Updated; President Obama lands in Sweden, first bilateral visit by a U.S. president in history; Links to LIVE worldwide TV coverage of President Obama's trip in Stockholm, watch the press conference at 8:30 Eastern; #obamainsweden, ‏@usembassysweden, #stockholm

Above, screenshot of SVT's website promoting their LIVE news coverage of President Obama's visit to Sweden, which can be seen here, worldwide, on their Special Report version of their news show Rapport with hosts Claes Elfsberg and Marianne Rundström until about 11:20 a.m. Eastern Wednesday morning:

1:30 p.m. Update: SVT has recorded this morning's events and has it as a 7 hour and 18 minute video that you can watch or skip ahead in to find something you find of interest: 
Extra Rapport: Obama besöker Sverige 10:00-17:20: Obama besöker Sverige - DIREKT. SVT följer USA:s president Barack Obamas besök i Stockholm. Gäster, samtal, bakgrund, analyser, pressträffar. Programledare: Claes Elfsberg och Marianne Rundström.
http://www.svtplay.se/video/1435951/extra-rapport-obama-besoker-sverige

This LIVE broadcast can also be viewed on mobile phones if you are so inclined.
SVT's mobile streaming is among the best in the world.

Above, screenshot of TV4's website promoting their LIVE news coverage, which they are promoting as "around the clock" and they do seem to be doing more interesting stuff from what I can see and can also be seen worldwide.
http://www.tv4.se/nyheterna/klipp/live-obamas-bes%C3%B6k-i-sverige-2433617

1:30 p.m. Update: TV4 is doing a great job today and as of this writing is still doing their LIVE coverage of the visit, but sometimes that consists of only streaming video of an exterior scene like the Grand Hotel with no sound until someone appears on screen to say something or or the cortege heads somewhere.
By the way, with their coverage, you can also see the TV commercials in Swedish and after awhile, you may find yourself having a sudden craving for Felix brand Tandoori meals -like me! 
http://www.lhw.com/hotel/Grand-Hotel-Stockholm-Stockholm-Sweden

I'm watching/listening to both of them, bouncing back and forth as I edit my promised post about some things that President Obama and most well-informed Americans don't know about Sweden -and should- but won't be hearing anything about from the dim-wits in the White House press corps.
That post should be online sometime today.

Reminder, Sweden is six hours ahead of the Eastern time zone in U.S. & Canada.

Schedule: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/sweden-g20-trip-2013


TV4 video of Air Force One landing at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, which is about 40 miles north of Stockholm.



U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski -Zbig's son, Mika's brother- and his wife Natalia
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalia-lopatniuk-brzezinski/still-trying-to-have-it-a_b_1713346.html
greets President Obama coming off the plane prior to his meeting the Swedish government dignitaries on the tarmac at Arlanda, including Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, below


TV4 video


TV4 video: Här passerar Obamas konvoj Upplands Väsby.
Presidential convoy from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the Grand Hotel in Stockholm down the E4.

As some of you know, per my once being part of an advance team for Walter Mondale, I was one of the passengers in one of the limousines in a Secret Service convoy from a private tarmac at Miami International Airport to the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach, where we were going to be staying as part of a campaign visit, and we received the full heavy police escort, of course.
Trust me, THAT is the only way to go!



TV4 reporter Ted Lundgren appearing on the Nyhetsmorgon program from the center of the security zone in and around the Grand Hotel, where policemen are patrolling and rooftop snipers are at the ready for security purposes
http://www.tv4play.se/program/nyhetsmorgon?video_id=2435597

Press conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern U.S. time, where he will likely start by saying something like what Ambassador Brzezinski said at his swearing-in, "Det är en stor glädje och ära, att se den svenska närvaron här idag."

U.S. Embassy in Sweden @usembassysweden 

https://twitter.com/usembassysweden

sweden.usembassy.gov

The latest head's up from Stockholm I've received in the mail is...
-----
From: Mynewsdesk 

