FameCrawler : president

Levi Johnston - Reluctant Celebrity?

trix — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:31:00 GMT

Levi Johnston succumbed to the pressure. What pressure you might ask, as did I?

He gave in and hired a publicist. He needs a publicist? I'm so going to hire one tomorrow.

Apparently he needs a publicist to handle all things Levi, including his need to be famous.

Poor guy. He's fading from the spotlight and he desperately wants to stay in it and is doing whatever he can to maintain his status of celebrity.

Maybe his publicist can help him get into college.

Bristol Palin and Son Tripp Cover People

Levi Johnston's Mom Says Relations with Palins are Thawing

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Harrison's Son Attacked by Dog

Whit Honea — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:14:00 GMT

There is some scary news coming out of Pittsburgh. Steelers linebacker James Harrison's son was reportedly attacked by a pit bull.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Harrison owns three dogs and one of them "got loose" which would imply they aren't family pets, and attacked his son James III, whose age has not been released.

James III was taken to the local Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Reports are that a second person was also injured.

Our thoughts to the Harrison family.

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Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston - Stay Away From My Kids

trix — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:03:00 GMT

This whole Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston thing is getting pretty funny. They are lambasting each other about whatever they can think of and I think they are looking pretty silly.

Bristol is going on about how yes, it's hard to practice abstinence, but really, it's the best choice out there.

Levi says that abstinence is unrealistic. He told "The Early Show", " I don't just think telling young kids, 'you can't have sex' ... it's not going to work ... it's not realistic."

There is absolutely nothing that these two kids could say, that I would ever pass on to my kids. I mean really, how much did you know when you were 17 or 18. Sure we thought we knew everything, but we were sadly mistaken, we knew very little.

These kids have a whole lot of growing up to do and frankly, they are not in any position to tell any kid what they should or should not do.

Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston, would you let them advise your kids, or would you just use them as an example?

Cheater, Cheater Pumpkin Eater

Ed Burns and Christy Turlington - Do Good

Jon & Kate's Neighbors Speak Up

Bristol Wants Levi in Tripps Life

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Malia and Sasha - Breaking Promises Already

trix — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:33:00 GMT

It's nice to know that Sasha and Malia Obama are just like every other kid out there when it comes to promises they make.

It seems the girls are slacking on their daily doggie duties. Michelle says, "Even though the kids are supposed to do a lot of the work, I'm still up at 5:15 a.m. taking my dog out. So for everyone who has a child asking for a puppy – you have to want the dog."

So the first family is just like mine and yours, with us parents left holding the bag and cleaning up after our kids and their most fervent wishes.

Are the Obamas Cheapskates?

Barack Obama's Favorite Book

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Michelle Obama Weighs in On BO

trix — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:02:00 GMT

Bo Obama has been in the White House for a week and the verdict is in.

Michelle Obama says the dog is "Crazy."

She said that "Bo" loves to bark and play and also likes to chew on people's feet. She did say, she is spending lots of time walking and training Bo.

I bet the girls just love him, I wonder whose bed he sleeps on or if he's relegated to a dog house.

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Adorable Obama Family Pictures

trix — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:03:00 GMT

So I was going to do the whole, do you know who my parents are, thing with this picture, but I think it's sort of obvious.

Malia looks exactly the same and happens to look just like her mom.

Here are a couple more pictures, just for fun...

They are too cute.

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Sarah Palin Is In The News Again

trix — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:03:00 GMT

Sarah Palin sure is having a rough time of it lately, hasn't she. She's been all over the news lately and it's not necessarily a good thing.

The latest little tid-bit is that her sister-in-law was arrested for breaking into a house in her home town of Wasilla to steal money, for the second time this week.

Wisely, Sarah's husband Todd Palin declined to comment.

At least it's better than her own kids in the news, you know for bad stuff.

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Is Miley Cyrus Too Good For The Obamas?

trix — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Okay, so it's really hard for the Obama girls to head out to the movies like every other little girl out there so they asked Miley Cyrus if she be willing to send them a copy of the movie for a White House Screening.

Guess what the brat with a sense of entitlement said, she said NO!

Miley said, "They want me to send them a copy, so we will - but, like everyone else, they have to wait 'til April 10th. Even the President."

Wow! I guess she won't ever be invited to the White House, poor girl, she really thinks something of herself doesn't she?

Barack Obama Opens Up About Sasha's Health Scare

Morning News: Hormonal Women the Answer to Economic Recovery

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Michelle Obama Wants To Be A Role Model

trix — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:32:00 GMT

So, I think we've all done the Michelle Obama isn't pregnant thing to death.

What we haven't discussed though, is her dedication to her workout regimen. Not only is she determined to be in the best shape of her life, she wants her daughters to, " See a mother who takes care of herself, even if that means I have to get up at 4:30 so I can do a workout."

