“Obama’s French Lesson”
[Guest post by DRJ]
Today’s don’t-miss read is this Krauthammer column. Here’s a small taste:
“Bismarck is said to have said: “There is a providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children, and the United States of America.” Bismarck never saw Obama at the U.N.”
Leading up to that, Krauthammer explains Obama’s naive foreign policy, Sarkozy’s irritation (to put it mildly) with Obama’s approach to dealing with Iran and nuclear weapons, and another example of Obama’s supreme ego.
As Don Imus said in another context, this won’t end well.
— DRJ
Hmmmm …
L’Etat, c’est mOi !
Yup, sounds about right …
(bigger grin)
Copenhagen adds a whole new meaning to the phrase “O for 3“, now, doesn’t it ?
Alasdair (e6258a) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:00 pmThat is funny.
Alta Bob (3dd3fe) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:10 pm—Louis XIV
Apres moi, le deluge.
Alta Bob (3dd3fe) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:12 pm–Louis XV
It’s good to be the king.
Official Internet Data Office (4514e0) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:22 pm-Louis XVI
I don’t remember this site taking such interest in French opinion of the previous Administration.
Andrew J. Lazarus (7d46f9) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:24 pmThe last French leader wasn’t as conservative as Sarkozy.
DRJ (b008f8) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:39 pmAJL,
As we have always said, and make no mistake about how this is consistent with previous positions, we have always been concerned with the perceptions of our allies. It’s been pretty clear. We hope that the current antipathy will change. Vigorous discussion and demonstration of our mutual respect will sway those who currently hold us in disfavor. Truly, this is a new age of diplomacy where the rest of the world cannot help but notice our good intentions and they will respond accordingly, knowing in their hearts that America’s interests are really their interests as well.
(I can’t keep a straight face any longer… someone else tell me if he’s buying this. 😉 )
Stashiu3 (44da70) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:44 pmDRJ: Can we call them French fries again?
Now that we respect the French, and their opinion, do we like their health plan, too?
Myron (6a93dd) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:46 pmMyron,
In the voice of Carl from the Simpsons in the Stone Cutters episode:
Shut up!
Leviticus (30ac20) — 10/2/2009 @ 2:56 pmMyron doesn’t know, or conveniently chooses to forget, that the French plan contains strong elements of the free market, which ObamaCare is trying to destroy.
We need better
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (012317) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:05 pmidiotstrolls.Myron:
Let’s not go overboard.
But, seriously, doesn’t it worry you that Sarkozy is worried Obama is naive when it comes to international relations? The fact that this originates with the notoriously self-absorbed and nationalistic French gives me pause.
DRJ (b008f8) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:08 pmYes, when you’re accused of being clue-less by Chance-the-Gardener you know you’re in trouble.
AD - RtR/OS! (3d0577) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:20 pmWe sure dodged a bullet with Chillbilly Barbie compared to this empty suit! Heh!
daleyrocks (718861) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:33 pmSo, Bradley, that’s a “yes,” we should look toward the French model? Aren’t they single-payer?
DRJ: I’m not particularly worried about Sarkozy’s opinion, no. Everyone has opinions. I give his no more weight than anyone else’s. People have been underestimating Obama every since he came onto the scene.
As for Obama’s foreign policy, though it is more Bush-like than I would have desired, I don’t see where he has made any major blunders. I think Iran has been smoked out and exposed in a way they have not been before, and we have our best opportunity to get China and Russia on board for sanctions.
Now, what I DO worry about is Afghanistan. I haven’t heard anything that sounds like a solution to that very difficult problem.
I also worry about the possibility of an Iran-Israel war and what our role might be.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 3:56 pm“People have been underestimating Obama every since he came onto the scene.”
