Obama's Canada Trip (SLIDESHOW)

Barack Obama headed abroad for the first time as president Thursday with a brief trip up north to visit our neighbors in Canada. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other leaders in Ottawa. The two countries' trade relationship--Canada is America's largest trading partner--is expected to be the main topic of conversation.

Some more details from the AP:

The president touched down late morning in Ottawa, heading into a day of meetings on touchy topics: the crashing economy, trade fears and the troubling state of Afghanistan.

Obama was greeted off Air Force One by Governor General Michaelle Jean, who represents Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as head of state in a mostly ceremonial role. A platoon of red-coated Mounties lined a path on the icy tarmac as Obama and Jean headed indoors for a brief meeting at the airport.[...]

Ottawa was awash in buzz about hosting the new president; supporters rolled in by the busload in hopes of a glimpse. Two-thirds of Canadians wanted Obama elected, a Gallup Poll found in October. Even more said the choice of the U.S. president affected their own nation.

While many commentators will inevitably be scrutinizing the geopolitical implications of Obama's trip, the AP has taken to focusing on a different aspect of Obama's approach to the presidency: his Marine One walk.

George W. Bush walked with a manifestly brisk stride whenever he got on Marine One for the short helicopter ride to nearby Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. So, too, does Obama. But the new president at times also projects a less-formal image.

Obama smiled and waved as he walked across crossed the South Lawn under a light rain Thursday morning for his trip to Canada. He wore no raincoat despite the conditions.

Should the President really avoid wearing a raincoat in the rain? Is this too 'less-formal'?

CHECK OUT A SLIDESHOW of Obama's first foreign trip:

• • • • • • • • • •

Obama signs the guest book upon arrival on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Comments

[MadeinAmericaProud]

The American press have become a bunch of lazy, good- for-nothing losers. We have an over load of these people in this career field just as we do lawyers. Earning a living producing the worst propaganda, truly not worth giving a cursory view in any form.

The goodness the internet-web has a remote control, that is the American people. they are providing instant messages letting the press know, I read your crap, keep this up you won't have me for the long term.

There are so many things the press can earn a living producing a more positive message in America.If we keep this negative crap going on many none petty issues. I know we are all dumb, but not that dumb, all of us are not enjoying reading this petty negative carp these people call Op-Eds. Which is only their opinions. I have a positives mindset, I am not enjoying all this negative moose poop these site are trying to sell us thinking We The People love negative news, therefore keep it up.

I didn't waste my money buying cable/dish TV. If the internet don't improve with more positive message for uplift American, I certainly know how to find other interest.

[Madhyamika]

There is a reason why people everywhere love President Obama. He is a people person!

On TV one sees Obama led Canada's Prime Minister out of the Parliament building on arrival to wave to the crowds. They have been waiting for a glimpse of him in the cold for hours. That warmed up the heart.

And stopping at the market is a super move. Worth more than a thousand speeches to the politicians at the parliamentary building.

We need more community organizers to run for elected office. These are people who work with struggling citizens and understand their plights.

Three cheers to President Obama.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

I love your comments 1000%

President Onama is truly a Commander in Chief.

Being a female veteran, I noticed on the following pictures.

The 6th, 7th, and 8th pictures all have military personnel out in the cold rain without coats or umbrellas .

All my years as an officer, Leader lead best by physical example. Not cheap words written in a policy, rule or regulation how to lead.

This President would be trash more by the same sorry @$$ sitting at their desks taking cheap shots how the President walks to and from an airplane. Why don't they rally around the troop standing in the rain having to traditionally slaute an airplane in the rain, that policy the Pentagon needs to change.

These former Presidents had large ego, when they came up with that policy. It should not be necessary to have junior military personnel to be in harsh weather to include the unknown soldiers tomb. We Americans give more respect to the unknown soldier tomb than we give to recent personnel coming back from a current war in pine boxes being unloaded from C-5 had rice and beans from china.

[SonnyListon]

Too bad he had to meet with our "less personality than a piece of cardboard" Prime Minister.

[Canuck27]

This is so unfair, we only get him for six hours. On the other hand I don't know if I could stand six hours with Harper. Listen America how about letting us have Michelle for a couple of years as our Prime Minister eh?

[wanttruth]

Great pictures. Go Canada! Go President Obama!

[themodernleader]

WestCosatSteve. Thank you for your flattery. I write from the recognition that words are nothing more than to make sense out of otherwise meaningless behavior. My their nature, words are simply an exaggeration of reality. I call things as I see them from a varied background of experiencing and learning. I am a student of Abe Lincoln and follow his dictum to "continue to study and learn...." And I write for any person who has an interest in the present and future of our nation and especially for my cherished bloggers who stimulate, cheer and seldon disappoint.
If I were of the cloth, I would pray for the success of our articulate President every hour of every day. I do appreciate his promise and promises. I am chagrined by his decisions that appear to reenforce our direction to aristocracy and ruin.

[Snerdgronk]

What was most impressive, is Barack didn't refer to our Canadian leader as Prime Minister Poutine ... anything more than that is all 'gravy' as it were.

