Producer Aimee Puvak  

          President Barack Obama sat down for a beer at the White House Thursday with Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, and James Crowley, the Cambridge, Massachusetts policeman who arrested him earlier this month.  Vice President Joe Biden also joined them. 

Gates was arrested July 16 and accused of disorderly conduct after police responded to a report of a possible burglary at his Boston-area home. The charge was later dropped. The incident sparked a debate about racial profiling and police procedures.  President Obama quickly got involved, saying at a news conference that police had “acted stupidly” in arresting Gates.  But later, the president softened his stance, saying “I could’ve calibrated those words differently.”

Gates and Crowley both seemed upbeat after the 40-minute meeting in the Rose Garden. None of the men apologized.  But Crowley called the meeting “cordial and productive.”  He says they agreed to move forward, rather than dwell on the past.  He said he and Gates plan to meet again.

Gates wrote on his website that he and Crowley need “…to foster greater sympathy… for the daily perils of policing on the one hand and for the genuine fears of racial profiling on the other hand.”

After the meeting, President Obama said in a statement, he was thankful to Gates and Crowley for joining him at for "a friendly, thoughtful conversation.”  The president’s statement went on to say: "Even before we sat down for the beer, I learned that the two gentlemen spent some time together listening to one another, which is a testament to them… I have always believed that what brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart. I am confident that has happened here tonight, and I am hopeful that all of us are able to draw this positive lesson from this episode." 

So, what do you think about the meeting?  Is there a lesson learned here?  Will it help advance race relations in this country?  Or, was it too much for you? 

Send us your comments.  We’ll be reading some of them on the air Friday on Morning Express with Robin Meade.

Producer Aimee

Family, friends, and fans have said a final goodbye to Michael Jackson. Some 20,000 people gathered yesterday in L.A.’s Staples Center for a public memorial service for Jackson. Millions of others round the world watched on television, or via Internet.

The event included a line-up of celebrities, singing and sharing their stories about Jackson.

Singer Smoky Robinson set the tone for the memorial when he read a letter from Diana Ross, who did not attend. In it, Ross explained why she was not there:

"I am trying to find closure. I want you to know that even though I am not there at the Staples Center, I am there in my heart. I have decided to pause and be silent. This feels right for me. Michael was a personal love of mine, a treasured part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can't seem to find words to express."

Among the others who took the stage were Mariah Carey, who performed Jackson's "I'll Be There"; Lionel Richie with "Jesus is Love"; and Usher with "Gone Too Soon.”

Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the service was when Jackson’s 11-year old daughter, Paris, addressed the crowd. She said tearfully: "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father I could imagine. I just want to say I love him so much."

What did you think about Tuesday’s service? Did it honor Jackson the right way? What was the most memorable moment?

Blog us with your comments. We’ll be reading some of them on the air this morning on Morning Express with Robin Meade.

Producer Aimee

Throngs of Michael Jackson fans are pouring in to Los Angeles from around the country, and the world, ahead of today’s public memorial.

A fan signs a Michael Jackson poster covered in messages outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles Monday.

The service begins at 1 p.m. ET at the Staples Center downtown. More than 1.6 million people registered for free tickets to what could be the biggest celebrity send-off of all time. A total of 8,750 people were randomly selected to get two tickets each.

It’s not just the crowds, today’s memorial will be a star-studded event as well. It’s expected to feature singers Mariah Carey, Usher, and Stevie Wonder. Among some of the other celebrities participating – Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Martin Luther King III and Reverend Al Sharpton.

For those who don’t attend, about 50 theaters around the country – from Washington, D.C. to California – are planning to broadcast the memorial live, for free.

You can get your complete coverage right here on HLN. Showbiz Tonight will broadcast live at 11 a.m. ET. Then watch coverage of the public memorial, hosted by our very own Robin Meade, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.

We want to know what you think about today’s event. What are your feelings about today's public memorial? How will you remember Jackson? Do you plan to watch today’s service, either in person – or on TV?

Share your comments … and we’ll be sure to read some of them on the air!

Producer Aimee

Secret memos released Thursday by the Obama administration give graphic details of what was happening to some high-profile terror suspects behind closed doors, following the September 11th attacks.

In the memos, the Justice Department gives approval to some of these methods, which included sleep deprivation, simulated drowning known as “waterboarding”, keeping a detainee naked and in some cases in a diaper, and putting detainees on a liquid diet.

The Bush administration says these interrogation techniques were ok and legal in the wake of the September 11th terror attacks, to prevent another attack like it. In releasing the memos Thursday, President Obama told CIA officials they will not be prosecuted for using the tactics.

The President says the CIA operatives were following the legal advice at the time. Such techniques, however, are now forbidden under the Obama administration.

But critics, like the ACLU, say the interrogation methods described in the documents are “torture.” They are calling for the interrogators to be held accountable.

What do you think? Did the interrogation methods go too far? Were they torture, or necessary for our safety after September 11th?

Send us your blog comments, and we’ll read some of them on the air!

You can find a copy of the memos by going to cnn.com/robin or clicking here. Scroll down to the Important Web sites section of the page.

Producer Aimee

President Obama insists his administration has a plan in place to “attack” the nation’s financial crisis “on all fronts.” In his second prime time news conference Tuesday night, the president said there are “no quick fixes” for the economy, but stressed the nation will recover.

During his 50-minute appearance, he mentioned Iraq and Afghanistan only once, in response to a reporter’s question. Instead, Mr. Obama focused almost entirely on the economy and on defending his budget, which has come under criticism for its hefty price tag. He suggested that he would compromise on certain details of the budget if he must, but not on key initiatives.

“We’ve got to make some tough budgetary choices,” the president said. “What we can't do, though, is sacrifice long-term growth, investments that are critical to the future, and that's why my budget focuses on health care, energy, education - the kinds of things that can build a foundation for long-term economic growth, as opposed to the fleeting prosperity that we've seen over the last several years."

Many analysts agree President Obama struck a calm, almost professor-like tone in last night’s news conference, similar to what we saw during the presidential campaign. The New York Times describes him as Obama “the lecturer,” who sounded like a teacher speaking to a classroom. He showed little emotion and didn’t crack a smile during the news conference. Only once did Obama show a flash of emotion, when CNN’s Ed Henry asked him about his delay in showing outrage about the AIG bonuses.

"It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak," Obama responded.

What did you think of President Obama’s news conference? Did it leave you feeling optimistic about the economy, and the country? Did you hear what you needed to? Or, did it leave you wanting more? Send us your comments! We may read some of them on the air!