Myron – I disagree. I think the vast majority of people have been overestimating him since he became one of the leading Democrat Presidential candidates, especially since the media abdicated its job in investigating his qualifications, background and associations, prior positions, and essentially became part of his campaign apparatus. Your mileage may vary.
daleyrocks (718861) — 10/2/2009 @ 4:02 pm“As for Obama’s foreign policy”
What foreign policy – appease your enemies and piss off your allies? Is that the foreign policy you mean Myron? Is there any other discernible foreign policy?
daleyrocks (718861) — 10/2/2009 @ 4:05 pmOur role will consist of ducking.
PatriotRider (4232a5) — 10/2/2009 @ 4:06 pmSo, Bradley, that’s a “yes,” we should look toward the French model? Aren’t they single-payer?
No, that’s not correct – for the umpteenth time. Once again, you’ve utterly failed to even read the many posts by Dr. Mike K. precisely on this topic, and your continued ignorance is duly noted. Don’t talk about this issue again until you can find your backside with at least one of your hands.
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/2/2009 @ 4:54 pmdaleyrocks: The media abdicating its job meme doesn’t really fly with me. What has come out about Obama’s background since the election that would have changed anything? (And I HOPE you’re not one of these crazy birthers.)
Obama came out on top of both the Clinton Machine and the Republican attack machine. Between the two of them, they would have scoured every aspect of this guy’s life. Apparently, the best they could come up with was a dubious pastor.
I think there were two cases where the media fell down in the ’08 campaign. The blatantly anti-Clinton coverage in the early part of the primary (before the Saturday Night Live skit shamed journalists). Now, if you want to argue they were so hard on Clinton b/c of Obama love — I MIGHT give that a little credence.
The second failing was giving Sarah Palin a “pass” by letting her get away with just 3 interviews and dodging nearly every question in her debate with Joe Biden. Many in the media declared her sham of a performance in the debate as a “tie” or a victory. I think it was b/c of her good looks. There was a sympathy thing going on, too, like they were pulling for a special child.
It was only her own exhibition of near complete ignorance in two of those interviews (the third was a connilingus session with Sean Hannity)that thankfully exposed her.
Steve Schmidt, who was among those who picked her, recently told us the real deal. He said if she got the GOP nomination it would be catastrophic for the party. (But he’s wrong in thinking she has any shot at the Republican primary. I don’t agree with Bill Maher — Republicans aren’t that stupid.)
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:07 pmdaleyrocks: Re: foreign policy.
What would you have done differently?
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:09 pmThe second failing was giving Sarah Palin a “pass” by letting her get away with just 3 interviews and dodging nearly every question in her debate with Joe Biden. Many in the media declared her sham of a performance in the debate as a “tie” or a victory. I think it was b/c of her good looks. There was a sympathy thing going on, too, like they were pulling for a special child.
OMG. Myron, do you know Larry Reilly?
Dana (863a65) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:18 pmMyron’s “ignorance” on the French model is merely feigned. He’s intentionally misrepresenting to avoid confronting the fact that his snark is just stupid.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:24 pmWith respect to Obama, this line of Myron looks like classic reversal of reality: “People have been underestimating Obama every since he came onto the scene.”
You would think that this would be the most ridiculous thing Myron could write, given that in fact Obama has clearly been nothing but overestimated. But no, Myron tops that:
“As for Obama’s foreign policy, though it is more Bush-like than I would have desired, I don’t see where he has made any major blunders. I think Iran has been smoked out and exposed in a way they have not been before, and we have our best opportunity to get China and Russia on board for sanctions. “
Comedy gold.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:27 pm“Obama came out on top of both the Clinton Machine and the Republican attack machine. Between the two of them, they would have scoured every aspect of this guy’s life.”
Myron – Absolute crap. There was a wealth of material in David Fredosso’s book that was not picked up by the McCain campaign or the media that telegraphed Obama’s current behavior. The book came out too late for Hillary. Hillary would only use enough to get Obama out of the way without destroying the party’s chances. Obama rigged the caucuses and by the time she figured that out it was too late. There was plenty of material floating around the internet that McCain and the media would not use and that the Obama campaign was actively trying to supress that would have been damaging.
