European liberals are in shock over Barack Obama's failures (FAIL!)

The Telegraph ^ | 11/6/2009 | Nile Gardiner

[markomalley]

It is no coincidence that Barack Obama held a key campaign rally last year in front of hundreds of thousands of adoring Germans, as though he were running for Mayor of Berlin. Obama remains in many ways a quintessentially European politician, a firm believer in big government, large-scale state intervention, social liberalism, supranational institutions, and the projection of soft power abroad. His political philosophy is frequently more attuned to Brussels or Strasbourg than it is to Washington.

For a host of reasons however, President Obama is increasingly viewed by his natural allies in Europe- the left-wing intelligentsia in particular – as a mounting disappointment, whether it is dithering over attending the climate change summit in Copenhagen, supposedly ignoring the momentous changes within the European Union, making little progress with the Middle East peace process, adopting protectionist trade policies, a lack of commitment to human rights, the list goes on.

Significantly, there have even been some attacks from the left on Obama’s failure of leadership on Afghanistan. No matter how hard Obama tries to appease his supporters in Europe by presenting American power in a softer light, the president of the United States is still going to let down those who backed him most strongly.

It’s bad enough being berated from across the Atlantic by the President of France for being a big softy and failing to stand up to the Iranian nuclear threat. But being taken to task by European intellectuals is even more humbling for a US leader who attaches just as much importance to how he is perceived on the world stage, as he does to domestic popularity.

[markomalley]

LOL!!!

[BunnySlippers]

It’s bad enough being berated from across the Atlantic by the President of France for being a big softy and failing to stand up to the Iranian nuclear threat. But being taken to task by European intellectuals is even more humbling for a US leader who attaches just as much importance to how he is perceived on the world stage, as he does to domestic popularity.

[aragona]

This is so frightenly embarassing and dangerous to the US, God save us from O.

[Earthdweller]

LOL!

[Rastus]

I’m glad even those predisposed to loving him are seeing the truth, but none of this is a surprise to anyone who was paying attention and is honest. He had “worst president ever” written all over his face as far back as the primaries. It is a little stunning how quickly he has revealed that to the world.

[iowamark]

It is very unusual for a European to use the word liberal as a synonym for leftist.

[bustinchops]

The irony is very funny, though. He’s painting himself into a corner.

[McGavin999]

Too funny! Well europe, you got what you wanted, how’s that change working out for you?

[nathanbedford]

I think that the author, the European intelligentsia, European liberals in general, American liberals and even American conservatives to some degree are all misjudging their man. I do not think that Barack Obama's foreign policy can be understood in any context other than the Marxism of liberation theology.

If it appears to Europeans that Obama is insufficiently committed to their vision of the world, it is because he is. Ultimately, Third World liberation theology must part ways even from European Socialists. If American liberals are disenchanted with Obama over issues like Afghanistan or Guantánamo, it is because ultimately there must come a parting of the ways between Marxism and Islamist terrorism. If American conservatives, watching Obama dither over Afghanistan, believe that he is just a typical wimpy Lib, they too misjudge their man. He dithers over Afghanistan because there is no good Marxist solution. He does not shrink from a want of bloody-minded determination to advance his cause. Rather, if he wimps out, he diminishes his own prestige, which is anathema to any power-hungry Marxist. If he surges and fails, it damages his prestige even more. If he surges and succeeds, he will have only won a traditional war of American imperialism which advances American power and retards the advance of one world government, diverts domestic resources from Marxist goals at home, and alienates his base.

[PORD]

“the left-wing intelligentsia”

An oxymoron if there ever was one!

[sergeantdave]

Leftists always attack other leftists if it consolidates power and brings prestige. Hitler attacked Stalin. Stalin planted an icepick in Trotsky’s head.

The world’s leftists are sizing up king obuma and see a stupid weakling. The US will be attacked soon.

Be aware of your surroundings and ready to act to protect yourself, family and others.

[RipSawyer]

“He had “worst president ever” written all over his face as far back as the primaries.”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

That he did but in this upside down modern world the pathetic are glorified as geniuses while anyone who speaks with intelligence is labeled a monster. There really IS a conspiracy to dumb down America and it has succeeded beyond all imagining. If I want to talk to someone who knows what is really going on now I have to seek out a “Redneck”.

[driftless2]

I would guess that even the most pro-Obama Euros are coming to the obvious conclusion concerning Obama: he is an incompetent boob. An incompetent boob who doesn’t care if Europe falls off the edge of world. That returning of Churchill’s bust should have given them an inkling.

