Posted on 03/07/2009 12:16:38 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president has facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.
Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been "overwhelmed" by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.
British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister.
But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama's inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.
Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president's surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.
A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama's inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to "even fake an interest in foreign policy".
A British official conceded that the furore surrounding the apparent snub to Mr Brown had come as a shock to the White House. "I think it's right to say that their focus is elsewhere, on domestic affairs. A number of our US interlocutors said they couldn't quite understand the British concerns and didn't get what that was all about."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
From the article:
“The real views of many in Obama administration were laid bare by a State Department official involved in planning the Brown visit, who reacted with fury when questioned by The Sunday Telegraph about why the event was so low-key.
The official dismissed any notion of the special relationship, saying: ‘There’s nothing special about Britain. You’re just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn’t expect special treatment.’”
Gosh, who needs executive experience to be President?
Seems to me that the “0 is our hero” crowd didn’t think it was necessary.
Who needs experience to be President? Not our messiah.
Now it turns out that 0 is “overwhelmed” by the amount of work required by a President.
Really?
You mean being the President is a tough, demanding, thankless job?
Knock me over with a feather.
I guess “community organizing” isn’t good preparation for being POTUS.
After all that experience at community organization and that half-term as a senator, who knew we were electing a lightweight, unprepared, puppet?
That's what happens when you party (on the taxpayers' dime) every night of the week.
We need to see a new iconic photo of Prez Obama slumped over his desk just like the classic one of LBJ.
They also need to keep the lights in the Oval Office on 24/7 just like the unoccupied office high up in the Kremlin that was always lit late. So that Muscovites could look up and see that Stalin was always toiling late into the night on their behalf.
Obama wants to vote “present” as President.
It took a foreign news source to voice that Obama and his staff are "overwhelmed" by their jobs?! Maybe Obama should stay in the White House and do his job instead of flying all over the nation like he's still campaigning...but on the other hand, the less he does the less damage he can do to the nation, so if they need a hang fueling up Airforce 1 I hope they give me a call.
Biden?
Not to mention lack of possessing any CLASS!
He’s “overwhelmed” all right. This SOB is in way over his head.
Horse Hockey
I know. Me too. It is unbelievable.
Hell, I miss Bill Clinton!!!!!
Hell, ive never been in government, and i know how the joint press conference goes *just from watching TV*.
Im gonna go out on a limb and say i would have even thought the DVDs might have seemed tacky as an official state gift.
Inexperience doesnt excuse rude or tacky.
Biden’s next in line, and poor bambi will be too tired to function. He’ll have to take the summer off to recuperate.
xactly - they need to cut the parties and get to bed right after they put the girls to bed....as in 9 PM.
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