Pic of the "Clinch"...

[RazBerryBeret]

I totally agree with this editorial. I saw this last night and it struck me as iconic of this beautiful couple.



First, I appreciate the color of Michelle's dress, reprising -- at least to me -- the '04 conclusion that America (in contrast to the hyper-polarized red state/blue state dichotomy perpetuated by the media) is actually a lot more purple.

I also appreciate Michelle's proud, private, knowing, understated, intimate and unselfconscious expression, as well as the lack of tension in each partner's body. Observing them these many months, it is evident to me that the Obamas' ability to remain so relaxed is a natural expression of confidence.

Mostly though, I tried (fruitlessly) to imagine John and Cindy or Bill and Hillary celebrating the impending nomination with a fist bump, illuminating the fact that, as much as anything, the gesture -- just like this outcome -- is truly a generational thing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shaw/reading-the-pictures-emth_b_105273.html

[Window]

1. K/R for beautiful!

:kick:

[tridim]

2. Thanks for posting the pic..

I've been looking for it since last night.

[zeemike]

3. Wow she is beautiful

She will make a wonderful first lady...one we can be proud of.

[RazBerryBeret]

6. yes she will,

and we'll have young kids in the WH!!!

[hogwyld]

38. It took me awhile to figure out why I was so attracted to them

And I kept coming back to the fact that they truly love each other, and the what really makes Michelle attractive to me besides her obvious physical beauty is her strength and confidence. Yowza!

[zeemike]

68. That expression on her face would melt any mans heart.

And they show that they have real emotions not that frozen smile we get from pickles.
it is easy to see why someone would compare her to Jacki...she had that soft vulnerable look and seemed real, but she was a much stronger person than you would think.
O have seen relatively little of her because I don't have much in the way of TV and the only channel I get on an antenna is a fox channel, so you can imagin....But what I haver seen I really like.

[City Lights]

50. Absolutely!

:thumbsup:

[Blarch]

4. thats the stuff.

[dipsydoodle]

16. posted in wrong place

.

[JBoy]

64. Bush tries, but nobody loves him.

[RazBerryBeret]

73. I think he's playing

rock, paper scissors....
and he's losing...

[KittyWampus]

5. fellow ladies, would have worn those white beads round your neck?

[tnlefty]

9. I wouldn't have, but she looks beautiful and they

look great together. next?

[JuniperLea]

23. Yes... very retro...

So is the pink dress... I love it!

[lojasmo]

54. A man, but they look great.

Very Marge Simpson.

[AnnieBW]

74. They look good on her

Really shows off her neck and the neckline of the dress. Not my style, but hers.

[Kahuna]

85. They would appear balanced with the cropped black sweater she was

wearing with the outfit.

[demokatgurrl]

87. Absolutely. Like the Jackie pearls, but hipper . n/t

[Raine]

7. THANKS

for the pix, I LOVE this couple. :loveya:

[RazBerryBeret]

8. they are beautiful

and REAL, aren't they???

I can't wait!

[Cha]

10. I'm older than hilary but I appreciate

this "generational thing" as much anybody. We're in this together now!

"Mostly though, I tried (fruitlessly) to imagine John and Cindy or Bill and Hillary celebrating the impending nomination with a fist bump, illuminating the fact that, as much as anything, the gesture -- just like this outcome -- is truly a generational thing."

It had to be Obama! :patriot: :bounce: :kick: :party:

Looks kinda like a Raspberry color dress to meB-)

[RazBerryBeret]

60. what?????

YOU, zidzi are older than Hillary?
hey I'd pegged you for younger than me...way to go girl!!

and, yeah that dress does look raspberry!

[az chela]

61. The dress is purple and They are beautiful.Another

Jackie and JFK without the womanizing

[Labors of Hercules]

11. These two have got it!

Sasha and Malia too. What a difference it will be when this family moves into the white house!