She also described Barack's excitement at Sasha's interest in basketball, "Barack's losing his mind, I was like, 'Settle down - don't act too excited, or she will not want to do it.'"

That's awesome, my husband and I try to take a little time each day to stop and play and do something physical with our boys for the same reason.

Barack Obama to Pen Book for the Kids

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Barack Obama Opens Up About Sasha's Health Scare

trix — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:32:00 GMT

Last week Barack Obama told all of the internet how much he loves nurses. He went on to explain why he loves them during Thursday's Internet town-hall meeting.

He went on to explain that, “When Sasha, our little precious pea, was just three months old, she was hospitalized with life-threatening meningitis. The doctors did a terrific job, but frankly, it was the nurses that were there with us when she had to get a spinal tap and all sorts of things that were just bringing me to tears. And we’ve got a problem in this country, which is we have a shortage of nurses.”

”I’m biased toward nurses. “I just like nurses.”

It's such a scary situation when your child is in the hospital. You have no control and all you want to do is take their place.

I didn't know that Sasha was sick when she was little, maybe the Obamas do know what it's like to be the rest of us.

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Michelle Obama Towers Over Other Women

trix — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:03:00 GMT

Two famous moms got together to laugh it up while is Washington D.C. while promoting and celebrating Women's History Month.

Michelle Obama and Sheryl Crow were photographed together, both all decked out in black.

How tiny is Sheryl Crow, that she can wear heels and still be shorter than Michelle Obama, who happens to be wearing flats? She's at least 4 inches shorter with heels and I can't quite tell how tall her shoes are, but it definitely has a sizable heel.

There's nothing like being the tall one of the bunch, I'm tall and have never felt delicate, I'm sure Michelle Obama has the same feelings at times.

Sasha and Malia are going to be really tall, good thing their mom is tall. She will be able to help them not feel as awkward as they might, growing up.

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What Famous Mom is Looking to Be President in 2012?

trix — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:33:00 GMT

I know it's obvious from the picture that it's Sarah Palin?

So, do we really wonder why Bristol Palin broke it off with Levi Johnston? It has to be because mom, Sarah Palin, is gearing up to run for the 2012 election.

Now that most of the skeletons are out of her closet, she is cleaning up the rest of her family.

On Tuesday evening, the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee -- operating independent of any candidate or political organization -- held its first meeting to gin up support for the Alaska Governor's White House run.

The meeting was held at the local Dennys restaurant in West Haven, and was attended by hard core republicans.

So if Sarah Palin runs for election in 2012, which means she'll start making the rounds next year, what scandals will come out for the high profile mom?

Bristol Gives Levi the Boot

Bristol Palin Dumps Levi Johnston & Cuts Him From Baby Tripp's Life!

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Barack and Michelle Obama are Still Parents First

trix — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:32:00 GMT

How long did your parent teacher conference last this year, 5 to 10 minutes? Was your child's teacher awed by your presence?

No, mine either.

I'm guessing this wasn't the case for Sasha Obama's parent teacher conference. President and Michelle Obama were at the school for about an hour and I'm sure Sasha was thankful the press wasn't allowed inside.

That was, of course, the right decision. Sasha is probably a great student, but no one wants the whole world to know their kid's business in school.

Kudos to the President for attending the conference as well because, he could have just said, you go Michelle, tell Sasha I love her.

Sunday Cute Shot - Swinging With the First Family

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Sunday Cute Shot - Swinging With the First Family

Whit Honea — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:04:00 GMT

The Obama girls, Shasa and Malia, were joined by their mom Michelle for some swing time on their new play area.

I love the idea of this sitting outside the Oval Office. My kids love the idea of one sitting outside our front door.

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Sarah Palin Returns to Normal Life- Yeah Right!

trix — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:02:00 GMT

How is Sarah Palin settling back into her normal life of being a mom and a grandma?

Oh, she's not, well sort of, I guess.

There is already a web page set up for her Political Action Committee. Does this mean that she is gearing up to run for President in 2012?

Isn't that when the Mayan calendar says the world is going to end?

The three months of coverage last year was enough to drive me crazy, I don't know what I'll do if we have to do it for 2 years.

What about her kids? A child needs both parents, but there are things that only a mother can give. If Sarah goes out on the campaign trail how well will she be able to mother her children?

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Getting to Know Michelle Obama

trix — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:31:00 GMT

So we've all seen the list of the 50 things we didn't know about Barack and now here is a list of 50 things that we didn't know about Michelle Obama.

1. Her nickname is "Miche" (pronounced "Meesh").

2. Her husband calls her "My Rock".

3. Her father worked the swing shift in the boiler room at Chicago's water purification plant.

4. She grew up with her older brother, Craig, and parents in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. She shared the living room with her brother, which was separated by a room divider.

5. She and her brother both skipped a year at school - second grade.

6. As a girl, she loved her "Easy-Bake Oven", a toy cooker.

7. Michelle was student council treasurer in high school.

8. Growing up, she practised playing the piano so much that she had to be told to stop.

9. Although a great athlete, she shied away from competitive sports because, her big brother says, "she hated losing".

10. Her father died of complications from multiple sclerosis when she was in her 20s.

11. Michelle attended only public schools while growing up in Chicago.

12. She was assigned Barack's mentor when he came to her Chicago firm for a summer job.

13. Her first impression of Barack wasn't great; after seeing a photo of him in the law firm directory she decided he had a big nose.

14. She declined Barack's first invitations to go out on a date, saying it would be inappropriate.

15. Her father and brother had always said you could tell a lot about someone's character on the court, so before agreeing to date Barack, she asked her brother to take him on on the basketball court.

16. Her university dissertation was entitled, "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community."

17. Barack proposed at a Chicago restaurant and the ring arrived on a tray with the dessert.

18. Their first dance at their wedding was to "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole.

19. Santita Jackson, Jesse Jackson's daughter and Michelle's high school classmate, sang at the wedding.

20. She works out "like a gladiator," according to friends.

21. She hates tights - too "painful."

22. At the Democratic National Convention in 2004, moments before her husband went on stage to give his speech, she said: "Just don't screw it up, buddy!"

23. She watches reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show.

24. For breakfast she likes fruit, eggs and bacon.

25. When she got to Princeton she said the tutors weren't teaching French correctly.

26. She refused to accompany her husband for walks in the cold Chicago winters.

27. She is the former associate dean at the University of Chicago.

28. On their first date Barack took her to see Do The Right Thing, a Spike Lee movie set in Harlem.

29. Her brother, Craig Robinson, is the basketball coach at Oregon State University.

30. At Princeton, Michelle majored in sociology. She got her law degree from Harvard.

31. She worked for Chicago's Mayor Daley in the city's office of planning and development.

32. She uses a webcam to stay in touch with Barack while separated.

33. She cooks shrimp linguini - her husband's fabvourite meal.

34. Michelle wrote her own stump speech during the campaign and delivered it without notes.

35. Michelle made Barack promise to quit smoking if he stood for president.

36. She plans not to have any more children.

37. She graduated from high school second in her year.

38. She cut back from her six-figure salary with the University of Chicago hospital system to help her husband with his campaign.

39. Michelle makes Barack do the dishes.

40. As vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Centre, Michelle supervised a five hundred per cent increase of volunteerism in the hospital.

41. She was on the board of six major organisations, including the prestigious Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Tree House Foods; and Vice President, Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals.

42. She routinely drew audiences of 1,000-plus supporters, even when she was campaigning on her own, on the trail

43. Her inauguration dress was designed by Cuban-American designer, Isabel Toledo. Her green gloves were J Crew and her shoes by Jimmy Choo.

44. After her husband's election to the US Senate, Michelle decided to stay in Chicago with their daughters instead of relocating to Washington, DC.

45. Her great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, was a slave in South Carolina before the Civil War.

46. Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama are the only First Ladies to receive master's degrees.

47. Less than 24 hours after the inaugural balls, replicas of Mrs Obama's dress were being drawn up – they will be available for sale within weeks, ranging in price from $99 to $400.

48. At 5 ft 11ins, she is tied with Eleanor Roosevelt for tallest First Lady.

49. Her secret service codename is "Renaissance".

50. She has committed each episode of The Brady Bunch to memory.

Will any of those help her in her time as First Lady? I don't know about that, but I do know that some of those things will help her as a mom and a wife.

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Look Who Gets to Keep His Blackberry

trix — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:32:00 GMT

President Obama has won a major battle already and it has only been 4 days. He fought for it and now he gets to keep his Blackberry. Yay! for him.

Barack Obama admitted in the past that he is addicted to his Blackberry and wasn't sure what he was going to do if he became president and had to give it up. Now he doesn't have to.

He will be allowed to use his Blackberry to keep in touch with personal friends, senior staff and will be able to receive emails.

It's funny that the most powerful man in the world can't have a phone, it's like he gets all his information second hand. I wonder if he ever has to carry a wallet or man bag to hold all his stuff.

Ah, who am I kidding, he has people for that.

White House Spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said the president will limit its use, and security has been enhanced to ensure that Obama can communicate in a way that's protected. Only a small number of senior staff members and personal friends would be given his e-mail address.

Previous presidents chose not to use e-mail because it can be subpoenaed by Congress and courts and may be subject to public records laws. And Gibbs said the presumption from the White House counsel's office is that Obama's e-mails will be subject to the Presidential Records Act, which requires the National Archives to preserve presidential records.

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Obama Girls Welcomed to the White House

trix — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:22:00 GMT

Sasha and Malia Obama were welcomed to the White House in style.

While their mom and dad spent the night going to ball after ball the staff at the White House welcomed the girls with open arms.

The staff staged movie screenings and a scavenger hunt to acquaint the girls and their friends with the history of the White House.

I'm so jealous, that would be so much fun.

The girls were also surprised when at the end of their hunt they opened the door to the Jonas brothers. They got to hang out with the brothers and chat for a while.

That sounds a lot more fun than inaugural ball after inaugural ball doesn't it?

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Obama Retakes Oath, Just to Make Sure

Whit Honea — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:22:00 GMT

Perhaps you recall a bit of a flub during the official oath of President Barack Obama at the inauguration yesterday. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath for a second time today- just to make sure everything is nice and legit.

Roberts had a bit of the twisted tongue on Tuesday with the 35-word constitutionally required oath.

According to White House counsel Greg Craig, ""We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the President was sworn in appropriately yesterday. But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time."

This time there weren't millions of people or songs, prayers or poems. The eyes of the fashion world weren't on the First Family (don't worry, girls, your daddy is still the big cheese) and no speeches were made. The second oath was handled privately, just two men- Chief Justice Roberts and President Obama in the Map Room (with the candlestick, sorry I couldn't resist).

No Jonas Brothers were involved.

Get all of your Obama news here!

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Barack Obama and His First Five Minutes as President

trix — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:04:00 GMT

Today was the day that Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the Untied States. His family was up on the stage by his side, where they have been during his entire bid for the presidency.

Today was the culmination of that dream and he didn't forget who supported him the whole time.

This is how he spent his first few minutes after being sworn in; sweet embraces, kisses, and high fives. He showed the country that his family still comes first, his job as the president doesn't overshadow his role as husband and father. This to me means, he is going to think about how the changes or policies he makes will affect his wife and children.

That's never a bad thing.

Michelle Obama Was Resplendent in Gold

Memory Lane: A Peek Inside Obama's Photo Album

Ann Coulter or Michelle Obama- Who is Your Role Model?

Obama's Open Letter To Daughters Malia & Sasha

Barack is Anti-Baby, Who Knew?

Photos: Obama's Memorial To His Grandmother

Obama Family Makes The Move To The White House

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Spying on the Neighbors: 1-20-09

Whit Honea — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:32:00 GMT

Congratulations, Mr. President.

Mom-in-Chief (Knocked Up Celebs)

Everly's family (Celebrity Baby Blog)

Celebrities at the Inauguration (Jezebel)

Mommy Witherspoon (Gossip Girls)

Pitt on aging (Perez Hilton)

Cruise in Berlin (Just Jared)

Michelle Obama- Remembers Her Roots

trix — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:32:00 GMT

Michelle Obama practices what she preaches. She has access to designers that we have never heard of for herself and her daughters, yet she still chooses to use the designers she has used in the past. Michelle showed great restraint in choosing her and the girls outfits.

Malia and Sasha both wore J.Crew and let me tell you, the J. Crew company was thrilled to be chosen.

Michelle told Jay Leno that she likes J. Crew and likes to shop in their store online.

At least we know she's loyal and not easily swayed by here status or celebrity.

Michelle Obama Was Resplendent in Gold

Memory Lane: A Peek Inside Obama's Photo Album

Ann Coulter or Michelle Obama- Who is Your Role Model?

Obama's Open Letter To Daughters Malia & Sasha

Barack is Anti-Baby, Who Knew?

Photos: Obama's Memorial To His Grandmother

Obama Family Makes The Move To The White House

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The First Family Becomes The First Family

HerBadMother — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:23:00 GMT

And in so doing, makes history.

(So awesome that his wife and daughters stood with him. SO AWESOME, all of it.)

(See the video of the oath-taking HERE.)

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Michelle Obama Was Resplendent in Gold

trix — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:31:00 GMT

After two months of speculation we finally saw what Michelle Obama chose to wear to the inauguration.

While her husband Barack was sworn in as the new president, she shimmered in her dress of gold by designer Isabel Toledo.

It's nice to see she isn't driven by the fashion choices of others and follows her own path. This quality is something that she will pass on to her daughters.

Obama Girls Watch Their Dad Become The Next President Of The United States

Obama's Inauguration Speech and Oath - Text and Video

Memory Lane: A Peek Inside Obama's Photo Album

Ann Coulter or Michelle Obama- Who is Your Role Model?

Obama's Open Letter To Daughters Malia & Sasha

Barack is Anti-Baby, Who Knew?

Photos: Obama's Memorial To His Grandmother

Obama Family Makes The Move To The White House

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Obama's Inauguration Speech and Oath - Text and Video

Whit Honea — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:10:00 GMT

The United States has a new president today. President Barack Obama was sworn in just an hour ago. The following is video from the ceremony and the text from President Obama's speech.

"My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

Good luck, Mr. President. Now go get that puppy.