The End Of Obamania [Says LA Times' Doyle McManus]

LATimes ^ | July 12th 2009 | Doyle McManus

[Steelfish]

The End of Obamania

On his overseas trip, the president was met with a lot less cheering and a lot more tough talk.

Doyle McManus July 12, 2009

Barack Obama has fallen back to Earth.

When he ran for president, Obama said his election would be "the moment the rise of the oceans began to slow." And when he made his first big foreign trip in April, he was hailed by adoring crowds -- and almost-as-adoring politicians -- in Britain, Germany, France and the Czech Republic.

But last week, in Russia and Italy, Obamania was little more than a pleasant memory.

Yes, his international polling numbers are still high, but the president encountered hardly any adulation in the streets of Moscow or anywhere else. Instead, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin reportedly gave him a tongue-lashing over a two-hour breakfast, and the tent-bound refugees from Italy's April earthquake mostly wanted to know whether he could rebuild their homes. ("Yes, we camp," their banner said, pointedly.)

And the oceans are still rising too. At the Group of 8 summit, the developing countries said no to a timetable to stop global warming, the reason for the waters' rise.

That's not to say the trip was a bust; it wasn't. But it was far from a triumph, and that's a new experience for Obama's foreign policy team.

Yes, now he needs to produce results.

No, he’s still better liked than any leader, which will help his diplomatic efforts. The hard reality of international affairs is that, just as the United States has interests, so do other countries.

And when those interests conflict, all the charm and charisma in the world can't resolve the differences.

At the G-8 summit, the United States, Britain and France had hoped for a tough statement on Iran's nuclear ambitions.

[EagleUSA]

Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall -——

[library user]

Also posted here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2290841/posts

[SkyDancer]

Typical ... the guy was like a bottle rocket. One big fizz, a small pop, then the burnt out parts fall to earth ....

[Republic]

I guess the foreign nations, many of whom have had to rely on the graciousness of our nation in times past, are learning, like we are, that uhbama is a pretty creepy inexperienced buffoon who like to hear himself talk and loves to see his own image in the mirror. But there is NOTHING of substance about him.

Nothing.

He does not care one wit about the dangers in the world, especially if it requires a definitive strong statement from the leader of America. And he does not CARE ONE IOTA about the national security of his own nation...that is EVIDENT.

[linn37]

More like a dud,all fizzle and no shnizzle.

[Steelfish]

My apologies sir, I missed it.

[griswold3]

No one paid any attention to what the foreign press was saying before the election.
They’re laughing at us now, however.

[SkyDancer]

Well you have to admit he did rise spectacularly (using media powder to do it) but after his little pop, down he comes. Sarah on the other hand is like an idling diesel locomotive ... the power is there just waiting to be unleashed ....

[two-edged-sword]

Coming home to change his socks and then off to.....? On the taxpayers dime of course.

[Still Thinking]

The United States has interests, so do other countries. And when those interests conflict, all the charm and charisma in the world can't resolve the differences.

The 2008 Obama platform debunked in one sentence!

[Jim Scott]

Doyle McManus gets it right.

Obama has been all sizzle and no steak from Day One. The weakness and ineptitude of John McCain during the campaign, with the MSM firmly planted on Obama's bandwagon, gave the perception of Obama as a 'leader'. He isn't.

Barack Obama is a hard-left politician who has had a virtually free ride for years based on his skin color, leftist politics (perfect for Chicago and most of Illinois) and speaking ability. Voting 'present' in the Illinois state senate and doing absolutely nothing of consequence after being elected to the U.S. Senate, unless you count his running for the Democrat presidential nomination - and then for president - from about 2006, on.

Obama doesn't have leadership qualities beyond posing and those choppy speeches he delivers with such feigned confidence. He is a Marxist, as his endless attacks on our financial system and the middle class amply demonstrate. Leftists hate the middle class. Obama and his Saul Alinsky-educated henchmen hope to destroy it with regulations and taxes that will make achievement in the American economy almost impossible, while it punishes - severely - material success, further eroding the 'American Dream' that leftist sneer at and hate.

One can only hope that the apathetic American public will wake up, toss off the phony Obama 'charisma' scam and see this poser for the shallow, hard-core leftist he really is. Unfortunately for America, it may already be too late. I hope not.

