Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Now We Know We're Off Barack Obama's Radar (Australians Insulted)
The Australian ^ | Brad Norrington

Posted on 03/19/2010 1:36:20 PM PDT by tellw

Now we know we're off Barack Obama's radar

Brad Norington, Washington correspondent From: The Australian March 20, 2010

THE decision of Barack Obama to put off his visit to Indonesia and Australia a second time - this time by three months - provides a valuable insight into how this dysfunctional White House operates.

If any proof were needed that US foreign policy, especially in the Pacific, is far down the list of priorities for Obama and his team then here it is.

George W. Bush ignored the region, say his detractors. What about Obama?

The President's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, stumbled through a prepared script yesterday. But he put the situation aptly: "The passage of health reform is of paramount importance and the President is determined to see this battle through."

In other words, Obama's domestic push to pass a watered-down version of health reform in the US congress so he can chalk up a legislative victory after a year of bumbling comes first. The message to Indonesia and Australia could not be clearer.

Gibbs even omitted Australia as he read from his script that Obama expected to visit Indonesia in June.

He later issued a "clarification" that added Australia.

In an election year, Kevin Rudd would obviously be disappointed about a no-show from Obama. The presence of a charismatic president could help lift his flagging position in opinion polls.

But Rudd will get over it. He will see Obama later in the year. He also knows what the White House knows: Australia's support for the US is a given, and often taken for granted.

Indonesia's disappointment may be more acute, which only reinforces the clumsy approach taken by Washington.

Obama not only delayed his Australian visit last week but compressed the leg into an overnight stay.

Now it is off the table until June. Surely the White House could have foreseen a week ago that a better option then would have been to delay until June.

Gibbs said yesterday a congress vote on health could not take place before tomorrow, the day of the President's proposed departure, because congress rules provided that legislation must sit on the table for a 72-hour review period before a vote takes place. This is not a sudden revelation - the White House knew it all along.

It all smacks of an indecisive President who is trying to please everybody but ends up pleasing no one.

All the claims of dithering levelled against Obama by his opponents appear more and more accurate. He may sound good, but what does he do?

The heavy politicking by Obama now to nudge reluctant fellow Democratic Party members to pass health legislation could have been done last year. The prospects for passing the health legislation still do not look good at this stage.

The only plus from this experience, from Australia's point of view, is that a presidential visit in June could mean a longer stay. A President who knows not much about Australia could understand more about the country and the US alliance if his stay was not limited to a one-night stand.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: australia; obama
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

1 posted on 03/19/2010 1:36:20 PM PDT by tellw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: tellw

So Obammie has dissed Austrailia.

They should count themselves lucky. They ain’t missed a thing.


2 posted on 03/19/2010 1:37:47 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw

At least our friends down under KNOW how dysfunctional this PBO White House is.


3 posted on 03/19/2010 1:38:22 PM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw

English Speaking Countries are obviously the root of all evil against Islam.


4 posted on 03/19/2010 1:38:59 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

The problem was that Obama couldn’t really think of anyone he was going to bow to in Australia.


5 posted on 03/19/2010 1:41:37 PM PDT by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tellw

Seems to me that President Bush had excellent relations with Australia.


6 posted on 03/19/2010 1:41:47 PM PDT by Carley (Are you better off now than one year ago? HELL NO!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

It has become a perverse symbol of distinction - “have you been dissed by the Kenyan”?

I would think a sequentially numbered certificate would be worth something on eBay LOL (at least I would have more to show for Øbozo’s pResidency than he has revealed so far!)


7 posted on 03/19/2010 1:41:57 PM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tellw

I sorta figured Australia was one coming out ahead top on this one.


8 posted on 03/19/2010 1:45:09 PM PDT by circlecity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rockrr
Besides bowing to his superiors, Obama's known for sending cheap gifts.
 
Maybe he could sent this to Australia with his regrets...
 
 
 


9 posted on 03/19/2010 1:47:29 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: tellw; Fred Nerks
Well maybe the Queensland crocs will get a future opportunity.


10 posted on 03/19/2010 1:51:41 PM PDT by Candor7 (Now's the time to ante up against the Obama Fascist Junta ( member NRA))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw

The amount of damage control BO’s successor is going to have to do AMONG OUR ALLIES is going to take months. Downright pathetic.


11 posted on 03/19/2010 1:51:52 PM PDT by Desdemona
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw

Barack doesn’t speak Australian.


12 posted on 03/19/2010 1:53:40 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Call the local offices of Congresscritters. They are still answering the phone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tellw

He might be hit by a dirty shoe in Indonesia. They don’t like him either.


13 posted on 03/19/2010 1:56:57 PM PDT by BobS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Desdemona
"The amount of damage control BO’s successor is going to have to do AMONG OUR ALLIES is going to take months." And our next President can't a Third World one with no standards.
14 posted on 03/19/2010 2:06:08 PM PDT by BobS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

Is that arugula LOL?!


15 posted on 03/19/2010 2:07:33 PM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: tellw
In other words, Obama's domestic push to pass a watered-down version of health reform in the US congress so he can chalk up a legislative victory after a year of bumbling comes first.

It's refreshing how clearly Australians tend to see most things.


16 posted on 03/19/2010 2:08:56 PM PDT by Oceander (The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance -- Thos. Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

Exactly. They have Muzie extremists so one big muzzie Kenyan extremist wont make a biggie...unless the white liberals start bitching about it.


17 posted on 03/19/2010 2:12:06 PM PDT by max americana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tellw

The UK, Israel, and the American people are off of Obama’s radar as well. The Australians are in good company.


18 posted on 03/19/2010 2:12:40 PM PDT by Nepeta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Carley

Yes.. the leftist lap dog that wrote this piece had to pay homage to satan by attacking Bush... a good man compared to the muzzie from hell.

LLS


19 posted on 03/19/2010 2:17:40 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Wolverine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Desdemona

It’ll take decades.


20 posted on 03/19/2010 2:19:03 PM PDT by Niuhuru (The Internet is the digital AIDS; adapting and successfully destroying the MSM host.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson