Europeans discover Obama’s arrogance
posted at 12:55 pm on April 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
While the American media paints Barack Obama’s European tour as a balm on strained relations with EU allies, Europeans have a much different reaction to Obama today. After Obama endorsed Turkey’s bid to enter the EU, the Continental grumbling has broken through in the media — and the political class. Der Spiegel reports that German and French officials have begun complaining about Obama’s arrogance in injecting himself into a European decision, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy:
US President Barack Obama says Turkey’s future is in the European Union. Not everyone agrees. Numerous politicians in Germany have gone on the attack, and even French President Sarkozy is unimpressed. Turkey’s role at the NATO summit has soured the mood. …
Now that Obama is in Turkey, however, some political camps — particularly in Germany — have discovered the political efficacy of Obama bashing. While in Ankara, Obama reiterated his support for Turkish membership in the European Union, a position he first voiced on Sunday in Prague. That doesn’t sit well with some.
“Turkey is bound to Europe by more than bridges over the Bosporus,” Obama told the Turkish parliament on Monday. “Centuries of shared history, culture and commerce bring you together. And Turkish membership would broaden and strengthen Europe’s foundation once more.”
It is a sentiment not universally shared in Europe. On Monday, a number of politicians, particularly in Germany, went on the offensive. “It is a meddling in the internal affairs of Europe,” Bernd Posselt, a member of the European Parliament from Bavarian’s conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), blustered in an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE. “The EU is not Obama’s plaything. … He should accept Turkey as America’s 51st state instead,” he continued. …
Indeed, Sarkozy was quick to reject Obama’s support for Turkish EU membership. Speaking after the US president said in Prague on Sunday that membership for Turkey would “ensure we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe,” Sarkozy said: “I have been working hand in hand with President Obama, but when it comes to the European Union it is up to member states … to decide.”
As Glenn Reynolds is wont to write, they told me that if I voted for John McCain, we’d continue to alienate our allies through diplomatic arrogance. And they were right!
Once again, this is what happens when we elect a head of state with no experience in foreign policy, and an apparent lack of curiosity about policies and issues. Even a moderately interested observer of EU politics would know that Turkey’s membership application has generated a lot of resistance and controversy. A well-informed head of state would realize that the kind of declaration given by Obama would likely damage those prospects, as it would represent a challenge for the EU to show some autonomy from the US.
Instead, we elected a rookie, and he’s already acted more arrogantly and with less skill than his predecessor, whom Obama criticized indirectly but obviously in town-hall meetings in Turkey and France. After this episode, George Bush and his careful handling of the Turkish question might gain some new respect from the EU.
Update: Yes, this has been the position of the US for a while, at least since 2006. Notice that George Bush managed to voice it in a manner that didn’t tick off our allies and demonstrate American arrogance? I guess Bush was just more adept at diplomacy than the new guy.
Blowback
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Just thought you were stuttering.
; – )
thomasaur on April 7, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Thanks for that!
drjohn on April 7, 2009 at 1:32 PM
It looks like there is going to be a kneeling line set up immediately behind Mr. Obama and the King of Saudi Arabia after the President regains an erect posture.
Mason on April 7, 2009 at 1:32 PM
He has a right to an opinion, but once he becomes president, he loses the right to express those opinions in public.
As president, his every utterance is presumed to be the official US political position. If Barry can’t grasp that fact, then he isn’t qualified to be president.
Then again, most of us here knew that already.
MarkTheGreat on April 7, 2009 at 1:32 PM
‘Queen’ of the world.
HornetSting on April 7, 2009 at 1:33 PM
how incredibly disingenuous. bush took the same position with regard to turkey’s membership. europeans also accused him of meddling in their affairs. what an ignorant, malicious post.
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 1:33 PM
turkey’s membership in EU has been for years the official US position.
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 1:34 PM
A H/T to unclesmrogol (I hope I got his name right!), Late Sunday night I read Ian Smith’s article calling uh–bama a bore in the UK Telegraph and the attached blog. Uncle hit it right on the head, agreeing with Mr Smith and his view that duh prez is really a bit of a bore and empty windbag.
Way to go.
