Obama Wows Germans — But Will It Play in Streator, IL?
The speech may earn Obama raving applause from Europeans but just shrugs from my neighbors.
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I must confess to a weakness for listening and reading good political speeches. I wrote an article a while back on the top ten American political speeches of all time and never had so much fun writing and researching anything.
What determines a good political speech? Theodore H. White believed there were three elements that made a speech special. First, the moment in history when the words are delivered helps frame the speech and give it the proper context. Second, there must be a suitable backdrop: Gettysburg Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the House of Burgess in 1775 where the focus of American resistance to British tyranny settled. Patrick Henry giving his “Give me Liberty or give me death” speech in a tavern or in a church would not have been as impactful.
Finally, the words themselves must be memorable, crafted so that the man, the moment, and the backdrop all come together to create superior oratory.
For Barack Obama, it might be unfair to saddle him with the expectation that he would make a speech as memorable as the address delivered by John Kennedy when Berlin was the flashpoint for nuclear confrontation with the Soviets and the airlift still fresh in Berliners’ memories. Or that Obama could match an address that was as emotionally satisfying as Reagan’s challenge to the Soviets to “tear down this wall” when hope for change had been stoked to a very high level by Gorbachev’s policy of glasnost. Reagan and Kennedy went to Berlin in order to accomplish something specific. Obama went to Berlin to make a campaign commercial.
Obama is not president. There is no great crisis in Berlin or in Europe that would make Tiergarten Park a place of resonance for his words to echo down through the ages. Instead, he was a political candidate with the gift of oratory who came to Berlin to show the folks back home that he wasn’t a total rookie when it comes to overseas affairs.
The first leg of his trip was designed to underscore the candidate’s knowledge and judgment about Afghanistan, Iraq, and the thorny issues of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Playing to rave reviews in the press and getting a boost from the Iraqis who appeared to embrace his talk of setting a timetable for American withdrawal, the first leg was judged a big success by the punditocracy (could it ever have been anything else?).
But was it really necessary to come to Western Europe? This leg almost appears to be included for the sake of vanity — to show how much the rest of the world wants Obama to be president. Outside of a few American expatriates, there are no votes to be harvested there. Only photo-ops with leaders of countries about which most Americans could care less.
But that didn’t stop the hype from beginning to build days in advance for Obama’s Tiergarten Park speech, moved after the German government gently refused permission for an address at the Brandenberg Gate. Some enthusiasts in Germany predicted a million people would turn out for the party. Last night, the Obama crew sought to tone down expectations considerably, and it’s a good thing they did: somewhere between 100-200,000 turned out for Obama’s attempt to leave his mark on history. Still an enormous throng but not the overwhelming crush of humanity that some were saying would show up.
The speech itself was good, filled with plenty of Obama cliches that somehow sound new when he delivers them. It was well delivered like all Obama addresses, but curiously subdued at times. Whether it was because a sizable segment of the audience did not speak English or some other reason, Obama seemed to struggle in getting reaction from the crowd. Interrupted several times by applause, the speech nevertheless was not greeted with the wild enthusiasm many expected. There was occasional chanting of “O-BA-MA” and “YES-WE-CAN,” but it wasn’t sustained and tailed off rather quickly.
Rick Moran is PJM Chicago editor; his own blog is Right Wing Nut House.
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80 Comments
mjk:I say, Meh to his “world tour.” I was mocking him earlier for going to Jerusalem without entering on a donkey or healing a few lepers. And the less said about my comments about the Berlin tour, the better.
Jul 24, 2008 - 3:43 pm Right Brain:The crowd gathered hours earlier to hear multiple Rock and Roll bands who performed there this evening, Senator Obama was simply the last act of several. The crowd did not assemble only to hear him.
Jul 24, 2008 - 3:54 pm Kevin Callan:Nothing any Democrat says or does has any merit whatsoever. Therefore, why bother writing a critique?
Jul 24, 2008 - 3:57 pm Jbl:Funny, I thought “meh” about the speech, too. I kept hearing “I’d like to teach the world to sing - ” going thru my head. Not a truly memorable line in the whole thing. Go all the way to Germany, assemble a huge crowd, get a big photo-op and then give a speech that’s the equivalent of “We are the world…we are the children…” Not horrible. Not memorable. Pure meh.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:00 pm Zhombre:Obama will make a fine, inspiring President of the EU, or CNN International.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:02 pm Larry:What is it about Euros in general, and Germans in particular, that makes them so susceptible to these charismatic leaders, and why are Americans more resistant?
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:11 pm Roderick Reilly:It was a “Good” speech?
Really? Are you, Rick Moran, a Canadian? I mean, why did you feel a need to be so polite about his Berlin speech, which was insipid to the core?
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:13 pm Per Andreas:First of all, his speech was not “just rethorics” and “no content”, like critics often argue. A lot of what he said will, if implemented, lead to major policy changes.
I do agree that his speech did not lead to the kind of reaction one could expect among the crowd. I was there.
Because Obama was too American for the Europeans. I am pretty sure that many in the (very socialist, btw) Berlin crowd was disappointed with his speech. They expected Obama to be something he is not, but the comment section on Pajamasmedia tries to picture him as: Anti-American. He spoke in a way that European politicians would never. Be it the blatant proudness of western values and of being an American, or the commitment to NATO and Afghanistan. Neither of it (sadly) rings through over here.
That being said, the speech itself was an extremely well showcase for Obama the phenomenon. That a precidential candidate of the USA manage to turn Berlin on its head like this - it´s quite unbelievable.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:13 pm Dave II:You may be right…he didn’t strike out, but did he score any points HERE??? I would have to say “NO”!
In fact, many Americans I suspect, are just plane embarrassed by the whole stunt. It’s all just a little too creepy and ego-centric to have a “presumed” candidate (not even nominated yet!) speaking to a large foriegn audience as a “fellow citizen of the world”.
Personally, I don’t want my President putting his “world citizenship” above his AMERICAN citizenship…and that’s what Obama is inclined to do in his “worldview” of things if elected.
But..he did bring up a lot of good points regarding past and present efforts of Americans and it’s leaders to help bring freedom to the world…but then…my mind can only think about them in regards to what WOULD have happened if Obama had been President during any of those times…
Certainly, Sadaam would still be in power…and a terrorist haven and ally in the heart of the Middle east would STILL be there, along with his 2 sons.
