and now, first lady michelle obama and the ceo of toys for tots. the first lady

michelle obama politically, she is off the boards. it is almost like they would come through as a family values intact portrait. it has had an impression on voters. the jackie kennedy thing was just absolutely -- >> there was sort of a fork in the road for michelle obama on how she was going to go over, and she has done it in a very positive way. >> anybody would like this word, "genuine." in a world where everybody seems to be putting on airs, this is a genuine person. >> the things i was surprised we did not hear about was the clothes from the gap. >> it is funny the little factoids that come out. the not kissing the president of france -- i had no idea what she was talking about. >> whether it is internet or cable news, they see some of these things. >> little stories and little vignettes determine who we are. the other thing i find interesting was his backbone, because as you remember, we asked about his backbone in july, and there was a lot of uncertainty about his backbone. hear, while they did not use material, one putty and on

it was pretty encouraging. >> going back to michelle obama that everyone said policised. almost like she was support and everyone. >> other thoughts? what is the lead? >> i think you have to raise some doubts about the sequencing of the legislation. that is because of how dominant the economy is. they also said that there is no bill to stop this from ever happening again. at the end, someone said that if the jobs come that may be the health care will come. i think that they do the sequencing differently. of course, it is stimulus first. there has not been a real sustained effort to keep high up in the minds of voters what they're required to do with the economy. >> for you going to write about? >> this was pretty much a 50/50 audience. that is a humongous political asset. ronald reagan tried on that in the early 1980's. we have a long way to go in his presidency. >> there is always nancy pelosi, the shield. she is catching all the darts and bullets and half of them did not even know who centre reif was -- senator reif was. >> this has just shifted to nancy pelosi and cong

and now, first lady michelle obama and the ceo of toys for tots.he first lady thanked his staff who decorated the white

. >> please enjoy,, michelle obama and -- ladies and gentleman, michelle >> hello. good afternoon. welcome to the white house and happy holidays. thanks to all of you for joining us today as we preview how we will mark the holidays at the white house. like many years past, we have been planning this day since this summer. our starting point was a very simple idea, that we include as many people and as many places in as many ways as we can. we decided to do something different. we took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations and sent them to 60 local community groups and ask them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark, and send them back to us for display at the white house. today, thanks to the east wing and residence staff, and 92 volunteers who spent more than 3400 hours decorating over the last several days, we have ornaments hanging on the tree throughout the white house and ever were else that includes the statue of liberty, mount rushmore, the kennedy center space center, as well as davy crockett park in tennessee, pompeii's pillar, a

president barack obama joined by michelle obama at his side also touched on the tough economic year, as we recover from an extraordinary session. looking here at the president and first families looking head their christmas break. from georgia, go ahead. caller: i just wanted to say that i am praying for the troops. i will be grateful when the war is over and they could come home. i do not know anybody. i do not have many people over there. host: we are joined by a navy lieutenant from afghanistan. good to have you here. guest: thank you. merry christmas. host: tell us about your role in afghanistan, how long have been there, and your impressions so far. caller: my role is for an adviser to the medical group, working with statistics. general impressions is that they are very hard workers. a long way to go, but we're getting there. host: is that working with wounded soldiers and service members? guest: i work with the afghan national army, with civilian providers and logistics'. host: how long have you been in the navy, and what motivated you to join them or did you go to the academy?

what is it about michelle obama that you like or admire? >> first of all, i feel i can relate to her. i am a mom and i have two kids. to me she seems like a genuine person. she is intelligent, well- educated, well spoken. i think she puts her family first, which i've admired. i know it is hard to get caught up in the whole washington white house, but i feel stupid family purse. >> i agree with what sherrill said, very genuine. she does not forget the average, hard-working person. extremely intelligent. >> she reminds me a lot of jackie kennedy. >> does anybody else feel she reminds you of jackie kennedy? let me see the hands. more than half the group say she reminds you of jackie kennedy. and why? >> she is very refined, poised, eloquent, gracious. >> she just seems to carry off her position in the white house with grace and poise. she just seems to always have herself together. she does not seem to be flustered at anything. >> except the encounter in france, when they were supposed to kiss the cheek of the president of the country. she see