ChicagoBlues on April 7, 2009 at 1:35 PM
I am a former European (German), now an American citizen, and I have talked with people in Germany over this weekend, who told me for example:”If you read in your papers that Germany gave Obama what he asked for, think again! Angela Merkel HAS backbone, and she gave him NOTHING”. Sounds like a real love affair in the making???? Why should the Europeans respect someone like him? They can see right through him – And the matter of Turkey in the European Union has NOTHING to do with us – let the Europeans work out who is in the European Union!!! That union, by the way, has been tried many a time since WWII – did not work until after the re-unification of Germany, and then only because Germany gave in to a lot of demands, which is why things are the way they are there: high unemployment, high taxes, high cost of living – do I need to go on?
mkosin on April 7, 2009 at 1:35 PM
A classic case of Obummer leaping before looking, and he should have discussed the issue with Sarkozy making an @$$ of himself in Turkey.
Southern France, in particular, has a heavy population of Muslim immigrants, not all of them legal, most of them Algerian, but a sizeable population of Moroccans and Turks. There is widespread resentment of them among native-born Frenchmen, who accuse them of stealing their jobs by working for below minimum wage and sending the money back to their families in their native countries, and this accounts for the strong showing of the nationalist/racist Front National party in national elections, which gets about 15% of the vote nationwide, but upwards of 25% in Southern France.
Sarkozy, as leader of the center-right UMP coalition between 2002 and 2007, made waves as Interior Minister with his crackdown on Muslim car-burnings in 2005, and thereby co-opted a lot of the Front National vote in the 2007 election. Sarkozy, as was Chirac before him (who said “France can’t accept all the misery of the world”), is strongly opposed to Turkish membership in the EU, because its huge, overwhelmingly Muslim population would lead to about 1/3 of the European Parliament being Muslim, leading to total gridlock between the Muslims, the Christian right, and the socialist left, with no one able to find a majority without unholy alliances.
But B. Hussein Obama loves to stroke his own ego as he rambles platitudes of having lived in a majority-Muslim country (Indonesia), and why shouldn’t Muslim Turkey be part of Europe?
Maybe because the Europeans don’t want them. If he had bothered asking, Sarkozy would have told him that “Tete de Turc” (Turk head) is an insult in France, something like the N-word here. Far from B. Hussein Obama to know anything about that…
Steve Z on April 7, 2009 at 1:36 PM
He wasn’t campaigning, he was trolling for donations.
MarkTheGreat on April 7, 2009 at 1:36 PM
It’s the centerpiece of Obama diplomacy , appeasement to muslims.
the_nile on April 7, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Well, they never actually said we would cease being stupid and pathetic.
Tennman on April 7, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Obama’s pro-Muslim bias can’t contain itself. He goes to Turkey to promote its membership in the EU. This during a time that Europe is dealing with a Muslim cultural invasion shows he has a tin ear for foreign politics. How about his understanding of history? Ask the Greeks and all those who came under the thumb of the Ottoman Empire if they feel an affinity for the Turks. Ask the Armenians.
Muslims will always outflank the Left. No matter how much you suck up to the Muslim world, Mr. Obama, you will be greeted with suspicion, ingratitude, violence, and condescension. By the end of his term Obama will be more hated in the Muslim world than W ever was.
EMD on April 7, 2009 at 1:39 PM
It’s funny that Ogabe kissed Erdogan’s a$$ and basically spit upon the legacy of Ataturk.
Gee, why would he do that?
PimFortuynsGhost on April 7, 2009 at 1:39 PM
That is why you make sure that the fur children are tethered a foot away from the edge. DUH!
I have done this with my dogs on 32 ft bayliners. I don’t feel for people who let their animals roam free on deck. I do feel for the animals though. Stupid people assume that animals know better…
upinak on April 7, 2009 at 1:40 PM
The application of liberal dogma to international politics. Liberal survive to “fight for the vicitms.” Or, without victims, liberalism doesn’t exist. PeBO must perceive Turkey as a victim of the EU and is lobbying on their for their inclusion into the union.
Perhaps he should send Shrillary over to Turkey with another button they could push.
Mallard T. Drake on April 7, 2009 at 1:40 PM
did you guys really live under a rock for 8 years?