Date: 2013/9/4
Subject: Stockholms stad: Trafikhinder på Hägerstensvägen

Stockholms stad Trafikhinder på Hägerstensvägen Stockholms stad - Sep 04, 2013 10:37 CEST Nu placerar Trafikkontoret tillbaka den höj- och sänkbara stolpe, så kallad pollare, som ska förhindra genomfartstrafik i rusningstid på Hägerstensvägen. Pollaren – på Hägerstensvägen, mellan Axelsberg och Örnsberg – kommer att hindra bilister från att använda Hägerstensvägen som genomfartsväg under vardagar klockan 7-9 samt 16-18. Syftet med avspärrningen är att skona de boende i området från rusningstrafiken. Kollektivtrafik och uttryckningsfordon undantas förbudet. Förbudet gäller redan idag men i och med de fysiska åtgärderna hoppas Trafikkontoret hindra de billister som ändå bryter mot förbudet. Pollaren installerades första gången för ett drygt år sedan då den ersatte en vägbom. Pollaren blev dock påkörd och har tillfälligt varit ur funktion under en period. Utöver att den nu har reparerats så har Trafikkontoret även låtit sätta upp en trafiksignal samt tydligare förbudsskyltning på platsen. – I och med dessa åtgärder hoppas vi att det blir en bättre efterlevnad och respekt för gällande förbud, säger Lotten Backström, trafikplanerare på Trafikkontoret. Pollaren och trafiksignalen är planerad att tas i bruk under vecka 37. Kontaktperson:  Lotten Backström, trafikplanerare, Trafikkontoret: Telefon: 08-508 26215 E-post: lotten.backstrom@stockholm.se Download the attached files PDF documents   Word document Related material Documents Karta pollare Hägerstensvägen Sep 04, 2013 10:37 CEST Mynewsdesk Newsroom   Update your network on Mynewsdesk

Tonight I'll be posting and sharing some 'common knowledge' and common sense about Sweden on the eve of President Obama becoming the first U.S. president to ever visit it for a bilateral meeting. Yes, you will get fascinating factoids and amusing anecdotes you will be NOT be seeing over the next few days on TV or online, when Obama sees Sverige and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt "Up-close and Personal" and later meets with other Nordic leaders; @sweden, #stockholm

Northern Lights have returned to Sweden, from Luleå last night pic.twitter.com/eMFXLPHK7p
— Sweden.se (@swedense) August 28, 2013

Needless to say: we love this view! (SK480 on final, runway 26 ARN) #sas #flysas #cockpitview #flightdeck pic.twitter.com/wzjefpPrkd
— SAS (@SAS) May 12, 2013

Final approach on runway 26, Stockholm Arlanda Airport. 

Välkommen till Sverige -Welcome to Sweden.

To give you some perspective on how far north Stockholm really is, the air miles from Washington, D.C. to Stockholm, about 4134, is less than 50 miles farther than a flight from Stockholm due south to the Equator.

Above, screenshot of early Monday's Aftonbladet online coverage on this week's trip.
Meanwhile, Dagens Nyheter has one of those great graphics they do, this time about the official limo, which always fascinates people no matter what country it is in:
http://www.dn.se/sthlm/grafik-sa-skyddas-obama-i-sverige/


SVT news video: Så skyddas Obama. 
This news segment about the president's protective detail, featuring comments by former Washington Post reporter and author Ron Kessler, ran during Monday night's evening news and is mostly in English.

On Tuesday night I will be uploading my blog post about some things that President Obama really ought to know about Sweden in advance of his flight to Stockholm on Wednesday, but which I'm pretty sure that he will not be briefed about by the State Dept., owing to certain cultural and myopic weaknesses.
But I've got it covered.

Not so much a Top Ten list, per se, since I'm not sure how many things will make the list, but don't be surprised to see some things mentioned here that you didn't know, or thought you knew about Sweden -but didn't.

But as just as a bit of a teaser, I'll remind you, again, that Sweden is NOT Switzerland.

(Switzerland is where American actor, social activist and jet-setter George Clooney chooses to live, on Lake Como, and Sweden is where the shining example of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, a man who made a huge difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people, in that he made it possible for them to actually stay alive, quite contrary of the wishes of the Nazis.
But in a sign that no good deed goes unpunished, he died in a Soviet prison for his heroic efforts, yet lives forever in the hearts of his countrymen.)

But Tre Kronor, the Swedish National Mens Hockey team did defeat Switzerland 1-0 in the IIHF Championships in May in the Gold Medal game played in Stockholm, which prompted lots of celebrating in the hours and days afterwards, including at Sergels Torg, one of my favorite places in all of Stockholm.

Awesome pic! RT @IIHFHockey Royal reception & a party with 20,000 fans. Sweden celebrated #IIHFWorlds gold winners. pic.twitter.com/uTXe67U8ha
— swedennewyork.com (@swedennewyork) May 21, 2013

Tre Kronor på Kungsträdgården, Stockholm; The public celebration ceremony the day after winning the 2013 World Ice Hockey Championship 

Samtidigt på Sergels Torg media.shootitlive.com/7mRMcKxjaD8zee…
— Marcus Jerräng (@blisk) May 19, 2013

Marcus Jerräng ‏@blisk: Samtidigt på Sergels Torg

I listened to the game LIVE online via Sveriges Radio despite my lack of knowledge of the words for many hockey terms in Sweden, and watched the game when it was finally televised -NOT LIVE- in the U.S., but rather late the next night on NBC Sports Network with no build-up, which sucked.


