September 24th, 2012
08:30 PM ET
Obama vs. Bush, battle of the bilatsNew York (CNN) - President Barack Obama's decision not hold any bilateral meetings with world leaders while in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly is a departure from the last incumbent president to run for re-election. In 2004, while in an election fight with Sen. John Kerry, President George W. Bush held meetings with leaders from Iraq, Japan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. White House press secretary Jay Carney defended the president on Monday, saying he has held "extensive consultations with world leaders, including the leaders of Egypt, Israel, Yemen, Turkey, Libya." "Those consultations will continue, not just with leaders in the region, but with leaders around the world. It is part of the job of being president that that be the case, and he will certainly encounter many leaders tonight in New York as well as tomorrow," Carney said. By avoiding meetings with world leaders the president sidesteps any inadvertent news-making moments. And if Obama were to take a meeting with one ally, that would undoubtedly open the door to other requests. Therefore the president has left the one-on-ones to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will meet with the leaders from Pakistan, Libya, Afghanistan and Egypt among others. 
September 24th, 2012
03:11 PM ET
From here to Mars When you’re President of the United States your autograph can turn up anywhere. Even on Mars. Recently the camera attached to the Mars rover Curiosity, usually tasked with taking photos of dirt and rocks, sent back a shot of President Obama’s signature. The signature was at the top of an anodized aluminum plaque bolted to the most recent Mars rover Curiosity. Other signatures also on the plaque, Vice President Joe Biden and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Similar plaques with signatures of U.S. officials were attached to the lander platforms for NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity rovers. 
September 24th, 2012
08:30 AM ET
Monday at the White HousePresident Obama will head to New York city after lunch today for the annual United Nations General Assembly. While there this afternoon he and his wife will tape an appearance on "The View". Tomorrow Obama will have two major speeches, one to the U.N. and one to the Clinton Global initiative. full schedule after the jump |
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