Obamas Date Night At The Game

[bigtree]

President Barack Obama shares a light moment with first lady Michelle Obama during the second half of an NCAA basketball game between Oregon State and Towson in Towson, Md., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. (photos, AP/Patrick Semansky - REUTERS/Mike Theiler)


http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/X.g2mFTSxtx4Y.zs0ryYew--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD02MTI7cT04NTt3PTQ3Nw--/

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yvH6VjJlyk3xKglbWH40VQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNTk7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/V17bboSWJFxc8QcAKfWcfg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDE7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/

such intimacy . . . I don't remember there being such an intimate love affair in the White House.

[Maccagirl]

1. They obviously give each other strength to get through the onslaught

they face every day.

[bigtree]

15. they're solid

solid as Barack :D

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

[tblue37]

2. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter also always seemed to love each other and

to enjoy each other's company.

I do like the image a loving couple in the WH presents for young people who all too often have grown up without seeing much in the way of real love between couples.

[bigtree]

4. I do seem to remember

I was preoccupied with my youth at the time

[pamela]

3. They're at my Alma Mater.

They're rooting for the wrong team, though. :P

[dddem]

5. beautiful pictures-beautiful couple

But to be honest, the first thing i noticed was how gray he is!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. They're so in love. Beautiful to see. nt

[shanti]

7. as a couple and family

they do seem to really love each other as jimmy and rosalyn carter did, and are great roll models for the youth. i'll leave it at that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I remember a time when such photos

Would be considered something else...and private moments of presidents were that, private.

Sorry if I don't get all gushy over this.

Nor did I did with the bushes, senior or junior.

But when we no longer have reps, but leaders.

Sorry this strikes me as rather cheeky, don't care who is in the WH.

[jaxx]

9. You don't care who's in the WH?

Amazing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Not as far as propaganda photos are concerned.

Nope, not in the least.

They are meant to create a cult of personality for the leader, which I find quite undemocratic with small d.

[Number23]

18. "Propaganda photos?" The man is photographed everywhere he goes

But photos with him and his wife chilling at a basketball game are the ones you deem "propaganda?" If you are trying to instil confidence in the rest of us that you know what that word means, you have not been successful.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. The rest are as well

Sorry.

Small d

[Number23]

20. So EVERY photo of this president is a "propaganda" photo?

As I said, if you are trying to instil confidence that you understand what that word means, you have not been successful.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Quite a few are

Independent of who is in the WH.

I am amazed people comprehend this when it is the other team.

Oh and it's not limited to POTUS. It s a common practice across the world. It s called image management.

[Number23]

30. There is a profound and signficant difference between "every" and "quite a few"

There is no question that quite a few photos of the president have been used to convey a particular message. I would still seriously hesitate to use the word "propaganda" as that is something very specific.

But anyone who categorizes the pics of him and his wife at a basketball game in that category is not one whose opinion I would have even the slightest bit of interest in.

[trumad]

36. Seriously-lighten up..

and that huge stick of your ass----For-fucks-sake!

[bigtree]

13. I'm sorry

I just don't understand coming on a thread like this to tell folks you're just not interested.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. I just raised the issue of ... Propaganda

I was not enthused over them with Junior, or Clinton, or Senior or Reagan. They truly started with the Carter's in a major way. And I have had a problem with them.

Yes the few and far between are fine, everybody does them, but they rub me in the wrong way from a democratic POV, and I do not mean the party.

I also remember this site comprehending that when it came to Junior and finding it creepy. Well I find it creepy regardless of who s in the WH.

They are good photos. Don't get me wrong. I guess to each their own.

[blue neen]

22. What is your opinion of Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington?

http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/gw/lands.htm

"The standing portrait depicts Washington as he appeared before Congress in Philadelphia. It includes furniture symbolic of the new America republic, as well as books titled American Revolution, and Constitution & Laws of the United States, and a silver inkstand engraved with the Washington family coat of arms. Another version of the portrait was described at the time of its exhibition in New York City in 1798 as showing Washington "surrounded with allegorical emblems of his public life in the service of his country, which are highly illustrative of the great and tremendous storms which have frequently prevailed. These storms have abated, and the appearance of the rainbow is introduced in the background as a sign." Another version, which hangs in the East Room of the White House, was rescued by Dolley Madison before that building was burned by the British during the War of 1812."

