Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on July 8, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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How do I know it will be a good week for Obamateurisms? Whenever the President travels abroad, they come fast and furious. Yesterday found Barack Obama in fine form while meeting with an audience comprised mainly of Russian business leaders, clumsily reminding them of a transaction that still rankles the Russians to this day, as Reuters explains:
Referring to the long history of Russia-U.S. trade stretching back more than two centuries, Obama told an audience of business people in Moscow:
“Along the way, you gave us a pretty good deal on Alaska. Thank you.”
Czar Alexander II’s sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million in gold, around 1.9 cents per acre, was regarded by Russians as a national disgrace — particularly once it became clear that the province was rich in oil.
Reuters calls this a “pointed quip,” but unless Obama wanted to deliberately insult Russians, the only point is that Obama has still not figured out what diplomacy means. At its most basic, it means refraining from insulting people. (via Clyde Middleton)
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at obamaisms@edmorrissey.com with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.
Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!
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now that is funny.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Why did the Mall needed to be re-sodded again?
Laura in Maryland on July 8, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Obama would never give up any in CA or NY…
Upstater85 on July 8, 2009 at 9:02 AM
what is “sorry” in morse code?
blatantblue on July 8, 2009 at 9:02 AM
heh
Upstater85 on July 8, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Barry’s sense of humor is crude. It sounds like he’s been taking notes from Letterman
I’m curious, does anybody know what he gave Medvedev and Putin in the way of gifts…aside from promising to reduce our nuclear arsenal.
Barb Dwyer on July 8, 2009 at 9:03 AM
He gave them some bows.
Upstater85 on July 8, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Speaking of yeti
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/07/your_tax_dollars_at_work_suppo.html
Most of you won’t be pleased to learn that your tax dollars are paying $1,448,500 annually to provide the First Lady, Michelle Obama, with the staff she feels she needs to execute her duties as FLOTUS.
Tallying Laura Bush’s staff from the list provided by Froomkin totals $561,325 in annual salaries for the former First Lady’s staff.
BUT Sarah Palin wore $150,000 in clothes that were later donated….
allahallahoxenfree on July 8, 2009 at 9:04 AM
a bottle of cheap Stolichnaya?
blatantblue on July 8, 2009 at 9:05 AM
In an effort to once and for all get rid of the DEM fear of Palin, Obama sold AK back to Russia for $26.00 and two Cheerios box tops.
Jeff from WI on July 8, 2009 at 9:05 AM
A sense of humor? Is that what it’s called?
But that’s the gift that keeps on giving…
ladyingray on July 8, 2009 at 9:06 AM
The admin. was deciding between Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, and missile defense. Not sure which they chose. They’re all nice.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2009 at 9:06 AM
His visit itself was supposed to be the gift.
pearson on July 8, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Laura in Maryland on July 8, 2009
And no warplanes on the flight deck. Just thousands of cages with doves and smaller cages filled with butterflies to be released at each enemy port she visits. The doves will each carry a little apology note, written in the blood of American servicemen to show our sincerity.
SKYFOX on July 8, 2009 at 9:08 AM
“Harry..
I am a gift..”
blatantblue on July 8, 2009 at 9:08 AM
She only approves phtotgraphs that present her with her arms, other people or some object covering the hip area on both sides or on one or the other. It’s almost impossible to find photos of her from the side and I’ve never seen one from the back. This is because she is very, very hippy and she knows it. As a hippy gal myself, I know all the tricks to make yourself appear thin in a photo, and’arms along side and in front’ or’block that width at any cost’ is a biggy. Don’t be fooled. She is not the skinny type the media and she tries to publicize. Not important? No, but I do enjoy saying it whenever I get the opportunity. Seldom miss a chance to point out Michelle’s innate vanity and I don’t get very many so you’ll just have to bear with me.
jeanie on July 8, 2009 at 9:08 AM
That’s got the makings of a damn good joke for late night comedians. Obama gave Alaska back to Russia to get rid of Palin. Maybe that answers Barb Dwyer’s question at 9:03 as well. You win the thread Jeff.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Yep… rub your middle finger up and down your cheek, while telling that “joke,” that Rev. Wright told you…
Dang, our President sucks at being Cordial.