Would the Berlin Wall EVER have come down under an Obama Presidency? I think not…he would NOT have implemented the defense spending or missle placements in Europe which Reagan did…and directly eventually led to bankrupting the Soviet Union. (Oh, btw Barack,..when the “wall came down”, and a “continent came together” the world was most definitely NOT “standing as one” for this to happen…it was ONE MAN standing up to the liberals in his country that allowed this!…and the events that started the process were exactly BECAUSE of his decisions… Incredible!)
Of course, who ever said Obama was an expert in history! (He certainly is an expert in twisting it!)
Obama’s lofty words are just that…words! When it comes to actually making the HARD decisions that MAKE A DIFFERENCE (ones that can’t be realized with “diplomacy” or “sanctions” or just “hope”) the man is clearly and totally ill-equipped to act or do what is needed. Our world would simply be a much, MUCH worse off place if we had had Obama as our President…and the people of Germany (but hopefully not America) don’t even realize that this is especially true for THEM..!
Here is the motto Germans SHOULD have heard today:
“ICH BIN EIn BEGINNER.”
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:30 pm David P:Addressing the German people took priority over visiting wounded American soldiers in the hospital a day after pledging to commit even more of them to combat service in Afghanistan. We’re told that it would be “inappropriate” to visit the wounded American troops because it may leave their $500,000,000 campaign budget short, or offend some of its donors.
I hope the patriotic Obama supporters in this country take note of his integrity & CHANGE their minds about blindly voting in a self-centered, unprincipled & dangerously impressionable liability.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:34 pm schnargley:Germans have always been a bit suckers for a messianic politician, not to speak of being weak in understanding the underlying principles of liberal democratic republican government. Seems Onama is weak himself in that area. Apparently he does’t grasp the fact that the Berlin Wall did not fall because of a smarmy fuzzy feelings of cometogetherness, but through conservatives and classic liberals relentlessly opposing socialist totalitarianism with ideological weapons as well as real weapons - bombs, armies…you know. Those of Obama’s persuasion, then and now through revisionism, vehemently opposed all the efforts against Communism that led to that wall falling.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:40 pm Napoleon:I predict:
(1) the speech will not pry loose one more Euro for a worthy cause or one more soldier for common defense;
(2) like Neville’s “peace with honor” speech, he has raised hopes, delivered nothing and people will feel betrayed when illness is not cured, wars remain etc. a week from now;
(3) the more Americans think about this the less they will like it: a US candidate pandering to Europeans, avoiding wounded US troops and speaking as if he was President–of the US, the World, whatever–already.
The unease of thoughtful people has increased. A messiah knows no boundries. However decent he appears to be–and he does–I think this trip was a mistake.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:52 pm Morton Doodslag:Some quotes from HIS speech, followed by my translations:
As we speak, cars in Boston and factories in Beijing are melting the ice caps in the Arctic, shrinking coastlines in the Atlantic, and bringing drought to farms from Kansas to Kenya.
Translation: We BAD. Capitalism? SUPERBAD!!!
In this new world, such dangerous currents have swept along faster than our efforts to contain them. That is why we cannot afford to be divided. No one nation, no matter how large or powerful, can defeat such challenges alone.
Translation: America BAD! Capitalism? POWERFUL SUPERBAD!!!
…we know that sometimes, on both sides of the Atlantic, we have drifted apart, and forgotten our shared destiny.
Translation: I know, fellow Europeans! I hate America too, just like YOU!
In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common. In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe’s role in our security and our future.
Translation: In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common, and with this I agree. (Nod nod, wink wink) In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe’s role in our security and our future, and I hate them, just as you, fellow world citizens!
That is why the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another. The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand.
Translation: Tear down your BORDERS, Mr. AMERICA. Borders are so 20th Century. Europe is way ahead of us primitive Yanks in this…
The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand.
Translation: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs! Commies of the World UNITE!
The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.
Translation: The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down. Those things formerly known as nation-states? Sovereignty? Fuggedaboutit. TEAR DOWN THOSE WALLS!
Well — I could go on — but we got the message… He’s a radical commie suitable for the Center to the Center Right in Europe — but for America this guy is so far left he can barely conceal his loathing when talking to his peeps.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:54 pm Ed Wallis:NEVER FORGET: Berliners only get together to PARTY. To h*ll with everything else. So, write off the crowds right there. As far as this - ahem - “article” goes…
“The speech itself was good.”
Yah. Uh huh…WHAT A COWPILE.
Try this on for a sampling of RANTINGS FROM A MAD MAN:
“The terrorists of September 11th plotted in Hamburg and trained in Kandahar and Karachi before killing thousands from all over the globe on American soil.
As we speak, cars in Boston and factories in Beijing are melting the ice caps in the Arctic, shrinking coastlines in the Atlantic, and bringing drought to farms from Kansas to Kenya.
Poorly secured nuclear material in the former Soviet Union, or secrets from a scientist in Pakistan could help build a bomb that detonates in Paris. The poppies in Afghanistan become the heroin in Berlin. The poverty and violence in Somalia breeds the terror of tomorrow. The genocide in Darfur shames the conscience of us all.
In this new world, such dangerous currents have swept along faster than our efforts to contain them. That is why we cannot afford to be divided. No one nation, no matter how large or powerful, can defeat such challenges alone. None of us can deny these threats, or escape responsibility in meeting them. Yet, in the absence of Soviet tanks and a terrible wall, it has become easy to forget this truth. And if we’re honest with each other, we know that sometimes, on both sides of the Atlantic, we have drifted apart, and forgotten our shared destiny.”
This is rambling, non-sensical GIBBERISH…NOTHING of which should be coming from a candidate for the post of presidency of the USA (let’s all agree to leave “citizen of the world” to Pat Paulsen, OK?!).
As to “Rick Moran,” as an Obamboozler Apologist, I say he fails miserably even at that as a “writer.” Maybe someday he can work his way up to tingling a “fellow Streatorian’s”-level Chris Matthews’ leg.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:57 pm Juliette:It’s a shame that we americans cannot see that the world is asking for something new. What is wrong with Obama asking that we all come together. If we are stupid enough not to listen to the rest of the world, then we do deserve what we get with the failling of our nation.
Jul 24, 2008 - 4:59 pm dan fisher:you know what i am so freaking tired of hearing about this phoney snakeoil salesman you nits wits on the left make me sick you and obama and his far left commie will b the down fall of america rome is burning wake people he,s a fake
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:20 pm Believer:I don’t even think the Germans were “wowed” by that speech.
Tepid response, and disappointment, I’ll bet, that it wasn’t leftie enough. The applause lines were predictable.
How can a speech be great when it’s all too clear it’s totally self-serving?
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:22 pm TexasDude:Something new? What Obama is offering is old, very old, in style and in substance.
