Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House -- President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta at White House ceremony today November 16, 2010

A rare ceremony at the White house today. President Barack Obama presented U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, Salvatore Giunta, with the nation’s highest military award — the Medal of Honor.  Sgt. Giunta is the first living service member from either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars to receive this award.

The Medal of Honor is awarded for “conspicuous gallantry” way beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Giunta doesn’t think he did anything special. President Obama says Giunta comrades’ report of his heroism tell a different story.

President Obama:

“Staff Sergeant Giunta, repeatedly and without hesitation, you charged forward through extreme enemy fire, embodying the warrior ethos that says, “I will never leave a fallen comrade.” Your actions disrupted a devastating ambush before it could claim more lives. Your courage prevented the capture of an American soldier and brought that soldier back to his family. You may believe that you don’t deserve this honor, but it was your fellow soldiers who recommended you for it. In fact, your commander specifically said in his recommendation that you lived up to the standards of the most decorated American soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, who famously repelled an overwhelming enemy attack by himself for one simple reason: ‘ They were killing my friends.’ ”

President Obama remarks, including some of the harrowing details of Sgt. Guinta’s actions on October 25, 2007, and more on the White House Blog.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House -- Bo Obama looks through a window at the White House October 26, 2010

Outside looking in — Bo,  the Obama family dog, peered through a window at the White House recently — probably searching for someone to play a cool game of fetch the ball.

Photo: www.whitehouse.gov -- President Obama holds news conference today to discuss yesterday's midterm election, November 3, 2010

Reflecting on the returns from yesterday’s mid-term election, President Barack Obama admitted today that he received a  ”shellacking” from the voters.

At a White House news conference, the president blamed the sluggish economy for voter dissatisfaction and frustration, which resulted in the Republicans gaining a majority in the House and whittling down the Democratic majority in the Senate.

Also, the president says he takes responsibility for Tuesday’s disappointing election results:

Photo: Pete Souza/White House -- President Obama spoke to reporters during a news conference at the White House November 3, 2010

“After what I’m sure was a long night for a lot of you — and needless to say it was for me — I can tell you that some election nights are more fun than others. Some are exhilarating; some are humbling. But every election, regardless of who wins and who loses, is a reminder that in our democracy, power rests not with those of us in elected office, but with the people we have the privilege to serve.

Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the country and meet people where they live and where they work, from backyards to factory floors. I did some talking, but mostly I did a lot of listening. And yesterday’s vote confirmed what I’ve heard from folks all across America: People are frustrated — they’re deeply frustrated — with the pace of our economic recovery and the opportunities that they hope for their children and their grandchildren. They want jobs to come back faster, they want paychecks to go further, and they want the ability to give their children the same chances and opportunities as they’ve had in life.

The men and women who sent us here don’t expect Washington to solve all their problems.  But they do expect Washington to work for them, not against them.  They want to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely, not wasted, and that we’re not going to leave our children a legacy of debt.  They want to know that their voices aren’t being drowned out by a sea of lobbyists and special interests and partisan bickering.  They want business to be done here openly and honestly.

Now, I ran for this office to tackle these challenges and give voice to the concerns of everyday people.  Over the last two years, we’ve made progress.  But, clearly, too many Americans haven’t felt that progress yet, and they told us that yesterday. And as President, I take responsibility for that.

What yesterday also told us is that no one party will be able to dictate where we go from here, that we must find common ground in order to set — in order to make progress on some uncommonly difficult challenges.  And I told John Boehner and Mitch McConnell last night I am very eager to sit down with members of both parties and figure out how we can move forward together.

I’m not suggesting this will be easy.  I won’t pretend that we will be able to bridge every difference or solve every disagreement.  There’s a reason we have two parties in this country, and both Democrats and Republicans have certain beliefs and certain principles that each feels cannot be compromised.  But what I think the American people are expecting, and what we owe them, is to focus on those issues that affect their jobs, their security, and their future:  reducing our deficit, promoting a clean energy economy, making sure that our children are the best educated in the world, making sure that we’re making the investments in technology that will allow us to keep our competitive edge in the global economy.