On this you are just flat out wrong Myron.
daleyrocks (718861) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:31 pm“What would you have done differently?”
Myron – I would begin by not apologizing for America being a leader of the free world and supporting democracy and freedom wherever it is found. I would have taken an immediate tough line with Iran, we have the support of the other Gulf countries in that regard and they are helping to kill our soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan. To not speak up more forcefully on their fraudulent elections was a huge miscue.
Backtracking on European missile defense without getting anything in return from Russia was a huge mistake. I would have supported the new government in Honduras and told Chavez, Castro and Ortega to shove it. I would have walked out of Ortega’s diatribe against the U.S. at the OAS meeting.
Are you getting the picture, weenie boy?
daleyrocks (718861) — 10/2/2009 @ 5:41 pmThe important thing isn’t the French opinion of this or any other administration.
The important thing is that, by any objective standard, our Dear Leader is more of an embarassment than the French leader.
That’s what concerns me. Not their opinion. But the fact that a bunch of gullible suckers foisted a President upon the rest of us who doesn’t have the back bone or competence of a french leader.
Steve (4253ec) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:04 pmAll: Let me re-iterate my firm policy. I don’t respond to insults. My name is Myron. If I’m called out of that name, the message doesn’t exist to me.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:23 pm“Obama rigged the caucuses …”
Hmm. This sounds to me like you’re drifting into wingnut territory. I’m not saying you’re a wingnut. I’m saying that sounds at a whiff like wingnut stuff. Obama won the caucuses fair and square. Nobody responsible is arguing otherwise.
And yes, there’s all kinds of things “floating around the Internet” and most of its crap.
Obama beat Clinton and McCain fair and square. You avoided my question: What true fact has surfaced about Obama after the campaign that would have changed the election in your opinion?
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:28 pmOooooooh. It can toss around strawmen, argue with positions not held, and in general be mendoucheous, but don’t you dare call him anything but Myron.
Daley – Rather than outline what should have been done, which I agree with your assessment, people like MYRON should outline for us the foreign policy successes, what we have to show for the greatness of Teh One, and how we can see results from the world loving us again now that Barcky has been elected.
In short, we have nothing. Nothing but a string of failures. And it looks like we are going to add to that with Afghanistan.
JD (5b3b30) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:32 pmDana: Are you going to defend Palin? Know that the risk of so doing is to trade in your own intellect card.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:32 pmBooooooosh! Clinton! Palin! Dance, Myron, dance! Distract! Look, over there! Something SHINY!
JD (5b3b30) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:34 pmbut don’t you dare call him anything but Myron.
JD: Correct. It’s not really that deep, if you’ll think about it. Myron’s my name. See how I called you JD. Not too hard, huh?
What foreign policy “failures” are you talking about? Are you just making stuff up?
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:35 pmMyron, you often think people are making things up. Usually it just indicates that someone has mentioned one of the enormous number of things that you are ignorant of. Like your ignorance of the accusations Hillary Clinton supporters levied against Obama in several caucuses.
SPQR (26be8b) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:40 pmPissing on our allies. Lack of interest in actually prosecuting the war in Afghanistan, the one the he claimed to be uniquely qualified to lead because of his superior judgment, yanking the missile shield, pissing on Honduras, twiddling his thumbs while Iran slaughtered protestors, what daley outlined above, throwing his star power behind the Olympics and getting embarassed …
Your turn, outline his successes.
JD (5b3b30) — 10/2/2009 @ 6:43 pm“You avoided my question: What true fact has surfaced about Obama after the campaign that would have changed the election in your opinion?”
Myron – I certainly did not ignore your question. I said reading the material telegraphed how Obama is attempting to govern today. You either actually are ignorant of the research done on Obama prior to the election or are pretending to be, probably the former.
