American Buffoon (?)

[Jacknola]

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/18/american-buffoon (http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/18/american-buffoon)

American Buffoon (http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/18/american-buffoon)

By Andrew Cline (http://spectator.org/people/andrew-cline) on 11.18.09 @ 6:09AM
Barack Obama was supposed to be America's answer to the suave, European head of state. A debonair gentleman of the world, he would charm even the most sophisticated foreign leaders and prove, finally, that the United States is developed culturally, not just economically.
Then he gave some DVDs.

Ian Drury of London's Daily Mail wrote on March 8, "As he headed back home from Washington, Gordon Brown must have rummaged through his party bag with disappointment.

"Because all he got was a set of DVDs. Barack Obama, a box set of 25 classic American films -- a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks."

Brown had given Obama a set of pens made from part of the HMS Gannet, a Victorian-era anti-slave ship. A desk that has sat in the Oval Office since 1880 was made from the timbers of the HMS Resolute, the Gannet's sister ship. It was a stunningly thoughtful and unique gift left unreciprocated.

But even worse, Obama refused to hold a joint press conference with Brown or invite him for an official White House dinner. And to top it all off, he sent back a bust of Churchill that was lent to the White House after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Russia Today wrote that week, "Despite Barack Obama's eloquent elocution, ivy school credentials and electric charisma, there is talk that he lacks the most crucial element of any great leader: judgment."

Since March, Obama's social gaffes have continued. In April he bowed to the Saudi king; in July he was photographed staring at the rear end of a 16-year-old girl and suggested that Cambridge Police Officer James Crowley was stupid; in October he refused to meet with the Dalai Lama; in September he refused five requests from Gordon Brown for a one-on-one meeting but found time to fly to Copenhagen to promote Chicago's Olympic bid; and this month he sent Hillary Clinton to attend the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, then topped it all with an obsequious bow to the emperor of Japan.

Obama cannot even blame the Japan bow on proper protocol. It was anything but proper. It was so inappropriate that it even offended the Japanese.

President Bush supposedly offended the rest of the world with his cowboy chauvinism, but at least he followed proper etiquette while telling the leaders of other countries that America was going to go its own way. Obama doesn't even know to invite the Prime Minister of Great Britain to a state dinner. He doesn't even bother to learn the proper way to greet kings and emperors.

For all of George W. Bush's swagger, it is Barack Obama who has systematically offended three major allies -- Britain, Germany and Japan -- in the span of nine months, needlessly straining important relationships and making his country look simultaneously backward and arrogant.

The reason for this is simple and obvious: Obama's singular arrogance. Only arrogance can explain the way Obama has treated Gordon Brown. Only arrogance can explain the president's snubbing of Germany and repeated refusal to learn the proper protocol for greeting other world leaders.

Obama might be cultivating world opinion by insulting his own country in speech after speech and undermining its interests with his foreign policy, but the joke is on him. For his transparent disdain for other world leaders and customs is making him every bit the image of the buffoonish American president he tries so hard to convince the world he is not.

[budgie]

AFAIK the British weren't particularly offended and the Germans maybe somewhat, maybe; the Japanese not at all. This is worse than mere opinion - it is pure fiction.

[Virus]

AFAIK the British weren't particularly offended and the Germans maybe somewhat, maybe; the Japanese not at all. This is worse than mere opinion - it is pure fiction.

As far as you know, which means you don't know. I'm sure that there was a WTF moment, but also a "lets not make a big deal out of it," thing as well. And this isn't fiction, these events did happen, but their interpretation is only an opinion.

[Macs.]

President Bush supposedly offended the rest of the world with his cowboy chauvinism, but at least he followed proper etiquette while telling the leaders of other countries that America was going to go its own way.

What a silly article.

Whoever wrote that must have been asleep during the years Bush was president.

[gaijinsamurai]

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/18/american-buffoon (http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/18/american-buffoon)


Obama cannot even blame the Japan bow on proper protocol. It was anything but proper. It was so inappropriate that it even offended the Japanese.

. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[/FONT]

Who told him that?

[Invisigoth]

Obama gave DVDs, thus Obama must lack judgement, thus he is a bad president.

I just summed up the article in 1 sentence, I should work in the businesssssss!

[CMNot]

To be fair, no-one touches the Queen :fork:

Not even Prince Phillip I think.

But Gordon Brown, you can do whatever you like to.

[kamaz]

not a fan of Barry but this article is bullsht, for one he didnt stare at the 16 y olds ass. He was looking parallel, theres photos showing it. I know I would've looked, that 16 y old Brazilian is talented.

[gaijinsamurai]

Also, I heard that he was actually born in Kenya and his birth certificate is a forgery. His dad, working for Osama Bin Laden, smuggled him into the country and paid someone in Hawaii to raise him as a sleeper agent.

Oh, and his middle name is "Hussein".