Because the most important contest we face is not the contest between Democrats and Republicans.  In this century, the most important competition we face is between America and our economic competitors around the world.  To win that competition, and to continue our economic leadership, we’re going to need to be strong and we’re going to need to be united.

None of the challenges we face lend themselves to simple solutions or bumper-sticker slogans.  Nor are the answers found in any one particular philosophy or ideology.  As I’ve said before, no person, no party, has a monopoly on wisdom.  And that’s why I’m eager to hear good ideas wherever they come from, whoever proposes them. And that’s why I believe it’s important to have an honest and civil debate about the choices that we face.  That’s why I want to engage both Democrats and Republicans in serious conversations about where we’re going as a nation.”

More of President Obama’s comments and a Q&A with reporters on the White House website here.

Photo: Lawrence Jackson/White House -- The White House bathed in pink light in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, October 14, 2010

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. To show it’s support, the White House went pink on Thursday night, October 14, 2010.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House --Actor George Clooney met with President Obama at the White House, Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Actor and Filmmaker, George Clooney, met with President Barack Obama at the White House yesterday to discuss the situation in the Sudan. The meeting took place in a tranquil setting outside the Oval Office.

Clooney just returned from a trip to Sudan. The actor discussed the upcoming vote for independence in the war-torn country, as well as the fight against genocide in the Sudan. Clooney is one of the co-founders of the humanitarian and advocacy organization, ”Not On Our Watch.”  The other co- founders are Bratt Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Jerry  Weintraub, and David Pressman.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House -- President Obama and guests applaud at a ceremony honoring some dedicated World War II veterans, Tuesday, October 5, 2010

An emotional and awe-inspiring ceremony at the White House yesterday. In the Oval Office, President Barack Obama signed legislation granting a collective Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team,  for their dedicated service during World War II.

Many of those veterans are second generation Japanese Americans. Some of them were confined in internment camps before joining the military. The 442nd Regimental Team is one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history, among the awards: 21 Medals of Honor, 4,000 Bronze stars, and over 4,000 Purple Hearts.

Several Southlanders, including World War II veteran, Osamu “Sam” Fujikawa, attended the White House affair.  More on the ceremony and the bravery of the soldiers in those units on the White House blog here.

Photo: Lawrence Jackson/White House -- President Obama prepares to tape his weekly Saturday address on September 2, 2010

Yesterday, President Barack Obama’s weekly addressed focused on the  struggles of the American worker and the middle class.  Here is the full text of President Obama’s address:

On Monday, we celebrate Labor Day. It’s a chance to get together with family and friends, to throw some food on the grill, and have a good time.  But it’s also a day to honor the American worker – to reaffirm our commitment to the great American middle class that has, for generations, made our economy the envy of the world.

That is especially important now.  I don’t have to tell you that this is a very tough time for our country.  Millions of our neighbors have been swept up in the worst recession in our lifetimes.  And long before this recession hit, the middle class had been taking some hard shots.  Long before this recession, the values of hard work and responsibility that built this country had been given short shrift.

For a decade, middle class families felt the sting of stagnant incomes and declining economic security.  Companies were rewarded with tax breaks for creating  jobs overseas.  Wall Street firms turned huge profits by taking, in some cases, reckless risks and cutting corners.  All of this came at the expense of working Americans, who were fighting harder and harder just to stay afloat – often borrowing against inflated home values to pay their bills.  Ultimately, the house of cards collapsed.

So this Labor Day, we should recommit ourselves to our time-honored values and to this fundamental truth: to heal our economy, we need more than a healthy stock market; we need bustling main streets and a growing, thriving middle class.  That’s why I will keep working day-by-day to restore opportunity, economic security, and that basic American Dream for our families and future generations.

First, that means doing everything we can to accelerate job creation. The steps we have taken to date have stopped the bleeding: investments in roads and bridges and high-speed railroads that will lead to hundreds of thousands of jobs in the private sector; emergency steps to prevent the layoffs of hundreds of thousands of teachers and firefighters and police officers; and tax cuts and loans for small business owners who create most of the jobs in America. We also ended a tax loophole that encouraged companies to create jobs overseas. Instead, I’m fighting to pass a law to provide tax breaks to the folks who create jobs right here in America.

But strengthening our economy means more than that.  We’re fighting to build an economy in which middle class families can afford to send their kids to college, buy a home, save for retirement, and achieve some measure of economic security when their working days are done.  And over the last two years, that has meant taking on some powerful interests who had been dominating the agenda in Washington for far too long.

That’s why we’ve put an end to the wasteful subsidies to big banks that provide student loans.  We’re going to use that money to make college more affordable for students instead.

That’s why we’re making it easier for workers to save for retirement, with new ways of saving their tax refunds and a simpler system for enrolling in retirement plans like 401(k)s.  And we’re going to keep up the fight to protect Social Security for generations to come.

That’s why we stopped insurance companies from refusing to cover people with pre-existing conditions and dropping folks who become seriously ill.

And that’s why we cut taxes for 95 percent of working families, and passed a law to help make sure women earn equal pay for equal work in the United States of America.

This Labor Day, we are reminded that we didn’t become the most prosperous country in the world by rewarding greed and recklessness.  We did it by rewarding hard work and responsibility.  We did it by recognizing that we rise or we fall together as one nation – one people – all of us vested in one another.  That is how we have succeeded in the past. And that is how we will not only rebuild this economy, but rebuild it stronger than ever before.

Thank you. And I hope you have a great Labor Day weekend.

President Obama’s weekly address, both text and video, is posted on  the  White House website.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House -- President Obama shares a moment with a soldier at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, August 31, 2010

 Before speaking to the nation tonight, President Barack Obama flew to Texas to visit the soldiers at Fort Bliss in El Paso. Troops at Fort Bliss have participated in every phase of the seven-and-a-year war in Iraq and continue to service in the new support role. The President went there to say “thank you” from a grateful nation. Later from the Oval Office, President Obama kept a campaign promise and ended the controversial war

“I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans.  We’ve now been through nearly a decade of war.  We’ve endured a long and painful recession.  And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we’re trying to build for our nation — a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity — may seem beyond our reach.

But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment.  It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.”

The full text of President Obama’s address to the nation on the White House Blog.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House -- President Barack Obama gave a pep talk to some aspiring tennis stars at the White House, August 3, 2010

Catching up on a photo of interest.  The South Lawn of the White House was the scene of a “Let’s Move” tennis clinic on August 3, 2010. President Barack Obama delivered some encouraging words to some possible tennis stars of tomorrow. 

 Developing a good backhand swing is a bonus  –  getting  kids to exercise and eat healthy are the main goals of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign against childhood obesity.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House -- Investor Warren Buffett meets with President Obama on July 14, 2010

A heavy discussion in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, July 14, when Billionaire Investor, Warren Buffett, dropped by for a chat with President Barack Obama. Main topics: the struggling economy and jobs.  

The Caucus blog on The New York Times website reported on the meeting and mentioned a funny incident with Buffett’s tie.  The President reportedly noticed Buffett’s tie was a bit worn — offered one of his own– and the offer was accepted.

Buffett is consider one of the most successful investors in the world. Last March, this smart guy from Omaha placed third on Forbes’ list of the riches billionaires.  Buffett’s net worth — $47 Billion. Also, Buffett is a well known philanthropist who donates generously to charities including around $30 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Message from President Obama regarding Independence Day

Today we celebrate the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of a great experiment, American democracy.  In every corner of our country, we recall the valor and vision of patriots from Thirteen Colonies who declared independence from a powerful empire and gave birth to a new Nation.  We gather in town centers and wave flags in parades not only to recall this history we share, but also to honor the vibrant and enduring spirit of America established on this day.

For those gallant first Americans, such a Nation as ours may have seemed like an unattainable dream.  Their concept was revolutionary:  a government of, by, and for the people.  Yet, our Founders’ tenacity, resolve, and courage in the face of seemingly impossible odds became the bedrock of our country.  That essence has permeated our land and inspired generations of Americans to explore, discover, and redefine the outer reaches of our infinite potential.  It has become the foundation of the American dream.