Damn. That's a perfect description of propaganda, if I ever heard one!

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Yup and your point

Washington irving's bio is even worst. It s part of creating a national ID.

Any other questions? All nations do it... It's just become way too obvious in the dusk of the imperial age.

[blue neen]

24. George Washington was part of the imperial age?

I did not know that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Today= dusk of Imperial age

Bye, enjoy your photos.

[blue neen]

28. Thanks, I will enjoy the photos...and the portraits, too.

:)

[treestar]

68. What photos of Junior?

There's no apostrophe in Carters. That's a plural, not a contraction.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. My apologies

I should know better than to voice my very real concerns.

After all there are real issues in the world that do matter more than a few photos. Rely on foreign press that has a clue f where the Khyber pass is. I am sure somebody woke this man at some point in the night and let him know of the real world issues.

Now I will back off this thread. There are things that matter far more than this, truly.

[bigtree]

33. folks can hold quite a few thoughts in their heads at one time

I don't think we should resist feeling and expressing approval of loving relationships. Now, we've been following this President for about four years. I daresay, most of us do feel we know this man and his family almost intimately. It's just natural for those of us who haven't developed a barrier of dislike or distain for the man to revel a moment in these expressions of an obvious loving relationship. I really don't know what's so objectionable about taking a moment to reflect on this.

Further, I don't know about all of the propaganda talk. What's the President supposed to be promoting? A stable and loving relationship? I can't see how that's such a bad thing, especially when so many critics seek to dehumanize the man and his wife almost daily over policy differences and political nonsense.

It's nice to see them, and it's more than worthwhile to take a moment and contemplate this loving lady and her husband who bears so much of our burdens in his most challenging position. It's a wonderful example for the nation and it's always worthwhile in this turbulent and competitive nation to highlight love.

[muriel_volestrangler]

42. "most of us do feel we know this man and his family almost intimately" - that's a problem

Of course you don't. You shouldn't expect to know a politician's family well - especially not 'almost intimately'. It wouldn't be good for them, for one thing.

And a problem for the rest of us when 'a loving relationship' becomes the measure of a politician (eg posting these in GD, not The Lounge) is that is gives cover to far worse politicians who can nevertheless show a spouse that loves them. And if you think it's a wonderful example for the nation, and you're highlighting it, then it is propaganda - your propaganda.

[bigtree]

45. what propaganda could it be? A loving relationship? What is to fear from that?

What is to criticize about advertising a loving relationship between the President and the First Lady? I suppose you also denounce every historical account of every presidency, and every personal observation therein is viewed by you with skepticism and derision.

Or is it just this particular President's personal life you feel shouldn't be observed and discussed?

Should we wait for Douglas Brinkley to define this President personally, or do we have permission to make our own observations?

Or, should we merely just fend off the almost daily stream of personal attacks which seek to dehumanize the man and his wife?

I'm not surprised that you feel you know little about this man and his wife. Many folks don't bother to read or learn anything about the people they elect beyond the attacks and controversy.

If you're* not interested in a thread on GD its your choice to ignore it. There is absolutely no chance of corrupting sensitive minds with the innocuous title.

[muriel_volestrangler]

49. Nothing to fear; but an over-emphasis on a marriage distracts from the presidency and policies

As I said, there are plenty of far worse politicians who parade their marriage as if it's a major reason to vote for them. Obama himself doesn't; but I think others making a deal of it ends up helping those who claim their support of 'family values' as a result, even when their actual values aren't good for families. 'Propaganda' doesn't have to be evil, or misleading; it can just be excessive PR on a minor subject. I really think your final paragraph in #33 sounds over the top.

And it's also a strange relationship between the consumers of the pictures and the family, if the consumers think they know them 'almost intimately'. It's the kind of thing that happened with Princess Diana - this expectation that seeing a lot of photos, and hearing what they say at public, rehearsed events means that the general public is close to someone. We don't know them closely, and neither should we. You talk about "the people they elect"; but Barack Obama is the only member of the family elected. Michelle wasn't, though it's inevitably a public role as First Lady; but her speeches and acts are what are worth looking at. And the daughters in the family you think you know so well really deserve as much privacy as possible.

[bigtree]

51. over emphasis? One post in a sea of discontent? That's just nonsense

And you object to highlighting a loving relationship?