[az chela]

62. One chorus of

HAppy days are here again everybody

[dubeskin]

12. Ahh, it will be great to see them in the White House!

[VolcanoJen]

13. The Dap Heard Round The World

Damn, I had the biggest smile on my face when Michelle dap'd her man down! That was about the coolest thing I've ever seen on a political stage... and it was also intimate; they were sharing this intensely personal moment with all of us.

:loveya:

Here's another great article about The Dap.

[TahitiNut]

18. It really was the intimacy of that moment that impressed me. Partners.

It has the appearance of an extraordinarily healthy relationship. Soul mates. They seem to know WHO the other really is ... each other's ideal self-image. I'm reminded of one of my favorite movie lines - a Truth known by but few ...

"Oh, if I could write the beauty of her eyes! I was born to look in them and know myself."

Indeed. Indeed.
:loveya:

Yeah ... I'm an incorrigible romantic.

[VolcanoJen]

20. It's so weird to see a political couple still in love, you know?

We're so used to those awful press conferences of the sad wife standing behind the shamed politico.

Theirs is clearly no marriage of convenience. :-) They actually seem hot for each other!!!!

I'm an incorrigible romantic too, Tahiti!
:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[Tatiana]

24. OK y'all are making me...

:cry:

[VolcanoJen]

25. Tatiana, I haven't had a dry eye in 24 hours!!!

:cry: :cry: :cry:

Tears of joy, my friend, tears of joy!!!

What a beautiful corner we're all turning together, you know? We've been through SO MUCH together and I just love you guys!!!!!

:hug: Tatiana :hug:

[Tatiana]

52. OMG No, I love you MORE!

Today has been cathartic.

It really hit me at work this morning when our custodian (an older white vietnam vet near retirement) looked over at me and pumped his fist in the air. He walked over and said "So Obama got it, eh?"

Then we high-fived.

After he walked away, I sat back down and got this lump in my throat.

This election means so much to so many people. Obama is fighting the fight for all of us.

We've been through so much, but this is a very beautiful turning of the corner.

:hug:Jen:hug:

[VolcanoJen]

84. Oh, shizz, you've got me all teared up again

Just the picture of you and the custodian... wow.

:cry: :cry:

On my drive to work today, Bill Press was playing a clip from talk radio. The host said, "Had a bad day at work? Forget about it! Because it's Barack Obama Day! Did you get in a fight with your sweetheart today? Who cares! It's Barack Obama Day!"

And on, and on, and on....

A hug to all of the true believers.

:grouphug:

[Erin Elizabeth]

34. No shit, stop it, I'm totally tearing up over here

and that's not like me!

[madame defarge]

14. Here's the pic from a different angle...

[me b zola]

19. I think that I love that pic even more than the other

I felt last night that Barack was kind of down, sad. He had done the impossible but instead of being able to enjoy the moment, he knew (this was last night before Hillary was pressured to lay off) that he was going to be undermined by a few people within the Democratic party.

I have loved watching the body language between Michelle and Barack through out the primary, it shows such a deep connection and love. IMO, Michelle in this pic seems to be encouraging him, telling him everything will be alright. She was right, everything is going to be alright. And I adore Michelle even more than I did before.

[Erin Elizabeth]

35. I have to stop reading this thread.

What's wrong with me? Your post is making a me get a big cry ball in my throat. He DID seem a bit subdued. And I did see that as her saying it's ok.

Gah. Gotta stop reading this.

[me b zola]

63. No reason to get down. Really.

My guess is that no one knew better just how tough this would be, how many more hurdles there would be than there have in the past been for other candidates, than Senator Obama. It's been tough, but I suspect that Barack foresaw many, if not all, of the "extra" challenges that he would have to face on the path to the Presidency.

The really great news (besides the great news of Obama securing the nomination) is that Michelle is Barack's rock. She supports him in such a deep and meaningful way, it allows him to be able to fight these historic battles.

Their deep love and sustenance of each other chokes me up a bit--but in a totally positive way.

[CitizenLeft]

66. so did I... I felt the same thing...