Obama ran against McCain as a centrist and gullible people believed that posture. In most things he has not acted as a centrist. Reviewing his record prior to his election to the U.S. Senate would have predicted that. The MSM was not willing to take a hard look there. People like Fredosso and certain bloggers were.
daleyrocks (d057d3) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:23 pm“Your turn, outline his successes”
JD – ?
daleyrocks (d057d3) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:25 pmHillary Backers Decry Massive Obama Vote Fraud
Gerald A (a66d02) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:30 pmWhat foreign policy “failures” are you talking about? Are you just making stuff up?
In addition to other things cited, polls in Israel indicate O has a 4% approval rating. Why do you suppose that is? Any theories?
Gerald A (a66d02) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:33 pmDaley – Sorry, that was not clear. That was directed to He Who Must Be Called Myron, and I await his outline of Barcky’s actual foreign policy successes
JD (848a9f) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:39 pmMyron – I will admit that Palin got one thing wrong. When she said that “Being a Mayor is like being a Community Organizer, but with actual real reponsibilities” she was wrong.
It turns out that community organizers are theives who support and promote the international trade of underage sex slaves, and advise clients on how to defraud the IRS. Oh, they will do these things as long as the client professes to be a liberal and use his ill gotten gains to support the Democrat party.
On this, I will admit Palin was wrong. Community organizers are nothin like Mayors.
Now Myron please answer a question I asked you several weeks ago. Did Barack “I support and promote child sex slavers” Obama make a mistake going on David “child rape is funny” Letterman’s show when he was nose diving in the polls?
Have Blue (854a6e) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:40 pm“All: Let me re-iterate my firm policy. I don’t respond to insults. My name is Myron. If I’m called out of that name, the message doesn’t exist to me.”
Gerald A and JD –
DON’T YOU KNOW WHO MYRON IS?
HE IS THE TROLL WHO WILL NOT BE MOCKED!!!!111!!!!!11ty!!
daleyrocks (d057d3) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:41 pm“Obama won the caucuses fair and square.”
Myron – There is a considerable body of opinion to the contrary, as Gerald hints above. The PUMA movement was in part motivated by those shenanigans. With the ACORN/SEIU thugs in his back pocket, surely you cannot imagine those were clean events. I doubt you have even bestirred yourself to read up on any of the controversy based on your other comments.
daleyrocks (d057d3) — 10/2/2009 @ 7:47 pmMoron…er, I mean MYRON must have missed Joey Hairplug’s performance during the VP debate. How many facts did he get wrong?
pesto (44bf37) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:28 pmIf I’m called out of that name, the message doesn’t exist to me.
“…but I’ll still be reading them and responding like the silly prat I’ve always been.”
Myron reminds me of the SNL skit with Mike Myers (i.e. “My name is Simon”), the boy who played with bubbles in his bath while talking to the camera:
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/mike-myers/videos/2529880/title/saturday-night-live-simon
Sounds about right for our little boy.
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/2/2009 @ 8:32 pmNow that we respect the French, and their opinion,
A larger percentage of the populace of France compared with that of America is of leftist orientation. So, yes, that nation is full of political idiocy. But enough French people, in order to avoid going off a cliff a few years ago, voted into office their quasi-rightist candidate (ie, Sarkozy), while enough Americans, perhaps to show their country jumping the shark, voted into office their uber-leftist — their “Goddamn America” — candidate.
He really is an absurdly, laughably, ludicrously foolish, even flat-out brain-impaired, person. For anyone to suffer from so little common sense has to be a form of mental retardation.
Mark (411533) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:16 pmLet me say this loud and clear so the totally MORONIC weenieboy who goes by the name of MYRON on this site (I called you Myron, you cannot claim, per your assinine turderific tantrum-throwing, that my comment does not exist) I did not vote for the left-of-center John McCain. I voted for the conservative Sarah Palin.