Barack actually was up on and conversant with Canadian, and USA - Canadian issues. What a hopeful event, to have rationality, competence and knowledge return to the US political stage. He was aware of the Canadian combat role in and around Kandahar, and knew that 108 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan

By referring to environment and labour standards as playing a part in Trade, it seemed to me that he gets the idea of globalization without the limited co(R)po(R)ate ideology and rush to the bottom.

All in all ...THANK YOU AMERICA

Snerd

[toypiano]

Hi Snerd. It's still hard to believe there is a country that doesn't completely and totally hate us after Bush. Thank you, Canada. Things are looking up!

[brighterlight]

I have such pride in our country now that his is our President. It just seems totally right that he represents America to the world. Thank you Mr. Obama.

[Canuknotusa]

He represents the United States.

[daisydukes]

I am working on a short contract here in Canada and I tell ya the excitement of President Obama was really loud. The radio stations and Television presenters when gagga for the Prez. When He touched down in Ottawa radio and televsion announced where the best sighting would be to get a glimpse of Prez O. Once he was done at the airport and on his way to Parliament house, TV journalist were waiting for the motorcade to tell the people when he was halfway there. Another bunch of radio and tv journalists were waiting at Parliamant house. Everybody was told that the Prez will not make an appearance but true to his "people's person" nature, after he greeted the canadian president, he simply told him to go outside with him. This is something the canadian president never does (go to the crowds and wave to the people, in fact the poor thing looked very awkward). Even the politicians on both sides of the isle were giddy when they spoke about meeting Prez O. It was subzero temperature but the crowds kept on swelling as they waited and when the prez stepped out, the cheer was deafening. I was bursting with pride for our Prez (then rushed off late to the office).

[Snerdgronk]

"... Once he was done at the airport and on his way to Parliament house ... "

Yes their Parliament house is on a hill. I've even heard reference to it as the House on the Hill and once or twice as Parliament Hill

"... after he greeted the canadian president, he simply told him to go outside with him. This is something the canadian president never does"

True, the Canadian President does minister to the Canadian public, but he is not the Prime Minister to the Canadian public, as it were ... Maybe that's the role of the House Speaker.

Anywayz, Ottawa's my home town and I was watching and experiencing the excitement as Barack arrived and toured some of the sites in my old atomping grounds, Ottawa, D.C.

Snerd

[Rjchinook]

I am watching Rachel Maddow and she just did a piece on President Obama's visit to Canada and compared it to when Bush first visited Canada. What a contrast! When Bush visited there were protests, arrests and war monger signs, etc.! The Canadian People greeted our President Obama with open arms and its amazing to have such a beloved man to represent out country. I remember as a child feeling this way about President Kennedy. As a Native American it's also amazing to be so proud to be an American again.

Thank you President Obama!

[Jaxy]

Rachel Maddow appeared very proud of how the Canadians received our Prez. Her mum is from there, you know.

[differenteye]

A hearty Welcome to President Obama from northern Ontario.

[PAposter]

You guys have been so kind and welcoming to our President, thank you!

[Rjchinook]

I live in Bellingham, WA, we have so many Canadians that come here to shop! I love them, and love your country because your country had the courage and forthright to actually apologize for what Canadians did to your First Nations People. It was so horrible and just as bad as what the United States did to us with the boarding school systems, etc., and it is my hope that United States will do the same so we as a people can REALLY be validated and begin our healing journey.
I believe once the Native Americans heal our nation will heal as a whole.

[Agent420]

See, Obama is real. He's not afraid of the rain like a lot of people seem to be.

[YouDisgustMe]

i'm real....an­d i'm afraid of the rain.

[hudsuckerproxy]

More on Obama's meeting with Michaelle Jean:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/590201

[Antoinette Labbiento]

thank you for sharing President Obama with us for the day. OH Canada OH-Bama

It was a beautiful day up north!

from Montreal.

[topkatnc]

You are most welcomed . It feels great to have a President that so many other countries respect. It will take time to get used to this. And thank you Canada for welcoming our President to your country.

[gmhussein]

Iam so proud of our President, he is a marvellous ambassador for our country.

The Canadians are wonderful people and their land is so beautiful. I am glad he choose to go there for his first international visit. The welcome he received today will be repeated again and again as he undertakes more of these international trips. I just love this guy.

[ildah]

Canada is the traditional first "foreign" visit of recent US Presidents because we are each others number one trading partners. So it's not just being neigborly, it's business. Bush 2 was the only exception to this "Canada first" tradition. He went to Mexico first. (duh)

Ironically, Bush 2's first speaking engagement after his presidency is going to be in Canada. We're sorry, it's embarrassing for us, but it's in Calgary which is our Houston and the home of big oil, fundamentalism, global warming denial, and close to 100,000 Americans who work and live there - as well as another million and a half Canadians. It's our neo-con hub in Canada.

[Merp]

I am so damn proud. :-)

[Zoe1]

It feels so good to be proud again!

[Eric Lurio]

What's there to be proud of? He didn't do anything.