I wanted him to smile, bask in his moment, but he seemed so serious at first. He seemed to rev up the further he got into his speech, but yeah... I sensed that too.

And she was right there for him.

I'm not a romantic at all, but they are indeed inspirational.

[roguevalley]

46. I saw tears and composure. I felt he thought of his mom and grandpa

and the enormity of the job he will have. I felt his family gathered around him, those here and past. What a wonderful moment it was.

[me b zola]

59. I saw all of that too

:hi:

[goletian]

51. thank you for this pic. i didnt believe it from the other angle. thats tight, haha.

[TexasObserver]

15. it's a DAP

clinch?

[JuniperLea]

22. Yep... you beat me to it...

Dap is the proper term... never heard the other...

[RazBerryBeret]

27. taken from the original article.

writer said he'd gone through a mountain of pics from last night. I think the night/speech was nicknamed "the clinch" for clinching the nomination.

[TexasObserver]

32. ah HA

[goletian]

53. "clinched" the nomination.

[dipsydoodle]

17. Its soooo nice

to see a woman who wears a dress.

[RazBerryBeret]

28. and wears it SO well...

[grantcart]

21. The meaning of this picture, to me, is that these two are partners, real partners.

[TahitiNut]

26. Ubetcha. They seem to relate to each other across the entire spectrum.

Some couples ... well ... I've known people with relationships so sound (and profound) that I could walk into a crowded gathering and know they were a couple even if they were standing in different parts of the room and not making overt gestures to one another at all. There's something about their natural 'choreography' - they seem partnered at the deepest levels. It's really stunning. It's no wonder the girls seem so emotionally healthy.

[Erin Elizabeth]

36. Stop. Making, Me, Tear. Up.

GAH!

[TahitiNut]

39. Why should I use all the Kleenex?

:evilgrin:

After all, us guys aren't supposed to get all teary-eyed. (It's the kids that really get me. They pwn me.)

[VolcanoJen]

42. Dupe!!!

[VolcanoJen]

43. You have always said....

.... that little Sascha, especially, just owns you. :-)

[TahitiNut]

47. Oh... my... yes. Sasha is adorable. They're both hug magnets ...

... but Natasha/Sasha has me TO-TAL-LY. That's a kid that knows her 'job' ... she's a master - an artist. They'll have the White House staff wrapped around their little fingers in 2 seconds. Visiting diplomats? They don't have a chance.

I'd donate a major organ to tumble on the lawn with them in the sunshine ... and a new puppy like their dad promised.

(An old fart like me ... it's pathetic.)

[RazBerryBeret]

49. he promised them a puppy?

how cute!!
can't wait to see THOSE pix!!

[TahitiNut]

56. So I was told on DU. I can believe it. In fact, this might be when the promise ws made ...

[goletian]

55. bwahahaha, barack looks insane! lolol

[TahitiNut]

57. He looks lie a cross between OJ (in Naked Gun) and Jim Carey.

:rofl:

[goletian]

58. oh man, that photo is hilarious!

[JNelson6563]

88. I love that picture!

Won't it be great to have such a real human in the WH with his real human family??? This is going to be great!

Julie

[Blarch]

29. Power Twins Activate

"Take form of the President and first lady"

[VolcanoJen]

30. In the Newsweek cover of Michelle Obama, there's a touching story about New Hampshire.

She describes that he didn't expect to lose, and was self-obsessed and withdrawn backstage before his speech. She wasn't going to accompany him onstage, but decided she needed to. She says she took his hand, and led him to all corners of the stage, kind of forcing him to soak up the love and encouragement the crowd was giving him.

That's what a partner does... lifts you up when you're down, putting aside your own needs and giving everything you have to the one who needs you. And I think we all remember the earth-shattering speech he delivered that night, don't we?

:loveya:

[roguevalley]

48. awwwww. Like my parents, in it in all weather. Bless them both.

[Frank Booth]

71. Yep. That's still my favorite speech of his career.

Even though he'd lost New Hampshire, I started to believe that he could become President.