John McCain refused to use, and loudly decried the use of, the most damaging information against Barack Obama. John McCain’s Town Hall meeting re ObamaCare was a travesty. That John McCain would so grossly misunderstand the conservative-leaning US population is egregious. That John McCain would so adamantly demand his right to be ignorant of the truth regarding grass-roots Republicans is despicable. That John McCain would give Barack Obama so much of a benefit of doubt on ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING is a gross mischaracterization of the truth and a willful disregard for the mountain of evidence to the contrary.
And the whole point of the article above is to point out that even the French are better quality than Barack “where’s my brother” Obama.
John Hitchcock (3fd153) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:27 pmthe accusations Hillary Clinton
SPQR: I was aware of the accusations. But anyone can make accusations. People who lose are often quick to make them. Funny how that happens.
Sorry, but my general view is “F*** accusations.” Show me some court decisions. Are there any court decisions that went against the Obama team for “fixing” the caucuses?
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:46 pmPissing on our allies.
Your opinion. I might argue that his tone toward our allies is more accomodating.
Lack of interest in actually prosecuting the war in Afghanistan,
No evidence to support that statement. Committed 22,000 troops over the objection of his base. I’m not surprised you forgot, since it might interfere with your talking point. The word is out on whether he’ll commit more. I have the integrity to admit I don’t know what he should do.
“… yanking the missile shield …”
Waste of money and resources. Should have been yanked.
” …pissing on Honduras …”
I admit I don’t know much about this one. I’ll read up.
” …twiddling his thumbs while Iran slaughtered protestors …
Utter nonsense. I call chicken-hawk talking point. What would you suggest he do? Saber-rattle when he knows he won’t be using any sabers? Maybe b/c I live near Fort Bragg, I have a better appreciation of the no. of units actually available for a potential third front. Men and women around here on their third and fourth deployments. The Armed Forces are actually finite, contrary to conservative thought.
“… throwing his star power behind the Olympics and getting embarassed …”
At least he tried. That’s not exactly an international crisis, though. But yeah, he failed. I’ll give you that one.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 9:56 pmJD: I’ll preface my remarks about his “successes” by saying foreign policy is usually not a football game with wins and losses. This sports-team thinking by the general public — which is prevalent on both sides — leads to perceptions that help stunt good decision-making.
For instance, North Korea and Iran are very challenging regimes for the U.S. and have accordingly bedeviled presidents from both parties. It’s ridiculous to think that a president can just come in like Moe and clunk together the heads of Ahmadinejad and Kim and everything will be just fine.
All that said, I’ll play along, just b/c you seem like a good guy, JD, however misinformed. In no particular order:
1. Authorized kicking Somali pirate butt. Crew was rescued, etc.
2. His team worked behind scenes in Clinton release of N. Korea hostages.
3. Somewhat to my chagrin, has kept in place some of the more (I would argue) dubious counterterrorism policies, including rendition.
4. Committed troops to Afghanistan, which I mentioned above. If McChrystal says he needs even more troops now, where would we be without the first “surge”?
5. Has struck a new tone with the world, sorely needed to rebuild our tattered image.
6. See my Iran comments above. He helped smoke them out and further isolate them. Sanctions from Russia and China a real possibility.
Here’s a lead and a later sentence from a FoxNews story:
“When it comes to national security, President Obama has a surprising amount of support from the right …
” ‘He moved much more rapidly to replace a commander he was dissatisfied with, who was not performing well, than Bush did in his tenure, and all of that looked very good and very promising,’ said Frederick Kagan, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:11 pmLink to the story: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/30/military-policy-conservatives-like-obama/
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:12 pmDaley: Obama said he would raise taxes (on the wealthy) and would zealously pursue universal health care. Real centrist stuff.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:13 pmYes, Have Blue, all community organizers all over the country are thieves. I await your lengthy tome on the important subject, which you clearly have researched.
Myron (712b1e) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:16 pmMe? I’ll take our “tattered” image of being pro-democracy and kicking terrorist butt and protecting the free world over “improving” it by sucking up to socialists, marxists, terrorists, criminals the world round.