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Uh Oh NYT. Better start writing Michelle Obama fashion stories! STAT!
marklmail on April 7, 2009 at 1:42 PM
However, other presidents know when and how to advance the US position. Barry only knows how to offend people.
MarkTheGreat on April 7, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Neil and Bob, Barry.
Or is that what he was doin’?
ChicagoBlues on April 7, 2009 at 1:43 PM
I have been schooled and thank you. I don’t do the ocean so am not that wise in these matters.
thomasaur on April 7, 2009 at 1:43 PM
I really could give a damn about Turkey in EU, that’s their problem, but I have a bigger problem with Obama bowing to the saudi king and bad mouthing our country. That is OUR problem.
HornetSting on April 7, 2009 at 1:46 PM
I think it’s more than a little funny that those in the EU take to such suggestions with anger while in the same breath demand changes they have no business making for the USA.
NOW they say Obama isn’t popular. Great, a little late wouldn’t you say? These morons creamed their jeans for this empty suit piece of garbage when he was on his whirlwind campaign tour. Since he hasn’t handed over the keys to the US he isn’t quite as adored now.
Hypocrites. Needless to say, I don’t like sock puppet either and it’s going to take years to undo the harm he’s done, but we got no help from the EU when it mattered. Instead we nearly drowned from all the spooge they shot over sock puppet during the campaign.
Thanks EU, keep him, please.
Spiritk9 on April 7, 2009 at 1:47 PM
can you not read? support for turkey’s EU membership has always been the stated position of the US.
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 1:48 PM
I just love it when he talks about his leadership, this man who has never led anything before. Oh, and how badly has Bush criticized HIM since he came to office? Zero. A lot of global leaders liked Bush quite well and may not appreciate his constant negative references to the past administration.
Speaking of arrogance, here’s a quote:
When men are most sure and arrogant, they are commonly the most mistaken, and have then given views to passion, without that proper deliberation and suspense which can alone secure them from the grossest absurdities
David Hume
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 1:52 PM
But remember, the adults are in charge. /sarc
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 1:53 PM
They guy has never run a lemonade stand, and he knows how to run NATO? LMAO
marklmail on April 7, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Shared history? Maybe he means the crusades? Maybe he is hinting that the Turks could get Spain back? Since the days when Isabel and Ferndinan chased the Moors from Spain… I’m pretty sure Western Europe and The Ottomans have had competeing histories.
This is sort of like the Mexican’s reconquistadora here in the Southwest. The dream will never die.
Who knows with Spain’s current government Obama might be right. Here Turkey, come and get it!
petunia on April 7, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Sorry Europe. You are on earth and that lies within his jurisdiction.
Grafted on April 7, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Well, he did organize the community to establish a lemonade stand. Once.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 7, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Yes, and it appears “they” were right. We fell for their ploy and now we all must suffer. If they think Obama thinks Americans have been arrogant… just wait ’til they get a wif of what he thinks of European Imperialism and what it has done to Muslim and African countries… His dislike of Churchill is the tip of the ice burg of Obama antipathy towards Europe.
petunia on April 7, 2009 at 2:03 PM
You know I actually feel kinda sorry for our president, he just isn’t up to the task of working with leaders to sort out the world’s problems. He wowed voters into thinking he was, and now he’s wowed the global leaders with blank stares and long silences, showered them with er, ums, bowed when he shouldn’t have, and had no real answers to questions he should have. All the while making sure all who would listen knew that everything evil comes from the past administration, not his own. It’s almost like watching an 8 year old boy try and play major league hockey. Ouch.
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 2:08 PM
So much for Europeans liking us…and if he keeps going he’s gonna alienate all of our allies.
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Just remember folks, Barry not an a$$hole….. he’s OUR a$$hole. Time for action to deal him and the other orafices in congress. Get involved, don’t watch. Make sure people are informed and don’t give up.
HomeoftheBrave on April 7, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Yes, Bush did manage to say the same thing. But he also ticked off many people.
Our interests are different from Europeans on this count, obviously.
My observation is that many people want to be loved in this country by everyone. LOL* They all need a 12-step program.