later, michelle obama at the dedication of the christmas tree decorated earlier this month. this week and newsmakers, our guest is director of the national institutes of health. he discusses stem cell research, genome technology, and that was agency might be affected by health care legislation. that is sunday morning at 10:00 eastern, and 6:00 eastern on c- span. beginning monday, a rare glimpse into america's highest court for unprecedented, on the record conversations with 10 supreme court justices about the court, their work, and the history of the iconic supreme court building. five days of interviews starting monday at 8:00 p.m., on c-span and get your own copy of the original documentary on dvd. it is part of the american icons collection, 83-disc set. it is one of the of many items available at c-span.org/store. yesterday, the senate passed its version of a health care bill with a 60-39 votes. here are some of the event in washington before, during, and after the boat beginning with floor debate on the bill. of government operations. mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the

president obama and first lady michelle obama mark the holiday season and discuss sacrifice he made byseas. they are followed by representative duncan hunter of california with the republican response. he also talks about american troops and republicans' priorities in the new year. it's about 10 minutes. >> hello, everyone, and merry christmas. as you and your families gather to celebrate the holidays, we want to take a moment to send greetings from our family, from me, from michelle, from malia, sasha, and from beau. >> this is our first christmas in the white house and we are so grateful for this extraordinary experience. not far from here in the blue room is the official white house christmas tree. it's an 18-foot tall douglas fir from west virginia and deck indicated are -- decorated with hundreds of ornaments from children all over the country. it symbolizes the blessings we're thankful for this holiday season. >> that's right. especially as we continue to recover from an extraordinary recession that still has so many americans hurting, parents without a job who struggled to put p

. >> letters to michele obama and this year's book awards. afterwards, new york times columnist gail collins talked about women's history. and best-selling author. malkin -- and best selling author michelle malkin. >> abraham lincoln, great american historians on the sixteenth president. from 56 scholars, journalists, and writers -- abraham lincoln, in hard cover of your favorite bookseller. available when digital audio downloads are sold. >> on his first day in office, president barack obama signed an executive order implementing rules on lobbyists access to the executive branch. now, james therbur who worked on lobbying reforms in 2006. this is part of a lecture series hosted by american university public affairs and advocacy institute. it is about an hour and five minutes. >> welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. as many of you know, i am jim therber. [inaudible] i want to talk about the politics of lobbying reform. the politics of lobbying reform really served heavy in 2005 when there were a series of controversies and problems. not only on

we recognize these with honors let the woman of courage award that first lady michelle obama and i presented we can give them access to public form but then this is listed their ideas and continue to press for the role of non- governmental organizations like the one we can enlist other allies like international labor unions. religious organizations are champion the rights of people live with aids in africa. we can help change the agents gain access to and share information through the internet and mobile phones and that they can communicate and organize with phones. thousands of protesters have broadcast their demands for rights denied creating a record for all of the world including the leaders of iran to see. i've established a special unit inside the state department to use technology for 21stxd centuy statecraft. in virtually every country that i visited i conducted town hall or a round table discussion groups outside of government to learn from them and to provide a platform for their forces, ideas, and opinions. in russia, i visited the independent british station to give the interview

also, letters to michelle obama gail collins talked about five decades of women's history with gwenn ichele morgan takes your calls sunday on the in depth. find the full schedule at booktv.org. >> last month, west virginia senator robert byrd became the longest serving congressional member in history. he came to washington in 1953 to serve in the u.s. house and six years later was elevated to the senate. senator byrd past the previous record held by democratic lawmaker carl hayden, who represented qarizadah in the house and senate from 1912 to 1969. -- represented arizona in the house and senate from 1912 to 1969. this is 10 minutes. virginia. mr. byrd: i thank the chair. thank you, pat. i thank senator reid, my leader. i thank senator mcconnell. and i thank my colleague and dear friend senator jay rockefeller and all senators, every one, for their good words and for this outstanding resolution. today, madam president, is. mormore than a commemoration ofe length of service of one u.s. senator. today also celebrates the great people of the great and mighty state of west virginia. who h