And that whole “authorized kicking barely-adult pirate butt” thing? Why did he have to authorize it in the first place? And why did it take him so long to finally authorize it? Talk about a lilly-livered delay. And talk about a “battle” to hang your hat on.
Totally ridiculous.
John Hitchcock (3fd153) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:43 pmAnd, not only does Obama rebuff Great Britain’s PM’s attempts to confer, 5 times. Not only does Obama stick it to the nations of Ukraine, Georgia, Czech Republic. Not only does Obama side with middle-east terrorists and against Israel (who has had to spend 60 years fighting wars of self-defense against would-be Jew annihilators). But Obama even rebuffs his own cabinet officials’ attempts to confer with him on anything their positions would entail.
Yes, Timothy Geithner has had Obama rebuffs. Obama’s own cabinet (what little there is, and however criminal it is) cannot get in to talk to Teh Won. And those pesky Republicans who also won elections in 2008? They have been, collectively, persona non grata, at the White House.
So much for being a great comWONicator. So much for being post-partisan. And I haven’t even touched on his wholly race-based actions in this post-racial time.
John Hitchcock (3fd153) — 10/2/2009 @ 10:50 pmThis is my favorite line:
And we can see how well that “new tone” is working out. North Korea is certainly quieter now. Ditto Iran. And France treats us with much more respect. And so on.
Heck, when the French decide to call us appeasers, that is really saying something. But I guess that is part of that “new tone” business.
But as usual, no matter what happens, Obamapologists will find something good about everything he does, even when he screws up something fierce. After all, his boosters are the ones who told us that running for President was great executive experience (and how are those appointees working out, again?).
Still, they smile rigidly and say how much better things are. How the campaign promises are not broken by a heavy weight of hypocrisy. Despite the fact that it ties them up into really very uncomfortable rhetorical knots.
My father used to say that some people are so invested in their own choices that they would call, um, waste material chocolate pudding. Because they can’t admit they chose poorly.
It must burn Democratic partisans so very much that HRC could advance their causes with more skill, finesse, and class. Heck, I don’t like HRC one bit, and I agree that she would indeed have handled things far, far better than the current occupant of the Oval Office.
But they chose this guy. So here we all are.
Eric Blair (184ac1) — 10/2/2009 @ 11:15 pmMyron:
1. Obama actually interfered with the SEALs who killed the three pirates.
2. The hostages in North Korea were journalists who worked for Gore. Having a former president pay homage to Kin Jong Il, was not wise.
3. The reason Obama kept rendition and enhanced interrogation is because they worked.
4. The real solution in Afghanistan is outlined in Dr. David KilCullen’s 28 Articles. He recommends securing the population, ending political corruption, denying safe haven in Pakistan, and creating jobs. It will take decades. Obama went all in and now he sees the political cost.
5. America’s image was never “tattered.” We were feared and respected. When President Bush asked nations (an politicians) to take a side with us or against us, few sided with al Qaeda. Two countries who did were liberated. Bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia revealed Obama’s true allegiance. His apologies are just a way to suck up the islamic thugs and anti-American Euro trash.
6. Iran has always wanted direct talks with the US. Last year. Obama was briefed on the Qom facility by the Bush transition team. China and Russia will not impose sanctions. Sarkozy is correct, Obama got nothing.
About the new commander in Afghanistan: Were are his 40,000 troops?
Arch (2ad073) — 10/3/2009 @ 5:40 amMyron’s still playing with his bubbles, apparently.
Dmac (5ddc52) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:08 amThe piss-poor judgment and non-existent wisdom of the guy currently in the Oval Office can be understood quickly and simply by observing his treatment of Iran and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on one hand and Honduras and Manuel Zelaya on the other.
All of this type of ass-backwardness rooted in the innate flaw among most liberals that their philosophy somehow instills in them wonderful, beautiful humanity, compassion and fairness.