What’s popularity got to do with national interests?
Hardly a thing.
AnninCA on April 7, 2009 at 2:12 PM
There’s quite a bit more that the Turks have “shared” with us Mr. Obama. Not quite sure why you “forgot” that bit.
madne0 on April 7, 2009 at 2:14 PM
I might understand Europe being offended at the idea that Obama is meddling in things they consider strictly their business IF they ended the same courtesy to things American. It seems like most of the rest of the world has absolutely no problem telling the US what we should be doing – remember all the “you must elect Obama” crap?
katiejane on April 7, 2009 at 2:16 PM
What about the Armenian Genocide re Turkey’s EU membership? Obama is over there speaking of America’s history, Slavery the Indigenous people’s treatment, in this Countries history- OUR short history we are a Young Nation. Can you imagine if those countries had there histories laid bare, they would have slavery, subjugation and invasion in their “Collective” past. Ireland alone has been invaded multiple times shouldn’t someone be made to feel ashamed for that? Obama unrelated to any of the points he made about American History, he only helped himself to all the programs geared toward minorities.
Dr Evil on April 7, 2009 at 2:18 PM
I vote you the winner!
petunia on April 7, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Belittling our allies, and LITERALLY kowtowing to the Muslim Empire.
In Barak Hussein Obama’s defense, though, he’s batting 500 so far in keeping exactly half of his campaign promises. What he’s doing is definitely Change. There’s no doubt about that.
logis on April 7, 2009 at 2:20 PM
With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy:
If the French are calling you arrogant…
You might be arrogant.
The Monster on April 7, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I think Ed’s now mostly writing for not just stupid but illiterate: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2564339.stm
radiofreevillage on April 7, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Here is a small piece of that shared history.
BL@KBIRD on April 7, 2009 at 2:22 PM
What, you don’t think Sarkozy has any business telling America we need to make Canada and Mexico the 51st and 52nd states?
Arrogant? Not in the least; that’s just being “articulate.”
logis on April 7, 2009 at 2:23 PM
This trip was very successful.
Bad news for the cons.
getalife on April 7, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Speaking of which…
loudmouth883 on April 7, 2009 at 2:24 PM
WTF took ‘em so long?
bluelightbrigade on April 7, 2009 at 2:24 PM
“I’d like to clarify the U.S. position on is, we strongly believe Turkey ought to be a member of the EU, and we appreciate Turkey’s record of democratic and free market reforms, and working to realize its EU aspirations.”
http://turkey.usembassy.gov/eu_sum.html
Again, this is what happens when you’re an ignorant partisan hack like Ed who has no regard not for truth — that’s too strong of a word — just for basic researchable facts.
radiofreevillage on April 7, 2009 at 2:26 PM
make it 1991.
comedy gold. bush did piss of europeans just as much as obama did.
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 2:26 PM
I didn’t vote for the SOB. I heard it said elections have consequences. The last one sure has. The only thing this lame has run is his mouth. Even there he has to be (tele)prompted what to say. the dude is out of his league, working over his pay grade, a rookie without talent. I just wonder how long the American public will put up with this loser.
Zelsdorf Ragshaft on April 7, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Good pwnage.
radiofreevillage on April 7, 2009 at 2:28 PM
What? No mention that he’s the ‘Manchurian Candidate’?
Sapwolf on April 7, 2009 at 2:28 PM
I had lunch with a couple of interesting women from Iran, who travel in Europe. In Germany, they are treated horribly if they are identified (profiling) as Turkish. Once Germans learn they are Iranian, smiles break out.
Why? The oldest reason for such prejudices on earth. Iranians in Germany have acclimated, learned the language, etc. Turks have not.
We had a fun discussion about THAT is truly universal.
So, the Germans are upset.
Big deal.
AnninCA on April 7, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Obama = Bush III
Sapwolf on April 7, 2009 at 2:29 PM
“George Bush managed to voice it in a manner that didn’t tick off our allies and demonstrate American arrogance?
Ed said the GW Bush supported Turkey in the EU. THAT quote above is what you are totally ignoring.
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 2:30 PM
So, you argue that Obama and Bush have the same policies, and are equally effective at presenting them?