. >> please enjoy,, michelle obama and -- ladies and gentleman, michelle >> hello. good afternoon. welcome to the white house and happy holidays. thanks to all of you for joining us today as we preview how we will mark the holidays at the white house. like many years past, we have been planning this day since this summer. our starting point was a very simple idea, that we include as many people and as many places in as many ways as we can. we decided to do something different. we took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations and sent them to 60 local community groups and ask them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark, and send them back to us for display at the white house. today, thanks to the east wing and residence staff, and 92 volunteers who spent more than 3400 hours decorating over the last several days, we have ornaments hanging on the tree throughout the white house and ever were else that includes the statue of liberty, mount rushmore, the kennedy center space center, as well as davy crockett park in tennessee, pompeii's pillar, a

. >> you had a visit from first lady michelle obama? what were your impressions of her? >> she is a lovely lady. and very tall. i think even big bird had to look up to her. >> she did say that that was the coolest thing they had done since they moved into the white house. >> would you think the politicians here in washington can learn from sesame street? [applause] -- [laughter] >> that is all the questions i have time for today. thank you very much. goodbye, everybody. [applause] >> we are actually almost out of time. he has excellent timing. let me remind members of our future speakers. on december 14, karen mills, the administrator of the u.s. small business administration will discuss their efforts to boost the small business sector to drive economic recovery. she will not be bringing any for a monsters that we know of. on december 15, the hon. the army, chairman of freedom works will discuss the future of the republican party and the need to return to their roots of fiscal conservatism. on december 21, francis collins in the, the director of the nih will discuss med

. >> you had a visit from first lady michelle obama? what were your impressions of her? >> she is a lovely lady. and very tall. i think even big bird had to look up to her. >> she did say that that was the coolest thing they had done since they moved into the white house. >> would you think the politicians here in washington can learn from sesame street? [applause] -- [laughter] >> that is all the questions i have time for today. thank you very much. goodbye, everybody. [applause] >> we are actually almost out of time. he has excellent timing. let me remind members of our future speakers. on december 14, karen mills, the administrator of the u.s. small business administration will discuss their efforts to boost the small business sector to drive economic recovery. she will not be bringing any for a monsters that we know of. on december 15, the hon. the army, chairman of freedom works will discuss the future of the republican party and the need to return to their roots of fiscal conservatism. on december 21, francis collins in the, the director of the nih will discuss med

. >> you had a visit from first lady michelle obama? what were your impressions of her? >> she is a lovely lady. and very tall. i think even big bird had to look up to her. >> she did say that that was the coolest thing they had done since they moved into the white house. >> would you think the politicians here in washington can learn from sesame street? [applause] -- [laughter] >> that is all the questions i have time for today. thank you very much. goodbye, everybody. [applause] >> we are actually almost out of time. he has excellent timing. let me remind members of our future speakers. on december 14, karen mills, the administrator of the u.s. small business administration will discuss their efforts to boost the small business sector to drive economic recovery. she will not be bringing any for a monsters that we know of. on december 15, the hon. the army, chairman of freedom works will discuss the future of the republican party and the need to return to their roots of fiscal conservatism. on december 21, francis collins in the, the director of the nih will discuss med