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:23 pm dan fisher:democrat party = commie far left america hateing party no drill mexicans over ur bordes liberal judges need i say ore i don t see how any american can vote dummiecrat who s not a moron
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:24 pm Per Andreas:As we speak, cars in Boston and factories in Beijing are melting the ice caps in the Arctic, shrinking coastlines in the Atlantic, and bringing drought to farms from Kansas to Kenya.
Translation: Issues of global significance must be dealt with globally. That was the context, and it is dishonest to claim he is bashing capitalism, when infact he praises the open market several times in his speech.
In this new world, such dangerous currents have swept along faster than our efforts to contain them. That is why we cannot afford to be divided. No one nation, no matter how large or powerful, can defeat such challenges alone.
No translation needed, but context:
“Poorly secured nuclear material in the former Soviet Union, or secrets from a scientist in Pakistan could help build a bomb that detonates in Paris. The poppies in Afghanistan become the heroin in Berlin. The poverty and violence in Somalia breeds the terror of tomorrow. The genocide in Darfur shames the conscience of us all.”
…we know that sometimes, on both sides of the Atlantic, we have drifted apart, and forgotten our shared destiny.
No translation needed, really, how can you bloody get anything anti-American out of this? Amazing.
“In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common. In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe’s role in our security and our future.”
Translation: Both views miss the truth - that Europeans today are bearing new burdens and taking more responsibility in critical parts of the world; and that just as American bases built in the last century still help to defend the security of this continent, so does our country still sacrifice greatly for freedom around the globe.
That is why the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another. The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand.
Translation: European/American cooperation is for the better
“The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand.”
Translation: Ok, this one is a bit cheesy.
“The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.
Translation: Jews, Muslims and Christians does not need be enemies, and infact ought not to.
That last notions might be controversial to you. But given it´s stated in a speech that does nothing but to praise freedom and fight terrorism and extremism, it´s really not. Again, reading comprehension.
Morton Doodslag:
Well — I could go on — but we got the message… He’s a radical commie suitable for the Center to the Center Right in Europe — but for America this guy is so far left he can barely conceal his loathing when talking to his peeps.
Translation anyone?
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:30 pm OmegaPaladin:Juliette,
Come together to do what? Obama talks without substance or plans for action. He is also running for an American office. We vote for him, not Germans. He represents us, not the world. Who will look out for our interests while Obama is off being a citizen of the world?
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:31 pm Outsider Perspective:Many will have power, many will be famous but few will be remembered.
Obama will always be remembered because of the difference he has made and the vision he has. I must say as much as I like Obama I still don’t think he will win the election. There are still a lot of walls that has not been broken down yet.
I also want to add that there are many outsiders who really want McCain to win and it is not because of racism but because they want America to continue on the path it is on and self destruct like Rome. War is nothing to some of these countries, loosing their lives for their religion and their God is an honour.
The US economy is weakening; dollar is week, housing market crashing, unemployment rates rising the effects of war that did not make sense to begin with. The quest for oil, drove the economy into a hole and now they want off shore drilling to find oil in the US which I know is going to drive the economy in the ground and not to mention the burden it is going cost in health care for environmental diseases such as cancer, developmental problems such as autism, birth defects but who cares because for most it will be politics as usual.
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:33 pm misanthropicus:Hurrah! We’re liked again! Glibama did it! Gretchen, I told you so! Let’s tell the children! We’re liked again!
Yes, we’re are! I know from solid sources that the crews from Waziristan have dropped the guns and plan to volunteer in Peace Corps.
I know that Maliki is not anymore the weasel he’s been for fifty years or so, and all those Shias and Sunnis’ve gone mister Rogers.
I know that the Iranians are ready to grow tulips in their nuclear reactors caves.
I know that Putin will lower the price of gas and that he’s ready to invite everyone to the North Pole to get a can of gas a day - free!
I know that India and China will return jobs to America.
I know that the global heating will ease, and I know that Earth will start spinning a bit faster.
I know…. I know… I know… I know… I know…
Glibama for world president! Hurrah, we’re liked again, and cows and beavers will stop farting and putting methane in the atmosphere!
Literary effort by Misanthropicus, 3rd grade LAUSD, honorary Obamaton.
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:37 pm Ed Wallis:“Juliette” says, “It’s a shame that we americans cannot see that the world is asking for something new. What is wrong with Obama asking that we all come together. If we are stupid enough not to listen to the rest of the world, then we do deserve what we get with the failling of our nation.”
First of all, I’m American. Capitalized, as I am as proud of my country as myself.
Secondly, As a first generation American of European immigrants (we can put the “war refugee” stuff aside, for those victim-addicts…), I don’t give a horse’s patoot what “the world is asking for” unless it’s more American products and ideas. Thst you place the rest of the world’s desires above our existence clearly exposes your inferiority complex.
3. “What is wrong with Obama asking that we all come together” is that The Obamboozler is promoting S-O-C-I-A-L-I-S-M as the method to do so. I spell it out for you, because it is obvious to me that you are uneducated as to the danger (see point 2 above regarding escaping National Socialist persecution) of this pernicious I-D-E-O-L-O-G-Y. You can look that one up, too.
4. To “listen to the rest of the world”</IY is fine and, in many instances, a good thing. To do what “the rest of the world” wants is self-annihilation - see point 2 above.
5. That you state with pseudo-moral-superiority that, should American NOT submit to The Obamboozler’s totalitarian tendencies, “…then we do deserve what we get…” only exposes again not only your inferiority complex but also your nihilistic tendency…which I most vehemently do not share.
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:50 pm Believer:Well, Juliette, as I read your words I’m hearing about the honor killings that are going on here in the U.S.:
There are the two Texas sisters whose father put them in his taxi and shot them both. I just heard the 911 call with the child screaming that she was dying. And there’s a video (or some other evidence) of a mother who held down her daughter as the father plunged a 9″ knife into the child’s chest.
“It’s a shame we americans cannot see that the world is asking for something new.” No, dear. The shame is most of the world is clueless about evil. Including Obama.
“What is wrong with Obama asking that we all come together.” As I said, he’s clueless about evil.
Jul 24, 2008 - 5:51 pm Believer:Thank you, thank you, Misanthropicus.
You’ve done it again. I really needed those laughs. Hilarious!
Jul 24, 2008 - 6:06 pm cedarford:David P:
Addressing the German people took priority over visiting wounded American soldiers in the hospital a day after pledging to commit even more of them to combat service in Afghanistan. We’re told that it would be “inappropriate” to visit the wounded American troops because it may leave their $500,000,000 campaign budget short, or offend some of its donors.
