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Post by Jaga on Jul 21, 2008 22:15:03 GMT -7
Why Is Obama Being Popular With Our Allies a Bad Thing?I understand why John McCain's campaign is desperately looking for negatives in Obama's overseas trip. But why have so many in the media internalized the McCain campaign's claptrap? Here is the McCain line on Europe, delivered via Politico by a nameless campaign aide: "I don't know that people in Missouri are going to like seeing tens of thousands of Europeans screaming for The One." And here was Gloria Borger on CNN, responding to Wolf Blitzer's assertion that Obama seemed to be on top of his game by pulling out the Straight Talk talking points (and leaving logic and rational thinking in a pile on the studio floor): ...as the McCain campaign points out, he can't appear to be seen as running for the president of Europe. He's going to be really cheered in Europe, he's going to give a huge speech. He's going to have a lot of support there. But he's running for the president of the United States. And so they have to walk a very, very fine line here because they don't want to be seen having too many adoring people after him in Europe because he's running for president of the United States.What do Borger and the McCain campaign think would play better in Missouri, Obama getting off the plane in Germany and having the locals throw tomatoes at him? Would that endear him to the people in Middle America -- who, in McCain World, are like an insecure girlfriend, panicked by just the thought of someone else finding their guy attractive? Sadly, this absurd line of thinking is spreading fast. Here is the L.A. Times' Michael Finnegan: In Europe, where he is highly popular, Obama plans a speech in Berlin on U.S. relations with allies. He will probably find a warm, even rapturous, reception -- which poses its own challenges. 'There's such a thing as being too popular overseas,' said [William] Galston, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. 'And that may create some misgivings here at home.' The Baltimore Sun's Washington bureau chief Paul West ominously warns: "European adulation for Obama will make him the continent's poodle." And even Maureen Dowd appears to have bought into the McCainites' Euro-phobia, suggesting Obama "can't be seen as too insidery with the Euro-crats" lest Obama-wary Americans "wonder what he's doing there, when they can't pay for gas, when the dollar is the Euro's chew toy, when Bud is going Belgian and when the Chrysler Building has Arab landlords." And don't forget all those German cars on our roads. Which we can't afford to drive because gas is too expensive (for which, according to McCain, we can blame Obama). Of course, at no point does the McCain campaign or anyone in the media point out what, exactly, is the danger to America if our closest allies actually, you know, don't hate us. They also fail to mention that along with being our allies, the European countries Obama is visiting are also democracies -- so it's a lot easier for their leaders to make nice with us if their constituents don't view our president as an object of disdain and ridicule. ... www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/tell-me-again-why-is-obam_b_114154.html
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Post by rdywenur on Jul 22, 2008 4:18:24 GMT -7
I thought Obama was supposed to be running for President of the United States of America not the World. He should be promoting himself here where people still haven't a clue who the man is or what he is about or stands for.
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Post by Jaga on Jul 22, 2008 7:41:04 GMT -7
I thought Obama was supposed to be running for President of the United States of America not the World. He should be promoting himself here where people still haven't a clue who the man is or what he is about or stands for. First of all, McCain asked him to go to Iraq. Chris, if you remember, there are American forces in Iraq.... Besides, America is not in the bubble. We are all interconnected.
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Post by rdywenur on Jul 22, 2008 8:47:07 GMT -7
Jaga I have yet to see one of those world leaders coming to the USA when they are running for office. He acts as if he already is the President.
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Post by kaima on Jul 22, 2008 10:49:11 GMT -7
I have the impression most of the forum complaints about Obama are not so much about what he does as to simply who he is - the unwanted candidate. If McCain did the same thing he would be praised by the same people.
The German news magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that Obama's overseas trip has put McCain on hte defensive. Their main argument seems to be the rejected op-ed piece submitted to and rejected by the NY Times. It was rejected as nothing new, just criticism. It was returned with a request to rewrite and resubmit with more of a definition of McCain's proposals rather than just an attack on Obama's ideas.
Yes, it does seem European press is favoring Obama. Does that make Obama "The Great White Hope"?