[T.S.C.Plage]

Germany or Germans aren't or weren't offended by any of Obama's actions but as GWB was in charge Amercians were short before having at least some Germans spit out in front of them.

[Wahnsinn]

Wasn't so much offensive to Gordon Brown as embaressing for him that Obama wouldn't meet him, the media went to town saying what a poor leader he was.

[deagle]

he'll ask them to visit when his darn ready. they gotta ask to visit, not the other way around.

lol

[budgie]

As far as you know, which means you don't know. I'm sure that there was a WTF moment, but also a "lets not make a big deal out of it," thing as well. And this isn't fiction, these events did happen, but their interpretation is only an opinion.

Well umm if I don't know smartypants, umm...neither do you! There said it.

[Lov3ll]

Neither the Brits, Germans, or Japs were offended, the Dalai Lama is irrelevant he's not a world leader he's just some annoying little **** politicians take pictures with to make them seem like they care about Tibet he's nothing more than a PR exercise, the picture of him looking at some lasses arse was also BS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ca0t4r7teg

[seraosha]

Neither the Brits, Germans, or Japs were offended, the Dalai Lama is irrelevant he's not a world leader he's just some annoying little **** politicians take pictures with to make them seem like they care about Tibet he's nothing more than a PR exercise, the picture of him looking at some lasses arse was also BS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ca0t4r7teg

How did this turn into a Dali Lama bash?

This thread does not deliver.

[Geezah]

Neither the Brits, Germans, or Japs were offended, the Dalai Lama is irrelevant he's not a world leader he's just some annoying little **** politicians take pictures with to make them seem like they care about Tibet he's nothing more than a PR exercise, the picture of him looking at some lasses arse was also BS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ca0t4r7teg

That about sums up your level of intelligence!

Also, I'm no fan of Gordon Brown or the Labour Party, but maybe, if Gordon had used the same level of care with picking out gifts that Obama had used, Obama may have ended up with a Golliwog!

Just sayin.........but I do think Obama lacks any type of class and should maybe take someone onboard that can give him a clue about etiquette and cultural differences.

[dave81]

In the President's defense, I must say...uh, well I can't say that or I'd be banned.

[Rossdobby]

Obama cannot even blame the Japan bow on proper protocol. It was anything but proper. It was so inappropriate that it even offended the Japanese.

1) he didn't blame them
2) It was proper a little over done but still quite proper
3) The japanese didn't even notice it really. The ones that did said it was appropriate.

He bowed to a foreign monarch who is just a figure head. Not an actual head of state. He did it as a sign of respect towards all japanese people and traditions

[Mastermind]

The man is a clod of memorable degree. He has no heritage to fall back on...none of the finer points of protocol interest him and never have. My guess is, he ate his mashed potatoes scooping them into his mouth with his fingers...chewed with his mouth open, loudly slurping Kroger Cola....until he was feathered into a position of some public notoriety...His crash course in manners barely took...He absorbed just enough to get him past the "Too Embarrassing" veto of guest listing Secretaries and onto the "Wouldn't it be fun to invite a person of color" list. I imagine he has a manners coach, who must be a paragon of patience, constantly reminding him of just what to do with his elbows at table and signaling him from behind the curtain, his salad fork is closer to the plate than the the dessert fork.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

The man is a clod of memorable degree. He has no heritage to fall back on...none of the finer points of protocol interest him and never have. My guess is, he ate his mashed potatoes scooping them into his mouth with his fingers...chewed with his mouth open, loudly slurping Kroger Cola....until he was feathered into a position of some public notoriety...His crash course in manners barely took...He absorbed just enough to get him past the "Too Embarrassing" veto of guest listing Secretaries and onto the "Wouldn't it be fun to invite a person of color" list. I imagine he has a manners coach, who must be a paragon of patience, constantly reminding him of just what to do with his elbows at table and signaling him from behind the curtain, his salad fork is closer to the plate than the the dessert fork.President Obama looks a little awkward and ill at ease but seems to get into the groove when he’s speaking and not the worlds worst leader in the public appearance league, as for heritage his is no less a heritage than any other American.

[Mastermind]

President Obama looks a little awkward and ill at ease but seems to get into the groove when he’s speaking and not the worlds worst leader in the public appearance league, as for heritage his is no less a heritage than any other American.
Abandoned by mama...put into an Islamic training facility...living in thrid world nations as a child...exposed to Muslim fanaticism, raised to adulthood by a white Grannie afraid of blacks...no father figure to speak of...adores a pastor who despises the nation he is now president of, married to a woman who admits she has never been proud to be an American until recently...

I kind of doubt too many Americans have that kind of heritage.

[commanding]

To be fair, no-one touches the Queen :fork:

Not even Prince Phillip I think.

.

very funny!! well, as an american, and a texan, I still admire the queen. At least she has the intelligence to not make a ass of herself spouting off about things she knows nothing about...like some heads of state.
She is dignified, quiet, makes few enemies if any, and at least attempts to be proper, compassionate, and kind. God bless her.