Mark (411533) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:18 amWhen the President of France looks manly compared to the President of the United States, we have truly lost our way. When the cheese-eating surrender monkeys have more cojones than we do, we’re definitely on the wrong path.
The saddened Dana (474dfc) — 10/3/2009 @ 8:49 amMyron is getting his info from DU and TPM cafe. Facts are not in his repertoire. One small fact. I’ve been visiting France for 35 years. When I first visited, the people were rude and Americans were obviously not very welcome. No one would admit to speaking English. The only friendly people we met were either in the countryside or in small cafes. The big stores and restaurants were such that you could see they wished you would just shove your money under the door and go away.
It’s been changing the past few years and the last two visits, which were with my teenaged daughter, were the friendliest I’ve ever seen. Even the clerk in the Metro speaks English. The clerk in the RUR station, who doesn’t speak English, had a little paper posted with answers in English to the most common questions.
Have the French decided to love us at last ? I think several things have been happening. One, tourism was down. Two, they are starting to see the threat of Islamism. Three, I think they appreciate the American presence as a guarantee of security. Plus, they got rid of Chirac, who was a crook at real risk of arrest once he was out of office.
Lastly, they had Mitterand who, like Obama may do, showed them that socialism doesn’t work and, in fact, is an economic disaster. They used to have a large communist party but they have had a graduate education in the failures of socialism.
We are getting ours now.
Mike K (2cf494) — 10/3/2009 @ 9:15 amThat’s RER, by the way. I think I was thinking of the play.
Mike K (2cf494) — 10/3/2009 @ 9:17 amThey used to have a large communist party but they have had a graduate education in the failures of socialism. We are getting ours now.
A crash course being taught by professor Obama, with the US in general following in the footsteps of its West Coast, referring to California—-drunk for years from a “liberal, therefore I am” electorate, topped off by power-hungry government-employee unions and the fiefdoms of their money-hungry bureaucracy.
Mark (411533) — 10/3/2009 @ 9:41 amCourt decisions…
AD - RtR/OS! (a1f19e) — 10/3/2009 @ 9:47 amOh, you mean like Polanski pleading guilty to Stat-Rape?
Speaking of socialism, Detroit can’t afford to bury the dead. Los Angeles is not far behind. Let’s hope the solar power doesn’t fail.
Whew !
Mike K (2cf494) — 10/3/2009 @ 11:21 amFailures of socialism…
It seems the head of the L.A.Dept. of Water & Power has resigned…some say due to the failures of several water-mains, and the complete lack of planning within the Dept. to deal with the aging infrastructure. Incredibly, the DWP is one of the few parts of L.A.Govt that somewhat pays its’ way, along with the Port, and Airport.
Of course, they could always lend a helping hand to the Morgue by cremating those bodies in one or more of the power-plants.
AD - RtR/OS! (a1f19e) — 10/3/2009 @ 11:35 amThe last I heard, they were losing a water main every few days for the last six months !!!
This is beyond incompetence. We’re getting into New Orleans and Katrina territory.
Mike K (2cf494) — 10/3/2009 @ 12:19 pmYes, and if there are any registered Republicans on the City Council, they’re so far to the “center” as to make John McCain look like a Bircher.
AD - RtR/OS! (a1f19e) — 10/3/2009 @ 12:36 pmIncredibly, the DWP is one of the few parts of L.A. Govt that somewhat pays its way, along with the Port, and Airport.
A monopoly supply of an essential service will do that.
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407) — 10/3/2009 @ 1:21 pmI admit I enjoyed the “cheese-eating surrender monkey” talk quite a bit. Until I really thought about it.
The French aren’t so different than we are becoming, and their decline only preceded ours by about 4 decades.
In WWI the French hung tough. In fact, in WWII the Germans were surprised that the French soldiers that had fought so well for so long in the previous war simply gave up.
