POTUS Weekly Column – Obama: Hangs with Leno in LA, ends in Martha’s Vineyard

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POTUS Column Photo LabeledAugust 12, 2013
Catie Curry
Columnist
POTUS

From Washington, D.C., Catie Curry, POTUS columnist

Drama has continued to sizzle in Washington with Russia granting NSA leaker Edward Snowden temporary asylum and terror threats continuing in Pakistan. The president was surely counting down the days until his “summer vacation” trip to Martha’s Vineyard as he traveled across the country to speak to military members and appear on late night TV.

On Tuesday August 6th, the president traveled out West for a couple of days, starting in Phoenix, Arizona for a tour of Erickson Construction. The company builds prefabricated home frames. Obama rolled up his shirtsleeves and removed his jacket as he was taken around the premises by half a dozen company officials.

Obama was shown plans for homes by the officials while in a shed filled with machinery and lumber loads. The president seemed interested as he asked questions about the company and its processes. After finishing his tour, the president boarded Air Force One once again to fly to Burbank, California to tape an episode of the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno”. The talk show host asked Obama about a variety of topics, including NSA leaker Edward Snowden, the economy and his recent birthday. When asked about how he celebrated his big day, the president said, “I had a bunch of friends come over who I don’t see that often from high school and college.  And we played a little golf, and then we tried to play a little basketball.  And it was a sad state of affairs.” He added, “A bunch of old guys.  Where’s the Ibuprofen and all that stuff?”

Obama also mentioned a secret behind his lengthy marriage to Michelle. Leno asked, “Now, I’ve seen Michelle tease you about your gray hair.  You have a bit of silver in your hair.  Do you tease back?” The president answered, “No. That’s why we’re celebrating our 21st anniversary.” The studio audience roared with laughter and applause.

President Obama ended the interview by presenting Leno with a small model of his limousine, “The Beast.” He joked, “Now, the doors are heavy, so when you’re getting in you may need a little help.” After shaking hands with Leno, Obama signed the roof of the car.

The next morning, the president traveled to Camp Pendleton in California to speak with members of the military. After arriving at the camp via helicopter, Obama began his visit by meeting with Wounded Warriors and Gold Star families. He then took to a makeshift stage, decorated with an American flag to deliver his remarks.

President Obama expressed his pride in the troops as he said, “I’ve seen your honor; I’ve seen your courage; I’ve seen your commitment — whether in protecting our diplomatic posts around the world, or preparing to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan, or recovering from wounds received in battle.”  He also talked about the progress that has been made in Afghanistan since the attacks on September 11, 2001. He said, “I’m here, because we recently marked another milestone in this war.  As of this past June, for the first time, Afghan forces have taken the lead for security across their entire country.” Finally, Obama thanked the troops for their work protecting America. He exclaimed, “Here’s what I want every single one of you to know.  Because of you — the 9/11 Generation — we are accomplishing what we set out to do.  Because of you, Osama bin Laden is no more. Because of you, al Qaeda’s top ranks have been hammered.  The core of al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan is on the way to defeat.”

After finishing the taping, he met up with his close personal friend and the CEO of DreamWorks, Jeffrey Katzenberg. The two had dinner in the president’s hotel room in Los Angeles. What a perfect way to decompress after a busy day in LA.

On Friday afternoon, President Obama signed the student loans legislation, which among other things, decreased the percentage rates of student loans.  At his desk in the Oval Office, he was joined by members of Congress as well as a group of college students.

The president joked with his audience before signing the measure. He said coyly, “Those of you who haven’t seen me do this before — it is a real art form.” After signing, he commented, “It feels good signing bills; I haven’t done this in a while. Hint, hint.  Hint, hint.” With much more legislation on the horizon, hopefully, there will be a few more bills for President Obama to sign soon.

On Saturday, Obama left Washington again, joined by the First Lady to travel to Orlando, Florida to speak at the Disabled American Veterans Convention. The president arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Orlando to speak in the hotel ballroom for over 3,000 people.

The First Lady introduced her husband to the attendees, speaking warmly about her experiences meeting with Veterans and their families on occasions in the past. The president was equally doting towards his wife after he stepped up to speak. “Do we have an extraordinary First Lady?” he asked. “We will be celebrating our 21st anniversary in October.  The first time I saw her, I knew she was something special. She was a little more skeptical about me. But persistence is the key.”  Funny stuff.

He also was moving in his words about the DAV and the veterans themselves. “I think of all the inspiring wounded warriors that Michelle and I have met — their resilience, their resolve, their determination to push through and to carry on.  That’s the fighting spirit of our wounded warriors.  That’s the spirit of DAV —  dedicated not just to your own recovery, but to taking care of each other.”

After the event finished, the President and his wife journeyed to Martha’s Vineyard to start a week-long vacation. The next morning, the president started off his vacation with a round of golf. Here’s hoping that he gets a nice, relaxing vacation from all of the eventfulness of living in the White House.

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