SVT news video: Early on Monday morning Foreign Ministry Chief of Protocol 
Caroline Vicini appeared on SVT's Gomorron program and spoke about what events would be taking place and ironing-out things logistically so everything is smooth sailing. 

Here's a copy of the email I received last week from the City of Stockholm:

Heavy traffic problems expected during President Obama's visit (Stockholms stad: Kraftiga trafikstörningar väntas i samband med president Obamas besök)

City of Stockholm

Heavy traffic problems expected during President Obama's visit Stockholm - August 29, 2013 11:25 EDT Following President Obama's visit to Stockholm on 4-5 September expected heavy traffic problems in many parts of the Stockholm area. In particular, the inner city and the main roads to and from the airport will be affected. Some parts of the city is completely closed to traffic. This applies primarily to the area around Nybrokajen, Harbour Street, Finland - Old Town, around the castle. All modes of transport are affected: automobile, public transportation; mainly bus, plane and to some extent also boating. Motorists urged to leave their cars at home and use public transport. Public transport travelers are recommended to first use of rail transport ie subway and / or train. All road users can expect delays. Those scheduled travel days to / from Stockholm and Arlanda should contact their tour operator for details of current departure times Current traffic information will be provided via Trafik Stockholm. Radio Stockholm and at the following websites: Current traffic Trafik Stockholm, www.trafiken.nu City of Stockholm, www.stockholm.se Transport Administration, www.trafikverket.se Police, www.polisen.se SL, www.sl.se Contact: Mats Freij, Traffic Telephone 076 1226160 mats.freij @ stockholm.se  Below is Police Dept.'s info page on changes to auto, bus, rail, bicycle and pedestrian traffic patterns related to the Obama visit. Long story short, they want people to avoid going into downtown area if they can avoid it, and even encourage people to work at home if possible. Because Stockholm is, of course, a series of many islands with connecting bridges and has an extensive subway system, the authorities will NOT allow any trains to run under areas where escorts are taking place, which means that train passengers, both local and regional, will be adversely affected. Translation -strong possibility that train passengers can and will be stuck on trains for quite some time. Just saying...  Så påverkas trafiken under Obama-besök http://www.polisen.se/Aktuellt/Nyheter/Stockholm/juli-sept/Sa-paverkas-trafiken-under-Obama-besok/

Video: Michelle Malkin hammers Marco Rubio over his duplicity, pandering and condescension this year in crafting the ill-advised Schumer-Rubio immigration bill that puts Amnesty first and Border Security and everything else second, in an effort to appease the GOP Establishment, agribusiness interests, Hispanic voters and the Mainstream Media. In doing so, she lambastes him in a way that no prominent person in Florida has been willing to do publicly, though Mickey Kaus has been doing what he can to inform & educate from The Left Coast; @michellemalkin, @kausmickey, @TwitchyTeam, #marcorubio, @powerlineUS

Thesharktank1 YouTube Channel video: Michelle Malkin Talks About Rubio's Immigration Position with blogger Javier Manjarres. Recorded at the Defending the American Dream Summit  in Orlando, Florida. Uploaded September 1, 2013. http://youtu.be/PDG-LAra9io

Video: Michelle Malkin hammers Marco Rubio over his duplicity, pandering and condescension this year in crafting the ill-advised Schumer-Rubio immigration bill that puts amnesty first and border security and everything else second, in an effort to appease the GOP Establishment, agribusiness interests, Hispanic voters and the Mainstream Media. In doing so, she lambastes him in a way that no prominent person in Florida has been willing to do publicly, though Mickey Kaus has been doing what he can to inform & educate from The Left Coast; @michellemalkin, @kausmickey, @TwitchyTeam, #marcorubio, @powerlineUS

And boom goes the dynamite! :) 
In my opinion, conservative writer, pundit and Twitchy head honcho Michelle Malkin's 100% right about everything she says in this video, which I saw early Sunday morning before going to sleep, when it then only had about 5 views.

It's funny -no, not really- that a relative outsider to Florida politics like her can so easily size-up this whole episode for what it really is and has been, but the supposedly better-informed (re Rubio) Florida press corps that has largely carried Rubio's luggage has avoided -even while finally starting to acknowledge some faults and mis-steps, NOT that they ever did during the policy debate, esp. in the pages of the Miami Herald, which censored any and all anti-amnesty points-of-view!