Kai
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Post by Atlantis5 on Jul 22, 2008 12:13:12 GMT -7
I have the impression most of the forum complaints about Obama are not so much about what he does as to simply who he is - the unwanted candidate. If McCain did the same thing he would be praised by the same people. The German news magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that Obama's overseas trip has put McCain on hte defensive. Their main argument seems to be the rejected op-ed piece submitted to and rejected by the NY Times. It was rejected as nothing new, just criticism. It was returned with a request to rewrite and resubmit with more of a definition of McCain's proposals rather than just an attack on Obama's ideas. Yes, it does seem European press is favoring Obama. Does that make Obama "The Great White Hope"? Kai At present, I would agree with you Kai for the enthusiasm currant present for Mr. Obama. For his presentative speech is to be in-front of the Siegessäule {column of victory} at location of Berlin Tiergarten}at present a considerable degree of protection and preparation is under going, with a high degree of concern for his safety. I would tend not of thinking so light of Mr. Obama. For he has an agenda that will be of clear. 1} He clearly has indicated a strong desire of increased allocation of resources to Afghanistan by The United-States. 2} He has made clear of his requirement of German troop level be vastly increased. 3} At present and future, will only of between 1000/4500. For even of that amount, it will require mandate from the Parliament for acceptance to the Bundeswehr. 4} All changes of equipment/troop-level involvement, must adhere and agree with the constitution for use in an area of stress. 5} If perchance Mr. Obama has reservations or sensitivities to war time decisions of Adolph Hitler that are of currant Germany, he best leave them at home. For the exact location of his presentation speech to come, was the result of a direct order of Adolph Hitler. For the Siegessäule was previous location in-front of the Bundestag, by order of Adolph Hitler, it was moved to the present location at centre of Tiergarten. The situation that is most troublesome with the wishes of Mr. Obama is this: If his wishes become demands laid against Germany, and his demands are refused. Then what will he do? Charles
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Post by Jaga on Jul 22, 2008 12:42:02 GMT -7
Jaga I have yet to see one of those world leaders coming to the USA when they are running for office. He acts as if he already is the President. Chris, so, what Obama should do to be a perfect candidate? Should he stay at home and then listen to these who say that he does not have any foreign experience and he does not listen to McCain? If Obama would stay home he also could not do too much since he is not a president yet. If he goes abroad he can at least LISTEN what others have to say. Unfortunately Obama does not own a ranch like pres. Bush where he can spend all his summers, or maybe...Obama wants to be a world leader which is such an opposite from what this president is doing. One for sure, lots of attacks at Obama come from people who are very afraid he could be the next president. ++++ Just tell me, what Obama has to do to make GOP perfectly happy with him, besides withdrawing from the elections and supporting McCain for the third Bush term....
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Post by kaima on Jul 22, 2008 14:58:33 GMT -7
For anyone who wants to read first hand what foreign (read German) press has to say in English about Obama-McCain, the three links will help: INTERVIEW WITH MCCAIN'S TOP FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER 'Obama's Trip Is a Campaign Prop' Randy Scheunemann is John McCain’s top foreign policy adviser. In an interview with SPIEGEL, Scheunemann discusses Obama's upcoming speech in Berlin, how an Obama presidency would hurt the trans-Atlantic relationship and why his popularity in Germany won't affect the election. www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,567052,00.html INTERVIEW WITH OBAMA FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER 'Each Side Has to Do More' Susan Rice is senior foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama. In an interview with SPIEGEL, Rice discusses Obama's upcoming visit to Europe, how it might be received in the US and how Obama intends to strengthen US-European ties -- and commitments. www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,567066,00.html 'No Point in Issuing Demands That Can't Be Fulfilled' By Matthias Gebauer, Carsten Volkery and Severin Weiland in Berlin Germany's Social Democrats are feting Barack Obama's visit to Berlin this week, but behind the scenes they are distancing themselves from the Democratic Party's candidate. Leading SPD members are warning Obama against demanding more German troops for Afghanistan. www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,567165,00.html
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Post by Jaga on Jul 25, 2008 17:37:47 GMT -7
It seems that some American coservatists seem to implicate that the fact that Obama is liked in Europe is something bad!?! I really do not understand it! (By the way, FoxNews show the pictures of McCain done .... 8 years ago to make him look younger). Conservatists suggest that the fact that many people come to see Obama is somehow related to a Mussolini-type rally here is more: www.crooksandliars.com/2008/07/25/beat-the-press-is-fox-trying-to-make-mccain-look-younger/Political hacks Glenn Beck and Ben Stein are frightened that Obama draws large crowds, and liken his appeal to, you guessed it, Hitler and Mussolini. So you’re telling me if John McCain could get more than three people to listen to him speak he would pass? Doubtful.
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Post by freetobe on Jul 25, 2008 19:02:28 GMT -7
Chris, With all due respect, as we both know Europeans can't vote in our elections so Obama's popularity overseas is politically designed to demonstrate that our "allies" have confidence in his ability to handle international affairs. May I ask what experience did W have have as Gov of Texas in international matters? Can Obama be any worse? Hey, is there a Cheney type lurking somewhere? Fooey on all this, What matters right now is can Mariano save the Yankee's game against the Red Sox? Best to you
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Post by uncltim on Jul 25, 2008 21:21:27 GMT -7
The anointed one's pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a miracle in action - and a blessing to all his faithful followers
Gerard Baker
And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.
The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.
When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?”
In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.
And so it was, in the fullness of time, before the harvest month of the appointed year, the Child ventured forth - for the first time - to bring the light unto all the world.
He travelled fleet of foot and light of camel, with a small retinue that consisted only of his loyal disciples from the tribe of the Media. He ventured first to the land of the Hindu Kush, where the
Taleban had harboured the viper of al-Qaeda in their bosom, raining terror on all the world.