France still has some good units. And there are French soldiers, sailors, and airmen who are damned brave. But of course they are underfunded and unappreciated by a population that can only bring itself to concern their own welfare benefits, the future of their own nation beyond their anticipated life expectancy not mattering at all to them.
We’re not all that far behind them.
You can track our decline from the Korean War. We’ve surrendered quite a bit since then, too. Look how despicably we turned on our allies in South Vietnam when our left decided it was time to quit and look for a scapegoat.
People like John Kerry and Joe Biden gave it too them. The one lied to Congress about his military experiences, giving the other the cover to cut off the funding and aid we had previously committed to providing. Because when you want to commit an act of national cowardice, apparently you first have to convince yourself that you’re acting on high moral purposes. Even if you have to fabricate them.
Now, do you really think the Poles and the Czechs consider us any less “surrender monkeys” then the French?
We as a nation elected a man who in part ran on the promise to give up and run away. He’s delivering on that promise. His enablers like Myron are rationalizing for him. And a lot of people here are falling for it.
When I was commissioned in the Navy under Reagan I thought we were immune to the french disease. By the time I retired I could no longer kid myself that was true.
A lot of people were gulled into voting for Obama because of what he pretended to be. Or intimidated into voting for him to prove they’re nice people to the race mongers. But a lot also voted for him knowing exactly who he was.
That he was a man who would suck up to our enemies, offer up our allies as sacrifices, in the hope that they could be left alone to go spend their government stimulus check at the mall. These people are getting exactly what they wanted.
It doesn’t speak well for our national character. Maybe it’s time to stop criticizing France and deal with our own self-deluded cowards. Some in France seem to be standing up to theirs at long last.
Steve (dba459) — 10/3/2009 @ 3:08 pmWell said, Steve.
AD - RtR/OS! (a1f19e) — 10/3/2009 @ 3:40 pm[…] left the comment: When the President of France looks manly compared to the President of the United States, we have […]
Common Sense Political Thought » Blog Archive » Comment rescue: Steve nails it! (73d96f) — 10/3/2009 @ 4:19 pmI have but one quibble with Steve’s comment. He wrote:
He’s not even doing that. He doesn’t want to fight in Iraq, but he doesn’t seem to want to fold in Iraq, either. He has done nothing but let it fester, hoping that somehow, some way, Iraq and Afghanistan will be solved without him having to actually take any serious decisions.
Mr Hitchcock and I both have daughters in the Army, and I have a second one who will sign her enlistment papers this coming week; to us, the idea that the commander-in-chief can’t decide what he is going to do is both personal and dangerous. If we’re going to stay and fight, then let’s stay and fight to win. If we’re going to cut and run, it’ll be humiliating, but go ahead and do it now, before more of our soldiers get killed.
The Dana mostly in agreement (474dfc) — 10/3/2009 @ 5:33 pmLet me add this one little tidbit: If we’re going to cut and run, let Prez Obama, Veep Biden, Sen Kerry, Rep Pelosi man the defensive perimeter for the final withdrawal. If we’re gonna have a Vietnam withdrawal, as forced by the lib government and press at the time, let those who force it man the final defensive perimeter.
As I said to PIATOR, who many will know of, regarding Iran: Send the Army now and send my daughter’s unit as soon as my daughter is medically qualified to deploy.
John Hitchcock (3fd153) — 10/3/2009 @ 5:38 pmHe helped smoke them out and further isolate them.
Nothing concrete or objectively verifiable in that sentence. It’s the kind of thing Obama and liberal foreign policy generally excels at. In your mind undoubtedly this is now an established fact.
If he’s so interested in “smoking them out” why did he not bring up at the UN speech their second uranium facility as Sarkozy wanted? That happens to be the subject of Krauthammer’s article that this post links to. Did you read it by any chance?
Sanctions from Russia and China a real possibility.
According to informed observers they are NOT a real possibility. You may been reading some clueless commentary by media Obamaites indicating that they were and believed what you were reading.
Gerald A (a66d02) — 10/7/2009 @ 11:50 am