Something that regular readers of this blog have known from the very start as I've endeavored to point out one instance after another of the Florida press corps going out of their way to NOT see things that were contrary to their Editorial Board's pro-amnesty positions, or reporting on honest fact-based disagreements with Rubio.

By contrast to their soft, gentle and sycophantic touch, almost acting as a Rubio protective cordon, Michelle Malkin just walks up and pulls the Band-aid off without any warning!

It's almost like she's reading my mind -and has been reading my blog posts- and is applying just the right amount of honesty, anger and sarcasm to really make the point crystal clear. :)

TwitchyTeam  @TwitchyTeam, https://twitter.com/TwitchyTeam
http://twitchy.com/

-----
Mickey Kaus continues connecting-the-dots on Marco Rubio and the realities of Schumer-Rubio that the Mainstream Media and Beltway Dems like our own DWS are trying very hard not to reveal. 
Mickey wants everyone properly informed, MSM and Dems want everyone sleeping, sleeping, sleeping... like babies 

Conservative activists heckle Marco Rubio over immigration stance http://t.co/ksCRTBMXdx
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 31, 2013

.@marcorubio cratering in polls but raking it in on K Street #wagesofamnesty http://t.co/8rOW1af5s4
— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) August 28, 2013

I sent that odd Thomas B. Edsall piece in the NY Times from a month ago on Rubio and his latest K Street contributions to Mickey in LA on Tuesday and was pleased to see that he ran a few tweets on both of them. 
I'll have more original thoughts on Rubio's fall-from-grace soon on the blog.

http://dailycaller.com/author/mickeykaus/

Rubio Doubles Down into Disaster 
6:26 PM 06/17/2013  
http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/17/rubio-doubles-down-into-disaster/#

Mickey Kaus @kausmickey https://twitter.com/kausmickey www.kausfiles.com

Michelle Malkin  @michellemalkin https://twitter.com/michellemalkin
www.michellemalkin.com

See also:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2013/07/schumer-rubio-gives-pandering-a-bad-name.php
SCHUMER-RUBIO TAKES PANDERING TO A NEW LEVEL
PAUL MIRENGOFF
JULY 9, 2013 

#1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers, defending NCAA Mens Soccer Champs, host #9 UCLA Bruins on the BigTenNetwork today at 2 p.m.; @IUMensSoccer, #Hoosiers, #IUMS, @HoosierArmy,@JBushue17, @BTN_Indiana, #FillTheBill

RT @iuaatricia: #FillTheBill with No. 1-ranked @IUMensSoccer this weekend! Going for new attendance record! http://t.co/LCG8oQSrCI
— IU Alumni Assoc. (@IUAA) August 30, 2013

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I never get tired of seeing this. #3MoreDays #FillTheBill pic.twitter.com/uOYEXHJ79D
— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IUMensSoccer) August 27, 2013

I never get tired of seeing this -I agree!
Or this...

CHAMPIONS!!!! pic.twitter.com/r0kqQ4EC
— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IUMensSoccer) December 9, 2012

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Don't forget @HoosierArmy free food for the first 150 starting 1 hr before the IU game AND free HA shirts for the first 500 tomorrow!
— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IUMensSoccer) September 1, 2013

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We know you are ready to go, but just to remind you again...Let's #FillTheBill! Tomorrow at 2pm. Get there early. pic.twitter.com/nCkHhcL7N2
— IU Hoosier Army (@HoosierArmy) August 31, 2013

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ND and UCLA are warming up. We are about ready to kick off the 2013 season! pic.twitter.com/7HLHfmt9De
— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IUMensSoccer) August 30, 2013

My teacher just told us he's been sneaking meat into his vegan next door neighbors food for years "they aren't as vegan as they think"
— Jacob Bushue (@JBushue17) August 28, 2013

When you are stuck in a motionless car in the middle of the street you just gotta chalk that one up in the L column & accept noone likes you
— Jacob Bushue (@JBushue17) August 27, 2013

Ran out of gas in the middle of the street... Bros came and helped me which was nice... Then they pantsed me... Which wasn't very nice
— Jacob Bushue (@JBushue17) August 27, 2013

For @IUMensSoccer to lose their B1G wins lead, @PennStateMSOC would have go undefeated for 5.5 straight seasons, while IU lost all of theirs
— IU Hoosier Army (@HoosierArmy) August 21, 2013

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My last three blog posts on the Soccer Hoosier squad were these posts:

December 10, 2012 

The #8thStar fell in Alabama! Hoosiers’ Quest For Eight is Mission Accomplished! Hoosier goalie Luis Soffner pitches third shut-out in a row in leading Hoosiers to 1-0 win over Georgetown to earn their 8th NCAA soccer title; Jordan Hulls shows Hoosier Pride!; #Q48, #8thSTAR, @JordanHulls1