This dream has not come without tremendous cost.  From the farmers and tradesmen who served in militias during our American Revolution to the present day women and men protecting our Nation around the world, the sacrifices of our Armed Forces have been extraordinary.  Today we pay tribute to our service members, many of whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice.  We also acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of their loving families.  It is their heroism that has paved the remarkable path of freedom’s march.

Just as this day serves as a reminder of the immeasurable bravery of those who have made America what it is today, it also renews in us the solemn duty we share to ensure our Nation lives up to its promise.  We must not simply commemorate the work begun over two and a quarter centuries ago; we are called to join together, hoist their mantle upon our shoulders, and carry that spirit of service into tomorrow.

America again faces a daunting set of challenges, yet our history shows these are not insurmountable.  We need only to draw upon the perseverance of those before us    our Founders who declared and fought for their ideals; our ancestors who emigrated here and struggled to build a better future for their children; and our pioneers and entrepreneurs who blazed trails that have continually expanded our horizons.  Their spirit    our spirit    will guide our Nation now and in our bright future.

On our Nation’s birthday, may we come together in the enduring spirit of America to begin that work anew.  I wish you all the best for a happy Fourth of July.  May God Bless all those who serve, and may God Bless the United States of America.

                                                      BARACK OBAMA

from the White House.gov website

Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House  — Hundreds of chefs from around the country gathered on the south lawn of the White House for a “Let’s Move” event on June 4, 2010

 First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” program has expanded to include hundreds of chefs from communities all across the nation. Chefs from 37 states assembled at the White House on Friday, June 4, 2010 to support “Chefs Move to Schools” phase of the first lady’s program.

“Let’s Move” is aimed at fighting childhood obesity. The chefs will be paired with schools in their local communities to work with students, parents, school nutritionists and administrators. Mrs. Obama explained it this way: “And together, you’ll be helping students learn where food comes from, and develop healthy habits. You’ll be elevating the role of food in our schools, and working to create healthy meals on a budget…You can make a salad bar fun — now, that’s something — and delicious. You can teach kids to cook something that tastes good and is good for them; and share your passion for food in a way that’s truly contagious.”

Food Diva/Author/Cookware Designer/TV Chef, Rachael Ray, posted a story on the White House Blog today about the program and her own experience called “Cooking as a Way of Life.” Ray says: “Understanding what good nutrition means and the basics of cooking are some of the most important tools kids need for the rest of their lives. Knowing how to put together a good, nutritious meal really improves the quality of one’s life.” More of Ray’s post here, which includes a video clip, too.

Photo: Samantha Appleton/White House — Sir Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder performed their number one hit single from 1982, “Ebony and Ivory,” at a White House concert honoring the former-Beatle, last night.

President Barack Obama presented Entertainer, Paul McCartney, with the nation’s highest award for extraordinary contributions to American music and culture in the East Room of the White House, June 2, 2010.

In honoring McCartney , the president said: “And it’s fitting that the Library has chosen to present this year’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to a man whose father played Gershwin compositions for him on the piano; a man who grew up to become the most successful songwriter in history — Sir Paul McCartney.”

Some of the other artists on hand to give props to McCartney at the White House bash Jerry Seinfeld, the Jonas Brothers, Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris, Herbie Hancock, Elvis Costello, Jack White, and Corinne Bailey Rae. More about the event on The White House blog.

Oh, the amazing concert from this celebration is scheduled to be broadcasted on PBS stations nationwide, July 28, 2010 at 8 p.m. EDT.

Senior Inspiration: 94-year-old woman plans to graduate from college next month and look for work

Photo: Paul Chin/ The San Francisco Chronicle — Hazel Soares, 94,  takes notes in one of her classes at Mills College in Oakland, California, where she is set to graduate in May with a degree in art history. After graduation Soares, who has more than 40 grandchildren, plans to search for a museum job. Very nice story about Soares here.