washington metro section, large photograph of first lady michelle obama doing volunteer work for toyswashington. sure one on the democrats' line. caller: i am with howard dean. i think we ought to kill the bill and sent it back to the house and let them start the reconciliation process. i don't think the republicans have done anything but obstruct and tried to it samir -- tried is to smear and fear. let us get on and pass a single payer health care system. host: salt lake city. sure when, democrats line. -- shevwin caller: thank you for taking my call. i have listened to c-span for 25 years and it is wonderful. i am so glad to get on. this is only the second time. what i wanted to talk a little bit about, one gentleman before me said he could understand why the bill when it to be passed before christmas. but yesterday i listened to more than two hours of the senate fiasco, and the real reason they wanted done before christmas is because taxes on it starts on january 1, 2010. we do not see anything on it until 2014. that is why everyone is so upset, * shorthaired host: thank you for yo

president obama and first lady michelle obama mark the holiday season and discuss sacrifice he made by followed by representative duncan hunter of california with the republican response. he also talks about american troops and republicans' priorities in the new year. it's about 10 minutes. >> hello, everyone, and merry christmas. as you and your families gather to celebrate the holidays, we want to take a moment to send greetings from our family, from me, from michelle, from malia, sasha, and from beau. >> this is our first christmas in the white house and we are so grateful for this extraordinary experience. not far from here in the blue room is the official white house christmas tree. it's an 18-foot tall douglas fir from west virginia and deck indicated are -- decorated with hundreds of ornaments from children all over the country. it symbolizes the blessings we're thankful for this holiday season. >> that's right. especially as we continue to recover from an extraordinary recession that still has so many americans hurting, parents without a job who struggled to put presents under

he brought with him about 30 guests to the ceremony and his wife, michelle obama. the laureate is on his way up to the main entrance of the city hall, coming from the palace where they have been meeting with the king, the queen and the crown prince. 50-60 representatives of the american media are also here to cover this event to take place a short time after the announcement that 30,000 more troops will be sent to the afghanistan next year. barack obama is the fourth american president to receive the nobel peace prize. the first was theodore roosevelt in 19006 -- 1906 and jimmy carter in 2002. al gore, vice president in the clinton had ministration was awarded the prize in 2007. the laureate and mrs. obama are welcomed by the chairman of the nobel political -- the nobel committee. barack obama is going to receive -- there is the question diplomatic solutions in conflicts in afghanistan, iraq and iran and north korea. there is the situation in the middle east and the climate problems. all of this means that there is extra interest in the nobel lecture that president

. >> you had a visit from first lady michelle obama. what were your impressions of her? a lovely lady, and very tall i think even big bird had to look up to her. >> they did say that was the coolest thing they have done since they moved into the white house. >> what do you think the politicians on k street here in washington can learn from sesame street? [laughter] >> i think that is all the questions i have time for today. thank you very much. goodbye, everybody. [applause] >> ok, we are actually almost out of time, so grover had good timing there. on december 14, karen hills, the administrator of the u.s. small business administration will discuss efforts to drive economic recovery. she will not be bringing any burry monsters that we know of. december 15, the hon. dick armey will discuss the future of the republican party and the need to return to its roots in the fiscal conservatism. on december 21, francis collins, m.d., the director of the nih will discuss biomedical research. i would like to present both of our guests with the traditional and much coveted npc mug.

three hours withç michelle maln live at noon eastern on book tv part of a three-day new year's weekend starting friday. host: all this week on c-span a look at president obama'suld give himself, he said a b-plus. what would you give him? guest: i would agree. not an a-must binus but a b-plu. guest: if he went back to being professor obama he would give him an incomplete. he never turned in the exams. i am the whole quality of the first year has a sense of incompleteness that i find very interesting. however, i would give him a b-plus if he worked under the old rules which is all you needed is 51 votes. when i got here that is what it was. now you can't have a major piece of legislation without needing 60 votes. if he could have gotten by with 51 he would have had a brilliant year. host: ezra khraoeufrpb says it is time to reform the senate. guest: he does, and it is. and 60 votes as steve said we we got here, youç just worried abt a majority and you got a bill passed. if i had a problem with obama's approach to some of this is his turning offense all of this stuff to willy-nilly saying i want to do this, now you do t. i think there was guidance somewhere but