And the Child spake and the tribes of Nato immediately loosed the Caveats that had previously bound them. And in the great battle that ensued the forces of the light were triumphant. For as long as the Child stood with his arms raised aloft, the enemy suffered great blows and the threat of terror was no more.
From there he went forth to Mesopotamia where he was received by the great ruler al-Maliki, and al-Maliki spake unto him and blessed his Sixteen Month Troop Withdrawal Plan even as the imperial warrior Petraeus tried to destroy it.
And lo, in Mesopotamia, a miracle occurred. Even though the Great Surge of Armour that the evil Bush had ordered had been a terrible mistake, a waste of vital military resources and doomed to end in disaster, the Child's very presence suddenly brought forth a great victory for the forces of the light.
And the Persians, who saw all this and were greatly fearful, longed to speak with the Child and saw that the Child was the bringer of peace. At the mention of his name they quickly laid aside their intrigues and beat their uranium swords into civil nuclear energy ploughshares.
From there the Child went up to the city of Jerusalem, and entered through the gate seated on an ass. The crowds of network anchors who had followed him from afar cheered “Hosanna” and waved great palm fronds and strewed them at his feet.
In Jerusalem and in surrounding Palestine, the Child spake to the Hebrews and the Arabs, as the Scripture had foretold. And in an instant, the lion lay down with the lamb, and the Israelites and Ishmaelites ended their long enmity and lived for ever after in peace.
As word spread throughout the land about the Child's wondrous works, peoples from all over flocked to hear him; Hittites and Abbasids; Obamacons and McCainiacs; Cameroonians and Blairites.
And they told of strange and wondrous things that greeted the news of the Child's journey. Around the world, global temperatures began to decline, and the ocean levels fell and the great warming was over.
The Great Prophet Algore of Nobel and Oscar, who many had believed was the anointed one, smiled and told his followers that the Child was the one generations had been waiting for.
And there were other wonderful signs. In the city of the Street at the Wall, spreads on interbank interest rates dropped like manna from Heaven and rates on credit default swaps fell to the ground as dead birds from the almond tree, and the people who had lived in foreclosure were able to borrow again.
Black gold gushed from the ground at prices well below $140 per barrel. In hospitals across the land the sick were cured even though they were uninsured. And all because the Child had pronounced it.
And this is the testimony of one who speaks the truth and bears witness to the truth so that you might believe. And he knows it is the truth for he saw it all on CNN and the BBC and in the pages of The New York Times.
Then the Child ventured forth from Israel and Palestine and stepped onto the shores of the Old Continent. In the land of Queen Angela of Merkel, vast multitudes gathered to hear his voice, and he preached to them at length.
But when he had finished speaking his disciples told him the crowd was hungry, for they had had nothing to eat all the hours they had waited for him.
And so the Child told his disciples to fetch some food but all they had was five loaves and a couple of frankfurters. So he took the bread and the frankfurters and blessed them and told his disciples to feed the multitudes. And when all had eaten their fill, the scraps filled twelve baskets.
Thence he travelled west to Mount Sarkozy. Even the beauteous Princess Carla of the tribe of the Bruni was struck by awe and she was great in love with the Child, but he was tempted not.
On the Seventh Day he walked across the Channel of the Angles to the ancient land of the hooligans. There he was welcomed with open arms by the once great prophet Blair and his successor, Gordon the Leper, and his successor, David the Golden One.
And suddenly, with the men appeared the archangel Gabriel and the whole host of the heavenly choir, ranks of cherubim and seraphim, all praising God and singing: “Yes, We Can.”
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Post by Jaga on Jul 25, 2008 21:40:20 GMT -7
hi uncle Tim,
you are the second one to post the same article. Could you please explain how is it related to Obama's trip, really? The same article-joke could be posted to show Reagan famous trip to Berlin's wall. Does it prove anything besides jelousy?
Should Obama sit at home and be pounded by McCain that he does not have any idea about foreign policies?
I do not think that Obama acts as a god. I think the current administration acts as gods sometimes.
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Post by uncltim on Jul 25, 2008 22:26:00 GMT -7
I think at this point you are far beyond reasoning with.
you've become fanatical and its not very flattering.
BTW, the posting is satirical.
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Post by Jaga on Jul 25, 2008 23:06:27 GMT -7
I think at this point you are far beyond reasoning with. you've become fanatical and its not very flattering. BTW, the posting is satirical. sorry, maybe you are right that I should take it easier
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Post by Jaga on Jul 30, 2008 22:10:01 GMT -7
McCain started series of aggressive attacks against Obama after the trip. Here is a commentary about one of the ads which shows Obama playing a basketball with the troops and complaining that... Obama could not visit wounded veterans but could go to gym.
Andrea Michel (wife of Greenspan, a famous economist) states that Obama never takes journalists while meetings with the troops, so this was not going to be the photo-opt
please, see if you can:
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