Posted on 03/07/2009 2:06:46 PM PST by GOPGuide
After insulting Gordon Brown during the British prime ministers visit this week by ignoring protocol and cheaping out on the traditional gift exchange, the UK media has erupted in outrage.
The Obama White House has now started to recognize the firestorm the new President created with our closest ally, and wants to assure the Brits that he meant no disrespect. Instead, Obama apparently wants to assure them that hes simply in over his head and floundering (via Radio Equalizer):
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.
Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the presidents surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.
A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obamas inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to even fake an interest in foreign policy.
The American source said: Obama is overwhelmed. There is a zero sum tension between his ability to attend to the economic issues and his ability to be a proactive sculptor of the national security agenda.
That was the gamble these guys made at the front end of this presidency and I think theyre finding it a hard thing to do everything.
Im not sure which is worse. At least if he meant to snub Brown, it would suggest a certain competence at this brand of diplomacy. Instead, were told that the Obama White House and their staff are just a bunch of incompetents who got in over their heads. Which is, of course, the point we made continuously over the last two years.
But Obama doesn't have experience. I'll bet that even Sarah Palin has an executive leadership framework that she's accustomed to by now.
-PJ
You said — “America, you got what you wanted...now you have to pay the price.”
Yep, I’ve said that all along. When you see that almost 10 million more voted for Obama than for McCain, you definitely see that America got what it wanted... And there will be a price to pay.
It's mighty easy to vote "Present".
This guy simply appears to be incompetent.
Mr Obama had failed so far to even fake an interest in foreign policy.
That's the part that grabbed me. There are some really nasty people out there, such as Iran that is developing and willing to use as many as 50 nuclear weapons. The world cannot afford a president who shows no interest in dealing with them.
Yes. I thought the sarcasm would show right thru, his “jobs” have been so ridiculous (and yes, this is coming from someone who’s taken many Con Law courses!)
Obama didn't fumble the meeting. Obama hates Winston Churchill and Brown knew it. They were trading insults.
Yes, he did say that, didn’t he? He and all of America need to be reminded.
Bingo. Over half his adult life sucking up and campaigning for the next higher office. Never once rolled up the shirt sleeves and did any real work. We’ve all experienced people like that at work and they suck no matter where they are.
The down side of coke can really wear a guy out!
>>Headlines like yours are offensive to me and to Christians.<<
Rush is a Christian. I am a Christian. Lots of people who use the sarcastic, tongue in cheek reference to Obama being the (implicitly) false “messiah” get it, and are not actually proclaiming Obama as the true Messiah.
Of course, you know this, but want to appear holier-than-thou and better than the rest of us.
Get over yourself.
LOL at whomever put in “onthejobtraining” as a keyword!
It’s absolutely all about his race because if all the MSM wanted was as you say “an Ivy League drug-addicted homo-Marxist” they had HRC, but the black candidate trumps.
Full list at www.nachumlist.com
They might be disciples of Timothy Leary...
I missed the “overcharge” button story...update me please.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton learned that lesson the hard way Friday when she presented Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with a gift bearing an incorrect translation — one that implied hostility, rather than peacemaking.
Clinton presented Lavrov with a gift-wrapped red button, which said “Reset” in English and “Peregruzka” in Russian. The problem was, “peregruzka” doesn’t mean reset. It means overcharged, or overloaded.
LOL Touche!
I guess that he has never had to organize a community this large... :-)
Hmmm, perhaps there was a reason why President George W. Bush went to bed early each night. Rest. And for allegedly being so stupid, he sure managed to govern this country without whinging about it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.