I’m no Obama supporter, but I know a shabby attempt at moral blackmail when I see it. And that is all David P is doing.
The insinuation is that if any poltician does not make the focus of any international visit “our wounded heroes” or failed to lionize endlessly the “Heroes of 9/11″ in every speech, or lord help them, take a vacation that is not devoted to carving prothesises for limbless Vets - that the person is anti-American, hates the Greatest Heroes in Mankind’s history, and would leave wounded soldiers ignored.
Right.
As if David P spends every free moment helping the “heroes”, using his days off in burn centers…
As if any visit to any State by any politician must be mainly focused not on the broad constituency but on ceremonial visits to “heroes” or memorials to heroes.
Nor was his not visiting predicated on saving his large campaign budget or “offending his (democratice) donors.”
There are enough things to legitimately croticize Obamessiah on without resorting to lies or cheap emotional blackmail.
Jul 24, 2008 - 6:28 pm David P:cedarford
Jul 24, 2008 - 6:58 pm Joseph:My comments aren’t worthy of your passionate critique, maybe the discomfort stems from a lack of understanding about how most simple Americans view this shun as “inappropriate” and are also skeptical about warm embraces from crowds of fair weather allies.
What personal experience difference do we know about Berlin’s greatest mesmerizing speakers, Adolf Hitler in 1939 and BHO in 2008?
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:26 pm fred:Hitler actually served in his country’s armed forces. He was a corporal in WW I
I rarely listen to political speeches, even those of candidates I favor. I find it much better to read parts of them afterwards and to read intelligent commentary on them. In the case of this candidate, I find him irritating because I prefer a style more given to substance rather than lofty rhetoric. The fewer words the better. I remember way back when I was studying for the priesthood I thought, ” I will never deliver a homily longer than 15 minutes. I will put in the time to distill insight into the substance the people crave that has meat on the bone.”
I find Obama rambling. I fail to understand what all the fuss about his speeches is about.
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:43 pm Dave:I can’t help but wonder if our newly self-proclaimed “Citizen of the World” plans to renounce his American citizenship like that other presidential contender and Citizen of the World Garry Davis did back in the 40’s.
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:47 pm RE:Obama was speaking English to all those Germans. Isn’t that like….embarassing? Wasn’t he just calling us bunch a yahoos for the very same reason?
But that’s besides the point.
It’s his deliberate diminishing of America and all it has accomplished that really pisses me off. This man is not fit to serve on a school board. How about letting him run for secretary general of the United Nations instead?
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:49 pm Stromschlag:Quote schnargley:
“Germans have always been a bit suckers for a messianic politician, not to speak of being weak in understanding the underlying principles of liberal democratic republican government. Seems Onama is weak himself in that area. Apparently he does’t grasp the fact that the Berlin Wall did not fall because of a smarmy fuzzy feelings of cometogetherness, but through conservatives and classic liberals relentlessly opposing socialist totalitarianism with ideological weapons as well as real weapons”
But first you have to work on your understanding of historical causations ( especially since your writing lacks of any messianic inspiration )
The Berlin-Wall has been opend up ( not teared down ) as a result of Gorbachev`s perestroika and the demonstrations of the East-German people. This civil-rights movement has its roots in the Ostpolitik of Willy Brandt ( yes, negotiations ).
BTW: The NATO Double-Track Decision ( Pershing II as an answer to sowjet SS-20 rockets ) wasn`t the idea of Ronald Reagan but of ex-chancelor Helmut Schmidt ( a Social Democrat ) who struggeled hard about it with the Carter Administration.
Jul 24, 2008 - 7:50 pm Morton Doodslag:To poster Per Andreas, defender of HIM:
Rather than regurgitating all of it, let’s just stick with the first BHO quote I skewered, and drill a little deeper. You read it as an endorsement of markets?Really?! Interesting.
“…cars in Boston and factories in Beijing are melting ice caps.. ” Q: Why Boston? Q: Why Beijing? A: Easy targets, designed to pander in the crassest manner to millions of hypocritical European bigots. Wprse, this is dpne apmpst cpmppetepy at the expense of the nation this Great Charlatan professes to love so dearly.
If accepts the entire Global Warming theory, (and an increasing number of scientists challenge that CO2 is as “poisonous as Global Warming theory asserts), then shouldn’t ALL cars on planet earth be “melting ice caps”, and not just those in Boston? Presumably this would include those European cars? Likewise, shouldn’t ALL factories melt those caps?
His speech was filled with cheap shots against America, it perpetuated some of the most cartoonish smears and parodies of the USA (torture, xenophobia, carbon poisoners, capitalism), and was purely designed to please his Euro-leftists constiuencies, both there and here.
Citizen of the world indeed. Populist demagogue of the world, more accurately.
Jul 24, 2008 - 8:11 pm a blanco:Why was Obama allowed to give a speech in Berlin? Did anyone invited him or as a private citizen anyone can go and give a speech over there? I hope he was just speaking on behalf of the people that he represents in Illinois because he certainly doesn’t speaks for me. He is just a “presumptive nominee” of the Democratic party, who does this man thinks he is?
Jul 24, 2008 - 9:14 pm JKB:The audacity of arrogance!
Funny thing about Americans. We like our Presidents to be, well, for America. They must prove themselves to be a zealous advocate for the United States before we trust them to be all “we are the world”.
It is said that only Nixon could go to China. Acknowledging his anti-communist efforts made him trustworthy to extend an open hand to the communists. Obama has gone to Berlin and spoke to Germans about the world coming together. Obama’s error is that he isn’t known for being zealous for America.
Will the bitter and clingy trust Obama not to sell out America for his world vision? Trust him not to discard wounded soldiers when they are no longer useful? Trust him to put America first if he is given the legitimate right to speak for the people of the United States before foreign audiences?
Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Jul 24, 2008 - 9:59 pm ic:Heck, if the Europeans had a say in our elections, we would have President Kerry windsurfing off Nantuckett now.
Stromschlag:
The Berlin-Wall has been opend up as a result of …the demonstrations of the East-German people.
What an insight! Those who died scaling the Wall to go west should have demonstrated. Why haven’t they thought of that?
Btw, if the Wall was not torn down, where did those chunks of concrete come from? I thought I saw on TV people on top of the Wall holding chunks of concrete. Darn, we just can’t trust our lying eyes any more.
Jul 24, 2008 - 11:36 pm Such Is Life:I read Moran’s blog and the comments to date with awe. Codswallop such as this by Moran and his fellow-travellers, Hannity, Limbaugh, Ingraham and some of the commentators here being prime examples, are making US conservatives the laughing stock of the country and the world.