Is that Hope, or Change?
hawksruleva on April 7, 2009 at 2:32 PM
getalife, not really.
He’s just the same there as he is here, and a lot of people are having the same reaction, too.
OK……nice, cute guy, talks way too much, is a bit pompous, over-inflated self-image, but still…..
Polite fella.
:)
That’s OK, too, for our first AA president. Nothing wrong with polite.
He’s at least shown he won’t sell the farm just to be liked. He didn’t agree with a global czar of regulations. :)
He also didn’t get squat from Europe, as predicted.
Cute is cute…..and it’ll get you photo ops and a bump in your polls for a few weeks.
But nobody is about to lean over for him, except maybe the Canadians.
AnninCA on April 7, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Sorry, according to Obama, we already have 57 states. But maybe Turkey could be #58?
hawksruleva on April 7, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Since you could have started typing your post much earlier, I will just once again redirect you to
radiofreevillage on April 7, 2009 at 2:34 PM
I second that. HotAir Gold.
Sapwolf on April 7, 2009 at 2:36 PM
AnninCA wrote:
Yes he will, and yes he did. He’s backing down on missile defense so Medvedev will like him, and the G20′s global reglation agenda was the only point on which Europe agreed with the further-left Obama.
hawksruleva on April 7, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Don’t they know that Obama is The One they have been waiting for? He, whose behind must be kissed. After all, what makes these silly little Europeans think they have any right to run their own bothersome little continent?
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 2:36 PM
no. look at Ed’s argument about what happens when we vote for an inexperienced candidate with “an apparent lack of curiosity about policies and issues.” then try to size up the irony here.
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Ed,
When are you going to give up the push to elevate Bush’s reputation to that of some sort of statesman when it came to foreign affairs? It laughable, and you look silly even attempting such a ridiculously impossible feat.
underceij on April 7, 2009 at 2:39 PM
P.S. I don’t know how any reasonable person can argue that Bush was somehow more subtle in his treatment of Europe.
I agree with the basic point that not all opposition to the US was caused by Bush’s personality. And this notion that a new face will magically solve decades of conflicts and/or frictions is naive. But one can develop this argument without resorting to obvious lies, which is what Ed does. Routinely.
radiofreevillage on April 7, 2009 at 2:39 PM
sesquipedalian:
At least Bush did not go prancing all over Europe trashing Bill Clinton. Neither did Bush send secret letters to the Russians promising to stab the east Europeans in the back if only the Russians would help us with Iran. There is no comparison.
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Exactly. Who the Hell do the Germans, French, English, etc. think they are? Trying to tell the President of the United States of America who should or should not be in the European Union.
Hello: Obama WON! But – for some utterly unfathomable reason – everybody else in the world still think they have the right to pipe up with their silly-ass opinions. Why?
logis on April 7, 2009 at 2:41 PM
BHO is making GWB look like a rocket scientist. Never underestimate a man with a drawl. While GWB was not in the game on spending, he understood foreign policy and foreign affairs a helluva lot better than the not-ready-for-any-time-player we have in there now.
either orr on April 7, 2009 at 2:41 PM
I presume we can’t afford that missle defense site, hawksrule.
It wasn’t hard to postpone that one.
AnninCA on April 7, 2009 at 2:43 PM
I saw it. Here’s the last sentence in that article.
Despite his attack on Mr Bush, M. Chirac was at pains not to oppose the principle of Turkish membership. The French President reaffirmed recent remarks backing Turkish membership when it has completely fulfilled entry criteria, adding that Turkey had an “historic European vocation”.
Turkey had apparently been allowed to apply for membership at that time…in 2004.
I just think you need to lay off the name calling.
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 2:43 PM
It’s funny you mention that line: “…they have been waiting for?” I even saw it in a European TV commerical on CNN International. What crap.
Sapwolf on April 7, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Um, actually there is a historical comparison for that.
Not by George Bush of course; you’d have to go back about 70 years. But it happened.
logis on April 7, 2009 at 2:43 PM
ether….totally agree. I never voted for Bush. I’m far too liberal to do so. However, he’s underestimated for silly reasons, too.
But then, one of our charming attributes is that Americans aren’t really all that into complex thinking.
AnninCA on April 7, 2009 at 2:44 PM
++ infinity
The US position on Turkey as an ally and promoting the secular gov. there at every possible turn is at least six decades old. The EU is just a new hurdle.
Tony Soprano on April 7, 2009 at 2:45 PM
underceij:
Bush saved the lives of 11 million Africans.
Bush put together a much larger coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan than Obama has managed to do. If Obama gets 35 Belgians it is some sort of feat.
Bush also worked with other countries in developing new ways to create technology for both peaceful and military purposes.
And Bush at least dealt with Saddam and AlQaia. If the Democrats were anywhere near the experts they like us to believe they are, a lot of the problems that Bush had to deal with would have been resolved by the previous administration.
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 2:45 PM
logis:
Well I am sure there is nothing new under the sun.
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Ed… you are clutching at straws. The EU is clear on what has to happen before the Turks can join and Obama even spelled that out. Hardly arrogance to mention the policy that the French and Germans both espouse. If anything, his comments are less strident than Bush’s on the topic.
lexhamfox on April 7, 2009 at 2:48 PM
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 2:48 PM
When is Obama going to get over Bush? He’s always talking about moving forward, yet he keeps on clinging to the previous administration. The MSM has gotten over him, why can’t he?
Oh yea, and getalife…nothing spells success like the Dow dropping 200 points!
scalleywag on April 7, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Well, that would have been stupid. Which is not an obstacle for Bush, but I’m just saying…
Clinton created a true alliance and successfully prosecuted a war. I had lots of questions about it. To put it mildly. At the end though, one cannot deny the fact that Yugoslavia was in flames before the war, and now my sister goes there for vacation.
Bush is a dwarf compared to Clinton on the question of foreign policy in general and building relationships with Europe in particular. This isn’t partisan. Bush Sr. was also pretty good at this.
So I don’t know how it would occur to Bush to mock someone infinitely more able and successful than him. Obama must be careful, too. His predecessor is a noted loser, but everything is relative. It’s not a given that Bush’s impotence could not be spectacularly superseded by Obama’s.
radiofreevillage on April 7, 2009 at 2:49 PM
AnninCa:
Oh please, Obama will end up giving more money to Buffet than that missile defense costs. The man is asking Congress to spend more money than any administration in history, doubling the national debt in one fell swoop and we can not afford missile defense? It is a defensive measure, its point is to save lives.
Obama is just doing what Democrats always do, he is cutting the military. Someday we just might regret that. It would not bother me as much if it were part of an across the board cut on all spending, but this is just a waste.
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Just like the rest of your ilk, I think you lost your way…..pull your head out and go directly to KOS.
HornetSting on April 7, 2009 at 2:51 PM
So sesquipedalian, how many different ways are there to post “Nya Nya, Bush did it too”! I thought your messiah was supposed to be smoother and smarter that Bushhitler, yet your only defense for him is that Bush did it too? I knew you guys were trying to lower the bar for your guy but damn, that’s a long way down considering how you feel about his predecessor…
OldManC on April 7, 2009 at 2:55 PM
radiofreevillage:
Ah, I love it when silly little people come out with their silly little talking points. Bush was no dummie. He managed to beat a lot of Democrats for a lot of years, and his IQ was higher than Obama’s. I would say his grade point average from the Ivy League schools he intended was higher too, but since Obama will not release his transcripts we will not know that.
Clinton did nothing to deal with Iran. Nothing.
Clinton gave secrets to China in return for campaign cash.
Clinton did nothing to slow down or stop the Taliban.
Clinton did nothing to slow down or stop AlQaida.
Clinton was the president who signed the Iraqi Liberation Act and promised all of America that Saddam was our number threat and had to be removed from power. But he did not have a plan. Democrats do not need plans, all they need are poll numbers. As long as they have those, screw everything else.
Bush would not mock Clinton, any more than he would mock any other president because it would be beneath his dignity. Too bad Obama does not have some.
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Ah, did President Obama carry through on his promise of last year? I mean he really, really meant it then:
Hey, he doesn’t need anyone to tell him about foreign policy! He had it right there and signed on to it… so did he bring up the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide to the Turks? I mean he was in the #1 perfect place and in the job to do so.