[MrDem]

This is great!!!

http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=28165&PN=1

Written by a Pastor's Wife

 

 And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land called America , having lost their morals, their initiative, and their will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme Leader that person known as “The One”.  He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but He hypnotized the people telling them, "I am sent to save you.  My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego, and my association with evil doers are of no consequence.  For I shall save you with Hope and Change.  Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the land that he who preceded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he has built must be destroyed."

 And the people rejoiced, for even though they knew not what “The One” would do, he had promised that it was good; and they believed.

 And “The One” said, "We live in the greatest country in the world.  Help me change everything about it!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah!!  Change is good!"

Then He said, "We are going to tax the rich fat-cats."
And the people said, "Sock it to them!  And redistribute their wealth.  Show us the money!"

 And then He said, "Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody."
And Joe the plumber asked, "Are you kidding me?  You're going to steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??"

And “The One” ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe's personal records were hacked and publicized.
One lone reporter asked, "Isn't that Marxist policy?"  And she was banished from the kingdom!

 Then a citizen asked, "With no foreign relations experience and having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with radical terrorists?"

And “The One” said, "Simple.  I shall sit with them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons into free cars for the people!"

 Then “The One” said, "I shall give 95% of you lower taxes." And one, lone voice said, "But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes."
So “The One” said, "Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah!!  Show us the money!"

 Then “The One” said, "I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes!"
And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed.

And He said, "I shall mandate employer-funded health care for EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage.  And I shall give every person unlimited health care and medicine and transportation to the clinics."
And the people said, "Give me some of that!"

 Then he said, "I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas."
And the people said, "Where's my rebate check?"

 Then “The One” said, "I shall bankrupt the coal industry and electricity rates will skyrocket!"
And the people said, "Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal!  But we don't care for that part about higher electric rates."

So “The One” said, "Not to worry.  If your rebate isn't enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out.  Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!"

 Then He said, "Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted  Let's grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches, free medical care, bilingual signs and guaranteed housing..."
And the people said, "Hallelujah!!"  And they made him King!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers.  Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank as a rock dropped from a cliff.  The banking industry was destroyed.  Manufacturing slowed to a crawl.  And more of the people were without a means of support.

 Then “The One” said, "I am the “The One” - The Messiah - and I'm here to save you!  We shall just print more money so everyone will have enough!"

But our foreign trading partners said unto Him, "Wait a minute.  Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung!  You will have to pay more..."

 And the people said, "Wait a minute.  That is unfair!!"

And the world said, "Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced.  Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power.  Now you shall play by our rules!"

 And the people cried out, "Alas, alas!! What have we done?"

 But yea verily, it was too late.  The people set upon “The One”and spat upon him and stoned him, and his name was dung.  And the once mighty nation was no more; and the once proud people were without sustenance or shelter or hope.  And the Change “The One” had given them was as a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built.

 And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish, "Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!" But it was too late, and their homeland was no more.
 

You may think this is a fairy tale, but it's not. It's happening RIGHT NOW!

[Walrus]

All the guy can do is CAMPAIGN. He has NO OTHER SKILLS.

There’s an old saying: “If you are a hammer, every problem is a nail.”

That pretty much sums up Obama’s presidency so far.

When in doubt, campaign.

[tflabo]

Bubba Clinton was right...Obama is fantasy! All sizzle and no steak! The lapdog media was the charlatan sales team and the adoring sheeple were the suckers who bought it wholesale. Instead of steak we all got fried chicken gizzards.

[karnage]

McCain had a tough row to hoe - following an unpopular incumbent of his own party, and being a candidate who could not rally the base. I’m not sure any of the other Republican candidates that McCain outlasted in the primaries would have beaten The One.

Like you, I hope our countrymen Wake The Freep Up - in time for the off-years in ‘10, and of course to Dump Da Obum in ‘12.

[Costumed Vigilante]

You wanted it, you got it.

[ridesthemiles]

Doyle is late to the table.
Too bad he cannot come here and learn something.

[diamond6]

Ewwww, not while I’m eating!!!

[nascarnation]

Pray for gridlock in 2010.
Stalemate the Baraqqi stampede!