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-8thstar-fell-in-alabama-hoosiers.html

December 9, 2012 

Quest for 8: IU's Soccer Hoosiers battle Georgetown today at 2 p.m. Eastern for 8th NCAA Mens Soccer title; @IUMensSoccer, ‏@HoosierArmy, @KirkwoodBar in Chicago

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/quest-for-8-ius-soccer-hoosiers-battle.html

December 7, 2012

IU's Soccer Hoosiers face Creighton in NCAA College Cup 2nd Semifinal at 7:30 p.m. tonight on ESPNU for record 18th College Cup appearance; Georgetown plays Maryland in opener at 5 p.m.

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/ius-soccer-hoosiers-face-creighton-in.html

Official IU Soccer team web page:
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-soccer/ind-m-soccer-body.html

Big Ten Network @BigTenNetwork  https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork
@BTN_Indiana  https://twitter.com/BTN_Indiana
Indiana Athletics @OurIndiana  https://twitter.com/OurIndiana
http://www.idsnews.com/blogs/hoosierhype/

Calling all #IUFH Alumni! Be sure to register for Alumni Weekend (Sept 13-15) by Sept. 2! #GoHoosiers pic.twitter.com/Rf6U0ghKnI
— Indiana Field Hockey (@IUFieldHockey) August 28, 2013

Syria: Plain and True, Fact and Fantasy, Past and Present, but ever since it's artificial creation by the French and the British, it's always been an artificial 'Line in the Sand'. For President Obama, though, it's now 'a red line' in the sand

"This is caricature knee-jerk leftism, where everything is about the United States. The narcissism boggles the mind." http://t.co/VXoQs1bJ1p
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 30, 2013

Awesome Sean Lee @humanprovince! "An open letter on Syria to Western narcissists."

http://humanprovince.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/an-open-letter-on-syria-to-western-narcissists/">http://humanprovince.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/an-open-letter-on-syria-to-western-narcissists/</a>

interesting that in USA, intervention can only be justified if it is NOT in our economic, political interests
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) August 30, 2013

Russia/USSR created Syria's chemical arsenal.Maybe Putin should take responsibility for dismantling? http://t.co/xXbUIXre0C
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) August 30, 2013

Basic facts about Syria and its history http://t.co/V0rV2RaIEr
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 30, 2013

Syrian extremists in the opposition fear US strike http://t.co/71yu6RM2Nb
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 30, 2013

Mia Farrow slams 'British bystanders' over Parliament's Syria vote http://t.co/fsmqOrg8rt
— TwitchyTeam (@TwitchyTeam) August 30, 2013

Vogue's fawning profile of the Assads from last year, "A Rose in the Desert" - http://t.co/c3BhNDeS8d
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 29, 2013

The #Vietnam syndrome is officially dead. It has been replaced by the #Iraq syndrome, with serious policy implications at home and abroad.
— Philip J. Crowley (@PJCrowley) August 29, 2013

Ben Stein on bombing #Syria: Oh, great. Destroy #Assad so that we can give #AlQaeda chemical weapons. http://t.co/q97OA0ICeU
— American Spectator (@AmSpec) August 29, 2013

RT @TheGattoniCelli: Me for @AmSpec: Sen Obama on Syria, Circa 2007 | @NJC_YAF http://t.co/rKxuc12Qct
— American Spectator (@AmSpec) August 29, 2013

Stop dithering on Syria, Obama! http://t.co/NrNx8qxNb6 pic.twitter.com/C21AafLxgS
— New York Post (@nypost) August 29, 2013

Today's UK vote on Syria shows that the ghosts of Iraq still linger for Brits in a way they don't for many Americans. http://t.co/O387MsCn4B
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 29, 2013

Editorial Board: President Obama should consult Congress before striking Syria http://t.co/awuabcblon
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 29, 2013

Russia ramping up full scale disinformation campaign? http://t.co/jEp144ZrOc
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) August 29, 2013

Today, legislative bodies of 2 of closest allies engaged in emergency meetings on Syria. In DC crickets are chirping http://t.co/PImndzAiQy
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) August 29, 2013

Unacceptable: pic.twitter.com/woN4vSjEpE
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) August 29, 2013

George Will: Obama is talking America into a war http://t.co/VuFiIZDgtA
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 29, 2013

Media drawing their own red line on Syria http://t.co/6rdVJyCQYs
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) August 28, 2013

When to strike: Tense decisions for #Obama on #Syria (from @AP) http://t.co/jiN7Dx6FPe
— Bassem Mroue (@bmroue) August 28, 2013

