historic three-day visit

The last visit to Cuba by a sitting U.S. president came in 1928, when Calvin Coolidge arrived on the island in a battleship.


[font size=1]
CARLOS BARRIA / REUTERS

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle approach Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez (L)
as they arrive at Havana's international airport for a three-day trip.
[/font]
By: Julie Pace And Michael Weissenstein The Associated Press, Published on Sun Mar 20 2016

Stepping into history, U.S. President Barack Obama has opened an extraordinary visit to Cuba on Sunday.

Obama’s whirlwind trip is a crowning moment in his and Cuban President Raul Castro’s ambitious effort to restore normal relations between their countries.

While deep differences persist, the economic and political relationship has changed rapidly in the 15 months since the leaders vowed a new beginning.

Air Force One touched down at Havana’s airport late Sunday afternoon after a three-hour flight from Washington.

More:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/03/20/obama-lands-in-havana-for-historic-three-day-visit.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. Obama lands in Cuba, the first U.S. president to visit in 88 years

Obama lands in Cuba, the first U.S. president to visit in 88 years

March 20, 2016
|Updated 1:48 p.m.


[font size=1]
Tourists stand next to a sign showing President Barack Obama, right, and Cuba's President Raul Castro next to the Cathedral in Old Havana, Cuba on Sunday. Obama landed in Havana Sunday, beginning his historic visit.

ENRIC MARTI , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
[/font]
HAVANA –

President Barack Obama is in Cuba for a historic visit. It’s a big step in efforts to forge new ties between the United States and its one-time foe.

Air Force One just landed in Havana.

The president is traveling with first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, as well as a group of American lawmakers and business leaders.

What’s on tap for the rest of the day? Obama will greet staff at the new U.S. Embassy and then join his family for a tour of Old Havana.

More:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/obama-708982-president-cuba.html

[Judi Lynn]

4. First Presidential Trip to Cuba in Over 80 Years is Also Spring Break for First Daughters

First Presidential Trip to Cuba in Over 80 Years is Also Spring Break for First Daughters

......................................................................................................................................................

by Inside Edition 4:48 PM EDT, March 20, 2016



(Getty)

It's no Panama City, but it'll do.

While Barack Obama makes history with the first presidential visit to Cuba in nearly 80 years, his teen daughters will be along for the ride.

Sasha, 14, and Malia, 17, just happened to be on spring break and free to make the unprecedented trip, which began Sunday.

When President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters left Washington, DC on Sunday afternoon, they kicked off what the White House hopes will be a wound-healing visit to the communist Caribbean island.

While not usually a part of state trips, this time the first daughters get to watch as their father holds a meeting with President Raùl Castro that's been decades in the making and delivers a speech to be televised around the world.

More:
http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/15365-first-presidential-trip-to-cuba-in-over-80-years-is-also-spring-break-for-first

[flamingdem]

5. Too bad for the rain, would have liked to see the Cubans on the streets

but I did hear lots of enthusiasm at these links when he went to the San Cristobal Church.

http://www.telesurtv.net/index.html#

http://www.fidelista-por-siempre.org/CubaVision-en-Vivo.aspx

[Judi Lynn]

6. That weather was a really bad idea, wasn't it? Thanks for the links. n/t

[flamingdem]

7. Tomorrow there's a protest of Vigilia Mambisa!

I expect we'll see our old friend. It's at Versailles of course where he can tank up on Cafe Cubano and start yapping!!!

[Mika]

8. I'll be driving past the Versailles later. Will post what I see.

[flamingdem]

9. It's happening now and cnn just showed the bulldozer!

I can't tell what they're bulldozing though, looks like newspapers?

[Mika]

10. Pictures of Fidel y Raul y Obama.

Flattening paper is REALLY takin' it to the dicktaters. That'll show em fer sure.

[flamingdem]

11. Oh they're tough!

[Judi Lynn]

13. Those photos are going to get even flatter! They've ticked off the wrong fellas with that trip. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

12. Oh, no! They brought the bulldozer! Looks as if this visit has them really steamed.

Heads will roll, or maybe get really flattened.

[flamingdem]

14. Flattening will get them nowhere!

[Judi Lynn]

16. Whoa! Good one!

[Mika]

15. Its a repeat performance ...

[Judi Lynn]

17. They spend a lot of time hating singers! They went crazy when Juanes went to Cuba.

Had no idea they would like to mash Ricky Martin, too.

Music lovers!

[center]

Looks like they got Ricky, anyway! What a shame. [/center]