As 2011 winds to a close, I thought I would put together a quick photo diary to end the year on a positive note and refocus our energy on the real enemy to progress, the Republicans. Please keep your comments positive and civil. Thanks! :) :) :)
This photo from December 19, 2011, and all others in this diary, are official White House Photos by Pete Souza unless otherwise indicated.
President Barack Obama confers on Hurricane Irene with affected governors and mayors, as John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, monitors the call, inside the Fisher House at Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, Mass., Aug. 26, 2011.
Osawatomie, Kan., Dec. 6, 2011.
Kramerbook & Afterwords Cafe in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011.
President Barack Obama looks at a photograph of Kate Puzey as he greets her brother, David Puzey, and other guests in the Oval Office, Nov. 21, 2011. The President signed the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011, which improves the preventative measures and the response of the Peace Corps in cases of crime and sexual assault of Peace Corps volunteers.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif., Sept. 26, 2011.
President Barack Obama talks with student Rebecca Hyndman before visiting classrooms at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va., Sept. 16, 2011.
President Barack Obama shares a laugh with Jean Meyer, the grandmother of Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, second from left, as they and members of the Meyer family walk along the Colonnade of the White House, Sept. 15, 2011.
President Barack Obama greets children from the Valleyland Kids summer program outside a school in Chatfield, Minn., Aug. 15, 2011.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen in the Oval Office to discuss the DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell) repeal certification, July 22, 2011. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Kathryn Ruemmler, Counsel to the President, also attend the meeting.
First Lady Michelle Obama, along with Marian Robinson and daughters Sasha and Malia, listens to former resident Noor Ebrahim as they visit the District Six Museum in Cape Town, South Africa, June 23, 2011. Ebrahim described the forced segregation that occurred after 1966 when District 6 was declared a "White Group Area". (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured.
I would love to see the superhero photo-shopped version of this in comments, if anyone has it!
President Barack Obama greets surprised tourists at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Saturday, April 9, 2011. The President made an unannounced stop to thank people for visiting the memorial a day after he and Congressional leaders agreed on a bill to keep the government open.
This is one of my favorites:
First Lady Michelle Obama hands a spinach plant to a student during the spring planting of the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn of the White House, March 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
President Barack Obama drops by the Youth Engagement Roundtable at the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2011.
President Barack Obama sits at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as Staff Secretary Lisa Brown organizes a stack of 35 bills for him to sign into law, Jan. 4, 2011
Once the Republicans have their candidate, it will be time for us to start reminding friends and family why voting for them would be a horrible mistake. I started compiling a list of President Obama's accomplishments, and not only is it overwhelming, everyone has a different concern or issue that is important to them. Here are some links to lists that that will be great to have in your arsenal no matter what your focus is:
What Obama Has Done...
The 244 ACCOMPLISHMENTS of PRESIDENT OBAMA
A Short List of President Obama's Accomplishments
Obama Achievements Center
Since this diary got lots of positive feedback, added a poll to see if I should write one once a week to keep us focused!