[TonyRo76]

Wow...you could subtitle this one "Bamster B*tchslapped by Brits!"

And as usual with the Telegraph, the comments below are well worth the read too–LOL!

[TopQuark]

Nice catch.

[N. Theknow]

Typical white Europeans.

[markomalley]

The author is a Telegraph correspondent based in Washington DC. That might explain it a bit.

[married21]

I think you nailed it. Thanks for your post.

[PGR88]

The French are full of crap. Completely untrustworthy. Like the Soviets, everything for them is Politics and PR.

When Bush decided not to “dither” over Saddam, they attacked him. Now you are telling us the French are strong and united, and upset Obama is doing nothing over Iran?

[Zechariah_8_13]

He dithers over Afghanistan because there is no good Marxist solution

I believe he's only appearing to dither. I believe he's purposely stalling so that more American soldiers die. They are his enemies and he is well aware of that fact.

[Owl558]

Fine analysis, as always.

I think a lot of “intellectuals”, both European and American, simply poured their own ideology into the Obama empty suit and are now shocked to discover that he isn’t all things to all people.

To a large extent, Obama told those who were actually listening (and not imprinting) what he was about ahead of time. That “intellectuals” weren’t particularly intellectually discerning tells us a LOT about the so-called intelligencia.

[nathanbedford]

I had an opportunity to explore the "empty suit" phenomenon in the locker room the other day in a "fitness studio" (gym ) I had recently joined. I was surprised at the animation my German acquaintances exhibited when the subject of Barack Obama and his receiving the Nobel Prize came up. They were astonished that he had been awarded the prize. There asked me flatly why he had won it, as though I would know because I am American.

I told them I believe there were two reasons: first, he got the prize partially for the same reason that the was elected president, because he is black. Second, he was awarded the prize based on his potential to fulfill socialist European expectations that he would put a stop to all doctrine and foreign policy objectives based on a view of America as being "exceptional." In effect the Europeans believe that Obama would act contrary to the traditionally conceived self-interest of the United States.

I further asserted that the European socialist elitists regarded the United States as the greatest hindrance to their vision of one world government, or at least some collective world order. They found this proposition to be novel and extraordinary.

I expected them to be supportive of Barack Obama and I was somewhat surprised to learn that their ardor had cooled. Of course they lost no time taking the culturally required slams at George Bush whom I defended because their objections to Bush are 180° at variance to my objections to Bush. I object to Bush because he's too liberal; they object to Bush because he is too conservative.

I argued that Ronald Reagan should receive the Nobel Prize for his liberating hundreds of millions of people from the tyranny of communism. Initially, they found this proposition shocking but as they listened to my arguments they came to agreement.

There were almost unanimous in the opinion that Bill Clinton was a wonderful president. The reason cited, strangely, was that the trade balance with America was favorable to Germany during his administration. I pointed out that whatever enlightened trade policies enacted during the Clinton administration were largely the product of an aggressive Republican Congress.

It is fascinating to talk politics with someone who has a superficial knowledge of the subject, in this case American politics. This is not to disparage the Germans they actually are rather well informed. These are not like the people interviewed by Jay Leno on the street who are ignorant of the name of the vice president. These are people who are informed of the issues but in an extremely limited perspective as provided to them by their left-wing press.

It is a cliché to say that the Germans are stereotypically conformist, but one understands the monochromatic nature of the leftist media here, it is completely understandable why they would project the views they do into the "empty suit."

[Owl558]

“It is fascinating to talk politics with someone who has a superficial knowledge of the subject, in this case American politics.”

I have a Scottish friend, a teacher fresh “off the boat”, who also fits this charactarization as well. We often sit in my garage “pub” here in Calif. drinking whisky and talking about the world. I find his window on American conservatism to be narrow and full of stereotypes taken from British media. Like your German friends, he is well-informed, but needs his perspective “broadened” a bit.

Luckily, I’m just the guy to do it!

[Richard Kimball]

A couple of observations. First, it’s really bad when the French call you a wuss.

Second, a lot of the Europeans remind me of the guy who can’t sit for too long because his back starts hurting and complains that today’s athletes aren’t tough enough.

It’s quite easy to sit back and complain about cowboy diplomacy when the cowboy is keeping the wolves from your door. It’s a little different when you get another cheese eating surrender monkey as US president and the cowboy goes back to Texas.

[nathanbedford]

I have participated in more than a few garage seminars in Florida too.