You have to know how ridiculous your complaint looks stacked against all of the rest of the interest posts on this discussion board. This is one lonely, slow-holiday weekend thread showing what appears to be a loving bond between these two. It's not a campaign statement, it's an opportunity to share an apparently intimate moment with Duers. It's not a front page Washington Post article, it's one lonely post on a DU page full of discontent to your heart's content.

As far as privacy is concerned, this is a public event and theirs is a public display of apparent affection. Only at DU would I find this to be the least bit controversial to share these photos.

Sadly, objections to the notion that someone might be inspired by this display; be heartened by this display; might be touched with affection for this display, are not restricted to DU. Many, many people are investing great amounts of time to define this couple out of the mainstream of American life. Needless to say, these characterizations are sometimes so vile that they find approval from reactive elements of society who are influenced to act out their own personal hatred.

That's not just an abstraction. The recent (alleged) 'White House Shooter' was said to have openly expressed his own hatred and desire to harm the President for as many as three years without anyone saying a word to authorities. That tolerance of hateful characterizations of this President was encouraged from the presidential campaign last time around as Palin openly accused Mr. Obama of 'associating with terrorists'.

Certainly, given the level and scope of the hatred and hateful characterizations of this President that has occurred so far, there is room for the promotion here on this vast discussion board for one loving portrayal of our chief executive.

[TheKentuckian]

58. A better example would be to hold banksters and war criminals accountable

and cease and desist with supporting right wing frames, ensure our votes are counted and that we can vote, opposed the corruption of money out of politics, quit extolling the false marvels of our "free market" system, and quit giving aid and comfort to the failed Republican ideology.

A leader that fucked a different person every night but fought those battles would be an infinitely better example to a free, thinking, and principled people with actual self determination.

[bigtree]

60. 'a leader that fucked a different person every night' is fine with you?

. . . and you castigate this President for political and policy differences as if he was evil incarnate.

The disconnect and contradiction in your reasoning is stunning.

[TheKentuckian]

64. What contradiction? I don't care about sexual behavior between consenting adults,

it is a non-factor. It is the policy that impact our lives and dictates what how values are executed in the real world.

What impact do sexual habits between consenting adults have on our lives?

Dick was faithful to Pat, RayGun and Nancy were together till parted by death, Dubya and Pickles seem to be in it for the long haul. Any number of vile figures through history have been quite faithful as far as we know, what you are going on about seems inconsequential at most.
Hell, some of our better leaders have been less than optimal mates on the faithfulness index. I present that your yardstick is worthless in context, it simply is a highly ineffective way to measure the quality of political leadership and positive benefit of policy to the majority of the governed.

Yes, policy is and must be primary and have yet to see what evidence would support your take here or even very clearly what that position even is as far as how it impacts the lives of the people or how sex lives determine in any meaningful or measurable way determines the quality of political leadership (other than arguably that such folks are peddlers of bad policy more often than those certain folks vilify for their personal habits).

Policy has broad outcomes, sex is limited to the participants and their weirdo voyeurs that can't be contented to worry with their own lives along with those who would rather fixate on minutia than solve societal problems.

[bigtree]

65. just the fact alone

that you would relate that to this thread.

What made you think the folks reading this wanted your personal opinion about the sexual habits of the President and what in the world does that have to do with these photos? Why do we need to draw complicated policy implications from the relationship apparent in the photos? I'm to be forgiven, I hope, if I profess to be oblivious to political or policy implications while contemplating or appreciating these images. Why did you relate these photos to something so vulgar and base?

Never mind explaining again, I'm afraid you'll try and outdo yourself.

This is a simple group of pics that some folks here appreciate. These objections posted here with their far flung reasoning are just an annoying conflation of whatever else is going on in GD, Sometimes pics are just pics, like them or not. I'll take you as an objector. Indifferent went out the window when you clicked on this thread and responded.

[TheKentuckian]

66. Correct as far as I cannot claim to not give a fuck because I consider the entire tact

to be counter-productive as an absolute distraction from effective and people based government.

Sometimes pictures are just pictures but they do leave that position when the espoused reason for them is to be some kind of model for the country in leadership.

Preacher, marriage councilor, and President have different critical areas to be models in leadership. You laid out and defended a premise, it is that not the pictures themselves that is being refuted because it is a highly effective tool to attack the effective and somewhat populace friendly and in turn ignored to the furthest possible extent when the fascist friendly are caught slipping.