[brainplay]

Who told him that?

The Japanese did. The first articles amounted to as much. The saving face of an ally that followed covered it up. Hence why they would not publish the photo of the bow.

Gaijin, you of all people ought to know this. That bow wasn't even one of respect which is to be of equal deference. That was a kowtow (servitude) short of getting on his knees (god forbid if he meets another royal). On top of that the US does not bow to hereditary leaders. We had a little war to get away from that in 1776.

He needs to fire his PR people. Whoever is teaching him basic diplomatic manners has a long history of screwing up bigtime. He caught flak the first time with the Saudi king but not much. But a second time? Maybe he can bear hug the Dali Lama next? Wash Nelson Mandela's feet?

His judgement here seems to be lacking as much as his policies. At least his PR can be modified with a new coach.

[James]

I know that I, as a 23 year old infantry squad leader, had more executive experience than did Obama when he became President.

POTUS shouldn't be an entry level position, but oh well. I'm looking forward to 2012.

[hskywalker]

Obama's gift to China is quite good, a weiqi chess board, much more imaginative than dvds.
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3083/2a93.jpg


http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/6376/ep3g10j1e30.jpg


http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/8518/e424.jpg

[martinexsquaddie]

did'nt make the news over here so the outrage bus is still vor

[Atlantic Friend]

If there's a Nobel prize for encouraging good manners then Obama's probably going to get it. In just one year, he got a good many Republicans to switch from "America **** yeah, who cares what the foreigners think" to "Oh noes, I fear all these nice people from abroad have been offended somehow".

[Mousepad]

If there's a Nobel prize for encouraging good manners then Obama's probably going to get it. In just one year, he got a good many Republicans to switch from "America **** yeah, who cares what the foreigners think" to "Oh noes, I fear all these nice people from abroad have been offended somehow".

I admit, i LOL'd

[Geezah]

If there's a Nobel prize for encouraging good manners then Obama's probably going to get it. In just one year, he got a good many Republicans to switch from "America **** yeah, who cares what the foreigners think" to "Oh noes, I fear all these nice people from abroad have been offended somehow".

Go back and reread brainplays post. It sums it up pretty good.

[gazell]

I admit, i LOL'd

That was very good, indeed.

[Atlantic Friend]

Go back and reread brainplays post. It sums it up pretty good.

I really do think it's funny.

We were told that a Democrat at the White House would mean an awful lot of hand-wringing and feet-shuffling and undue concern for foreign nations' sensitivities and, lo and behold, it IS true - except that it now comes from the same pundits that one year ago said the same foreign nations' input were largely irrelevant, and that when America says "jump" they should just ask "how high".

Seriously, after a few years of telling the rest of the world where it could stick its opinion, could you just remain in the zone where, you know, we decide for ourselves if we've been gravely offended or not?

[Derbedeu]

If there's a Nobel prize for encouraging good manners then Obama's probably going to get it. In just one year, he got a good many Republicans to switch from "America **** yeah, who cares what the foreigners think" to "Oh noes, I fear all these nice people from abroad have been offended somehow".


rofl So true!

[Telmar]

If there's a Nobel prize for encouraging good manners then Obama's probably going to get it. In just one year, he got a good many Republicans to switch from "America **** yeah, who cares what the foreigners think" to "Oh noes, I fear all these nice people from abroad have been offended somehow".

I ROFLOL'ed

[RSone]

I really do think it's funny.

We were told that a Democrat at the White House would mean an awful lot of hand-wringing and feet-shuffling and undue concern for foreign nations' sensitivities and, lo and behold, it IS true - except that it now comes from the same pundits that one year ago said the same foreign nations' input were largely irrelevant, and that when America says "jump" they should just ask "how high".

Seriously, after a few years of telling the rest of the world where it could stick its opinion, could you just remain in the zone where, you know, we decide for ourselves if we've been gravely offended or not?

Tru dat! It's getting on our collective nerves quite a bit, 'merica. I'm pretty sure our Japanese friends aren't going to go " Tenno heika BANZAI!!!! " and storm the white house over this little 'incident'

[brainplay]

I really do think it's funny.

We were told that a Democrat at the White House would mean an awful lot of hand-wringing and feet-shuffling and undue concern for foreign nations' sensitivities and, lo and behold, it IS true - except that it now comes from the same pundits that one year ago said the same foreign nations' input were largely irrelevant, and that when America says "jump" they should just ask "how high".

Seriously, after a few years of telling the rest of the world where it could stick its opinion, could you just remain in the zone where, you know, we decide for ourselves if we've been gravely offended or not?

The problem of course is that before we as you said those inputs were largely irrelevant. Unfortunately now, our Dear Leader has determined that they are relevant and is dragging us with him. Now, their interests are suddenly ours and many of us aren't happy about it. That's nice an all if you're one of the other nations but for the US we gain nothing from it.