Dear @TheBigPharaoh, alt. take: understanding USA from the Middle East. Much simpler! @Max_Fisher @yavuzbaydar pic.twitter.com/LY4UB4de3l
— efe kerem sozeri (@efekerem) August 28, 2013

Interactive map of nonviolence in the Syrian uprising http://t.co/2ZDL8dUAqn #Syria_nonviolence_map
— Rani Molla (@ranimolla) August 28, 2013

Photo: PM chairs NSC meeting, it agreed use of #chemicalweapons by Assad was unacceptable & world should not stand by pic.twitter.com/bFxGWWFelo
— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) August 28, 2013

PM on #Syria: Any response must be legal, proportionate and specifically to deter the use of chemical weapons.
— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) August 27, 2013

The one map that shows why Syria is so complicated http://t.co/HfCLEeO4vG
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 27, 2013

How Russia envisions this whole thing going down, apparently. #Syria (via @kolyandr) pic.twitter.com/bEIxt1KpmD
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) August 27, 2013

The one video from Syria’s alleged chemical weapons attack that everyone should watch http://t.co/GpgOM0TXmw
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 26, 2013

New poll: Syria intervention even less popular than Congress http://t.co/x0CMXBtqBt
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 26, 2013

The Middle East, explained in one (sort of terrifying) chart: http://t.co/7zLj7qtA4M
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) August 26, 2013

31% Favor More Military Help to Syrian Rebels If Chemical Weapons Charges Are True... http://t.co/ANu1hGTHOt #Syria #chemicalweapons
— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) August 26, 2013

Dear Europe: No, it wasn't your imagination. In the year 2013, the only current African-American member of the 100-member U.S. Senate was NOT invited to the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. It wasn't an oversight, it was intentional by the event organizers. And some African-American members of the U.S. news media are quick to say they're happy about that decision. Really! When Obama arrives in Sweden soon, if you see some of these "journalists," like DeWayne Wickham, you might want to ask them about that

Screenshot of The Drudge Report of 2013-08-29 at 1:45 a.m.

Dear Europe: 

No, it wasn't your imagination. 
In the year 2013, the only current African-American member of the 100-member U.S. Senate was NOT invited to the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. 
It wasn't an oversight, it was intentional by the event organizers. 
And some African-American members of the U.S. news media are quick to say they're happy about that decision. Really! 
When Obama arrives in Sweden soon, if you see some of these "journalists," like DeWayne Wickham, you might want to ask them about that.

This was our front page after the #MarchonWashington in 1963 http://t.co/tYG67jHIYt pic.twitter.com/DkaCvTNWsW
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 24, 2013

Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog
Where Was Senator Scott?
by David W. Almasi
August 28, 2013 at 10:12 PM

This morning, the Project 21 office received an e-mail asking for the organization’s comment on the fact that Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush would not be attending today’s event to mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Obviously, the person asking for the comment assumed it a slight among the highest order of racism that neither living Republican president would be there while Democrats Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were there with the current Commander-in-Chief.

Read the rest of the post at:
http://www.conservativeblog.org/amyridenour/2013/8/28/where-was-senator-scott.html

Nobody is suggesting that South Carolina's junior U.S. Senator Tim Scott should've been speaking at the ceremony. 
Nobody -not even his supporters.
But why wasn't he even invited?

Here's what all honest and smart people I know inherently know, regardless of ideology.

If this had been a scene from a documentary film being directed by any number of the top dozen or so American film directors of the past 50 years, say Steven Spielberg or Sydney Pollack, they'd have figured out a way to not only shoot it on a day when it didn't rain, they'd have figured out a powerful way to end the film by showing via quick succession of shots of the assembled crowd the many elected Black leaders that make up American society, and show that it was many people, familiar and unfamiliar who benefitted from Dr. King's words.
Not just Barack Obama.
You know, inclusive, not exclusive.
Unlike the event organizers' way of doing things.

Lest anyone forget March on Washington 50th anniv is Al Sharpton production, Sharpton is introduced for keynote as 'the voice of this era'..
— Byron York (@ByronYork) August 24, 2013

CNN Guest: Why Should ‘Appointed’ Sen. Tim Scott Have Been Invited to MLK Anniversary?
by Noah Rothman, 5:13 pm, August 28th, 2013
Video at:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnn-guest-why-should-appointed-sen-tim-scott-have-been-invited-to-mlk-anniversary/

Mini-History lesson for Today: Something to keep in mind as you watch this video excerpt.