Upstater85 on July 8, 2009 at 9:08 AM
They did, but the DC Dept of Law is not as smart as the Alaska Dept of Law. Jerk!
clinker46 on July 8, 2009 at 9:09 AM
lol great post
blatantblue on July 8, 2009 at 9:09 AM
True, there was a pic of her from the side/back yesterday on Drudge I think (or here). She didn’t look so good. But vanity is a fairly minor sin compared to her others.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2009 at 9:10 AM
True, there was a pic of her from the side/back yesterday on Drudge I think (or here). She didn’t look so good. But vanity is a fairly minor sin compared to her others.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2009 at 9:10 AM
I saw that pic, couldve rested a whole twelve pack on it
allahallahoxenfree on July 8, 2009 at 9:12 AM
But having rested there, would you still drink them?
genso on July 8, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Botched Joke #9075286
franksalterego on July 8, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Actually, this time he did fairly well. He got them each a Revel model of a Mig 15 and a tube of Testors glue to sniff, er I mean assemble the kits.
Jeff from WI on July 8, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Whenever Obama has to speak off the cuff, he fails big time.
MarkTheGreat on July 8, 2009 at 9:16 AM
So…This is the “Obama is Here, We’re Less Than Thrilled” tour. Now they know how Americans feel.
kingsjester on July 8, 2009 at 9:17 AM
genso on July 8, 2009 at 9:13 AM
uh, depends on how many I’ve had already.
http://ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=331860725862397
Speaking of the latest Russian excursion
allahallahoxenfree on July 8, 2009 at 9:18 AM
LOL
cmsinaz on July 8, 2009 at 9:19 AM
I’m not so sure Obama is as inept as you guys. In Obama’s Amerika, he will need an enemy to help him rule under crisis. He’s already proven that it won’t be Bush’s Muslim enemy. He’s not going after Castro or Chavez. China is too important economically. As for Russia, he can restart the cold war and risk what? They won’t go nuclear and Obama doesn’t care about the former Soviet satellites.
genso on July 8, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Sigh. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama asked the Russian First Lady to pull his finger.
radjah shelduck on July 8, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Michelle is an attractive woman in her own way. But she is a big girl, standing 5′11″, and with most of her weight in her lower half. I’d have to put her at about 175 or 180 pounds.
This makes her hard to dress, at least for the camera. Anything close fitting makes her look Amazonian, and the puffy skirts, while they hid the hips, make her look ridiculous.
BigD on July 8, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Assuming that there is still a Navy after Obama, it won’t be a single ship but an entire class of “peace frigates” to deploy teleprompters worldwide because one of the major problems in the developing world is the heartbreaking lack of speechmaking technology. They will be have gardens instead of gunmounts and will be painted a cheery pink color. They, of course, will be operated by an all gay crew of sailors whose inspiration to join the Navy was watching the Village People.
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Obama really thought that Alaska bit all the through didn’t he. Take away TOTUS from this man and we can find the definition of a “stupid guy” in Russian (Dolboyob or Raspizdyai). Obama should have brushed up on his Austrian too just in case his plane is diverted to Vienna. That won’t help either because they sprechen sie deutsche in Austria. This is a laugh out loud moment surely for us here at HA. The bigger problem is that we can all be assured that the russians were insulted by this reminder. Czar Alexander II’s sale is considered a black spot in russian history. Moreover, all you need to see that this is true is by the recent documented events. Russia is now being predatory thru their own agression in aquiring more than what is rightfully theirs in the Artic. They are going for the future oil & mineral exploration north of Alaska & Canada. Google it.
Americannodash on July 8, 2009 at 9:27 AM
It really doesn’t matter. She’s a racist and ugly on the inside shows on the outside.
I do give her (or her stylists) this much credit. She dresses like a woman instead of the pig-in-a-pantsuit look favored by Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer, and Nancy Pelosi.
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Hmmmm… Obama brings up… “Russia?” “Alaska?” I just know that Tina Fey will be making a joke about this stupid remark.