We can’t dismiss him for speaking truthfully, now, can we?
And if he reviled those unwilling to speak, then he needs to look in a mirror. He wanted the job where it is his place to speak up about atrocities and call for accountability and recognize the historical facts as they are.
Or has he decided to push a few million dead under the rug?
Mind you, that started with President Wilson who really didn’t want to take a side in WWI… and he kept to that even when he had to take a side. That would have been a great time to speak out about the alliance with Germany and the atrocity committed against the Armenians. Perhaps President Obama can apologize for not speaking out about that? It is a disgrace and a tragedy by his own reckoning.
I would support him if he did that.
Really and for true, not to shove off on others what it is now within your power to do. It would show character and the ability to hold true to your ideals.
Not doing so tells me much about him.
None of it good.
ajacksonian on April 7, 2009 at 2:57 PM
At any rate, isn’t everybody supposed to love us now? Maybe he needs to hold some town hall meetings over there to win them over.
Blacklake on April 7, 2009 at 2:57 PM
BTW, I hear that Obama is defending the wire taps too. The same wire taps that were supposed to be unConstitutional during the campaign.
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Clinton did teach our children the words ‘oral sex’. ;)
HornetSting on April 7, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Did that, I think he’s running for Queen of the World.
HornetSting on April 7, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Except of course, the argument isn’t that Obama is just as bad as Bush. The argument is that Ed’s contention that Bush was somehow very subtle and skillful on this particular issue is utter nonsense.
My own view on the topic is that Europe should not allow Turkey to be an EU member. This is a country which has a long way to go before it can call itself a Western society. The US is supporting Turkey for geopolitical reasons. In particular, access to Turkey’s waters has been invaluable during the Cold War and it remains strategic to this point.
As such, I never blamed Bush for publicly supporting Turkey’s bid for an EU’s membership. I repeat, I hope it fails. It must continue to fail. But the US needs to play its part to maintain the alliance with this country. Europe will say something angry from time to time, but it will not affect their relationships with the US so long as the US stays vague and general in its support.
radiofreevillage on April 7, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Wow, that’s the most encouraging news I’ve seen in some time. Hope it’s not BS!
(or is it: “HOPE, it’s not BS!”)
Sweet_Thang on April 7, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Europe knows if they let Turkey in the EU the gates to the muslim flood will be open.
albill on April 7, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Dr. Evil – The Armo issue is a big deal for the French since they have a good-size population. Sarko has said Turkey must come into alignment on the issue before membership is possible.
When you tie this to Barry’s response to the genocide question and his comments in Iraq, you see how he’s trying to throw America under the bus as a method to fostering better relations with the Turks. He’ll sacrifice his Armo constituents to secure Northern Iraq stability, allowing us to pullout by 2011. He’ll let the EU fight it out with Turkey over genocide, while kissing Turkey’s ass so he can’t be blamed if things sour.
What I’m waiting for is to see what he says on the 24th, the commemoration day. W set the precedent by using the word genocidal in a radio address, which will give Barry enough clearance to throw it around. It’s how he does it that will signal everything. My guess is it will be like how he handle the Greeks; Gibbs and a memo.
This all bodes like shit for Pelosi. She’ll lose a large block of the Armo-Cali vote next time. This is also going to sink Powers credibility, so expect her to leave in the near future if he taps out at the end of the month.
budfox on April 7, 2009 at 3:11 PM
My guess is the wiretaps Obama is doing now are completely different from the ones that Bush did.
logis on April 7, 2009 at 3:12 PM
logis:
I don’t think so.
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 3:22 PM
HornetSting:
That is not really sex. Just ask any 14 year old. They will tell you, oral sex is not sex. So why not do it?
Terrye on April 7, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Well, technically, I guess wiretaps are all performed in the same fashion.
But there’s no reason to believe the targets are the same people.
logis on April 7, 2009 at 3:25 PM
supporting turkey has been a sound policy, most importantly because of their geographical position. bush or obama need no defending over this.
sesquipedalian on April 7, 2009 at 3:25 PM
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