In case some of you longtime readers of the blog have forgotten, or, you are one of the newer readers to the the blog who never knew in the first place, I was one of Bill Clinton's first supporters in Northern Virginia in early 1991, though to be honest, I'd been waiting since 1988 for him to run. 

1992 Bill Clinton for President buttons from my collection

(c) 2013 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved

I actually thought long-and-hard about running to be a DNC delegate to the 1992 Convention in Los Angeles from my Congressional District, then as now represented by pugnacious Jim Moran. In fact, in early 1991, I was the first person in the whole state to ask the Virginia Democratic Party down in Richmond for the information and forms I needed to file and run as a delegate. (They didn't have them yet.)

Because I'm me and have my personality, interests and background, and was blessed to have as my best friend in all of the world when I lived in the Washington, D.C. area in the 1990's, a wonderful woman was not only from the same small town in Arkansas that Bill Clinton was born in, Hope, a woman whose own mother had grown-up across the street from him before he and his mother moved him down to Hot Springs with her parents while she was out-of-state studying nursing -my friend had a framed photo of herself while in high school and then-Governor Clinton on her desk at the National Press Building two blocks from The White House, where she worked as a producer and sometimes on-air reporter and was a member of the White House press corps- there is almost nothing about Bill Clinton pre-1997 that I don't know, haven't heard and then heard repeated as well.

My "license" to talk about Arkansas -which I first saw in 1965. That is, my Arkansas key chain 'license' is courtesy of Shannon, my thoughtful, beautiful, brainy, beguiling, globe-trotting and multi-lingual friend. (And Asian foreign policy expert, too!)

So, that said, since many of you might not know it, when Clinton worked on Capitol Hill as an intern, he worked in the office of one of the most-powerful senators in the country, especially on foreign policy: Arkansas Sen. J. William Fulbright. 
(Correct, the Fullbright of the Fulbright Program.)
Another thing they had in common besides their great love of Arkansas was that like Clinton, Fulbright was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford.

But whatever else he was besides being a strong voice for an American foreign policy that has a strong multi-lateral approach, Senator Fulbright, being from Arkansas and having the background he had, was also an ardent segregationist.
No, being a Rhodes Scholar didn't prevent him from voting against the 1964 Voting Rights Act, as did a powerful senator from neighboring Tennessee -Al Gore's father, Al Gore, Sr.

(Blog historical nugget: My family moved from San Antonio where I and a younger sister were born, to Memphis on Easter Weekend in 1965. We left in 1968 for Miami just months after Dr. King was assassinated there while supporting striking city sanitation workers. I was there for all the rioting. Saw the Army tanks come rolling down the street from the armory towards downtown. Not that most people appearing regularly on TV today could even tell you who Dr. King was in Memphis to see unless a show producer whispered it into their hidden earpiece. But history matters!)     

The Voting Rights Act of 1964 only passed because of the votes and influence of Northern Republicans in Congress, and among the Black Republican voters in New York who championed it was someone whom you may've heard of: Jackie Robinson.
Did you know that Jackie Robinson was a Republican?

I'm guessing not.
Yes, given the generally sorry state of political discourse today, and the embarrassing lack of knowledge about basic American history among many people who regularly appear on U.S. TV, to say nothing of the Mainstream Media's well-known bias for liberal orthodoxy and hiring policies, there are a lot of otherwise smart people who would prefer that you not learn the true history that happened, but rather the history that best supports their political narrative and view of the world.
But as we know, facts are funny.
Sometimes they get in the way.

That's why in this particular case, with smug and history-deficient USA Today columnist DeWayne Wickham in the video above, it's great that he was given the opportunity to publicly show that when it comes to all sorts of common knowledge, he's someone who doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground -and certainly shouldn't be lecturing anyone on anything.
He's just further proof of the powerful role of the Peter Principle in American journalism.

And see, now you know that he's a horse's ass, so that mystery is solved and the next time you see him on TV, you'll know enough to change the channel.
The worst part of all is not his embarrassing performance, and showing his ignorance, but that by CNN putting someone of his ilk on the air, it prevented someone we've never heard of with something original and insightful from appearing and sharing their insight.
I'd love to play him in Jeopardy!!!

-----
The State (Columbia, South Carolina)
A Tim Scott-Rick Wade U.S. Senate race would be historic
Published: August 29, 2013
TIM DOMINICK/TDOMINICK@THESTATE.