/sarc
D2Boston on July 8, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Then he has capitalists, jews, whites, the right–all potential excuses to blame as he leads Am. into decline. 2010 mid-terms are so critical, is nearly impossible to overestimate their importance to our future.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2009 at 9:30 AM
What is it with the filthy liar’s administration that makes them think the Russians are funny people. Hillary Clinton botched a gag gift on her first meeting as SECSTATE. Obama is telling offensive “jokes.” I ask you- have the Russians ever come off as natural comedians?
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Does Bambie speak USSR?
rgranger on July 8, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Obama cannot afford risking anything regarding national security. It would be disastrious for a re-election bid. Historically the voters prefer “R”s when these issues are at hand. This is why he is on a worldwide appeasement tour.
HoustonRight on July 8, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Idiot-in-Chief
txag92 on July 8, 2009 at 9:32 AM
LOL
excellent…
cmsinaz on July 8, 2009 at 9:33 AM
I like that better…
ladyingray on July 8, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Agree. “jeanie” and I had a great back-and-forth on that topic a month or so back. jeanie (paraphrasing) pretty much said sh’e rather die than wear a pantsuit and I defended them in principle but had to admit I had never actually worn, or owned, one.
BigD on July 8, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Maybe Hillary should take her boss aside and tell him that there isn’t really a reset button?
hillbillyjim on July 8, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Obama has zero respect for history, so he assumes everyone else feels the same way. That’s why he thought his little joke would be funny…
“Oh, ya know, back when everyone was still old and white and stupid they bla bla bla…not in our new club of wunderkind”
asshat
max1 on July 8, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Update: Obama now at -5 on Rasmussen’s “Approval Index“. Keep blaming Bush, boys. That’s really working.
LibTired on July 8, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Of course, you both could be more astute on these things than I am, I still believe that he sees his election hopes resting on ACORN and the media rather than polling. The mid-term election will be important, hence Obama’s push to reshape this country before then. As Jim DeMint said the other day, if Obama gets his way this year the damage will be irreparable. I think that is what Obama is counting on.
genso on July 8, 2009 at 9:43 AM
\
Who is this Hillary person you mention? ;-)
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Won’t matter as long as our alternative to Obama is some clowns named Mitt & Huck.
Jeff from WI on July 8, 2009 at 9:45 AM
No wonder Lady M goes sleeveless.
Laura in Maryland on July 8, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Right, but I prefer an open door and a lucid country to the alternative we’ve just had to suffer through for the past year or so. And anyway, Mitt’s a lot better than the Shmuckster.
LibTired on July 8, 2009 at 9:48 AM
…sounds like a great vaudeville act to me.
Laura in Maryland on July 8, 2009 at 9:49 AM
.
highhopes asks “Have the Russians ever come off as natural comedians?”
.
Where in the hell are you coming from? Are you drunk? The topic is Obama’s remark to the russians. Russian comedians were not availble to respond to your whiney question. I suggest you submit it to the politburo in Moscow. Your answer will be found there. BTW, is this habit yours something that anyone else here at HA has brought to your attention. Can it be that a 12 step program should be initiated for your mental well being? Bill Wilson’s books can be purchased at your first AA meeting or so says the History Channel. Good luck in your recovery. Remember denial is not a river in Egypt.
Americannodash on July 8, 2009 at 9:52 AM
LOL..that’s the problem
Jeff from WI on July 8, 2009 at 9:58 AM
I’m sorry but with 32% “strongly approving” of the job that this filthy liar is doing is still an unacceptably high number of morons who are roaming free.
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Our Supreme Leader strikes againSaddam’s guests become Obama’s (our) guests. O.T.
Reality Check on July 8, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Like SoCal doesn’t already have enough problems. It’s a witches brew of horrible consequences.
genso on July 8, 2009 at 10:06 AM
He makes odd jokes at times. Very odd.
AnninCA on July 8, 2009 at 10:07 AM
It’s going down, though. And not temporarily, either. And there’s still a lot of people out there that don’t want to be considered racists.
LibTired on July 8, 2009 at 10:10 AM
And there’s still a lot of people out there that don’t want to be considered racists.
LibTired
Fully expect that tired meme to be trotted out again, if it ever left.
