Thwip!

This is said to be President Obama's favorite photo from the White House photographer's selection of his favorites of 2012.  It's the child of a White House staffer at a pre-Halloween party. (I've edited it slightly to fit this page, but it's still too wide.  Click on it to see it larger.)

The previous post notes that people are finally beginning to hear what President Obama has been saying on the debt ceiling.  They might also note what he says on other topics.  There's been lots of debate on whether the fiscal cliff deal is a good one for the economy, the deficit, or politically.  But it was clear from what President Obama said about it that his priority was to make sure the middle class retained its tax cut, so that its vulnerable members are able to better their lives in an era where the rich got very much richer and everybody else fell back.  Similarly, when he appointed Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary, everybody shouted about everything except what President Obama said--that the troops and their families come first, during and after their service.  Only on gun violence were the President's words heard clearly, although he will probably have to repeat his focus on people--on children like the one in this picture--as the gun violence debate becomes more central.