By Warren Bolton — Associate Editor
http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/29/2947208/bolton-a-tim-scott-rick-wade-us.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._William_Fulbright

End-of-the-Summer BSO Blues continue under Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. Ethical, financial and management problems -and questions about his hiring so many high-priced political hires- hover over Sheriff Israel almost 10 months after his election, and are examined, separately, by Broward Beat's Buddy Nevins and Local10's Bob Norman; FL-101 Rep. Shevrin Jones, one of Israel's political hires, will be at Hollywood City Hall tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss crime; controversial Ben Gamla Hebrew Charter School will also be on tap tonight

Local10 News video: BSO finance director defends work hours 
Local10 investigative reporter Bob Norman: Pembroke Pines Commissioner Angelo Castillo is one of many of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel's hires who come from the world of politics.
Published On: Aug 26 2013 11:41:34 PM EDT, Updated On: Aug 27 2013 10:38:45 AM EDT
Related article and viewer comments at: 
http://www.local10.com/news/bso-finance-director-defends-work-hours/-/1717324/21660742/-/46em76z/-/index.html

Miami Herald blasts Sheriff Israel for ethical laps http://t.co/779hi8cM1r
— Buddy Nevins (@Buddynevins) August 27, 2013

Miami Herald Editorial Board
Reality check for Sheriff Israel  
OUR OPINION: Accomplishments overshadowed by perception of slip-shod ethics http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/26/3587435/reality-check-for-sheriff-israel.html

Broward sheriff's have amnesia about money. Fred Grimm comments: http://t.co/SqY3VENDyu
— Buddy Nevins (@Buddynevins) August 27, 2013

Sheriff Israel has more trouble: Two cities exploring kicking deputies out and having other police. http://t.co/JdNYOge3uU
— Buddy Nevins (@Buddynevins) August 26, 2013

More questions about Sheriff Israel! http://t.co/ND47mU0vRn
— Buddy Nevins (@Buddynevins) August 23, 2013

One of the political hires referenced in the Bob Norman video above is state House Rep. Shevrin Jones, FL-101, who has been the subject of some degree of controversy himself. 

My blog post of August 20, 2013 details what in my opinion and the opinion of many other concerned and well-informed Hallandale Beach residents has been Jones' utter invisibility over the past 18 months -along with state Sen. Eleanor Sobel and FL-100 state Rep. Joe Gibbons- on an issue of great importance to HB citizens and business owners: the financial condition of the Hallandale Beach CRA and the need for a THOROUGH and INDEPENDENT audit of it after many, many years of waste and crony capitalism, which was labeled "gross mismanagement" by the Broward Inspector General's office.
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/complete-lack-of-concern-shown-by.html

This August 2nd post by Buddy Nevins discusses Jones' questionable ethical conduct, cozy relationship with lobbyists and his very sloppy way of comporting himself publicly: 

Broward State Rep. living large on his campaign money http://t.co/oXuKYX3ePo
— Buddy Nevins (@Buddynevins) August 2, 2013

Jones will be at tonight's Town Hall meeting at Hollywood City Hall at 7 p.m., which most people will be attending because of the controversial Ben Gamla Hebrew Charter School application.

But Jones will be there for... well, rather than me explain it, here's what the city's official press release said last Friday:

Hollywood Commissioner Peter Hernandez to Host Town Hall Meeting with Special Guest Speaker State Representative Shevrin Jones 
Public Safety, Infrastructure Improvements and Proposed Doral Ben-Gamla Charter School on Agenda 

The District 2 Town Hall Meeting will provide residents an opportunity to get information and discuss issues relating to public safety, code compliance, utility infrastructure improvements and the proposed Doral Ben-Gamla Charter School. The meeting will be held Wednesday, August 28 at 7 p.m. at Hollywood City Hall, Commission Chambers (Room 219), 2600 Hollywood Boulevard. State Representative Jones will provide an update on his plans for a small business summit in October, crime prevention initiatives and his legislative agenda. 

Hollywood’s District 2 generally runs from Pembroke Road to Stirling Road between Dixie Highway to the east and the C-10 canal to the west, north of Sheridan Street, from N. Federal Highway on the east to 24th Avenue on the west, between Hollywood Boulevard and Sheridan Street and from S. Federal Highway to the east to I-95 to the west, south of Hollywood Boulevard. Neighborhoods in District 2 include Liberia, Highland Gardens, Parkside, Royal Poinciana and many others. 

For more information on this meeting, please contact the Office of the Mayor and Commission at 954.921.3321 


In light of all the above information, it's hard not to think from the outside that at least part of what might be involved with Jones tonight is an attempt to engage in some public relations machinations, even though Hollywood has its own Police Dept., since everyone in Broward County pays for the Broward Sheriff's Office, and there will be few people in attendance tonight who will not have heard about all or most of the above by the time they walk thru the City Commission Chambers on the second floor.

I'll be there -carefully observing and chronicling the action to report back here soon.