SKYFOX on July 8, 2009 at 10:16 AM
He should have shielded the lights from his eyes, gazed out across the room and said “I can see Alaska from this podium”…
right2bright on July 8, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Actually, it’s Thank you Suckers!
mizflame98 on July 8, 2009 at 10:17 AM
“Not many who met their wife in class like I did” speaks volumes:
1. ashamed of his merger with Michelle via law firm;
2. so stoned as a student, his memory is in perpetual haze;
3. he’s been brainwashed with false memories to establish his legitimacy illegitimately.
maverick muse on July 8, 2009 at 10:24 AM
If the only reason for supporting the street thug in the White House is concern about being called a racist then one is already a racist.
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 10:26 AM
That would require more of The Bomb than he has, a good sense of humor.
He wouldn’t be caught dead referencing Palin. Fear Factor. Palin and national defense via Alaska is taboo from his own lips; he defers to his contingency to savage her while he preens his antipathy.
maverick muse on July 8, 2009 at 10:31 AM
4. Hard to pull off God-like arrogance when your spouse was higher up in the firm.
Seriously, making up a false personal history is so Clintonesque it is almost retro-Democrat behavior. The next time he tells the story, to a group of doctors, he’ll probably be telling them he met her in the emergency room of a hospital that would have to shutter its doors if he doesn’t get Obamacare passed in full. In any case, meeting at school makes a far better story than the reality that he was banging lawyer at the firm where he was interning. There’s gotta be some professional ethics violations there for Michelle but since she has such great arms, she gets a pass on rules that only apply to those with wattles.
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Reset=Overcharge
The bill for Obama’s travels totaled, taxpayers ‘get it’.
maverick muse on July 8, 2009 at 10:35 AM
It was almost as nice as when Britain granted us our freedom.
OneGyT on July 8, 2009 at 10:36 AM
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 10:34 AM
The Bill Clinton v. Barack Obama one-up-manship at play.
maverick muse on July 8, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Supporting the guy and telling people in a poll you support him are two different things.
And fear of being called a racist isn’t the same thing as actually being a racist. Look at what Carrie Prejean went through just for somewhat fearlessly expressing the opinion of most of the country to a question asked of her.
LibTired on July 8, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Kinda OT, but I love this.
http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService_2_MOLT/idUSTRE5661Q520090707
Around the time of Obama’s Russia visit, Putin sent a birthday message to Bush, and thanked him for his hospitality during the Crawford visit earlier.
That’s how diplomacy works- while the arrogant U.S. leader visits, send a warm message to the predecessor he hates.
Heh.
cs89 on July 8, 2009 at 10:49 AM
How about something along the lines of “The real reason Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska: she heard Obama was trying to pawn the state off to Putin just to get rid of her.”
Count to 10 on July 8, 2009 at 10:50 AM
I prefer this Obamafail:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/07/obama-forgets-where-he-met-his-wife-it.html
Enoxo on July 8, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Yeah…and forbids Obama from blaming Bush for any problems with Russia. Maybe Putin and Bush had a better relationship than we thought.
genso on July 8, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Dark humor, the Russian reverse.
“In my country, the Party chooses you.”
Count to 10 on July 8, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Exactly. Libs in general respect nothing(history, institutions, religion, military/tradition, National pride), so all attempts at humor will inevitably be, well, disrespectful.
David2.0 on July 8, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I look at it this way: What can you expect of a moron who appoints Joe Biden (Joe Biden!!) VP for his gravitas and foreign policy expertise?
mr.blacksheep on July 8, 2009 at 11:02 AM
I don’t know if anyone understood what I was getting at here, so I’ll explain. What I meant was that this is the equivalent of telling Brits that it was nice of them to grant us our freedom, ignoring the fact that Britain absolutely did not want to do so and was forced to because of war.
OneGyT on July 8, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Russians are a very humorous people! I think the last 100 years has shaped their humor, though, which now to me seems to tend to dry observations about the absurd. Think Peter Ustinov.
mr.blacksheep on July 8, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Medvedev: So ve buy back Alaska for zee same price now, and ve sell you zee gas!
Next Obamateurism: he tells Nicolas Sarkozy that France gave us a good deal on Louisiana.
Steve Z on July 8, 2009 at 11:14 AM
OneGyT on July 8, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Wanna know sumpin’ funny ?