The Far Right Clowns, who are screaming from the rooftops that the Democrats are the anti-christ and that the sky will fall if they win the elections, are doing conservatives like myself, someone who is further to the right than Juan McFraud, a great dis-service. God help us if McFraud and the FRCs are all we have to offer this nation as an alternative.
Jul 25, 2008 - 1:05 am misanthropicus:Deutche Welle (the German equivalent of BBC) provides the following headliners of yesterday’s thing (English version, available on Internet).
Press Review/25.07.2008
German Press Review: Obama’s Incarnation
German papers on Friday generally applauded US presidential contender Barack Obama’s Berlin speech. But some also added that Germans now had to wake up and smell the coffee.
Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel was enthusiastic about Obama’s appearance. “This speech had to, and could only, be given in Berlin,” it wrote. “Barack Obama’s address … might not have been statesmanlike and it definitely wasn’t worldly-wise. But with its symbolism and the message of this 46-year-old, it certainly was the signal of a new era for a new generation on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s unlikely that so many young people have ever gathered for a political event in Germany before. What does this tell us for Germany? For Berlin? ‘Look at this city,’ he kept quoting the big freedom speech of (then Berlin Mayor) Ernst Reuter 60 years go. What better thing could have happened to us than the potential next president of the US sending this message to the world from here?”
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung was much more cautious and questioned whether Obama had really just spoken as a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world. “One shouldn’t overestimate the Berlin speech,” the Munich daily wrote. “Obama has proven to be a clever tactician during the campaign. He always knows his audience. In Berlin, he won over enthusiastic Germans, but his real audience was hesitant white voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Colorado and Virginia. He wants to convince them that the world will also listen to a black president. That’s why this was staged in Berlin. Americans still see Germans — despite their resistance against the war in Iraq — as a trustworthy ally and not as unruly as the French or as willing as the British. And there’s one other thing one shouldn’t forget when talking about Obama: He easily reworks even positions that have been written in stone and adjusts to new requirements. He’s watered down his resistance to free trade agreements, and the complete withdrawal from Iraq is no longer part of his program. One shouldn’t forget this when analyzing the content of Obama’s Berlin speech.”
Mass-market tabloid Bild covered Obama’s visit extensively and placed a picture of one of its reporters with the presidential candidate in a Berlin gym on its Friday cover. While acknowledging that Obama would ask Germany for more, its commentator also hailed the speech. “Barack Obama reached the hearts of his audience,” he wrote. “This man, who wants to change so much in his own country, sticks to the American dream: that politics can change the world. Unlike George W. Bush, he wants to do this in cooperation with others, especially Europe. That’s his message from Berlin: Let’s try this together! A President Obama won’t let others get involved for free, though. He didn’t say what he expects, but it’s not hard to figure it out. He’ll call for more German participation during international crises; he’ll call for more German soldiers. No matter how you might feel about this: A President Obama would be Germany’s friend — and a fan of Berlin!”
The Financial Times Deutschland gave a more sober assessment. “Obama’s speech was an advertisement for the struggle against terrorism,” it wrote. “He called upon the spirit of the Berlin air lift and used this to demand Germany’s solidarity. The federal government now finally knows that he will expect more participation in Afghanistan. The United States doesn’t accept that they have to be worn down in the fight against the Taliban while the Germans play the role of friendly reconstruction worker. While the government already knows what to expect, the voters of the large political parties will soon experience a rude awakening when they see that Obama’s new America pursues the old goals.”
And the left-wing Berlin daily Die Tageszeitung, which had a picture of Obama as a superhero with the headline “Come off it!” on its Thursday cover, was glad that the American guest had become more human. “Did Obama become more mundane after his speech? Yes, and that’s a good thing,” it wrote. “One the one hand, his rhetorical weaknesses became apparent. His hymn to the brave frontier city Berlin connected with Kennedy and Reagan. But the ‘light and darkness’ metaphor, which excites so many in the US, seemed strangely borrowed here — as if he were calling on a bright past that isn’t his own yet. His rhetoric was much more powerful wherever he painted the dangers of globalization in dark colors in order to let the central message shine even brighter: More cooperation is not only desirable, but necessary — especially as far as climate protection is concerned. That’s something only few in the US, but many in Germany like to hear.”
Jul 25, 2008 - 2:04 am Tony:IC:
“Heck, if the Europeans had a say in our elections, we would have President Kerry windsurfing off Nantuckett now”
Utter rubbish!
What you read and hear in the European media is the exact same distorted liberal elite tripe you get over there in the US media and does not reflect the general views of the European people.
Obama might be popular among European students (standard childish idealistic enthusiasm) but I’d wager that the majority of the European people wouldn’t buy into the Obamamania anywhere near as much as they do in the US.
If 200,000 turned up to see Obama then that means the other 495 million didn’t bother. You do the math.
Jul 25, 2008 - 2:45 am Per Andreas:“His speech was filled with cheap shots against America, it perpetuated some of the most cartoonish smears and parodies of the USA (torture, xenophobia, carbon poisoners, capitalism), and was purely designed to please his Euro-leftists constiuencies, both there and here. ”
Well, it was not percieved that way by us (the live audience). As I said, the response were very lukewarm. If the crowd had noticed more “cheap shots against America”, they would have been more enthusiastic (sadly, I may add). If he wrote the speech to impress leftist Berliners, he failed.
Again, I think the impression that most Germans had after the speech, was that Obama is very American, and very little European. I think you have to have an extreme bias to read him like you do.
Jul 25, 2008 - 3:45 am Per Andreas:I (and famous US policymakers like the father of containment, George Kennan, agree) do believe that the most important factor in ending the cold war, is internal Soviet circumstances.
But that is clearly irrelevant.
Obamas point was that the way we stood together to fight communism, we need to stand together to fight the global challenges of today. Muslim Terrorism being one of those challenges. If anything, Obama argued that the American effort during the cold war was crucial to stop communism (with the air lift as obvious example). But, wait, that´s bound to create some cognitive dissonance among all of you who think he is indeed a communist himself. So let´s just pretend he said, and ment, something else.
Jul 25, 2008 - 3:50 am chuck,:Hey, Per
Question: Did many people in the crowd understand English?
There is something wonderfully surreal about a man making a campaign speech in a land that can’t vote for him in a language the people don’t speak.
Perhaps I too will make a sensation and stand under the Arc de Triomphe and in resounding and noble tones declaim:
Nasahhfiu hiuowennnaaa mmakkkawooppo! derttungaaeeeeethoopu.
