The Obamas Charm Kathleen Parker on AF1

[NYCGirl]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-02-18/flying-on-air-force-one-with-the-obamas/

Flying on Air Force One with America’s new first family feels much like popping over for pizza.

Natural, casual, warm.

What did I once write of the president and Michelle? Mr. Principal and Mrs. Math Teacher? Well. We’re all different things on different days in different settings. On this day—last Friday—the Obamas were attentive and gracious to five columnists invited to travel with them from Washington to Chicago, where the first family was spending the long weekend. (The others were Clarence Page, Ron Brownstein, E.J. Dionne and Bob Herbert.)

———snipped———

We five columnists were already seated in cushy chairs in a guest “parlor,” when the first daughters entered unannounced and, at first glance, unescorted. There was just, rather suddenly, Malia—all smiles and clearly used to cutting a swath wherever she goes. Then came another burst of light named Sasha.

You know they’re adorable. You’ve seen a thousand pictures and video clips. Forget all that. This is when you need Spanish so that you can add the absolute superlative -isima to the end of adorable. They are that adorable. Uninhibited and guileless, they seemed utterly at ease with five strangers— especially, may I say, with the sole female, who just happened to have a little green Ugly Doll hanging from her purple purse, very similar to one spotted several weeks ago on Sasha’s book bag.

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[Captain Hilts]

1. Parker was also surrounded by Obama cheerleaders Herbert and Paige.

Herbert's columns are getting embarrassing.

Paige is smart to root for his hometown guy.

Dionne runs hot and cold.

[firedupdem]

2. Poor Kathleen.....surrounded by people who like or "cheerlead"

for the president. Sounds like you are really concerned for her well being around people like this.

[Captain Hilts]

3. You think the mood for a hand-selected group is the same as on the press plane?

[Hello_Kitty]

4. I concur. Looks like someone isn't over the primaries. eom

[Captain Hilts]

6. Keep ignoring all the positive posts I've made about what he - and Michelle have done. nt

[FrenchieCat]

8. Boy, everyday you are becoming more and more predictably embittered!

How long before you simply just explode? :shrug:

[firedupdem]

9. Love your sig line addition!

Give her an extra hug for me. I'm so proud! You would think she's mine!

[FrenchieCat]

11. That is so very sweet of you to say that!

I call her our "little Obama"! :)

[firedupdem]

12. LOL! Tell her I'm expecting great things!

:)

[Cha]

5. Let's get this Rec'd~ to counteract

all the ugly, ignorant mindset that want to bring our President down.

"What struck me most was his immense calm. I kept looking for fissures in the façade, some signal that the cool cat is a defense mechanism or some tactical ploy to deflect or defuse an opponent. Nary a crack. You may as well try to find the Dalai Lama’s Achilles heel. I suspect that if you cut Obama open, you’d find a little Buddha sitting inside, smiling."

Namaste~:)

[roguevalley]

10. I love that paragraph. I bet there is one. (Smiling Buddha is my favorite)

[Jennicut]

7. I find nothing wrong with this. Sasha IS adorable.