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Old 11-10-2009, 02:24 AM
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Default Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

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There was one world leader absent for today’s commemorations marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Surprisingly enough, it’s President Barack Obama, who found time last year to give a campaign speech there last year, which Der Spiegel summed up as “People of the World, Look at Me”.

The White House has cited a packed schedule, though looking at it he had nothing much on yesterday (brief chat to reporters about healthcare – by far his biggest priority) and just blah briefings and a bill signing today until a metting this evening with Benjamin Netanyahu. This time, Der Spiegel has reported it as “Barack Too Busy”.

But Obama is, of course, making time to trot over to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in December. Didn’t seem to have too much of a problem clearing the diary for that – though his acceptance of the prize and decision to give a another soaring, historical, epoch-marking etc etc speech there will be looked back on as a colossal political mistake and sign of hubris.

Perhaps Obama felt that celebrating the role of the United States in bringing down the wall would be a bit triumphalist and not quite in keeping with his wish to present America as a declining world power anxious to apologise for sundry historic misdeeds. Maybe he didn’t really want to be associated with that warmonger Ronald Reagan.

Marty Peretz is gloomy about what his non-appearance says about Obama’s world view and his approach on Iran. Newt Gingrich calls the failure to go to Berlin “a tragedy”. Paul Rahe at Powerline wonders if Obama is signalling his administration’s intent to enact a “process of turning its back on our erstwhile allies in Europe”. Certainly, he seems to have a prickly relationship with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Whatever the reasons, it’s another revealing mistake by Obama. This deserved to be marked by more than just a proclamation penned by a staffer
You KNOW it's gotten bad when other countries like the UK and Germany are noticing the "It's all about me" tour of the Chosen One...

I imagine Obama will now tell us they're in cahoots with Fox and the insurance industry out to smear him...
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Old 11-10-2009, 04:09 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

To be honest I think he should have attended. Apparently he sent Hilary Clinton. I suppose the decision he has to make is what to delegate - whther to delegate dealing with issues at home or being present abroad.

I don't think it's that big a deal though tbh.

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Old 11-10-2009, 04:56 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

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Originally Posted by cnredd View Post
Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

You KNOW it's gotten bad when other countries like the UK and Germany are noticing the "It's all about me" tour of the Chosen One...

I imagine Obama will now tell us they're in cahoots with Fox and the insurance industry out to smear him...
Maybe he wants to stop with the tired old WWII stuff. I mean look we don't say anything about the Presidents not commemorating the War of 1812 anymore or the Civil War. Maybe it's time to move on.
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Old 11-10-2009, 08:48 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

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Maybe he wants to stop with the tired old WWII stuff.
While I don't even agree with that sentiment, realize this isn't 'tired old WWII stuff', this is 20 years ago and probably the most monumental event of Obama's lifetime, not that he would ever be able to admit that because to their point, it wasn't all about him.

Even the Europeans notice his blatant narcissim while you're still making excuses.

Please get out of full worship mode...
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Old 11-10-2009, 08:55 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

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While I don't even agree with that sentiment, realize this isn't 'tired old WWII stuff', this is 20 years ago and probably the most monumental event of Obama's lifetime, not that he would ever be able to admit that because to their point, it wasn't all about him.

Even the Europeans notice his blatant narcissim while you're still making excuses.

Please get out of full worship mode...
No don't we always dwell on these damned morbid holidays?
You're not even religious so how can you not be glad that for once we didn't all have to act as if we were even into all the ceremony?
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Old 11-10-2009, 09:03 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

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No don't we always dwell on these damned morbid holidays?
You're not even religious so how can you not be glad that for once we didn't all have to act as if we were even into all the ceremony?
There you go again, changing the subject.

There's nothing morbid about celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall.

How does my cynicism regarding religious ceremonial bullcrap have anything to do with celebrating the anniversary of one of the most important events in history?

What, only people who are cultists can honor history now?
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Old 11-10-2009, 09:05 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

obama didn't go because it commemorates the fall of communism, need I say more?
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Old 11-10-2009, 09:49 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

Sometimes I think Obama wants to be a pimp and have everyone in this country as his "ho". Better have his money and give him his "props".

Hey O-man, KMA!
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Old 11-10-2009, 10:02 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

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Originally Posted by Michael1 View Post
There you go again, changing the subject.

There's nothing morbid about celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall.

How does my cynicism regarding religious ceremonial bullcrap have anything to do with celebrating the anniversary of one of the most important events in history?

What, only people who are cultists can honor history now?
You know none of us have any real idea why Obama didn't go.
All I can do is to think if I was President and I didn't go what might be the reason?
And to me it's kind of like remembering the day someone died instead of all the things they stood for when they were alive.
Hitler is dead. Stalin is dead. I would think the Germans would want to put all that behind them.
And as I am listening to the news I hear that the President is attending some kind of memorial to the murdered soldiers. So I guess there's your reason, but somehow I don't think it will be good enough.
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Old 11-10-2009, 10:11 AM
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Default Re: Not enough about him? Barack Obama skips Berlin Wall ceremonies

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Originally Posted by saltwn View Post
No don't we always dwell on these damned morbid holidays?
You're not even religious so how can you not be glad that for once we didn't all have to act as if we were even into all the ceremony?
MORBID???? Are you running low on O2 in Idaho??? This is a celebration of the freeing of millions of people from an oppressive regime and the reuniting of a divided people. Of course, the idea that celebrating something that was in large part due to one of the greatest Presidents this country has ever had would seem morbid to you.
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