Jul 25, 2008 - 5:48 am faceitretards:(mild applause)
byrtye qyzzxyyye gyumy thuryakpio, swazppuyrny, whmxuutry!!!
(cheers)
I guess when you boil it down it is all about jealousy from the right and republicans. You guys just all wish you had a candidate you could get excited about. Your phony baloney attacks on Obama are not even close to working. Ever since Rev. Wright was outta the way it has been smooth sailing for BO. All of you would be ecstatic if you had a candidate exciting anyone more than a group at the old folks home. Quit pretending that Europe is our enemy.I know you are all going through your personal 12 steps since you know that this election will be for Obama, just get used to seeing him in the Oval office and spare the rest of America with your comments. You are the same idiots who voted for a George Bush 4 times.
Jul 25, 2008 - 6:18 am keith hagar:Obama’s attempt to include the world in the American victories of the Berlin airlift and the fight that led to the downfall of communism highlight again his disdain for AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM.This
Jul 25, 2008 - 6:43 am Spider79:To Faceit,
You’re right. I do wish we had a candidate we could get excited about. Instead we have McCain who has delighted at poking us in the eye quite often over the years. Thank God we have a candidate we can get excited to vote against! If I were you I would wonder why a guy like Obama who the left thinks shoots lightening bolts from his arse, and is against a guy the right doesn’t really like, is running even in the polls.
Jul 25, 2008 - 6:55 am Edmund Jenks (MAXINE):In his speech in Berlin today, he stated that in addition to being a citizen of the United States, he is a citizen of the World.
I really only want to cast my vote for someone to lead my country who professes to be a citizen of my country First, Last, and ALWAYS. I do not want my president to be conflicted in his loyalties.
Further, Barack Obama raised the spector of our country’s possible involvement in torture (as if this is what we do … all the time - we ARE at war, not in a police action) and embedded this highlight in a “nothing burger” of a cliche ridden speech. I felt that I was watching the “Dixie Chicks” as opposed to someone who wishes to represent our country to the rest of the world as its lead executive.
WOW - I ain’t swoonin’!
Jul 25, 2008 - 7:06 am faceitretards:The polls don’t mean a thing. What does your head and heart tell you? Mine says no matter how close it may seem to be McCain is toast. What I am seeing from the right is the same behavior I had in 2004 with John Kerry. You keep talking yourself into thinking your guy has a chance but you really know that he doesn’t.
Jul 25, 2008 - 7:26 am Candide:“I (and famous US policymakers like the father of containment, George Kennan, agree) do believe that the most important factor in ending the cold war, is internal Soviet circumstances.”
Bad performance is not enough to lose. Someone else has to perform better and win.
For example, the reason Germany lost in Euro soccer final was because it had a bad team. Still, Spanish needed to show up and play the game to put Germans out of their misery. And Spanish got the Cup.
So it’s only fair to praise Reagan for putting Soviets out of their misery.
Jul 25, 2008 - 7:54 am Per Andreas:chuck,:
Hey, Per
Question: Did many people in the crowd understand English?
Even though germans aren´t the best English speakers in the world, they do understand it - especially the Berliners.
I still think those of you who say Obama was somehow bashing America in his speech are very wrong. It certainly wasn´t percieved like that over here. Reading the newspapers today, they all report on how Obama called on Germany to live up to their commitment to NATO. The views he presented about Afghanistan did not go unnoticed. This is also reported to have been the subject of his talks with chanchellor Merkel.
Coming to think of it, my view on the speech is more positive now than it was initially. It´s quite remarkable that a possible president of the US can gather such a crowd in Europe, so blatantly speak about American values, the fight against terrorism and stepping up the contribution to Afghanistan (very controversial here), and get a positive, although not ecstatic, reaction. I´m sure you don´t like it, but Obama is not only gaining support among Europeans for his precidency, but also for American values, which has been frowned upon for too long over here.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:10 am Edward A.:What a refreshing change…an articulate, intelligent speaker. One is proud to be an American. After seven and half years, America and the rest of the world look forward with hope. And, the embarrassment that is George Bush will soon end.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:11 am Frank Logan:To Facit: The objective reality is 1.Rev. Wright has not been forgotten. 2. BHO is running against BHO and doing poorly, if the polls have any veracity. 3. America has not, and will not elect an extremist from either end of the political spectrum. 4. 25% to 30% of Hillary democrats are going to put country before party in this election and vote for McCain. If the MSM wasn’t so biased for OHB therebye distorting peoples perceptions(propaganda) it would be clear that McCain is seen as the lesser of two evils and will be elected in November.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:25 am RE:It seems that Obama’s message to Ameircans is ‘Be less than you can be’ as he seeks to diminish Ameirca and what it stands for in his effort to acheive the lowest common denominator of ‘equality’.
“America! Be Less!”
It’s a pathetic message that normal Americans won’t receive well.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:37 am john:“The polls don’t mean a thing”
The polls show Obama ahead. Just like they showed Kerry ahead so I guess your right.
Also Obama said, “Americans and Europeans need to do more”. Well I’m 50 and have heard this stuff before; I say I have done enough and don’t have to prove a thing to you. All you Obamas (socialists) out there stay out of my wallet and my life.
Them Germans sure have good instincts in choosing leaders. Don’t they? They picked a great one eighty some years ago. How many millions died from that great choice? And the English, their great with their immigrants soon it will look like the middle east over there. And don’t forget about the French. They know how to take care of their old people as long as there isn’t a heat wave. Yeah, bad old United States too bad we can’t be perfect like Obama and his European buddies. One last thing; I like how Obama isn’t in spell check (McCain is), there’s something almost poetic in that.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:40 am schnargley:“You guys just all wish you had a candidate you could get excited about.”
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:50 am deguello:There is a difference between the excitement of having a proven, American maverick hero who understands the foundational principles of our nation, who can relate well with people because he understands them, and the infantile teenybop hysteria over a contrived media creation with an overweening ego propped up by rock concerts and audiences who cannot understand what he is saying. Even the liberals who have a grain of honesty and objectivity are noting this.
Edward: thanks for reminding of something HL Mencken once said:”Nobody ever went broke underestimating the stupidity of the american people.” Not to mention the germans,who continue to lap up rhetorical garbage with the same enthusiasm they showed for their other miracle -mongering messiah back in the thirties. Same poison, same crowd,same country, 3/4 of a century later.We should have let Russia deal with them.
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:52 am john:Had to post this, even the letists got a sence of humor, maybe.
By Gerard Baker,
And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.
The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.
When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?”
In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.
And so it was, in the fullness of time, before the harvest month of the appointed year, the Child ventured forth - for the first time - to bring the light unto all the world.
