There still could be a stumble on Barack Obama's world tour. I mean, he has yet to visit Israel, where he could violate some kosher edict; or Jordan, where he might attract the furtive glances of Queen Noor. He could joke into a hot mike that Berlin doesn't seem to have a 'soup Nazi', like New York. You just never know what can happen when the pressure's on.
But so far, everything 's been coming up up roses for Obama. Let's review: as Obama leaves on his 8 nation junket with Senators Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel, Iraq Prime Minister Maliki gives an interview with Der Spiegel in which he explicitly says he supports Obama's 16 month troop withdrawal plan. After what must have been some frantic calls from Amabassador Ryan Crocker and, who knows, maybe some McCain reps, Maliki issues a tepid denial of his statement, saying he was 'mistranslated'. Yeah, right.
Then, after ridiculing Obama's willingness to negotiate with Iran, The White House sends William Burns to Europe to... negotiate with Iran. Which kind of looks like they support Obama's position. (McCain must be asking himself, "and I sold out to Bush for this?). Then the White House starts talking about 'time horizons' (ah, George Orwell, you're still relevant) for troop withdrawals from Iraq. Which, again, is something that Obama has been talking about for, oh, 16 months or so.
And then, Obama shows up in Afghanistan, which he has insisted has been the neglected piece of the war on terror, after militants have killed 9 Americans and the Taliban is gaining ground. He says all the right things in a meeting with President Karzai, including describing the situation on the ground as 'urgent' and 'precarious'. He then moves on to Kuwait, for his second visit, which usually doesn't happen if the first visit was a bust. Now he's in Iraq, and so far, so good.
If you're an Obama fan, that is. Unfortunately for McCain, he's left grasping for any spin to slow down the coverage and deal with the increasing prospect that Obama will not make a Sunni, Shia gaffe. And remember, Obama doesn't have Joe Lieberman to help him through those episodes. Mac must be wondering how he's doing it.
The press, too, is desperately trying to sound evenhanded about this trip. Editorials and articles abound about the risks this trip could pose for Obama. However, they know that they're giving him the coronation treatment and he's got to come up with a doozy to fall flat.
But there is time. And several more countries to visit. Anything can happen.
He could tell Nicolas Sarkozy to "let 'em eat cake". That would be bad. On the other hand, if Sarkozy's sexy wife, Carla Bruni, sings 'Happy Birthday' to Obama, a la Marilyn Monroe, forget it. The trip was a success.
Will this trip improve your image of Obama as commander-in-chief if he comes away unscathed? Talk about this or anything else by clicking on 'comments'below, bypassing the Google sign-up and hitting the anonymous or nickname button.
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4 comments:
I can't imagine Senator Obama saying anything as inappropriate as our dear Mr. Bush has done over the years, most recently starting with:
"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," said Bush, in what White House aides privately acknowledged was a reference to calls by Obama and other Democrats for the U.S. president to sit down for talks with leaders like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"We have heard this foolish delusion before," Bush said in remarks to the Israeli Knesset. "As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American Senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."
Also:
General Musharraf of Pakistan is a Democrat". George W. Bush
• "The inhabitants of Greece are Greecians". George W. Bush
• "The French don't have a word for `Entrepreneur`". George W. Bush
• "The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country". George W.Bush
• "If we don´t succeed, we run the risk of failure". George W. Bush
• "I have made good judgements in the past. I have made good judgements in the future".
George W. Bush
• "The future will be better tomorrow". George W. Bush
• "We're going to have the best educated American people in the world". George W. Bush
• "We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment
to Europe, we are a part of Europe". George W. Bush
• "A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls". George W. Bush
• "For NASA, space is still a high priority". George W. Bush
• "Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children". George W. Bush
• "It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are
doing it". George W.Bush
• "It's time that the human race enter the solar system". George W. Bush
• "People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous
impact on history."...George W. Bush
• "I stand by all the misstatements that I've made." ...George W. Bush to Sam Donaldson,
8/17/93
• "Public speaking is very easy." ...George W. Bush to reporters
• "I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican" ...George W. Bush
• "A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls." ...George W. Bush
• "We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur." ...George W. Bush
9/22/97
• "For NASA, space is still a high priority." ...George W. Bush, 9/5/93
• "Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children." ...George W. Bush,
9/18/95
Well, nothing more to say :) Go Obama, you're doing great!
I was wondering why I've been whisling happy tunes this week!
Go Obama!
Holy cow, 200,000 plus attending his speech today in Berlin. I'm actually starting to feel sorry for old man McCain....
Obama's Berlin speech was inspiring and right on the mark when it comes to what he has been saying all along and what we have hoped for, in that he is the 'one' that can bring this nation back to greatness in world leadership and world vision. All I can say was I had goose bumps listening to him inspire those 200,000 people that were there and the millions that watched on the t.v. and internet.
Man, I'm pumped up with pride. It will be a tragedy if Obama isn't elected.
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