[BeyondGeography]

76. And here they are prior to his speech...she definitely propped him up that night

[insanity]

31. It was pretty legit

I loves me some poundcake at times like that.

[Erin Elizabeth]

33. I'm 37 and this is the first time in my life

that someone is running for president who feels more like they are part of my generation than part of the Baby Boomer generation.

I really felt it most vividly when I saw them do that last night. I laughed aloud, but it was a really joyful laugh. Looked like something my husband and I would do.

[VolcanoJen]

37. That's the thing that nobody's talking about!

I'm five years younger than Obama, but he's the first non-Boomer presidential candidate, and the generational thing really does make me feel so much closer to him, makes me believe in him more, makes me think he understands people my age better.

I could think of fifty things I love about Obama, but his age is actually a pretty significant one!

[Erin Elizabeth]

40. I've thought about it a lot.

Clinton and Bush both are from my parent's generation. In fact, they are both the same age as each other and both were born in the same year my dad and stepdad were born, 1946.

Vietnam has been the great long dark shadow hanging over their generation. And though some wounds won't ever completely heal and the lessons of that time should NOT BE IGNORED, in a way I'm glad we're moving on to someone who wasn't even old enough to be involved.

[shadowknows69]

41. If I may be so bold as to translate that look

"I told you we could do it"

[VolcanoJen]

44. TOTALLY

:-)

[RichardRay]

45. Now add this one to the mix.

I like the contrast. When I first saw the shot of them watching the Clinton speech it was disheartening, but the dap shot shows them still with plenty of energy, even if they've used a bunch of it.

[goletian]

65. video of the "clinch"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGBikSDv4nM

[RazBerryBeret]

67. ahhhh...

that was cute, and I loved the thumbs up...

[Frank Booth]

69. I love this picture of Michelle and Barack.

Contrast it with John and Cindy McCain:

[NatBurner]

82. my eyes!!!!

ack

[izzybeans]

70. Sorry Barack but if she looked at me like that, I'd be sure to give her more than a "dat".

ummm wow.

[RazBerryBeret]

72. Hey!! she's the future

first lady of the united states!! stop with the impure thoughts..hehehe!! but really, what a great looking first lady she will be.

[izzybeans]

75. Yeah I know. Pure thoughts, pure thoughts.

I really didn't find her that attractive until I heard her speak. I'm doomed. My wife tells me to get used to it. She's had a Political Crush on Edwards since well longer than she wants to admit.

[RazBerryBeret]

77. tell your wife

she obviously has pretty good taste! and I think lots of men will have Political crushes on Michelle! I know my hubby generally just says "wow" when she comes on...and of course last night in that purple dress it was more of a "WOW!"...

[izzybeans]

78. .

:rofl: last night she called me out on it.

[cyberpj]

79. Thanks for sharing - I saved it for posterity. K&R. nt

[cyberpj]

80. Thanks for sharing - I saved it for posterity. K&R. nt

[Imagevision]

81. Mischelle will do well on "The View" (they do look great together)

[VolcanoJen]

83. Kickin' this thread just because it should be kicked.

:dem:

[GoesTo11]

86. After his speech, you could read her lips "I love you"

Did anyone else catch that? When she came back to the podium when the speech was done, they hugged & kissed, then she said in his ear "I love you" and then they stood and waved. I saw it and wondered if I really saw that, then saw the end of speech clip repeated and yes, you could tell that's what she said - when it was really a private spontaneous moment of a wife being so much on her husband's side and not meant as a phony show the press how much we love each other moment.

Which others candidates would have this happen?

John & Cindy McCain? (No, not just no, but no way. John has other special words for her)
Hillary and Bill (draw your own conclusions)
Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich (yes)
John & Elizabeth Edward (yes)
Rudy Giuliani and whoever his woman of the moment is? (Ha ha ha)
Newt Gingrich " " "
Mitt and Anne Romney (I think they do love each other, but they don't have spontaneous moments)

The fact that Barack is such a good husband, that he places such value on his marriage and family as people and not as props - this is a plus.