He travelled fleet of foot and light of camel, with a small retinue that consisted only of his loyal disciples from the tribe of the Media. He ventured first to the land of the Hindu Kush, where the
Taleban had harboured the viper of al-Qaeda in their bosom, raining terror on all the world.
And the Child spake and the tribes of Nato immediately loosed the Caveats that had previously bound them. And in the great battle that ensued the forces of the light were triumphant. For as long as the Child stood with his arms raised aloft, the enemy suffered great blows and the threat of terror was no more.
From there he went forth to Mesopotamia where he was received by the great ruler al-Maliki, and al-Maliki spake unto him and blessed his Sixteen Month Troop Withdrawal Plan even as the imperial warrior Petraeus tried to destroy it.
And lo, in Mesopotamia, a miracle occurred. Even though the Great Surge of Armour that the evil Bush had ordered had been a terrible mistake, a waste of vital military resources and doomed to end in disaster, the Child’s very presence suddenly brought forth a great victory for the forces of the light.
And the Persians, who saw all this and were greatly fearful, longed to speak with the Child and saw that the Child was the bringer of peace. At the mention of his name they quickly laid aside their intrigues and beat their uranium swords into civil nuclear energy ploughshares.
From there the Child went up to the city of Jerusalem, and entered through the gate seated on an ass. The crowds of network anchors who had followed him from afar cheered “Hosanna” and waved great palm fronds and strewed them at his feet.
In Jerusalem and in surrounding Palestine, the Child spake to the Hebrews and the Arabs, as the Scripture had foretold. And in an instant, the lion lay down with the lamb, and the Israelites and Ishmaelites ended their long enmity and lived for ever after in peace.
As word spread throughout the land about the Child’s wondrous works, peoples from all over flocked to hear him; Hittites and Abbasids; Obamacons and McCainiacs; Cameroonians and Blairites.
And they told of strange and wondrous things that greeted the news of the Child’s journey. Around the world, global temperatures began to decline, and the ocean levels fell and the great warming was over.
The Great Prophet Algore of Nobel and Oscar, who many had believed was the anointed one, smiled and told his followers that the Child was the one generations had been waiting for.
And there were other wonderful signs. In the city of the Street at the Wall, spreads on interbank interest rates dropped like manna from Heaven and rates on credit default swaps fell to the ground as dead birds from the almond tree, and the people who had lived in foreclosure were able to borrow again.
Black gold gushed from the ground at prices well below $140 per barrel. In hospitals across the land the sick were cured even though they were uninsured. And all because the Child had pronounced it.
And this is the testimony of one who speaks the truth and bears witness to the truth so that you might believe. And he knows it is the truth for he saw it all on CNN and the BBC and in the pages of The New York Times.
Then the Child ventured forth from Israel and Palestine and stepped onto the shores of the Old Continent. In the land of Queen Angela of Merkel, vast multitudes gathered to hear his voice, and he preached to them at length.
But when he had finished speaking his disciples told him the crowd was hungry, for they had had nothing to eat all the hours they had waited for him.
And so the Child told his disciples to fetch some food but all they had was five loaves and a couple of frankfurters. So he took the bread and the frankfurters and blessed them and told his disciples to feed the multitudes. And when all had eaten their fill, the scraps filled twelve baskets.
Thence he travelled west to Mount Sarkozy. Even the beauteous Princess Carla of the tribe of the Bruni was struck by awe and she was great in love with the Child, but he was tempted not.
On the Seventh Day he walked across the Channel of the Angles to the ancient land of the hooligans. There he was welcomed with open arms by the once great prophet Blair and his successor, Gordon the Leper, and his successor, David the Golden One.
And suddenly, with the men appeared the archangel Gabriel and the whole host of the heavenly choir, ranks of cherubim and seraphim, all praising God and singing: “Yes, We Can.”
Jul 25, 2008 - 8:53 am Per Andreas:Yes, pull the Hitler card.
Jul 25, 2008 - 9:11 am Pat:Classy.
Mr Moran,
Do not speak for me, or for the hundreds of others that disagree with your philosophies of hatred, racism, and separatism. I was born, in the early 50’s, in Streator, Illinois, and still have relatives living there, as well as dear friends, and I still drive there at least once a week, so I am not out of touch with my home town. Do not impart the picture of Streator, Illinois, as sharing your myopic views. You are taking liberties with the thoughts of those that strongly disagree with you, and drawing a picture of a town, and it’s people, as uncaring and blind to hope. If there is any resemblance to Hilter’s beliefs, it can be recognized in the many comments written by those who fear change, especially if it comes in any other color, but caucasian, and any other party, but Republican. You do no service to younger generations attempting to understand the total picture, when you exclude so many with your biases. How limited your life must be.
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:08 am john:The guy gave a speech in Germany, full of rhetoric, in front of thousands sounding more like he thought he was messiah. What card did you think would be pulled?
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:13 am john:For Pat:
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:31 am Per Andreas:Change, give me a break. Obama is not change. He just reuses the same crap the democrats have been pushing for years. And as for hate, I know of the hate in the Democratic Party, I’ve seen it and heard it that’s why I’m a Republican. I even remember that the first time I learned of the n word was when I was a child from my old generation democrat family. The democrats have been using the politics of hate all my life and they’re still using it. As far as what Moran said about Streator, Illinois I don’t get what you would be upset about. It sounds to me like he was implying people of Streator, Illinois have their own minds and aren’t going to be swayed by the biased MSM.
“The guy gave a speech in Germany, full of rhetoric, in front of thousands sounding more like he thought he was messiah. What card did you think would be pulled?”
You are right, I should have learned not to expect better.
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:53 am john:Saying we shouldn’t pull the Hitler card after 7 years of hearing Bush being compared to him and even hearing our troops being compared to Nazis is actually kind of funny.
Jul 25, 2008 - 11:13 am Per Andreas:Good to se where you find your inspiration and moral guidance…
Jul 25, 2008 - 12:16 pm Sandra Pinto:I have never read such abject, limited narrow un-informed thinking, rubbish and so much of it.
Jul 25, 2008 - 1:39 pm Sandra Pinto:Thank heaven for Pat there is hope
Pat thank you for common sense and your clear, upright and just view of your country and the world. Barack Obama will indeed go a long way to redeeming America in the eyes of the world after what happened in the last 8 years. Despite what anybody thinks America is only part of the world and the rest of the world does matter very much It should matter very much to you because right now at this point in time your country is in dire straits and needs as much help and support that it can get on many different levels.
