Presidential Schedule for  the Week of May 31, 2010:

Memorial Day Monday, the President planned on pontificating at a Memorial Day Ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. However, his speech was redacted by a Higher Power due to Severe Weather and all he could do was to symbolically lay a wreath.  He and his family returned to the White House that evening.

On Tuesday, the President was supposed to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel at the White House, but President Netanyahu cancelled to provide leadership to Israel in the Gaza Flotilla Incident.  Obama instead welcomed President Garcia of Peru for a pre-scheduled meeting at the White House. 

According to Scooter, the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including “continuing to pursue the details” of a free trade agreement, security issues, climate change and a broader international vision of promoting democracy, human rights, press freedoms and economic development.

On Wednesday, the President met with General Odierno to discuss security and political progress in Iraq.  He then traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and spoke to students at Carnegie Mellon University.   In his speech, Obama attacked the GOP:

[A] good deal of the other party’s opposition to our agenda has also been rooted in their sincere and fundamental belief about government.   It’s a belief that government has little or no role to play in helping this nation meet our collective challenges. It’s an agenda that basically offers two answers to every problem we face: more tax breaks for the wealthy and fewer rules for corporations.

This from the guy who forced through a Government-run Universal Health Care Plan against the wishes of the majority of Americans?  Hardly a surprising statement.

That night, the Obamas hosted a concert in the East Room honoring Paul McCartney, who was awarded the 3rd Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress.

Before receiving the award, the Senior Citizen performed with stars including Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Seinfeld, the Jonas Brothers, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, and Emmylou Harris. McCartney serenaded First Lady Michelle Obama with a rendition of “Michelle” and closed the night with “Hey Jude.” McCartney claimed that he had been “itching” to sing “Michelle” to the first lady at the White House, adding “I hope the president will forgive me.”

I think I’m gonna hurl.

McCartney also offered a glimpse of his politics, sarcastically stating that he was especially happy to get the award from “this president” and saying that it was nice to get the Library of Congress award from “a president who knows what a library is.”

On Thursday, Scooter finally gave 30 minutes to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer concerning the subject of their Illegal immigration law that she signed into existence.    After the meeting, the White House issued an official statement proclaiming that “The president and governor agreed that the lack of action to fix the broken system at the federal level is unacceptable,” and that Obama “urged Governor Brewer to be his partner in working in a bipartisan manner on comprehensive immigration reform”.

That evening, the President spoke at the Secretary of State’s reception in honor of the Indian delegation to the United States-India Strategic Dialogue, which met at the State Department earlier that day.  At the reception, he announced that he would visit India in November because:

I firmly believe the relationship between the United States and India will be a defining partnership for the 21st Century.

Later that evening, The White House announced that the President had cancelled his family’s planned vacation, err, fact-finding trip to Australia and Indonesia, where he grew up attending a Madrassa, err, private school for wealthy families.  The reason originally given for the trip  was that he wanted to show his daughters where he grew up.
On Friday, the President met the Major League Soccer Men’s Champion Real Salt Lake at the White House.  Scooter also went back to Louisiana’s Gulf Coast for his third visit since the disaster began on April 20 with the explosion of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.  Obama was in Louisiana the Friday before, but his visit did not produce the kind of emotional, connect-with-the-people presidential reaction that Democrats have been praying for.
It was also announced by “Baghdad Bob” Gibbs that President Obama has extended an invitation for a meeting next Thursday with the families of the 11 men who died after the Gulf of Mexico oil rig exploded.  Gibbs said:

The president will offer his condolences in person to those who lost loved ones in the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. The president sent a letter to each of the families extending an invitation to the White House. 

It only took you 46 days, Scooter.

Saturday, Obama announced that James R. Clapper is his choice to  serve as Director of National Intelligence – the fourth since the post was created in 2004 – and wants the Senate to confirm him quickly.  Clapper is the Pentagon’s current intelligence chief.  

In private, Clapper has faced off with lawmakers, sometimes resorting to cussing at them to make a point. Those strained relations may come back to haunt him as he awaits confirmation.

Last night, it was time for the Obama’s to party again.  Per the press release issued ahead of time:

Ford’s Theatre Society will host its annual gala on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street NW). The evening’s performance, titled “America Celebrates July 4th at Ford’s Theatre,” will be taped for broadcast on the ABC Television Network to air July 2, 2010 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). Modern Family cast member Ty Burrell hosts a star-studded program with appearances by Kelly Clarkson, Renee Fleming, George Lopez, Lionel Richie, Robin Roberts, Dick Van Dyke, Laura Michelle Kelly and Gavin Lee from the Broadway Company of “Mary Poppins,” the Soldiers’ Chorus of the United States Army Field Band, and cast members from the Ford’s Theatre production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

My purpose in reviewing last week was to present a study in style over substance.  This man who was elected president has absolutely no skills as a leader.  The only thing he has ever excelled at is campaigning.   So, despite the Gulf Coast crisis, the economic crisis, two wars, terrorism aimed at Americans on our own shores, and corruption within his own administration, he continues on his perpetual campaign, interrupted only by vacations and trips to basketball court and golf courses…to the detriment of the greatest nation on Earth.

Sources:  drudgereport.com, suntimes.com, abcnews.com, content.usatoday.com, deathby1000opapercuts.com, politicsdaily.com, yahoo.com, nydailynews.com, nypost.com, nashuatelegraph.com