Obama's Berlin speech: History raises the stakes

Associated Press ^ | June 19, 2013 | Juim Kuhnhenn

[MrChips]

BERLIN (AP) — Five years and 50 years. As President Barack Obama revisits Berlin, he can't escape those anniversaries and the inevitable comparisons to history and personal achievement.

With his own 2008 speech at Berlin's Victory Column and former President John F. Kennedy's 1963 historic denunciation of the Soviet bloc as markers, Obama will use an address at the city's Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday to renew his call to reduce the world's nuclear stockpiles.

The White House said Obama will draw attention to his plan for a one-third reduction in U.S. and Russian arsenals, rekindling a goal that was a centerpiece of his early first-term national security agenda. Obama will also hold an afternoon news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a meeting between the two leaders.

His 26-hour whirlwind visit to the German capital caps three days of international summitry for the president and marks his return to a place where he once summoned a throng of 200,000 to share his ambitious vision for American leadership.

That was 2008, when Obama was running for president and those who supported him at home and abroad saw the young mixed-race American as a unifying and transformational figure who signified hope and change.

Five years later, Obama comes to deliver a highly anticipated speech to a country that's a bit more sober about his aspirations and the extent of his successes, yet still eager to receive his attention at a time that many here feel that Europe, and Germany in particular, are no longer U.S. priorities. . . . (cont.)

[MrChips]

He mentioned President Kennedy's Berlin speech several times, but I don't believe he mentioned Reagan's. Perhaps I missed it. My attention span suffers when I force myself to listen to anything Obama says. Did I miss it?

[Rummyfan]

Obama will use an address at the city's Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday to renew his call to reduce the world's nuclear stockpiles.

The one may as well be speaking in an echo chamber. With all the sh*t going on worldwide, who cares about reducing nukes?

[Perseverando]

I bet the German people wish they still had the Berlin wall, if it could keep Obama out.

[newheart]

He mentioned President Kennedy's Berlin speech several times,

And he also made JFK's German language gaffe as well.

Ich bin ein Berliner.

[Da Coyote]

It’s embarassing to have this piece of sewage sludge trod the path where JFK and Ronald Reagan once stood.

The Obamadork is slime.

Repeat it, live it, despise it, because that what he (it) really is.

[skeeter]

The media's feverish attempt to resuscitate Zero's presidency.

But how much difference can the words of a proven liar make?

[MrChips]

If I am not mistaken, he not only made the gaffe, but he made a gaffe of the gaffe by mispronouncing it.

[MrChips]

Did anyone hear the name “Reagan” mentioned in this speech?

[reg45]

0bama does not remember Reagan, he spent the entire decade of the ‘80s in a drug induced coma.

[SMARTY]

Matthews is apologizing for the President... I guess the sunlight interfered with “O’s” reading the TP.

That's pathetic.

When is the rest of the world going to see that “O” is really just a wind-up toy that Soros bought and paid for?

[matginzac]

Bingo...well put....

[MrChips]

There was one VERY ODD MOMENT in the speech. After mentioning the wall several times, he used it metaphorically to represent the walls between people everywhere, but, at one point . . . and perhaps this was just poor writing . . . he used the world wall in this sentence: "That’s what makes us who we are, and that’s what makes us different from those on the other side of the wall." This remark came seven full paragraphs after the metaphorical use of the word "wall" and thus, sounded like he was talking about the real wall, as if it still existed. And the irony is, he was speaking on the East Berlin side of the gate. Almost a Freudian slip, as if saying "Ich Bin ein Communist."

[melancholy]

“Did anyone hear the name “Reagan” mentioned in this speech?”

Maybe he mentioned “Reggie” instead.

[ClearCase_guy]

The sunlight was “unexpected” at that time of day.

[BenLurkin]

Hussein is a legend in his own mind.

[Vendome]

What a moron. He comes out of left field talking about an idiot subject as the center piece of his speech?

[Nepeta]

Spectacular graphic.

[Boogieman]

“The White House said Obama will draw attention to his plan for a one-third reduction in U.S. and Russian arsenals...”

What, is this guy living in 1980? Besides, he has no power to reduce the Russian arsenal, and they pay no attention to him. So, he’s left just with his goal of disarming America.