Jul 25, 2008 - 1:45 pm Rachel Peepers:Listening to the great Senator Obama talk in Berlin made me once again proud to be an American.
For Obama talked about us becoming citizens of the world.
A world that destroys all nuclear weapons.
Stops America’s about-to-be-made operational nuclear shield.
Becomes subservient to a world court which supercedes the outdated and unworkable United States Constitution.
And pays restitution to all manners of peoples who have suffered at the hands of the U.S. military, from Germans, to Iraquis to Japanese.
On the other hand, let’s face it, John McCain would just be another four years of George Bush. With no redistribution of wealth, no free health care for illegal immigrants,no capital gains tax increases, no federal tax increases to redistribute wealth, no withdrawl from Iraq on a published timetable. And no unilateral disarmerment of the U.S. military.
And to those people who critized the good Senator Obama for not visiting wounded American soldiers in Germany, I can only say, instead of questioning such an intellectually superior person, you should just admire what he’s trying to do to America. In fact, Michelle, his beautiful wife, is against anyone joining the U.S. military because it adds to the power of America to wage war.
Obama is about change. And if you Republicans think you don’t like him now, just wait till he’s elected Preident.
Jul 25, 2008 - 4:09 pm chuck,:A cynical little fellow is our Obama.
He goes to foreign places, where America is not loved, draws a rock star audience, who may or may not have understood a single word he said, delivers gaseous platitudes along with a couple of stern demands to the Europeans. This way he comes across at once as: the World Savior, the only Man who can redeem our country in the eyes of humanity, and the only Man who can get those deadbeat eurowimps to come up with more troops to send to the war zone.
Believers among us: Is he the Antichrist? Is it an impious rejection of God’s plan to reject him?
Jul 25, 2008 - 4:20 pm John Samford:Rachel,
Jul 25, 2008 - 6:43 pm schnargley:You must be a great date. I cannot imagine a line you are not simple enough to fall for. Save a lot on beer money, eh!
Rachel’s pulling your leg, John. She can pull mine on any date. ;0)
Jul 25, 2008 - 7:21 pm Per Andreas:Rachel, your irony is kind of funny.
But just remember that reducing nuclear weapons is not anything particular democratic, nor communist. Indeed, of the most popular republican presidents ever (known for his communist hatred, mind you) had that very same goal. And it is republican presidents who secured the significant arms reduction treaties during the cold war.
So taking on Obama for wanting to reduce nuclear weapons seems to be kind of, ehhh, unhistorical for a republican.
Jul 25, 2008 - 10:08 pm Leonard:After having read many comments, I have decided to post my mine. I am doing so because I love America. I think It is time for the republicans to use common sense, to look back at the world history at different level( individual, national, and international) and tell me that we have a better option than the one that Obama has. Of course, there may be a better one, of course Obamas’ one may not be perfect. However, he seems to be not only the salvation of the U.S., but also, the salvation of the world. I don’t have nothing against Mc Cain, If he sounded better than Obama, by offering the U.S. and the world safer, healthier and more prosperous future; I would be after him. what counts now for all Americans, is a safe future. The threat that America is facing is not a game. It is extremly dangereous. How can America win when it is acting alone, and mainly by creating more ennemies by being to arrogant, or by cooling down the will of its allieds to deeply involve in this quest. Anyway, I still do not beleive that those comments are from the American people.
Jul 26, 2008 - 2:13 am pappy:i’m afraid nuclear weapons, like rock&roll are here to stay. b.o. can talk a good line of bulls%&t as long as someone writes it for him and displays it for him to read, this is only window dressing. he should stick to the real democrat issue of getting votes anywhere they can. by using illegal immigrants, or trying to have european citizens submit write in ballots. this nation will never be the same after the one world order lowers the U.S. to a third world country. let’s leave some of these walls stand!!
Jul 26, 2008 - 5:15 am chuck,:Leonard,
Oh, but these comments are from real live Americans. If you want to talk to the ones who agree with you, may I recommend the left side of the blogosphere? Here for the most part you’ll find old fashioned American patriots, who love their country more than the “world”. Obama clearly feels otherwise, which is why I will never acknowledge him as President of the United States even though the fortunes of politics will likely put him in the White House in a few months.
Jul 26, 2008 - 7:06 am John Samford:“I also want to add that there are many outsiders who really want McCain to win and it is not because of racism but because they want America to continue on the path it is on and self destruct like Rome.”
Don’t read much history, do you? Rome DID NOT self-destruct. It was beaten on the field of battle by enemies with superior technology.
http://www.roman-empire.net/army/adrianople.html
In two weeks we will have the 1630th anniversary of that battle. In 1630 years, the start of military action against Iran will be celebrated (by historians) as the turning point in the GWoT.
PRESIDENT Bush will still be remembered as one of America’s greatest Presidents. Ohhhhh……BAAAMA won’t even be a trivia question.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905
US (Spanish-born) philosopher (1863 - 1952)
America is admired and respected all across the globe. By all except a few dictators who fear the USA and a small but vocal group of Western socialists.
“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.”
Jul 26, 2008 - 7:07 am Rachel Peepers:Napoleon Bonaparte
French general & politician (1769 - 1821)
I’m afraid I wasn’t clear about Senator Obamas plan to eliminate all nuclear weapons. In his book he states that the United States should set an example for the rest of the world by unilaterally destroying their stockpile of weapons. Which Republicans may see as opening us to attack or nuclear intimidation or even mass destruction, or worse, but Obama sees it at the first step in ridding the entire world of weapons of mass destruction. This is one example of the change Obama is talking about. The U.S. not only will talk the talk, but walk the walk. And Senator Obama has enough confidence in the intrinsic goodness of people, governments, and pseudo terrorists everywhere that their sense of fairness, honesty and evenhandedness will prevent them from attacking an unarmed, trusting, goodhearted America. Obama says it’s time for America to lead in the most important endeavors of the day. If it doesn’t work out, so be it. But this is the kind of change we can all believe in.
Jul 26, 2008 - 12:34 pm always right:Now I am convinced ‘Rachel Peepers’ is a Rovian plant. Either that or ’she’ is a Swidish fembot.
“If it doesn’t work out, so be it.”
Jul 28, 2008 - 11:47 am Rachel Peepers:Nobody can talk like that. Tough luck, eh, (whomever gets The Bombs)?
Always Right:
Got plans for the weekend?
Change em’.
Visit your local Borders and pick up a copy of “Obama Nation,” one week away from topping the New York Times best seller list. It’s a riveting expose that traces Barack Osama’s journey from child to Chicago left wing extremist to Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.
Aug 1, 2008 - 12:01 am