Further, I flat out see no positive correlation to the behavior praised as a model to effective or beneficial governance. It is what appears to be a wholly ineffective predictor of performance on any level of performance that can be labeled an enhancement.

[bigtree]

71. life is about more than government. Not everything is a campaign

. . . we're not political robots here.

These are amazing: each
Joining a neighbor, as though
Speech were a still performance.
Arranging by chance

To meet as far this morning
From the world as agreeing
With it, you and I (and others)
Are suddenly what the trees try

To tell us we are:
That their merely being there
Means something; that soon
We may touch, love, explain.

And glad not to have invented
Some comeliness,
we are surrounded:
A silence already filled with noises,
A canvas on which emerges

A chorus of smiles,
a winter morning.
Place in a puzzling light,
and moving,
Our days put on such reticence
These accents
seem their own defense.

- John Ashbery

[TheKentuckian]

78. True but if it wasn't campaigning then the "model of leadership" could have

been a regular couple from your own community that have stuck by one another as long as the Obama's have been around and have overcome adversity to raise their children and add to the community.

[whathehell]

46. "Rely on world press that has a clue f where the Khyber pass is"....

Say WHAT?

Just a thought, comrade, but you might want to "rely" on a good English teacher.

[uppityperson]

50. You slam someone for leaving out one letter? Say what?

maybe you should work on reading comprehension since what she's saying is obvious to the rest of us. "Rely on a world press that has a clue OF where the Khyber pass is."

Or maybe you just like nitpicking. Which is amusing, having looked at some of your misspelled and poorly constructed posts.

[whathehell]

52. Less, a "slam" than a joke, dear, and by the way, it was one letter and one article, to be precise.

Maybe you should work on YOUR English, as well, LOL.

[uppityperson]

54. Ah, the old "It wasn't an insult, I was only jokinggggg" defense. gotcha, dear

No comment on Nadin's post except for insulting her grammar, eh hun?

[whathehell]

55. Take it as you may, sweetie

If you've not yet guessed,

I couldn't care less what you think.:hi:

[uppityperson]

56. I'm supposed to guess how you feel about someone else's post? Wow.

you are something. Unless I guess what you think, what you feel, you don't care about what I think.

You are a treasure

[whathehell]

57. You're not supposed to do a thing, as far as I'm concerned, honey,

You're the one who first responded to me:shrug:

[seabeyond]

63. right. cause everyone is stupid. and you are all that. confirmation, once again. nt

[treestar]

69. If this causes concern, you're going to be spending

time in an insane asylum soon. A few photos of the President at a basketball gives you concern regarding propaganda?

[JTFrog]

38. Nasty.

Petty.

Could think of a few more choice words to describe that post, but I'll just move along.

[whathehell]

53. Good choice, JT.

[treestar]

67. The Bushes didn't look so in love is the comment here, I believe

Are you saying you never made fun of Laura's wardrobe in any way?

I always got a kick out of the curtain comments on DU.

In essence you are also saying you would not have cared then, about Jackie Kennedy and all she did.

[nolabear]

75. Nine posts to turn a positive into a negative.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bigtree]

12. I don't understand being concerned about 'shit going on around the world'

. . . and being so hard-hearted, so void of feeling for actual human beings expressing love for each other.

I really don't understand the slap at DUers for appreciating the images.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sammytko]

40. They must be real fun at family events - whackaloons! I like them.

[whathehell]

59. You've never heard the old characterization of Lefties?...Loves humanity, hates people one on one?

I'm a lefty, but even I know how true that often is.

[pennylane100]

25. There a lot of things that Obama has done that I do not approve of but,

god he is sooooo cute, I love looking at pictures of him.

[nobodyspecial]

29. Yes, the world is a crappy place.

How dare we take a moment to celebrate love and joy?!?!?

This would still make me smile if it were anonymous strangers, but since it is the president and first lady, I should feel used and manipulated? This isn't staged. It's a genuine moment. You can't fake that.

Yes, the world is a crappy place and we're up against some serious shit. All the more reason to celebrate love and joy and moments of pleasure. Don't let the anger and bitterness of the fight consume you.

We can't be at war 24/7. The love and joy we get from those in our lives is what it's all about. And, in the end, that's are all there is.