I ‘got’ what you meant, shook my head and just sort of chalked it up as something he’s probably ALREADY said.
How bad is THAT ?
.. that I wouldn’t put it past our POTUS !?!
’stop the world’ ….
pambi on July 8, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Oh gawd he can’t even keep his lies straight about how they met? Rumor has it that Ayers’ wife Bernadine introduced them when she and Michelle worked at Sidley Austin law firm together.
Brat on July 8, 2009 at 11:19 AM
I think it goes further back than that, to Moscow, when they were both first assigned as moles working for the KGB’s US dep’t. She’s actually his superior. Think Natasha and Boris.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Which means that gag gifts from Clinton or jokes about Alaska are out of place.
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 11:35 AM
The man is worthless. When will the MSM stop slopping sugar all over his gaffes and outright lies?
I know. The answer is never. But at this point in the MSM/Obama relationship I am beginning to wonder which is the real parasite.
clnurnberg on July 8, 2009 at 11:37 AM
“Where’s all these Breadlines I’ve heard about? Reagan was wrong, I don’t think you soviets are so bad after all”- Obama
portlandon on July 8, 2009 at 11:42 AM
… — .-. .-. -.–
Daggett on July 8, 2009 at 11:44 AM
AH HA! So that’s why she resigned. Foiled again, Bambi!
jana on July 8, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Pointed quip my arse…more like pointed diplomatic incompetence and lack of in-depth regard to American/Russian relations history.
RepubChica on July 8, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Obama is proving to be dumber than a sack of hammers.
Funny.. two things about this
1. No lefty trolls trying to defend him on this one
2. No lamestream media coverage.
Now, imagine if Sarah Palin had done something like this. There would be non stop calls for her to step down. Tinlgly leg matthews would be wetting himself. … repeatedly.
I imagine if OBmama ever meets with Kim Il Jung or whoever the North Korean meathead is, he’ll give him a p***s extender and say something like “Uhm er I uh heard uh you guys uhm can use uhm these”… Then hawaii gets nuked.
seriously though.. Is there any chance this is a prelude to trying to give alaska back to the russkies??? Of course, with Sarah Palin stepping down he has a lot less reason to do that (removing tinfoil hat now)
bullseye on July 8, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Nah… he’ll try to give Alaska to China to settle our debt.
jana on July 8, 2009 at 11:57 AM
What an ass.
Alana on July 8, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Yes, yes, it’s all coming together now. Did you know Sasha’s full name is Natasha???
Brat on July 8, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The answer isn’t never. The MSM will fawn all over Obama until they sense a sea change in public opinion. When Obama becomes less popular they’ll suddenly remember all this crap and question his motives. We are a long way off from it happening but it will.
highhopes on July 8, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Good f’ing grief. Did this moron learn anything during his years at the so-called elite schools he attended? At the very least, as a good socialist, you’d think he would know a few things about mother Russia.
n0doz on July 8, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I know one thing…we’re all gonna be tired of saying
“Imagine if (blank) had said that..the media would (blank).”
Thunderstorm129 on July 8, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Barrack Hussein Obama (Peace be Unto Him! Praise his Holy Name. Worship at His Supreme feet. Surrender yourself to him completely and He will save you and your life will be fulfilled!) gave Medvedev and Putin of Russia Matryoshka dolls, or Russian Nesting dolls, all with Barrack Hussein Obama’s (Peace be Unto Him! Praise his Holy Name. Worship at His Supreme feet. Surrender yourself to him completely and He will save you and your life will be fulfilled!) image on every single doll, with a tiny recording of Barrack Hussein Obama’s (Peace be Unto Him! Praise his Holy Name. Worship at His Supreme feet. Surrender yourself to him completely and He will save you and your life will be fulfilled!) voice, quips, digs, and jokes.
He also gave Medvedev and Putin 8′ X 12′ glossy color photographs of Himself, signed with the following, “For Mother Russia, for Karl Marx, for Vladimir Lenin, for Friedrich Engels, for Joseph Stalin, for Mao, for Che Guevera, for Fidel Castro, for Hugo Chavez, and for Communism and Socialism, may they blanket the earth, Comrad.”
William2006 on July 8, 2009 at 12:26 PM
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