2010 Olympic medal winning U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — First Couple welcomed the silver medal winning U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team to the White House on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

Style and Grace

Photo:Bettmann/Corbis/Vanity Fair — A 1961 snapshot of First Lady Jackie Kennedy, Prince Rainier, Princess Grace Kelly, and President John Kennedy at the White House when the royals dropped by for lunch. One of several terrific photos of important events in the life of Grace Kelly that showcased the actress/princess’ fashion style on the Vanity Fair website.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — President Barack Obama uses one of 22 pens to sign that huge health care reform bill into law on Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A lot of Americans are asking, what’s in that mega-overhaul of the health care system?  First, there are some provisions that kick in this year, others become effective later on. Details and links on the White House blog here.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — President Barack Obama speaks to an audience in the Family Theater of the White House just before the screening of the first hour of a new HBO World War II mini-series,”The Pacific,” last Thursday, March 11, 2010. In the front row, the two executive producers of the mini-series, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

The 10-part mini-series, “The Pacific,” began airing on HBO last night. The cable TV mini-series focuses on the stories of three U.S. Marines during America’s World War II battle with Japan. It’s from the same folks who created the highly acclaimed World War II mini-series, “Band of Brothers,” which aired on HBO back in 2001.  “The Pacific” reportedly cost somewhere around $195 million.   

Official White House Photo/Chuck Kennedy — President Obama makes a point to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) during the Bipartisan Health Reform meeting at Blair House on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

First Ladies meet & chat

Official White House Photo/ Samantha Appleton — First Lady Michelle Obama chats with Mrs. Margarita Zavala de Calderon, the First Lady of Mexico, in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza — President Barack Obama chats with the Dalai Lama at the White House. The meeting took place in the Map Room instead of the Oval Office, an apparent concession to China, who objected to the president’s meeting with the exiled and highly revered leader.  02/18/10

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs described the meeting this way:

“The President met this morning at the White House with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama.  The President stated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China. The President commended the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way” approach, his commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government.  The President stressed that he has consistently encouraged both sides to engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences and was pleased to hear about the recent resumption of talks.  The President and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and China.” from the Whitehouse.gov website.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza — President Obama joins Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a town hall meeting in Henderson, Nevada on Friday.  02/19/10

President Obama talked with Nevada voters about health care, jobs, and helping struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. The president announced a new $1.5 billion fund for housing finance agencies in the states hardest hit by the housing crisis among them Nevada, and hopefully, California as well.

President Obama:

“So this fund is going to help out-of-work homeowners avoid preventable foreclosures, and it will help homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth find a way to pay their mortgages that works for both the borrowers and the lenders alike, and will help folks who’ve taken out a second mortgage modify their loans.

  So, yes, we need to strengthen our housing market.  And we need to focus on job creation and getting our economy moving again.  But one last thing I want to be clear about — we can do all those things, dealing with sort of the emergency crisis, and still fall behind in the 21st century, in this global economy, unless we recommit ourselves to solving some of the long-term problems that have been with us for years. 

We’ve got to recognize, just like earlier generations, that our future is what we make of it, and unless we give everything we’ve got to securing America’s success in the 21st century, our children aren’t going to have the same opportunities.”  Click here for the full transcript of the town hall meeting.

Official White House Photos by Pete Souza — Music legend Bob Dylan performs, “The Times They Are-A-Changin” during a White House concert to celebrate the music of the Civil Rights Movement.  After his performance, Dylan shakes hands with President Obama. 02/09/10

 Pete Souza/Official White House Photo — First dog and fun loving canine, “Bo” frolics on the south grounds of the White House during a blizzard today.

The East Coast is getting walloped by the second major snowstorm in a week. The storm is expected to drop upwards of 14 inches on the nation’s capital today. The snowy weather has shutdown government agencies, grounded airlines, closed schools, and even halted the delivery of the U.S. mail in some places.

For White House first dog Bo, the blizzard meant playtime in a winter wonderland. President Obama  nicknamed the earlier snowstorm, “Snowmageddon.” Today’s blizzard is probably ”Snowmageddon II” and it has helped break the seasonal snowfall record for DC of 54.4 inches set in 1899! 

After an early morning chill and some sprinkles, the sun is shining in the Southland. Yees! At 5 p.m. this afternoon, it was 61 in Burbank. The forecast is for clear skies and even warmer temperatures for SoCal over the next several days. 

The evacuations for the local burn communities in the foothills are canceled and hundreds of residents are heading back home.  Also, the tough job of cleaning up after those heavy rainstorms can now kick into high gear.