I look at this picture and I see love. That you choose to denigrate others who see the same thing says more about you than them.

{{{{Hugs}}}}

[Number23]

31. "That you choose to denigrate others who see the same thing says more about you than them."

You nailed it. Spot on.

[uppityperson]

32. Enjoying photos of people being happy is "creepy" because "serious shit's (sic) going on in world"?

Doesn't that strike you as odd?

[blue neen]

16. It's a great picture and completely relevant.

It's wonderful to know that we have these two people in the White House who have a healthy relationship based on love and mutual respect.

That's a blessing in life that not enough people are able to find...to see it in our nation's leader is reassuring and comforting.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful pic with us! :)

:patriot:

[Bonobo]

34. Unrec for the Oprah Winfrication of politics and the royal treatment.

It nauseates me.

[bigtree]

35. the reverse is a campaign by those who oppose the President and his wife

. . . to dehumanize them and portray them as outside of the American mainstream; as un-American; as anti-family; godless, etc..

Seems to me, someone needs to point out and emphasize that these are two human beings very much like ourselves. They live, love, recreate, care for each other. What type of world would it be if we didn't take time to reflect on these things and celebrate them when we're able? It's not about treating them as royals, at all. It's about recognizing and acknowledging the humanity of folks in whom we've invested so much faith and responsibility. If that's not seen as worthwhile and relevant, it should be.

[hfojvt]

83. How about the campaign to portray them

as rich people who don't give a damn about working Americans?

Would it be relevant six years ago to point out and emphasize that George W. and Laura Bush are two human beings very much like ourselves. They live, love, recreate, care for each other ...

Yep, like other members of the top 1% and those who serve the members of the top 1%, they too are human.

I'd be more impressed if they were frigging robots who would fight for the bottom 60%. (edit - where is R. Daneel Olivaw when the human race needs him?) Or even Kzinti. Now that would be a President who knew how to fight. He'd have Boehner for lunch - literally.

[trumad]

37. This goes for you as well.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2384938&mesg_id=2386575

[Bonobo]

43. Don't get so worked up, Truman. nt

[JTFrog]

39. Nasty redux. n/t

[GoCubsGo]

41. If you don't like being nauseated, why click on the link?

It's not like you weren't warned about what this thread was about.

[treestar]

70. I hope this does not come from any one of the same people

Who demand that the President order Congress around like royalty!

You must have been miserable during the Kennedy Administration (this kind of thing predates Oprah).

[snooper2]

80. does it REALLY nauseate you or are you just playing sickly on the intertubes?

:rofl:

[TBF]

44. Nice photos :) nt

[HipChick]

47. Gorgeous photo's..I'm glad they are able to take time out...

[Scurrilous]

48. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Zorra]

61. Cindy Lou and Max at home

[bigtree]

62. one of my favorite movies

ignorant analogy

[Rhiannon12866]

72. Awwwww. What great pix!

Thank you for posting these. After all the stories we've heard of the conflicted relationships between first couples, I think the Obamas are a wonderful exception. :loveya:

[bvar22]

73. Belongs in The Lounge, or the Barack Obama Group.

Awww, cute photos,
but don't belong in General Discussion.

I've got some cute photos too.
Wanna see them?



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
Solidarity99!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[bigtree]

76. sure provoked a lot of discussion in GD

sparked all sorts of political discussions . . .

It's a frickin light post on a slow holiday weekend that's been inflated by critics into some controversy, including your own response. The hatred for these two from some here is just stunning.

[bvar22]

77. I post the same response....

...to those who post their cute kitty photos in General Discussion.

I don't hate people who have cute kitties.
We have some ourselves, and plenty of cute kitty photos.
I just don't post them in General Discussion.

As much as you wish and fantasize it were so,
there is no there there.

[bigtree]

79. well

thanks for the kicks :hi:

[bigwillq]

81. Have you hit alert

to ask the mods to move this thread?

[Taverner]

74. Why anyone wouldn't fall in love with Michelle makes no sense to me...

She's the real deal...

[NeedleCast]

82. Great Pictures - My Fiance went to Towson

We go to an occasional football or basketball game there. Pity I missed this one. Thanks for posting.

(Haters gonna hate, ignore 'em).

[Scurrilous]

84. Kick

:kick: