********HEADS UP BOG--POTUS is about to come on the JAY LENO SHOW.********

[MADem]

I usually watch Letterman, but I'm watching Leno to see BHO this evening.

[MADem]

1. He is apparently the ONLY guest on the show this evening. nt

[Just Saying]

2. Tuning in now.

Thanks!

[MADem]

3. Talking about NSA right now. Leno was lucky--this was a good "get." nt

[MADem]

4. Reducing reliance on contractors...!

Now he's talking about Russia...this is a very good interview.

[grantcart]

5. thanks MADem

[MADem]

6. Interesting comments about the Olympics--he basically said they had better not try anything.

But he didn't rule anything out. He came out strong for LGBT rights and the fact that they should not be intimidated or otherwise interfered with.

[sheshe2]

7. Thank you MADem!

Watching...

[MADem]

8. He's answering every question, and with good detail, too.

They're doing commercial breaks between, so it's not like a press conference where he's getting peppered, but the same number of questions are being answered. Whoever wrote the questions for Leno did a good job; he's asking them succinctly, and then getting out of the way. He's not bigfooting the guy or stepping on his responses.

[MADem]

9. The economy--wages and salaries; opportunities, and the income gap.

Stable housing. Infrastructure...

This is good stuff.

[global1]

10. He Has The Forum And The Audience - Both At The Studio And At Home - Instead Of Talking At Jay....

he should look right into the camera and say to the people that they should be on their elected officials in Washington and demand from the Congress that they should move on infrastructure and jobs.

This was the perfect opportunity for him to use that bully pulpit. He's missed an opportunity.

He should have said something like - the Congress (Repugs) are making this a vendetta about me - and this is not about me - it's about you. Demand from them that they serve you and stop the shenanigans.

[MADem]

11. Are you watching the same interview I am watching? This is SUPERB. It's a conversation,

not a lecture.

It's wonderful.

[Rstrstx]

14. Seconded

I thought he did great

[sheshe2]

15. No, he does not need a bully pulpit.

He missed no opportunity.

He spoke to the people. Honestly and directly. His points came across, clearly for those that listened.

As for...

He should have said something like - the Congress (Repugs) are making this a vendetta about me - and this is not about me - it's about you. Demand from them that they serve you and stop the shenanigans.

That would be whining, he has more dignity than that. The American people do too.

May I remind you that you are posting in the Barack Obama Group.

[global1]

28. Look - I Am A Big Fan Of This President Too....

He is a pleasure to listen to and I this interview with Jay was superb. What a complete 180 from Dubya that couldn't put a sentence together. I just wish that some times he would get tough and say what is on his mind. The Repugs have been against everything he does and stonewall everything he attempts to do.

I just felt this was an opportunity for him to talk directly to the people. Look into the camera and tell them that they have a responsibility as well - and that responsibility is to call their elected officials and demand that they work for the people or they won't be in Washington come 2014.

Now I realize this is the Barack Obama Group I'm speaking to. We are in his court and will agree with most everything he says or does. I just want him to move those people that aren't as ardent a supporter as we are.

I'm just being candid here - I think he missed an opportunity. No - its not whining. This guy won this last election handily. It's unfair to the people that voted for him to suffer - because the Repugs don't like him or are jealous of him - because he is so smart and so good. They don't have anyone in their Party that can hold a candle to him.

He spoke eloquently, carefully and in a very understandable manner to reach the people. I just wish for once that he get tough and fight fire with fire. The Repugs don't miss an opportunity to take shots at him. He needs to fire back.

They are already lining up to subvert Hillary in 2016. They want to dictate to the networks how the Repug debates will go in the run up to 2016. They are saying that if you don't play ball with us - will cut you out - to the networks. They even want to pick the moderators for the debates. You - Network - won't get to host a debate - if you are nice to Hillary.

They fight with such dirty tactics - denying people the right to vote. I just want the President to rally the People behind him and mobilize them to get the Repugs in the House off their asses and the Repugs in the Senate to stop blocking everything with a filibuster. It's time for the President to educate the American Electorate - with some Civics lessons.

Sorry if I ruffled some of your feathers here - but IMHO we got to get real.

[MADem]

30. Wrong venue for that kind of approach. Look, if it gets bad enough,

to the point where it's politically useful as well as likely to produce results, to 'harsh' on Congress, he can ask the three major networks for five to ten minutes. They'll move their commercials around and accommodate him, like they used to in the old days. Personally, I think the eight o'clock window pulls in the most viewers, though you have to be careful to not cut into Final Jeopardy--that pisses people off. So you grab the seven fifty nine to eight oh four or five window--people don't miss a thing. The cables WILL pick it up, and he can look into the camera and speak his mind. Johnson and Nixon did it a lot, to decent effect. Bush did it from his "ranch" aka "pig farm" to tell us that he was shitting on funding of stem cells. I think the President Behind The Desk At The Oval Office is a grand tactic, but it should be deployed rarely--either national emergencies, or "I'm mega-pissed and you should be too--AND we have a way to fix it." Right now, the GOP Congress can block any "fix" efforts. We need more Dems in the House--badly.

But this was a very nice, very easy, very personable interaction with Leno--it was Obama at his best. He hit EVERY point, with clear, quotable details, and he didn't back away or fluff off any of his responses. Home run.

[treestar]

35. If he were going to talk directly to people

then he could set that up.

It would not be polite to hijack a talk show. You're supposed to talk to the host of the talk show.

[Cha]

21. PBO did an excellent job being himself and speaking

from his heart.. not parroting someone else's thoughts.

Thank Goodness!

[millennialmax]

12. Was an excellent interview. I think he spoke on the NSA program with authority and honesty

but those that don't want to believe him will just accuse him of lying and keep letting Greenwald fan the flames of poutrage.

[MADem]

13. I thought it was a great conversation, and I agree with your take re: his NSA remarks. nt

[Cha]

16. that's right, MADem!

Pete Souza: Pres Obama and Jay Leno during a break between segments from tonight’s show

Patti LaBelle ✔ @MsPattiPatti

I had a great time with President @BarackObama and my old friend @JayLeno at The Tonight Show! Tune in to see us 2nite! XO!

Nancy Cooper ✔ @NancyCooperNYC

A must-read: Leno invu with Obama. Covered NSA, terror threats, #LGBT and Russia, Trayvon Martin. Truly first-rate: http://on.msnbc.com/1cHZYTD 6:34 PM - 6 Aug 2013
Obama on Leno: Surveillance, Russia’s gay crackdown, and Trayvon Ma... By Clare Kim @clarehkim

President Obama returned to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday for his sixth visit. He joked about Hillary--but spoke movingly about young African-Americans and the need to examine laws that... msnbc @msnbc

22 Retweets 10 favorites Reply

Welcome in the BOG, MAD

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/08/07/the-president-and-leno/

[MADem]

18. For anyone who missed it, here's a link to clips...

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/

[Cha]

22. thanks MAD! I don't a tv. :)

[sheshe2]

20. Does Pete Souza ever sleep?

He is everywhere Cha.

That man is going to go down in history for his photographs.

I only caught the last half hour. Excellent!

[Cha]

25. LOL, she.. Pete Souza sleeps when

Prez sleeps.. Best Photographer Ever! the rw have been complaining about him doing his job.. so you know he's Good!

I will watch it.. Twitterverse is liking it.. ;

AAmom @AVD911

The President is just too damn likeable. Great interview @jayleno #LenoAskObama

6:29 PM - 6 Aug 2013
12 Retweets 6 favorites

[sheshe2]

17. I missed some of it...

However, Thank you for the heads up.

That was an excellent interview MADem!

PBO in his usual calm way answered the questions and knocked it out of the park!

[MADem]

19. Linkage!

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/

[sheshe2]

23. Thank you MADem...

Will watch tomorrow after work.

BTW welcome to the BOG~

[url=http://postimg.org/image/5ibekkvzh/][img][/img][/url]

[MADem]

24. I come here a lot, I just don't post much!!!

But thanks for the greetings!!!

[sheshe2]

26. Well it's damn good to see you!

[Cha]

27. You're welcome..

mahalo to you for your thread.

[MADem]

29. I never watch Leno, but I made an exception for POTUS!

Glad I did!!!

[grantcart]

32. Thanks watching it now.

[Triana]

31. Any video of entire program instead of clips?

Guessing not.

[grantcart]

33. here it is

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/tuesday-august-6-2013/n39723/

[Triana]

34. Thank you! n/t